Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between researchers and postdoctoral research associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a researcher and a postdoctoral research associate. Additionally, a researcher has an average salary of $67,145, which is higher than the $52,785 average annual salary of a postdoctoral research associate.
The top three skills for a researcher include python, lab equipment and C++. The most important skills for a postdoctoral research associate are python, research projects, and chemistry.
| Researcher | Postdoctoral Research Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $67,145 | $52,785 |
| Hourly rate | $32.28 | $25.38 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 30,498 | 59,377 |
| Job satisfaction | 3 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Doctoral Degree, 47% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A researcher is responsible for collating, organizing, and verifying necessary information for a specific subject. Researchers' duties include analyzing data, gathering and comparing resources, ensuring facts, sharing findings with the whole research team, adhering to required methodologies, performing fieldwork as needed, and keeping critical information confidential. Researchers must be knowledgeable about the current market trends and align findings with the research goals. A researcher must show strong communication skills, as well as strong attention to detail and time-management skills to meet deadlines under minimal supervision.
A postdoctoral research associate is responsible for assisting the educational institution's research department, writing research reports, analyzing research methods, and collecting information and related studies to support the research claims. Postdoctoral research associates must have excellent communication skills, both oral and written, reporting research updates to the research head, performing adjustments as needed, and gaining more expertise on the subject by brainstorming and discussing strategic procedures for the study. They may also conduct field investigation or coordinate with other institutions for additional reference, depending on the research's scope and limitation.
Researchers and postdoctoral research associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Researcher | Postdoctoral Research Associate | |
| Average salary | $67,145 | $52,785 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $119,000 | Between $38,000 And $72,000 |
| Highest paying City | Newark, NJ | Memphis, TN |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Renaissance Learning | Argonne National Laboratory |
| Best paying industry | - | Professional |
There are a few differences between a researcher and a postdoctoral research associate in terms of educational background:
| Researcher | Postdoctoral Research Associate | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Doctoral Degree, 47% |
| Most common major | Biology | Chemistry |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | Duke University |
Here are the differences between researchers' and postdoctoral research associates' demographics:
| Researcher | Postdoctoral Research Associate | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 50.9% Female, 49.1% | Male, 65.7% Female, 34.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 26.4% White, 53.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 5.8% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 8.9% Asian, 38.1% White, 43.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |