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The differences between researchers and senior research fellows 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 senior research fellow. Additionally, a researcher has an average salary of $67,145, which is higher than the $62,129 average annual salary of a senior research fellow.
The top three skills for a researcher include python, lab equipment and C++. The most important skills for a senior research fellow are python, research projects, and data analysis.
| Researcher | Senior Research Fellow | |
| Yearly salary | $67,145 | $62,129 |
| Hourly rate | $32.28 | $29.87 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 30,498 | 53,535 |
| Job satisfaction | 3 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| 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.
Senior Research Fellows are reputable researchers employed in an academic institution or a research facility. The nature of their employment in the institution is related to their research work or field of interest. Senior Research Fellows lead a team of researchers on big projects that require more team members. They manage the team's budget, set timelines, and guide the researchers. They spearhead the analysis of the data gathered. They also set the tone for the presentation materials. Senior Research Fellows should be passionate about their field, should have a thirst for knowledge, and should be able to lead teams.
Researchers and senior research fellows have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Researcher | Senior Research Fellow | |
| Average salary | $67,145 | $62,129 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $119,000 | Between $40,000 And $95,000 |
| Highest paying City | Newark, NJ | Urban Honolulu, HI |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Renaissance Learning | |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between a researcher and a senior research fellow in terms of educational background:
| Researcher | Senior Research Fellow | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Biology | Chemistry |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | Duke University |
Here are the differences between researchers' and senior research fellows' demographics:
| Researcher | Senior Research Fellow | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 50.9% Female, 49.1% | Male, 56.1% Female, 43.9% |
| 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, 6.2% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 26.5% White, 53.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |