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The differences between sem specialists and research analysts can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a sem specialist and a research analyst. Additionally, a research analyst has an average salary of $70,232, which is higher than the $61,808 average annual salary of a sem specialist.
The top three skills for a sem specialist include digital marketing, paid search and google analytics. The most important skills for a research analyst are data analysis, data collection, and research projects.
| SEM Specialist | Research Analyst | |
| Yearly salary | $61,808 | $70,232 |
| Hourly rate | $29.72 | $33.77 |
| Growth rate | 19% | 19% |
| Number of jobs | 16,944 | 81,374 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 86% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
An SEM specialist is in charge of understanding search engine rankings and optimizing the company's website to bring traffic to it via both organic as well paid search engine methods. To become an SEM specialist, you need to know how to do data analysis around the web and combine all the elements of online marketing, social marketing, and marketing analytics to create a strategy for the company's website.
A research analyst is responsible for providing a company with insights and advice concerning finance, investments, and expenditures. Utilizing their analytical skills and extensive expertise in marketing, they analyze the trends and significant factors to conclude which decision should be the best to make. They can also take part in conducting an in-depth analysis of a business and examine which areas require improvement or has potential. Furthermore, they may work with a company or independently as a freelance analyst.
Sem specialists and research analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.
| SEM Specialist | Research Analyst | |
| Average salary | $61,808 | $70,232 |
| Salary range | Between $46,000 And $81,000 | Between $45,000 And $107,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Washington |
| Best paying company | Expedia Group | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Finance |
There are a few differences between a sem specialist and a research analyst in terms of educational background:
| SEM Specialist | Research Analyst | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 86% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Marketing | Business |
| Most common college | University of Georgia | University of Georgia |
Here are the differences between sem specialists' and research analysts' demographics:
| SEM Specialist | Research Analyst | |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 63.2% Female, 36.8% | Male, 50.8% Female, 49.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.5% Asian, 14.1% White, 64.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.3% Asian, 14.3% White, 64.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |