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The differences between researchers and postdoctoral scholars 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 scholar. Additionally, a researcher has an average salary of $67,145, which is higher than the $57,587 average annual salary of a postdoctoral scholar.
The top three skills for a researcher include python, lab equipment and C++. The most important skills for a postdoctoral scholar are chemistry, python, and patients.
| Researcher | Postdoctoral Scholar | |
| Yearly salary | $67,145 | $57,587 |
| Hourly rate | $32.28 | $27.69 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 30,498 | 18,983 |
| Job satisfaction | 3 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| 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 Scholar is responsible for supporting an educational research group to conduct studies and gather relevant data to support study claims and scientific evidence. They review initial findings, perform field investigations, and interview the target respondents for data and statistical analysis. They also coordinate with the whole team for efficient research methods, ensuring adherence to budget limitations and required timetables. A Postdoctoral Scholar must have excellent communication skills, both oral and written, to document reports and discuss results with the research team.
Researchers and postdoctoral scholars have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Researcher | Postdoctoral Scholar | |
| Average salary | $67,145 | $57,587 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $119,000 | Between $41,000 And $79,000 |
| Highest paying City | Newark, NJ | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | California |
| Best paying company | Renaissance Learning | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | - | Technology |
There are a few differences between a researcher and a postdoctoral scholar in terms of educational background:
| Researcher | Postdoctoral Scholar | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Most common major | Biology | Chemistry |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | Duke University |
Here are the differences between researchers' and postdoctoral scholars' demographics:
| Researcher | Postdoctoral Scholar | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 50.9% Female, 49.1% | Male, 53.0% Female, 47.0% |
| 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, 6.5% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.7% Asian, 26.3% White, 53.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |