What Do Research Technicians Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for research technicians?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what research technicians do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Research Technicians Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about research technicians by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Research Technicians all social scientists and related workers not listed separately.
Popular Job Titles For Research Technicians
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Transportation Specialists
- Transportation Planners
- Transportation Analysts
- Fleet Coordinators
- Transportation Planning Managers
- Transportation Operations Specialists
- Fleet Specialists
- Airway Transportation Systems Specialists
- Anthropologists
- Transportation Safety Specialists
- Transport Specialists
- Fleet Planners
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for research technicians can be found.
Best Industries for Research Technicians
Research Technicians Jobs By Industry
- Federal Government, Civilian: 55.1%
- Education and Hospitals (State Government): 10.7%
- Scientific Research and Development Services: 8%
- State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 4.6%
- Management of Companies and Enterprises: 4.3%
- Federal Government, Military: 3.4%
- Other: 13.9%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of research technicians can be found working in the Federal Government, Civilian sector. In 2023, about 55.1% of all jobs for research technicians were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Education and Hospitals (State Government) (10.7%), Scientific Research and Development Services (8%), State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (4.6%), Management of Companies and Enterprises (4.3%) and Federal Government, Military (3.4%).
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What Do Research Technicians Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what research technicians do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work research technicians do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that research technicians tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for research technicians, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Research Technicians
Based on 20,662 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Research Technicians
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Transportation Planning | 3,119 | 15% |
| Project Management | 2,603 | 13% |
| Data Analysis | 1,873 | 9% |
| Supply Chain | 1,554 | 8% |
| Civil Engineering | 1,396 | 7% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Research Technicians
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 8,609 | 42% |
| Management | 7,014 | 34% |
| Operations | 6,703 | 32% |
| Planning | 6,214 | 30% |
| Customer Service | 4,686 | 23% |
Based on 20,662 job postings related to research technicians, transportation planning was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 15% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for project management, data analysis, supply chain, civil engineering and auditing were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for research technicians, followed by management, operations, planning, customer service and writing.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Transportation Planning | 3,119 | 15% |
| Project Management | 2,603 | 13% |
| Data Analysis | 1,873 | 9% |
| Supply Chain | 1,554 | 8% |
| Civil Engineering | 1,396 | 7% |
| Auditing | 1,377 | 7% |
| Urban Planning | 1,307 | 6% |
| Geographic Information Systems | 1,265 | 6% |
| Data Collection | 1,212 | 6% |
| Finance | 1,125 | 5% |
| Invoicing | 1,118 | 5% |
| Transportation Analysis | 1,070 | 5% |
| Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) | 1,019 | 5% |
| Warehousing | 1,016 | 5% |
| Accounting | 1,014 | 5% |
| Process Improvement | 1,005 | 5% |
| Regional Planning | 985 | 5% |
| Procurement | 980 | 5% |
| Intelligent Transportation Systems | 924 | 4% |
| Social Sciences | 900 | 4% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 8,609 | 42% |
| Management | 7,014 | 34% |
| Operations | 6,703 | 32% |
| Planning | 6,214 | 30% |
| Customer Service | 4,686 | 23% |
| Writing | 4,028 | 19% |
| Coordinating | 3,802 | 18% |
| Research | 3,748 | 18% |
| Microsoft Office | 3,518 | 17% |
| Microsoft Excel | 3,303 | 16% |
| Leadership | 3,125 | 15% |
| Detail Oriented | 3,002 | 15% |
| Problem Solving | 2,857 | 14% |
| Presentations | 2,440 | 12% |
| Sales | 2,303 | 11% |
| Scheduling | 2,065 | 10% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 1,994 | 10% |
| Organizational Skills | 1,805 | 9% |
| Multitasking | 1,796 | 9% |
| Good Driving Record | 1,703 | 8% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Research Technicians
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Transportation Specialists | 9,054 | 34.9% |
| Transportation Planners | 3,609 | 13.9% |
| Transportation Analysts | 2,582 | 9.9% |
| Fleet Coordinators | 1,933 | 7.4% |
| Transportation Planning Managers | 900 | 3.5% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2022 and August 2023, the top job sought by employers was transportation specialists, with 3,015 unique job postings. Transportation planners were second, with 1,033 postings, followed by transportation analysts, fleet coordinators and transportation planning managers.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to research technicians.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Transportation Specialists | 9,054 | 34.9% |
| Transportation Planners | 3,609 | 13.9% |
| Transportation Analysts | 2,582 | 9.9% |
| Fleet Coordinators | 1,933 | 7.4% |
| Transportation Planning Managers | 900 | 3.5% |
| Transportation Operations Specialists | 1,191 | 4.6% |
| Fleet Specialists | 962 | 3.7% |
| Airway Transportation Systems Specialists | 516 | 2% |
| Anthropologists | 903 | 3.5% |
| Transportation Safety Specialists | 373 | 1.4% |
| Transport Specialists | 713 | 2.7% |
| Fleet Planners | 746 | 2.9% |
| Automotive Fleet Supervisors | 426 | 1.6% |
| Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Drivers | 207 | 0.8% |
| Social Scientists | 257 | 1% |
| Transportation Technicians | 538 | 2.1% |
| Transportation Professionals | 247 | 1% |
| Directors of Transportation Planning | 258 | 1% |
| Maintenance Specialists | 250 | 1% |
| Fleet Managers | 295 | 1.1% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for research technicians? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for research technicians.
How much do research technicians make?
Research Technicians: How do you become one?
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