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

Q: How long does it take to become a researcher?

It takes about ten years to become a researcher. This time includes the years of schooling and research experience needed to work as a researcher. To become a researcher, you will first need to complete a four-year bachelor's degree in the field you wish to research. For example, if you're interested in becoming a research psychologist, you will want to major in psychology.

Q: Is a researcher a job?

Yes, being a researcher is a job. Working as a researcher can be an exciting career for anyone interested in applying the scientific method to better understand the world around us. Most people think of academia when they think of researchers. However, researchers are found across industries and fields.

Q: What degree do you need to become a researcher?

The degree you need to become a researcher is a doctorate in the field you'd like to research. In some cases, a researcher can have just a master's degree and several years of work experience, depending on the industry.

Q: What does a researcher study?

A researcher studies how to apply the scientific method within their chosen field. Researchers work to discover new information or to answer a question about how we learn, behave and function with the end goal of benefitting society. Some studies might involve simple tasks like completing a survey, observing people, or participating in a group discussion.

Q: What is the role of a researcher?

The role of a researcher is to use the scientific method and research process to better understand the world around us. Researchers typically work for academic institutions or businesses. Researchers gather data during the project life cycle, analyze the data, and publish the findings to aid new research, enrich scholarly literature, and improve decision-making.

Q: What qualifications do you need to be a researcher?

A researcher will almost always need a bachelor's degree. However, in many positions, a master's degree or another post-graduate degree may be necessary or preferred. Some positions will require as much as a doctoral degree.

What is a researcher and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted Experts

Dr. Betsy Smith,

Daniel Patten Ph.D.

A researcher conducts research in a particular field of study. They collect and analyze data, including surveys, experiments, and observations. Researchers may work in universities, government agencies, private companies, and non-profit organizations. They aim to generate new knowledge and contribute to the advancement of their field. They often publish their findings in academic journals and present them at conferences. Researchers are characterized by their curiosity, critical thinking skills, and dedication.

What general advice would you give to a Researcher?

Dr. Betsy Smith

Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Elmira College

I would advise students just graduating to be flexible and open-minded in their job search. Chemistry is a challenging major, and students who succeed in it have learned how to learn, so they shouldn't assume that pure chemistry is the only thing they can do. One growing field is biomedical research, and chemistry majors are often qualified for jobs in that area. If you have other strengths, like writing, there are often jobs that can combine them as a technical writer or work for a science journal. There are jobs out there that might be perfect for you that you haven't heard of until you see an ad for it, so be open to different possibilities.

ScoreResearcherUS Average

Salary

5.2

Avg. Salary $67,145

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 26.37%

Black or African American 6.39%

Hispanic or Latino 9.63%

Unknown 4.11%

White 53.36%

Gender

female 49.10%

male 50.90%

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

What are the pros and cons of being a Researcher?

Pros

Ability to work on intellectually stimulating projects
Flexibility in research topics and methods
Chance to work with cutting-edge technology and equipment
Possibility of securing grant funding for research projects
High degree of independence and autonomy in the research process

Cons

Intense competition for funding and publication opportunities
Potential for isolation and loneliness in solitary research work
Challenges in communicating findings to non-expert audiences
Limited financial compensation, especially in early career stages
Ethical concerns around research design, data collection, and participant consent.

Key steps to become a researcher

Explore researcher education requirements

Most common researcher degrees

Bachelor's

71.3 %

Master's

13.2 %

Associate

5.8 %

Start to develop specific researcher skills

Skills	Percentages
Python	12.39%
Lab Equipment	8.59%
C++	7.76%
Data Analysis	5.62%
Data Collection	4.48%

Complete relevant researcher training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New 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 researcher based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real researcher resumes.

Research researcher duties and responsibilities

Manage social media publications to spread awareness and notifications on Facebook.
Perform cellular assays, DNA extractions, PCR, and sequencing to identify cellulase- producing soil bacteria.
Implement data visualization tools by Java.
Present research findings to select professors and professionals at scholar conferences.

Prepare your researcher resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your 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 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 Researcher Resume templates

Build a professional 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 Researcher resume.

Apply for researcher jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a researcher job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Researcher Job

Shehnaz Kausar

Researcher

I worked as an school administrator and later as an office management intern in university. When university announced post for research officer,i have completed my mphil by that time so applied for the post and got selected. Thats how i became a researcher.
Additionally, in my BS thesis, my external suggested me to pursue a researcher career, that also motivated me to join this profession.

Manoj Kumar

Researcher

As for me I have done my bachelor's degree in crimial behaviour from Murdoch University and before that I have had keen interest in research work specialising in crimial activities.

I also did my graduate diploma in business analytics and data storytelling from Aventis School of management. However , I use some skills from there to analyse current trends of crime in Singapore.

As an investigative researcher I conducted comprehensive research into criminal activities, I also gather statistics and information to do further evaluation of data to support investigation which is done by SPF and private investigator's.

How do researchers rate their job?

3/5

Based On 1 Ratings

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Researcher reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2023

Cons

You may find it difficult to sell the value of your services to clients if you are unable to convince them that your background and experience have provided you with skills that go beyond run-of-the-mill internet searches. Establishing the business likely will require extensive networking, marketing, and self-promotion to build a client base. You have to be able to objectively evaluate information since not all information found on the internet is accurate. You need to have the skills and knowledge to go beyond basic Google or Bing searches. There are billions of pages of data that popular search engines don't reach, and you need to know how to find that data to be valuable to your clients. You have to be especially careful to avoid plagiarism and know how to cite your sources when gathering information online. You need to understand the different search operators and how to use them to find what you're looking for. You need to know what questions to ask your clients to get a clear understanding of what information they need.

3.0

A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020

Pros

Exploring more about reseaching field by building knowledge in a certain subject of research and growing the wisdom and knowledge.

Cons

The struggle of not breaking a certain research topic.

A zippia user wrote a review on Sep 2019

Pros

What I like is that,you get to interact with different people from various communities.Relationships are formed in the process

Cons

Language barrier can be a problem,because communication needs to be formed in the language that each community you interact with understands.

What is a researcher and how to become one

What general advice would you give to a Researcher?

What are the pros and cons of being a Researcher?

Researcher career paths

Key steps to become a researcher

Explore researcher education requirements

Most common researcher degrees

Start to develop specific researcher skills

Complete relevant researcher training and internships

Research researcher duties and responsibilities

Prepare your researcher resume

Choose From 10+ Customizable Researcher Resume templates

Apply for researcher jobs

How Did You Land Your First Researcher Job

Average researcher salary

How do researchers rate their job?

Researcher reviews

Researcher FAQs

How long does it take to become a researcher?

Is a researcher a job?

What degree do you need to become a researcher?

What does a researcher study?

What is the role of a researcher?

What qualifications do you need to be a researcher?

Search for researcher jobs

Researcher jobs by state