Salary for Senior-level / Expert Research Analyst in United States during 2023

Salary details

The average senior-level / expert Research Analyst salary lies between USD 87,400 and USD 160,000 in the United States. It represents the overall compensation/gross salary amount for the working year (before deductions like social security, taxes and other contributions), not including equity/stock options or similar benefits.

Region represents the primary country of residence of an employee during the year (or residence for tax purposes). All data shown are full-time equivalent (FTE) salaries. Part-time salary information has been extrapolated to its FTE value.

Last updated: Nov. 24, 2024

Salary trend

Top 20 Job Tags for Senior-level / Expert Research Analyst roles

The three most common job tag items assiciated with senior-level / expert Research Analyst job listings are Research, Python and Excel. Below you find a list of the 20 most occuring job tags in 2023 and the number of open jobs that where associated with them during that period:

Research | 89 jobs Python | 65 jobs Excel | 47 jobs Engineering | 40 jobs Privacy | 36 jobs Consulting | 33 jobs SQL | 31 jobs Economics | 31 jobs R | 30 jobs Data analysis | 25 jobs Finance | 24 jobs Statistics | 21 jobs Market research | 18 jobs Security | 12 jobs Testing | 11 jobs Machine Learning | 10 jobs Data visualization | 10 jobs Agile | 9 jobs Econometrics | 9 jobs RDBMS | 9 jobs

Top 20 Job Perks/Benefits for Senior-level / Expert Research Analyst roles

The three most common job benefits and perks assiciated with senior-level / expert Research Analyst job listings are Career development, Flex hours and Health care. Below you find a list of the 20 most occuring job perks or benefits in 2023 and the number of open jobs that where offering them during that period:

Career development | 48 jobs Flex hours | 37 jobs Health care | 27 jobs Startup environment | 24 jobs Insurance | 24 jobs Equity / stock options | 22 jobs Salary bonus | 22 jobs Competitive pay | 21 jobs 401(k) matching | 19 jobs Medical leave | 19 jobs Team events | 18 jobs Flex vacation | 16 jobs Wellness | 15 jobs Parental leave | 11 jobs Conferences | 9 jobs Fitness / gym | 7 jobs Home office stipend | 6 jobs Paid sabbatical | 5 jobs Lunch / meals | 2 jobs Flexible spending account | 2 jobs

Salary Composition

In the United States, the salary composition for a Senior-level/Expert Research Analyst in AI/ML/Data Science typically includes a base salary, performance bonuses, and additional remuneration such as stock options or equity, especially in tech companies. The base salary is often the largest component, accounting for approximately 70-80% of the total compensation package. Performance bonuses can vary significantly, ranging from 10-20% of the base salary, depending on individual and company performance. Additional remuneration, such as stock options, is more common in larger tech companies and startups, where it can form a significant part of the total compensation, sometimes up to 20-30%. Regional differences also play a role; for instance, salaries in tech hubs like San Francisco or New York City tend to be higher due to the cost of living and competitive job market. Industry-wise, tech and finance sectors often offer higher compensation compared to academia or non-profit organizations.

Increasing Salary

To increase your salary from a Senior-level/Expert Research Analyst position, consider the following strategies:

• Specialization: Develop expertise in a niche area of AI/ML, such as natural language processing, computer vision, or reinforcement learning, which can make you more valuable to employers.
• Leadership Roles: Transition into leadership or managerial roles, such as a team lead or director of data science, which typically come with higher pay.
• Continuous Learning: Stay updated with the latest technologies and methodologies in AI/ML through courses, workshops, and conferences.
• Networking: Build a strong professional network to learn about higher-paying opportunities and gain insights into industry trends.
• Negotiation Skills: Improve your negotiation skills to better advocate for higher pay during performance reviews or when switching jobs.

Educational Requirements

Most Senior-level/Expert Research Analyst positions in AI/ML/Data Science require at least a master's degree in a related field such as computer science, data science, statistics, or mathematics. A Ph.D. is often preferred, especially for roles focused on research and development. The educational background should include a strong foundation in algorithms, machine learning, data analysis, and programming languages like Python or R.

Helpful Certificates

While not always mandatory, certain certifications can enhance your profile and demonstrate your expertise:

• Certified Data Scientist (CDS)
• TensorFlow Developer Certificate
• AWS Certified Machine Learning – Specialty
• Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Engineer Associate
• Google Professional Machine Learning Engineer

These certifications can validate your skills and knowledge in specific tools and platforms, making you more attractive to potential employers.

Required Experience

Typically, a Senior-level/Expert Research Analyst role requires at least 5-10 years of experience in data science or a related field. This experience should include hands-on work with machine learning models, data analysis, and statistical methods. Experience in leading projects or teams, as well as a proven track record of successful implementations of AI/ML solutions, is highly valued.

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