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The differences between senior research specialists and senior research fellows 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 specialist, becoming a senior research fellow takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a senior research specialist has an average salary of $65,071, which is higher than the $62,129 average annual salary of a senior research fellow.
The top three skills for a senior research specialist include data collection, research projects and data analysis. The most important skills for a senior research fellow are python, research projects, and data analysis.
| Senior Research Specialist | Senior Research Fellow | |
| Yearly salary | $65,071 | $62,129 |
| Hourly rate | $31.28 | $29.87 |
| Growth rate | 19% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 57,586 | 53,535 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Average age | 37 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
Senior research specialists are professionals who manage a team of junior research specialists that develop objectives and design research projects and proposals. These senior specialists are required to conduct scientific experiments and perform data collection to provide test evaluation and research results. They are required to propose new techniques that could improve the research quality and productivity of the team while assisting in setting up new equipment. Senior research specialists must also develop standard operating procedures while adhering to the company's policies and safety guidelines to ensure safety in their workplace.
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.
Senior research specialists and senior research fellows have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Research Specialist | Senior Research Fellow | |
| Average salary | $65,071 | $62,129 |
| Salary range | Between $42,000 And $99,000 | Between $40,000 And $95,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Urban Honolulu, HI |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | VMware | |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between a senior research specialist and a senior research fellow in terms of educational background:
| Senior Research Specialist | Senior Research Fellow | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Biology | Chemistry |
| Most common college | University of Georgia | Duke University |
Here are the differences between senior research specialists' and senior research fellows' demographics:
| Senior Research Specialist | Senior Research Fellow | |
| Average age | 37 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 45.5% Female, 54.5% | Male, 56.1% Female, 43.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 14.2% White, 64.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 8% |