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The differences between senior research fellows and research leaders can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a senior research fellow, becoming a research leader takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a research leader has an average salary of $107,345, which is higher than the $62,129 average annual salary of a senior research fellow.
The top three skills for a senior research fellow include python, research projects and data analysis. The most important skills for a research leader are data collection, data analysis, and market research.
| Senior Research Fellow | Research Leader | |
| Yearly salary | $62,129 | $107,345 |
| Hourly rate | $29.87 | $51.61 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 19% |
| Number of jobs | 53,535 | 77,051 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 41 | 37 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
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.
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 fellows and research leaders have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Research Fellow | Research Leader | |
| Average salary | $62,129 | $107,345 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $95,000 | Between $64,000 And $178,000 |
| Highest paying City | Urban Honolulu, HI | Jersey City, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Meta | |
| Best paying industry | - | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between a senior research fellow and a research leader in terms of educational background:
| Senior Research Fellow | Research Leader | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Psychology |
| Most common college | Duke University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between senior research fellows' and research leaders' demographics:
| Senior Research Fellow | Research Leader | |
| Average age | 41 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 56.1% Female, 43.9% | Male, 56.4% Female, 43.6% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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 | 8% | 10% |