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The differences between user experience researchers and research specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a user experience researcher and a research specialist. Additionally, a user experience researcher has an average salary of $99,849, which is higher than the $52,662 average annual salary of a research specialist.
The top three skills for a user experience researcher include user research, user experience and research methods. The most important skills for a research specialist are data collection, patients, and research projects.
| User Experience Researcher | Research Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $99,849 | $52,662 |
| Hourly rate | $48.00 | $25.32 |
| Growth rate | 19% | 19% |
| Number of jobs | 24,148 | 79,341 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A user experience (UX) researcher is an individual who is responsible for analyzing actual consumer behavior and needs to design products and services that may have an impact on business companies. User experience researchers provide informed insights and then work with product managers to turn these insights into consumer-centric results that resonate with customers. They are required to conduct in-depth and advanced research both in qualitative and quantitative methods to identify user needs and goals and provide recommendations for improvement. User experience researchers are also required to participate in the recruitment activities for user research.
In a laboratory setting, a research specialist's responsibilities primarily revolve around conducting thorough research and analysis, producing extensive detailed reports, reviewing results, and coordinating with senior researchers and other laboratory personnel to ensure the accuracy of results. Furthermore, a research specialist may contribute their expertise to other publications and articles, train or supervise new researchers, and implement all laboratory guidelines and safety regulations at all times.
User experience researchers and research specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| User Experience Researcher | Research Specialist | |
| Average salary | $99,849 | $52,662 |
| Salary range | Between $73,000 And $135,000 | Between $35,000 And $77,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Washington |
| Best paying company | Meta | Novartis |
| Best paying industry | Start-up | Technology |
There are a few differences between a user experience researcher and a research specialist in terms of educational background:
| User Experience Researcher | Research Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Biology |
| Most common college | University of Maryland - College Park | University of Georgia |
Here are the differences between user experience researchers' and research specialists' demographics:
| User Experience Researcher | Research Specialist | |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 44.2% Female, 55.8% | Male, 38.0% Female, 62.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.4% Asian, 14.4% White, 64.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 14.1% White, 65.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |