Research Scientist to Intelligence Analyst

Summary: 2 of the 6 core skills listed for Intelligence Analyst carry over directly from Research Scientist, and 1 more build on related experience. The US median salary changes by +6% ($85K → $90K). Difficulty: Moderate, typically around 6 months of focused upskilling.

The two roles

Research Scientist: Conduct scientific research and experiments to advance knowledge.

Intelligence Analyst: Analyze intelligence data to support national security decisions. Growth outlook +8%; AI-augmented (AI changes how the work is done, not whether it exists). Typical education: bachelor. Typical experience: 2-5 years + clearance.

Skills that carry over

• Critical Thinking
• Data Analysis

Builds on related experience

• Report Writing — builds on Scientific Writing

Skills to learn for Intelligence Analyst

• Intelligence Analysis
• Research
• Security Clearance

Salary comparison (median, estimated)

Salary figures are estimates benchmarked against public compensation data — see methodology.

Next steps

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Related

Research Scientist career guide | Intelligence Analyst career guide

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