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The differences between senior research analysts and research leaders can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a senior research analyst and a research leader. Additionally, a research leader has an average salary of $107,345, which is higher than the $75,056 average annual salary of a senior research analyst.
The top three skills for a senior research analyst include analytics, data analysis and data collection. The most important skills for a research leader are data collection, data analysis, and market research.
| Senior Research Analyst | Research Leader | |
| Yearly salary | $75,056 | $107,345 |
| Hourly rate | $36.08 | $51.61 |
| Growth rate | 19% | 19% |
| Number of jobs | 71,891 | 77,051 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
The duties of a senior research analyst depend on one's line of work or industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around coordinating with different departments to gather necessary data, performing research and analysis to identify consumer and market needs, finding new business opportunities, and devising strategies to optimize workflow and workforce processes. Furthermore, as a senior research analyst, it is essential to lead and encourage the team members and serve as a mentor to junior analysts, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Research Leaders are academicians who oversee a group of researchers conducting a study. They are usually well-known researchers in their field of study or area of interest. They manage the group throughout the whole research process. They may orient them at the start of the engagement to ensure that everyone is on the same page. Research Leaders direct the group in identifying the resources needed, finding these resources, and eventually managing them. They also guide the team in conducting the research properly by providing strategic direction, sharing techniques, and helping them analyze the gathered data. With their experience in the field, Research Leaders usually provide frameworks that the team may work within.
Senior research analysts and research leaders have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Research Analyst | Research Leader | |
| Average salary | $75,056 | $107,345 |
| Salary range | Between $57,000 And $98,000 | Between $64,000 And $178,000 |
| Highest paying City | Olympia, WA | Jersey City, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Washington | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | JPMorgan Chase & Co. | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between a senior research analyst and a research leader in terms of educational background:
| Senior Research Analyst | Research Leader | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Business | Psychology |
| Most common college | University of Georgia | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between senior research analysts' and research leaders' demographics:
| Senior Research Analyst | Research Leader | |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 54.1% Female, 45.9% | Male, 56.4% Female, 43.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 14.1% White, 65.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.3% Asian, 14.3% White, 64.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |