Leadership role

Principal Investigator

Designs and leads research studies in a scientific or scholarly field.

Reporting and scope

Reports to a department chair, Director of Research or VP of Research. Authority covers the investigator's funded studies, lab and research team.

Core responsibilities

  • Designs studies and writes grant applications to federal agencies and foundations
  • Leads the lab or project team, including postdocs and research team members
  • Manages award budgets and complies with sponsor terms
  • Ensures IRB, animal care and research integrity requirements are met
  • Publishes results and presents at scientific meetings
  • Reports progress and outcomes to sponsors

How it differs

The Director of Research manages a research unit and its portfolio, while the Principal Investigator leads specific awards. The VP of Research and Chief Science Officer set institution-wide research strategy. Professor / Faculty covers teaching roles that may or may not include research.

By organization size

At independent research institutes a PI's salary may be funded largely by grants. At large institutions senior PIs may direct multi-site centers.

Filings from the last five years mapped to this role commonly report titles such as: Chief Research Officer; Principal Investigator; Senior Research Scientist; Sr. Research Scientist; Sr Research Scientist

Related roles

Roles this description compares with Principal Investigator, or that compare themselves with it.

Director of Research
Directs an organization's research or evaluation work.
VP of Research
Directs an organization's research program.
Chief Science Officer
The senior scientific executive, leading the research or scientific direction of a research institute, disease foundation or health organization.
Professor / Faculty
Teaches courses in an academic subject and may conduct research or scholarship in it.

See what this role pays

Median reported total compensation, nationally: $213,000. Based on 520 IRS Form 990 filings, fiscal years 2021–2025.

This median spans organizations of every budget size and sector, so it will not match a benchmark for one organization.

Benchmark pay for this role

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