13 of the Best Types of Researcher Jobs in 2026

Discover some great types of Researcher jobs that are hiring now.

High Paying Researcher Jobs

• Freelance Researcher

  Salary range: $67,000 - $154,000

  To become a freelance researcher, you may simply need a high school diploma or GED certificate and several years of experience as a fact-checker, library worker, or a similar position. Some employers prefer researchers to have a bachelor’s degree in a subject specific to the type of work they do, while others are more interested in other qualifications, such as being detail-oriented and having strong written and verbal communication skills. As a freelancer, you need to be able to seek out new work constantly, so being a good multitasker is helpful.

• Entry Level Researcher

  Salary range: $67,000 - $154,000

  To get an entry-level research job, you need to meet several qualifications, including the right education, work experience, and a specialized set of skills. Typically, you need a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, such as biology or chemistry if working in the sciences, to qualify. While your course studies should depend on the field you want to perform research in, it is also useful to have strong computer literacy and data analysis skills, even if your degree is in the humanities. It’s recommended to partake in summer jobs or internships to gain initial experience. In addition, you should have excellent attention to detail and strong communication and multitasking skills.

• Virtual Researcher

  Salary range: $67,000 - $154,000

  If you want to become a virtual researcher, you must first pursue a bachelor's degree in the field in which you wish to work, such as psychology, criminal justice, computer science, chemistry, biology, finance, or marketing. Some positions require a master's degree or sufficient research and publishing experience to supplement. You must have excellent research skills and the ability to communicate efficiently. Additional qualifications include analytical thinking abilities, organizational skills, and in-depth knowledge of your industry. To be successful at this remote job, you need reliable internet, up-to-date computer equipment, proficiency with relevant software, and the ability to meet deadlines.

• Independent Contractor Researcher

  Salary range: $67,000 - $154,000

  You find Independent Contractors in many different industries, so the path to becoming one varies significantly. In general, you must have several years of experience in the field and have a track record of success in your industry. You also must pursue the kind of work that can be done on a consultant or contract basis. You may possess particular skills or expertise that a company needs temporarily, such as an IT Consultant, or provide a service that is required intermittently, like a Freelance Writer. Many Independent Contractors transition to becoming self-employed to have a more flexible schedule and the ability to choose their clients.

• Executive Researcher

  Salary range: $67,000 - $154,000

  The different types of executive jobs include upper- and senior-level management as well as the C-suite—the highest levels of senior management. The C-suite executives have the word “chief” at the beginning of their titles: Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Operating Officer (COO), and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) are the most common. Companies with a heavy reliance on information technology may also have a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). Other executive jobs include vice president and director of various departments.

• Temp Researcher

  Salary range: $67,000 - $154,000

  Temp Researcher is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Temp Researcher jobs pay between $67,000 (25th percentile) and $154,000 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Temp Researcher job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.

• Locum Researcher

  Salary range: $67,000 - $154,000

  Locum Researcher is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Locum Researcher jobs pay between $67,000 (25th percentile) and $154,000 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Locum Researcher job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.

• Union Researcher

  Salary range: $67,000 - $154,000

  For those who work for unions, some of the specific jobs include researchers, organizers, administrators, lawyers, communications workers, and clerical staff. Your duties include entering workplaces to speak with workers and provide them encouragement and support if they are interested in joining a specific union, or to negotiate with employers for better working conditions, pay, or benefits for union members. There are numerous types of unions, including health care, public sector, construction, writing, and service workers unions, and they represent a variety of professions, such as nurses, journalists, manufacturers, construction workers, municipal workers, and hotel workers, to name only a few.

• At Home Researcher

  Salary range: $67,000 - $154,000

  At Home Researcher is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for At Home Researcher jobs pay between $67,000 (25th percentile) and $154,000 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for At Home Researcher job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.

• Summer Researcher

  Salary range: $67,000 - $154,000

  Summer jobs are an integral part of American culture for students in their teens and beyond, but not all summer jobs are created equal. The difference between a great summer and an awful one can be the right job. According to Forbes, some good summer jobs for teens are camp counselor, golf caddy, nanny, food service, retail sales, and, of course, internships.

• Full Time Researcher

  Salary range: $67,000 - $154,000

  Full-time employment hours are generally determined by the employer. There is no single universal definition; however, various laws and policies govern different types of eligibility and statuses. For example, the Fair Labor Standards Act does not define full-time employment but does require overtime pay after 40 hours of work in a workweek for non-exempt employees. The Affordable Care Act, in determining Applicable Large Employers, defines full-time employees as those working an average of at least 30 hours per week, or 130 hours a month. The H-1B Visa Program defines full-time as 40 hours per week, normally, and in no event would less than 35 hours per week be considered to be full-time employment. In practice, full-time employment is typically between 32 and 40 hours per week.

• Senior Researcher

  Salary range: $50,000 - $98,500

  Senior Researcher is a typical job search query. Most salaries for Senior Researcher jobs pay between $50,000 (25th percentile) and $98,500 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Senior Researcher job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.

• Junior Researcher

  Salary range: $43,000 - $59,500

  Junior Researcher is a typical job search query. Most salaries for Junior Researcher jobs pay between $43,000 (25th percentile) and $59,500 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Junior Researcher job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.