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The differences between senior research investigators and 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 senior research investigator and a research fellow. Additionally, a senior research investigator has an average salary of $90,336, which is higher than the $53,823 average annual salary of a research fellow.
The top three skills for a senior research investigator include data analysis, drug discovery and chemistry. The most important skills for a research fellow are patients, research projects, and data analysis.
| Senior Research Investigator | Research Fellow | |
| Yearly salary | $90,336 | $53,823 |
| Hourly rate | $43.43 | $25.88 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 62,248 | 59,746 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A Senior Research Investigator specializes in conducting extensive research and analysis to develop conclusions and recommendations. Although the extent of their responsibilities depends on their place or employment industry, it usually includes adhering to guidelines and timelines, narrowing down leads to gather and analyze data, consulting with experts, and maintaining records of all procedures. As a Senior Research Investigator, it is essential to lead and serve as a role model to less experienced investigators in the joint effort to reach project goals, all while implementing the facility's standards and regulations.
A research fellow is an academic researcher who conducts research and analysis of comprehensive literature, data, and results and provides literature reviews. He/She supervises research assistants and recruits study participants to interview them for a particular study. To become a research fellow, a candidate should have a doctorate in a relevant discipline and publish peer-reviewed papers. Also, a research fellow can be an independent investigator or be supervised by a principal investigator.
Senior research investigators and research fellows have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Research Investigator | Research Fellow | |
| Average salary | $90,336 | $53,823 |
| Salary range | Between $58,000 And $139,000 | Between $39,000 And $72,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | South San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Crunchbase | McKinsey & Company Inc |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Non Profits |
There are a few differences between a senior research investigator and a research fellow in terms of educational background:
| Senior Research Investigator | Research Fellow | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Chemistry |
| Most common college | Duke University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between senior research investigators' and research fellows' demographics:
| Senior Research Investigator | Research Fellow | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 57.8% Female, 42.2% | Male, 55.3% Female, 44.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 24.9% White, 55.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 27.1% White, 52.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |