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Senior Research Associate Jobs in Wisconsin (NOW HIRING)

Survey Research Associate

Madison, WI · On-site +1

$50K - $60K/yr

Survey Research Associate The Survey Research Associate position leads the planning, coordination ... Shadowing and assisting Survey Research (SR) Team members in all aspects of our survey processes ...

Senior R&D Scientist

Sheboygan, WI · On-site

$92K - $126K/yr

The Lead/Senior Scientist serves as a project and technical leader, providing guidance and mentorship to Associate Scientists, Development Scientists, and R&D or QA Technicians as needed during ...

Senior R&D Scientist

Sheboygan, WI

$92K - $126K/yr

The Lead/Senior Scientist serves as a project and technical leader, providing guidance and mentorship to Associate Scientists, Development Scientists, and R&D or QA Technicians as needed during ...

Senior - R&D Tax Credits

Milwaukee, WI · On-site

$87K - $146K/yr

CLA is growing and seeking to hire a Senior Associate - R&D Tax Credits to join our talented Federal Tax Strategies (FTS) team. The position offers growth, flexibility and a collaborative work ...

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Senior Research Associate information

See Wisconsin salary details

$22

$45

$65

How much do senior research associate jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 28, 2026, the average hourly pay for senior research associate in Wisconsin is $45.46, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $38.32 and $50.96 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced by Senior Research Associates in managing multiple projects simultaneously?

Senior Research Associates often juggle several projects at once, which can make prioritization and time management challenging. Balancing hands-on experimental work, data analysis, and documentation while meeting project deadlines requires strong organizational skills and clear communication with team members. Proactively coordinating with principal investigators and cross-functional teams helps ensure that expectations are aligned, resources are available, and progress stays on track. Utilizing project management tools and regular team meetings can also aid in overcoming these challenges.

What is the difference between Senior Research Associate vs Research Scientist?

AspectSenior Research AssociateResearch Scientist
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's degree, relevant experienceMaster's or Ph.D., specialized research training
Work EnvironmentLaboratories, research teams, industry or academiaAdvanced research settings, independent projects
Employer & Industry UsagePharmaceuticals, biotech, academia, governmentResearch institutions, biotech firms, academia
Common Search & ComparisonOften compared for career progression, responsibilitiesMore specialized, higher-level research roles

The main difference between a Senior Research Associate and a Research Scientist lies in their experience, level of independence, and research responsibilities. Senior Research Associates typically support research projects with substantial experience, while Research Scientists often lead projects and require advanced degrees like a Ph.D. for more independent research roles. Both roles are vital in research environments, but Research Scientists usually hold a higher level of expertise and responsibility.

What Is a Senior Research Associate?

A senior research associate is a clinical or social scientist who runs experiments or studies at a medical center, think tank, university, or for a pharmaceutical company. As a senior research associate, your job duties include performing clinical research, complex testing of samples, data collection, and analysis of results. In this job, you direct researchers in your lab and collaborate with other scientific professionals to design experiments or compare results. Qualifications and skills needed for this career include a bachelor’s degree in a field related to your work and several years of experience as a research associate. A master’s degree or Ph.D. with significant research or laboratory components can substitute for some job experience.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Senior Research Associate, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Senior Research Associate, you need advanced research skills, data analysis expertise, and a relevant degree (often a master's or PhD) in a scientific or technical field. Familiarity with laboratory equipment, statistical software (such as SPSS or R), and compliance with regulatory standards is typically required. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective communication make someone stand out in this position. These skills and qualities are essential for ensuring accurate research outcomes, fostering innovation, and supporting collaboration within research teams.

What is a Senior Research Associate?

A Senior Research Associate is an experienced professional who leads and conducts advanced research projects within academic, scientific, or corporate environments. They are responsible for designing experiments, analyzing data, supervising junior staff, and contributing to publications and grant proposals. Senior Research Associates often act as key members of research teams, providing expertise and ensuring projects are completed efficiently and accurately. Their role requires a strong background in their field, excellent analytical skills, and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
What are popular job titles related to Senior Research Associate jobs in Wisconsin? For Senior Research Associate jobs in Wisconsin, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What cities in Wisconsin are hiring for Senior Research Associate jobs? Cities in Wisconsin with the most Senior Research Associate job openings:
Infographic showing various Senior Research Associate job openings in Wisconsin as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 70% Full Time, 26% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $94,564 per year, or $45.5 per hour.
Survey Research Associate

Survey Research Associate

Polco

Madison, WI • On-site, Remote

$50K - $60K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, PTO

Posted 6 days ago


Job description

Survey Research Associate

The Survey Research Associate position leads the planning, coordination, and execution of survey initiatives conducted on behalf of local governments. This role oversees the full lifecycle of benchmark surveys, including project onboarding and setup, data collection, analysis coordination, and reporting. Working closely with city administrators, department leaders, and communication experts, Survey Research Associates ensure that surveys are aligned with municipal goals, meet high methodological standards, and are delivered on time and within budget.

The role requires strong organizational skills, knowledge of survey research methods, and the ability to translate data into clear, actionable insights for public sector decision-makers. The Survey Research Associate serves as the primary point of contact for municipal clients and ensures that survey findings meaningfully inform policy, service improvements, and community engagement efforts.

During your first few months, your responsibilities will include:

  • Shadowing and assisting Survey Research (SR) Team members in all aspects of our survey processes including survey creation, programming, sampling, creating outreach materials, finalizing reports for clients, and performing quality assurance checks
  • Learning to promptly respond to client questions, resolve technical issues and requests for information, and manage engagement and outreach efforts
  • Supporting colleagues and clients through the lifecycle of their survey projects
  • Understanding and conveying the value of Polco and our benchmark survey products to our clients
  • Using various mediums of communication to troubleshoot and solve problems as they arise

With training, your responsibilities will evolve to include:

  • Own a portfolio of up to 15 concurrent projects, successfully delivering 30+ projects annually
  • Create, monitor, and update project plans to provide a complete picture of project progress and performance at all times
  • Manage project scope, schedule, quality, resources, and risk to ensure that all projects produce the required deliverables on time and at the necessary level of quality
  • Maintain accurate and up-to-date Asana boards throughout each project's lifecycle, ensuring that standard processes are followed, enabling other teammates to collaborate
  • Collaborate with clients to build strong relationships built on trust and commitment
  • Recognize and suggest potential system and process enhancements that could be made to increase effectiveness or efficiency of internal and external processes
  • Identify upsell opportunities and bring those to the attention of the appropriate member of the Sales Team

What You'll Bring:

  • A BA, BS, or any combination of skills and experience that would allow for success in the position
  • Minimum of 3 years related experience, preferably in client-facing roles that involved project management
  • Exceptional attention to detail, accuracy, and organizational skills
  • Excellent written and verbal communication abilities
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Suite, and Asana (or a similar work-management tool)
  • Experience with Tableau, data analysis, and reporting (R, SPSS, Excel) is preferred
  • A basic understanding of more complex survey research tools (R) where replication of tasks is required
  • Background in survey research or market research and knowledge of survey methodology and best practices
  • Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a remote team environment
  • Strong problem-solving skills and ability to manage competing priorities

Perks & Benefits:

  • Exceptional benefits package including dental, medical, and vision coverage
  • Remote work environment
  • Flexible work hours, 14 company holidays, and generous paid time off

To Apply:

Apply for the Survey Research Associate position by submitting a resume, one-page cover letter, and your personal information to the listing on Polco's careers page. Both a resume and a cover letter are required for full consideration. Please submit your application materials as PDFs.

This position was first posted on June 24, 2026 and will remain open until filled.

Employment Type: FULL_TIME