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The differences between staff psychologists and research psychologists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a staff psychologist and a research psychologist. Additionally, a research psychologist has an average salary of $90,440, which is higher than the $77,671 average annual salary of a staff psychologist.
The top three skills for a staff psychologist include patients, group therapy and crisis intervention. The most important skills for a research psychologist are research projects, research studies, and technical reports.
| Staff Psychologist | Research Psychologist | |
| Yearly salary | $77,671 | $90,440 |
| Hourly rate | $37.34 | $43.48 |
| Growth rate | 14% | 14% |
| Number of jobs | 85,221 | 58,163 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 44% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A staff psychologist is responsible for monitoring patients with mental health conditions and conducting counseling services to observe their behaviors and diagnose their developmental disorders. Staff psychologists develop treatment plans and administer medications for the patients and may also facilitate referrals to other institutions and medical professionals for further examinations. They utilize necessary resources, especially therapy programs, to manage the patients' conditions and document their progress during each session. A staff psychologist seeks advice from other mental health experts to identify case management concepts and assessments.
Research psychologists are psychology professionals who examine questions and test hypotheses by using scientific methods to understand human thought and behavior. These psychologists must conduct experiments in controlled lab settings as well as out in the field to examine the social behavior of people living in a rural town. They must analyze data and prepare reports to be presented professionally to program managers and administrators. Research psychologists must also supervise staff and interns who are involved in treating and diagnosing mental health.
Staff psychologists and research psychologists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Staff Psychologist | Research Psychologist | |
| Average salary | $77,671 | $90,440 |
| Salary range | Between $54,000 And $110,000 | Between $63,000 And $128,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Kaiser Permanente | Parexel International |
| Best paying industry | - | Technology |
There are a few differences between a staff psychologist and a research psychologist in terms of educational background:
| Staff Psychologist | Research Psychologist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 44% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between staff psychologists' and research psychologists' demographics:
| Staff Psychologist | Research Psychologist | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 43.7% Female, 56.3% | Male, 50.7% Female, 49.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% Asian, 3.3% White, 76.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% Asian, 3.3% White, 76.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 12% |