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Chemical Engineer III - Research & Development (R&D) Salary in the United States

How much does a Chemical Engineer III - Research & Development (R&D) make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Chemical Engineer III - Research & Development (R&D) in the United States is $114,500 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $55.

However, a Chemical Engineer III - Research & Development (R&D)'s salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $131,121
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $107,300 to $123,200
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $100,745
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View as table View as graph 25% $107,300 10% $100,745 90% $131,121 75% $123,200 $114,500 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Chemical Engineer III - Research & Development (R&D) Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $123,200 $10,267 $2,369 $59
Average $114,500 $9,542 $2,202 $55
25th Percentile $107,300 $8,942 $2,063 $52
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Key Factors That Influence Chemical Engineer III - Research & Development (R&D) Salaries

A Chemical Engineer III - Research & Development (R&D)'s salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Chemical Engineer III - Research & Development (R&D) Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Chemical Engineer III - Research & Development (R&D)'s salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Chemical Engineer I - Research & Development (R&D) (0-2 years): $83,601
  • Chemical Engineer II - Research & Development (R&D) (2-4 years): $97,230
  • Chemical Engineer III - Research & Development (R&D) (4-7 years): $114,421
  • Chemical Engineer IV - Research & Development (R&D) (7+ years): $138,331
  • Chemical Engineer - Expert/Consultant (7-10 years): $164,836
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Chemical Engineer I - Research & Development (R&D)0-2 years$83,601
Chemical Engineer II - Research & Development (R&D)2-4 years$97,230
Chemical Engineer III - Research & Development (R&D)4-7 years$114,421
Chemical Engineer IV - Research & Development (R&D)7+ years$138,331
Chemical Engineer - Expert/Consultant7-10 years$164,836
$83,601 Chemical ...
$97,230 Chemical ...
$114,421 Chemical ...
$138,331 Chemical ...
$164,836 Chemical ...
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Chemical Engineer III - Research & Development (R&D)s

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $144,400
  • San Francisco: $142,800
  • Oakland: $139,800

What Skills Can Increase a Chemical Engineer III - Research & Development (R&D)'s Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Consulting (Mentioned in 5.79% Job Postings): Providing technical or business expertise and advice to internal or external clients.
  • Continuous Improvement (Mentioned in 2.37% Job Postings): A continual improvement process, also often called a continuous improvement process (abbreviated as CIP or CI), is an ongoing effort to improve products, services, or processes. These efforts can seek "incremental" improvement over time or "breakthrough" improvement all at once. Delivery (customer valued) processes are constantly evaluated and improved in the light of their efficiency, effectiveness and flexibility. Some see CIPs as a meta-process for most management systems (such as business process management, quality management, project management, and program management). W. Edwards Deming, a pioneer of the field, saw it as part of the 'system' whereby feedback from the process and customer were evaluated against organisational goals. The fact that it can be called a management process does not mean that it needs to be executed by 'management'; but rather merely that it makes decisions about the implementation of the delivery process and the design of the delivery process itself.
  • Environmental Safety (Mentioned in 1.58% Job Postings): Enforcing safety guidelines, policies, and practices to prevent workplace incidents while reducing environmental toxins and spillage.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Consulting 5.79%
Continuous Improvement 2.37%
Environmental Safety 1.58%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Chemical Engineer III - Research & Development (R&D)'s salary.
  • Taking Action: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Employee Health and Safety: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Purchasing: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Taking Action
$129,385
13%
Employee Health and Safety
$129,385
13%
Purchasing
$127,095
11%
Data Analytics
$121,370
6%
Design Engineering
$121,370
6%
Energy Efficiency
$121,370
6%
Get Latest Data

Chemical Engineer III - Research & Development (R&D) Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Chemical Engineer III - Research & Development (R&D) salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $128,251. While startup companies pay approximate $108,590.

