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How to become a Researcher

4,385

Researcher jobs

3,800

Researcher courses

Career progression and salary expectations for a Researcher

Research Assistant

| Up to £25,000

Researcher

| Up to £35,000

Senior Researcher

| Up to £50,000

The role of a Researcher

What does a Researcher do?

Enjoy looking for answers? Then look no further; put your natural curiosity to good use and become a Researcher…A Researcher collects information and studies data in their chosen field, which can be used to make informed political, social, and economic decisions.Potential specialisms for a Researcher to move into range from scientific research, such as helping to develop medical products by conducting scientific experiments, to social and even television research, which help inform the nation’s favourite TV shows.Although specific responsibilities vary dependant on industry, general tasks for a Researcher include:

Meeting and communicating with clients to discuss project plans
Using electronic databases to collect information
Spotting trends in data
Using statistical software to manage and organise material
Building research proposals and detailed reports
Presenting findings to the client or senior management

Is a career as a Researcher right for me?

Regardless of the sector you’re involved in, a great amount of patience, not to mention a keen eye for detail, are absolutely essential attributes for a Researcher to have.Because of the analytical nature of the role, you must be methodical in the way you carry out tasks and be able to provide valid, proven evidence behind your theories.A good Researcher should also be:

Resourceful and creative
Persistent and self-confident
Proficient in maths and literacy
Able to take responsibility for their work and handle working under pressure
Passionate about the use of statistics

What's it like to be a Researcher?

"As a Scientific Researcher, my main role is to carry out various experiments, which give me a good opportunity to learn new things. Specialising in diseases and how they affect the brain, my job is to examine the damage and present my findings in a coherent format. Although the job can be full-on at times, when you’re really dedicated to an experiment you find yourself looking forward to the outcome, and at that point, all of your hard work becomes worthwhile. It’s also pretty cool to be able to tell people that you’re basically a Scientist."

Get qualified as a Researcher

To become a Researcher, you will need to have completed a related degree ideally in the field of research you’d like to enter e.g. social sciences, business and economics, or science. There are also various courses available specialising in qualitative and quantitative research which could help you break into the industry.

Recommended Researcher courses

Study Skills and Research Methods for Health and Social Care Workers

Academy for Health & Fitness

Updated 2026 | CPD Certified | 10 CPD Points | Free PDF Certificate | Tutor Support | Instant & Lifetime Access
- Compare
- Online
- 1.7 hours · Self-paced
- Certificate(s) included
- 10 CPD points
- Tutor support
Great service

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...reflective workers are. Are you ready to present, research and evaluate your work with greater authority? This course teaches essential study skills, work presentation, primary research methods, questionnaire surveying, secondary research and evaluation methodology. You will learn how …
£15
OTHM Level 7 Certificate in Research Methods

Course 4 U

Awarded by OTHM | Regulated by Ofqual | PASS Grade Only | Comprehensive Study Material Provided
- Compare
- Online
- 26 weeks · Self-paced
- Regulated qualification
- Exam(s) included
- Certificate(s) included
- Tutor support
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...you will develop your research capability through practical, applied academic work. What you will study Throughout the programme, you will build essential postgraduate-level research skills, including: Qualitative and quantitative research methodologies Research design principles and …
£540