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Senior research manager vs senior research associate

The differences between senior research managers and senior research associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a senior research manager, becoming a senior research associate takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a senior research manager has an average salary of $104,701, which is higher than the $72,618 average annual salary of a senior research associate.

The top three skills for a senior research manager include project management, data collection and powerpoint. The most important skills for a senior research associate are patients, data analysis, and CRISPR.

Senior research manager vs senior research associate overview

Senior Research ManagerSenior Research Associate
Yearly salary$104,701$72,618
Hourly rate$50.34$34.91
Growth rate19%6%
Number of jobs50,56158,903
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Average age3744
Years of experience62

What does a senior research manager do?

A senior research manager is an executive professional who manages the integration of internal and external information sources to deliver exceptional insights to clients and contribute to the development of a company's strategic research framework. Senior research managers are required to demonstrate extensive knowledge of products and services so that they can identify and propose potential opportunities with existing and new clients. They must supervise a team to ensure flawless execution of all market research projects from design to delivery. Senior research managers must also mentor staff to build client understanding across all disciplines.

What does a senior research associate do?

A Senior Research Associate works closely with research team members to implement research ideas. They diagnose, solve system/software problems, and install application software according to research needs.

Senior research manager vs senior research associate salary

Senior research managers and senior research associates have different pay scales, as shown below.

Senior Research ManagerSenior Research Associate
Average salary$104,701$72,618
Salary rangeBetween $66,000 And $164,000Between $51,000 And $102,000
Highest paying CityOlympia, WASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateWashingtonWashington
Best paying companyMacerichThe Citadel
Best paying industryFinanceGovernment

Differences between senior research manager and senior research associate education

There are a few differences between a senior research manager and a senior research associate in terms of educational background:

Senior Research ManagerSenior Research Associate
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Most common majorMarketingBiology
Most common collegeUniversity of GeorgiaStanford University

Senior research manager vs senior research associate demographics

Here are the differences between senior research managers' and senior research associates' demographics:

Senior Research ManagerSenior Research Associate
Average age3744
Gender ratioMale, 50.9% Female, 49.1%Male, 53.6% Female, 46.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.3% Asian, 14.4% White, 64.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%Black or African American, 2.5% Unknown, 7.4% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 13.4% White, 62.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage10%9%

Differences between senior research manager and senior research associate duties and responsibilities

Senior research manager example responsibilities.

  • Lead a team of researchers in data visualization, gamification, and medication adherence.
  • Lead a team of three, including one direct report, for distributing daily Nielsen ratings results.
  • Achieve high quality deliverables evident by sponsor company feedback, FDA deliverables and balance budgets, scope and timely delivery.
  • Manage all top and regional accounts, ensuring all multi-asset classes of research are included and building relationships for the future.
  • Manage SAS programming staff, participate in hardware/software specifications and acquisition
  • Manage research department employees and resources, operational budget preparation and oversight.
  • Show more

Senior research associate example responsibilities.

  • Manage the development of innovative visualization and concept mapping of contest environment analysis challenges and analyst skill sets.
  • Develop, implement and optimize HPLC and ELISA assays in support of cell line and process development.
  • Provide purification service with rp-LCMS, np- HPLC, and MPLC, as well QC data including UPLC-MS and NMR.
  • Engineer and design a unique CRISPR cloning system for the group.
  • Apply the CRISPR technology to conduct gene editing in human IPSCs.
  • Develop an identity ELISA assay to detect the presence of competing and irrelevant drug products in manufacturing process.
  • Show more

Senior research manager vs senior research associate skills

Common senior research manager skills
  • Project Management, 11%
  • Data Collection, 6%
  • PowerPoint, 5%
  • Research Studies, 5%
  • FDA, 4%
  • Data Analysis, 3%
Common senior research associate skills
  • Patients, 9%
  • Data Analysis, 6%
  • CRISPR, 6%
  • Molecular Biology, 5%
  • Cell Culture, 5%
  • Flow Cytometry, 4%

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