How To Become A Visiting Researcher: What It Is and Career Path

What is a visiting researcher and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted expert

Friedbert Ninow Ph.D.

Being a visiting researcher is interesting as you train, advise, and guide lower-level researchers on techniques, procedures, and methods in research. Aside form this, you are also expected to analyze and manage project data using SAS for publications and research reports.

Other responsibilities that a visiting researcher have include designing and conducting web surveys integrated with a search task using Java servlet, collaborating with scientists to develop and propose studies and materials, and observing different experiments using modern technology.

To be a visiting researcher, the lowest degree you can have is a bachelor's degree. Associate degrees and master's degrees are also common in the industry.

When it comes to the skills and expertise needed to be a successful visiting researcher, you need to have great communication skills and good observation skills. having an experience in the field like being a research assistant or teaching assistant also increases your chances of landing on this job.

With an average salary of $59,175 per year and a job growth rate of 8%, being a visiting researcher is not bad for a career.

What general advice would you give to a visiting researcher?

Friedbert Ninow Ph.D.

Dean, La Sierra University

A degree in theological and ministerial studies (or more generally in Religious Studies) does not necessarily have to lead into pastoral ministry. There are many opportunities where a Religion degree is a good foundation: Chaplaincy (e.g., Hospital, Army, Jail, etc.), Politics & Society, Journalism, Health Sciences, Arts, etc.

General advice: Let your heart speak first, not possible career chances or salary perspectives, etc. (I understand that this is important, too).

ScoreVisiting ResearcherUS Average

Salary

5.4

Avg. Salary $68,912

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

6.3

Growth rate 17%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

2.9

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.15%

Asian 28.27%

Black or African American 6.53%

Hispanic or Latino 9.80%

Unknown 4.15%

White 51.11%

Gender

female 38.00%

male 62.00%

Age - 39

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 39

Stress level

6.3

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.8

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.7

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a visiting researcher

Explore visiting researcher education requirements

Most common visiting researcher degrees

Bachelor's

44.5 %

Master's

31.6 %

Doctorate

21.7 %

Start to develop specific visiting researcher skills

Skills	Percentages
Python	19.59%
Java	16.37%
Climate	7.82%
Research Findings	4.66%
Research Projects	4.50%

Complete relevant visiting researcher training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New visiting researchers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a visiting researcher based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real visiting researcher resumes.

Research visiting researcher duties and responsibilities

Manage and analyze project data using SAS for research reports and publications
Observe the fracture surface using scan electron microscopy (SEM )
Used NMR, HPLC and GC-MS for the analysis of synthesize reagents.
Design and conduct web surveys integrate with a search task using Java servlet.

Prepare your visiting researcher resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your visiting researcher resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a visiting researcher resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable visiting researcher resume templates

Build a professional visiting researcher resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your visiting researcher resume.