Chemical Engineer III - Research & Development (R&D) Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup1~50$108,590
Growth Stage51~500$114,815
Established501~5000$123,876
Enterprise5000+$128,251

Chemical Engineer III - Research & Development (R&D) Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Chemical Engineer III - Research & Development (R&D) roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 60% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Chemical Engineer III - Research & Development (R&D) positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Energy & Utilities typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Chemical Engineer III - Research & Development (R&D) as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Chemical Engineer III - Research & Development (R&D)

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$148,850$72.030%
Biotechnology$143,125$69.025%
Business Services$137,400$66.020%
Chemicals$131,675$63.015%
Construction$125,950$61.010%

How Education impacts a Chemical Engineer III - Research & Development (R&D)'s Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Chemical Engineer III - Research & Development (R&D)s enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Chemical Engineer III - Research & Development (R&D) with a Bachelor's Degree is between $113,264 and $119,951).

Chemical Engineer III - Research & Development (R&D) Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Chemical Engineer III - Research & Development (R&D)
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.4%
High School 0.4%
Associates 29.3%
Bachelors 46.7%
Masters 29.3%
Doctorate 23.6%
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Chemical Engineer III - Research & Development (R&D) Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Chemical Engineer III - Research & Development (R&D)'s annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026

Chemical Engineer III - Research & Development (R&D) Salary Growth & Career Path

For a Chemical Engineer III - Research & Development (R&D), the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Chemical Engineer IV - Research & Development (R&D) role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $138,400 - a projected growth of 21% over your current level.

Salary Trends for Chemical Engineer III - Research & Development (R&D)

Salaries for a Chemical Engineer III - Research & Development (R&D) can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $119,657 in 2023 to around $108,308 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Chemical Engineer III - Research & Development (R&D) salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Chemical Engineer III - Research & Development (R&D) Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$119,657
2024
$116,113
2025
$108,308
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $119,657
2024 $116,113
2025 $108,308
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Chemical Engineer III - Research & Development (R&D)

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Chemical Engineer III - Research & Development (R&D)

Here are companies hiring for Chemical Engineer III - Research & Development (R&D) and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Chemical Engineer III - Research & Development (R&D) Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Chemical Engineer III - Research & Development (R&D) job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

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    21 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Senior Vice President of Project Delivery. About the Company. A multi-billion-dollar construction organization with collaborative, servant-minded leadershi... more

    21 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

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    21 Days Ago

  • McDonalds

    Columbus, OH

    McDonalds | Columbus, OH

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    28 Days Ago

  • Amazon Flex

    Columbus, OH

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  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Commercial. About the Company. Globally-recognized manufacturer of packaging components & delivery systems for injectable drugs. Industry. ... more

    1 Month Ago

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FAQ about Chemical Engineer III - Research & Development (R&D)

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Chemical Engineer III - Research & Development (R&D)?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Chemical Engineer III - Research & Development (R&D) roles, with salaries approximately 30% above the market median.

2. What is the highest salary chemical engineering jobs?

The highest salary for a Chemical Engineer in Research & Development (R&D) ranges from $107,500 to $132,100, with a mid-salary of $119,700. This positions chemical engineering as a lucrative career option, especially when compared to other high-paying professions in various fields.

3. What is the wage of research engineer?

The estimated total pay for a Chemical Engineer in Research & Development (R&D) ranges from $107,500 to $132,100 per year, with a median salary of $119,700. This median represents the midpoint of the salary range based on collected data.

4. What is the highest paid research field?

The highest paid research field includes roles like Chemical Engineer in Research & Development (R&D), with salaries ranging from $107,500 to $132,100. Other high-paying positions include Postdoctoral Research Associate and Pharmaceutical Scientist, but the Chemical Engineer role offers a competitive salary, reflecting the demand for expertise in this area.

5. Is R&D a good job?

R&D is indeed a promising career, especially for Chemical Engineers. With salaries ranging from $107,500 to $132,100, it offers competitive compensation. The field is thriving, with India establishing 25 innovation centers this year, highlighting the growing demand for innovative ideas and solutions. Overall, R&D is a lucrative and rewarding path.

6. How much do R&D engineers make in USA?

In the USA, Chemical Engineers in Research & Development (R&D) earn between $107,500 and $132,100 annually, with a median salary of approximately $119,700. These figures reflect the typical salary range for this role, highlighting the competitive compensation in the field.

7. Do R&D jobs pay well?

R&D jobs, particularly for Chemical Engineers, offer competitive salaries. The minimum salary is $107,500, with a mid-range salary of $119,700 and a maximum of $132,100. This indicates that R&D positions in this field are well-compensated, reflecting the specialized skills and expertise required.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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