by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Research Administration involves the study of A Program Designed To Prepare Formally Trained, Advanced-Level Personnel For Research Administration Leadership Positions At Colleges And Universities, Government Agencies, Hospitals, Nonprofit Agencies, And In Industry. Includes Instruction In Bioethics, Biostatistics, Ethical, Legal And Regulatory Consideration In Clinical Investigation, Financial Analysis, Grant Writing, Managing And Monitoring Clinical Trials, Project Management, Strategic Planning, And Team Building. Read on to learn the essential details every research administration student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering research administration programs.
Programs in Research Administration develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations research administration graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a research administration program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a research administration major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
People currently working in careers related to research administration tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 55.6% |
| Master’s degree | 14.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 6.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 5.0% |
| Doctoral degree | 4.7% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 4.7% |
| Some college courses | 3.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 2.8% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.9% |
| First professional degree | 0.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.2% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in research administration careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in research administration opens doors to a variety of career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to research administration.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to research administration.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | 419,330 | 8.8% |
| Fundraisers | 340,575 | 12.6% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
| Loss Prevention Managers | 265,210 | 2.2% |
| Education Administrators, Postsecondary | 237,062 | -1.7% |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | 206,415 | 9.9% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of research administration graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $62,537 |
| 4 years | $63,883 |
| 5 years | $71,749 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for research administration graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers research administration grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Education Administrators, Postsecondary | $161,927 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $129,557 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Fundraisers | $118,069 |
Use our unbiased research administration school rankings to find the best fit for you.
Those considering research administration, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management, General | 336,590 |
| Organizational Leadership | 15,674 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other | 12,497 |
| Operations Management and Supervision | 12,273 |
| Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management | 10,865 |
| Project Management | 4,784 |
| Office Management and Supervision | 3,126 |
| Non-Profit/Public/Organizational Management | 2,454 |
| Retail Management | 1,434 |
| Purchasing, Procurement/Acquisitions and Contracts Management | 1,230 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
