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Sem specialist vs research specialist

The differences between sem specialists and research specialists 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 specialist. Additionally, a sem specialist has an average salary of $61,808, which is higher than the $52,662 average annual salary of a research specialist.

The top three skills for a sem specialist include digital marketing, paid search and google analytics. The most important skills for a research specialist are data collection, patients, and research projects.

Sem specialist vs research specialist overview

SEM SpecialistResearch Specialist
Yearly salary$61,808$52,662
Hourly rate$29.72$25.32
Growth rate19%19%
Number of jobs16,94479,341
Job satisfaction-4
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 86%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Average age3737
Years of experience66

What does a sem specialist do?

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.

What does a research specialist do?

In a laboratory setting, a research specialist's responsibilities primarily revolve around conducting thorough research and analysis, producing extensive detailed reports, reviewing results, and coordinating with senior researchers and other laboratory personnel to ensure the accuracy of results. Furthermore, a research specialist may contribute their expertise to other publications and articles, train or supervise new researchers, and implement all laboratory guidelines and safety regulations at all times.

Sem specialist vs research specialist salary

Sem specialists and research specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

SEM SpecialistResearch Specialist
Average salary$61,808$52,662
Salary rangeBetween $46,000 And $81,000Between $35,000 And $77,000
Highest paying CitySeattle, WASeattle, WA
Highest paying stateNew JerseyWashington
Best paying companyExpedia GroupNovartis
Best paying industryFinanceTechnology

Differences between sem specialist and research specialist education

There are a few differences between a sem specialist and a research specialist in terms of educational background:

SEM SpecialistResearch Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 86%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Most common majorMarketingBiology
Most common collegeUniversity of GeorgiaUniversity of Georgia

Sem specialist vs research specialist demographics

Here are the differences between sem specialists' and research specialists' demographics:

SEM SpecialistResearch Specialist
Average age3737
Gender ratioMale, 63.2% Female, 36.8%Male, 38.0% Female, 62.0%
Race ratioBlack 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, 11.2% Asian, 14.1% White, 65.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between sem specialist and research specialist duties and responsibilities

Sem specialist example responsibilities.

  • Spearhead and manage initial social media presence via Facebook.
  • Optimize websites on multiple content management systems including flat HTML, WordPress, Drupal, etc.
  • Administer website through moderating comments, updating news, sending newsletters, installing and configuring Wordpress plug-ins.
  • Conduct reporting and analysis on the PPC program performance, including identifying business drivers and opportunities for improvement.
  • Work as part of team maintaining attitude of continual improvement of visitor usability and e-commerce admin.

Research specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage both GLP and non-GLP studies that are contracted to CROs.
  • Create weekly presentations using Microsoft PowerPoint and manage monthly board meetings.
  • Manage social media publications to spread awareness and notifications on Facebook.
  • Assist in surgical procedures on both rabbits and rats to obtain tissue specimens for RNA isolation for subsequent RT-PCR
  • Perform and supervise applied bench scale and pilot scale process research on extraction, distillation, and reaction processes.
  • Perform the timely and accurate execution of CESG protocols, procedures and results within the cloning and crystallography teams.
  • Show more

Sem specialist vs research specialist skills

Common sem specialist skills
  • Digital Marketing, 15%
  • Paid Search, 10%
  • Google Analytics, 9%
  • Keyword Research, 8%
  • Search Engine Marketing, 8%
  • Google Adwords, 7%
Common research specialist skills
  • Data Collection, 7%
  • Patients, 7%
  • Research Projects, 7%
  • Data Analysis, 5%
  • Molecular Biology, 5%
  • Cell Culture, 4%

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