upper level job

Hourly Wage for Chemical Research & Development Engineering Manager Salary in the United States

What is the highest and lowest hourly pay for Chemical Research & Development Engineering Manager?

As of August 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Chemical Research & Development Engineering Manager in the United States is $71, which translates to an annual salary of about $148,100.

However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $83 per hour
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $70 to $78 per hour
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $68 per hour
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
Smart Recruiting
AI Onboarding
View as table View as graph 25% $70 10% $68 90% $83 75% $78 $71 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Chemical Research & Development Engineering Manager Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $161,400 $13,450 $3,104 $78
Average $148,100 $12,342 $2,848 $71
25th Percentile $144,740 $12,062 $2,783 $70
Check out Chemical Research & Development Engineering Manager Job Openings in the United States
Business Development Manager

Actalent - Columbus, OH

Chief AI Officer

Confidential - Columbus, OH

Associate Vice President Internal Communications

Confidential - Columbus, OH

Vice President Credit Risk Strategy&Data Science

Confidential - Columbus, OH

Search More Chemical Research & Development Engineering Manager Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Chemical Research & Development Engineering Manager Salaries

A Chemical Research & Development Engineering Manager'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, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Chemical Research & Development Engineering Manager Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Chemical Research & Development Engineering Manager'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 IV - Research & Development (R&D) (7+ years): $138,331
  • Chemical Engineer - Expert/Consultant (7-10 years): $164,836
  • Chemical Engineer - Advisor (10-12 years): $190,106
  • Chemical Research & Development Engineering Manager (12+ years): $148,092
  • Chemical Research & Development Engineering Director (12+ years): $201,441
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Chemical Engineer IV - Research & Development (R&D)7+ years$138,331
Chemical Engineer - Expert/Consultant7-10 years$164,836
Chemical Engineer - Advisor10-12 years$190,106
Chemical Research & Development Engineering Manager12+ years$148,092
Chemical Research & Development Engineering Director12+ years$201,441
$138,331 Chemical ...
$164,836 Chemical ...
$190,106 Chemical ...
$148,092 Chemical ...
$201,441 Chemical ...
View as Table
View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Chemical Research & Development Engineering Managers

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: $186,790
  • San Francisco: $184,750
  • Oakland: $180,850

What Skills Can Increase a Chemical Research & Development Engineering Manager's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 7.04% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Customer Satisfaction (Mentioned in 2.82% Job Postings): Customer satisfaction (often abbreviated as CSAT, more correctly CSat) is a term frequently used in marketing. It is a measure of how products and services supplied by a company meet or surpass customer expectation. Customer satisfaction is defined as "the number of customers, or percentage of total customers, whose reported experience with a firm, its products, or its services (ratings) exceeds specified satisfaction goals." The Marketing Accountability Standards Board (MASB) endorses the definitions, purposes, and constructs of classes of measures that appear in Marketing Metrics as part of its ongoing Common Language in Marketing Project. In a survey of nearly 200 senior marketing managers, 71 percent responded that they found a customer satisfaction metric very useful in managing and monitoring their businesses. It is seen as a key performance indicator within business and is often part of a Balanced Scorecard. In a competitive marketplace where businesses compete for customers, customer satisfaction is seen as a key differentiator and increasingly has become a key element of business strategy.
  • Process Manufacturing (Mentioned in 2.82% Job Postings): Process manufacturing is a branch of manufacturing that is associated with formulas and manufacturing recipes, and can be contrasted with discrete manufacturing, which is concerned with discrete units, bills of materials and the assembly of components. Process manufacturing is common in the food, beverage, chemical, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, consumer packaged goods, cannabis, and biotechnology industries. In process manufacturing, the relevant factors are ingredients, not parts; formulas, not bills of materials; and bulk materials rather than individual units. Although there is invariably cross-over between the two branches of manufacturing, the major contents of the finished product and the majority of the resource intensity of the production process generally allow manufacturing systems to be classified as one or the other. For example, a bottle of juice is a discrete item, but juice is process manufactured. The plastic used in injection moulding is process manufactured, but the components it is shaped into are generally discrete, and subject to further assembly.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 7.04%
Customer Satisfaction 2.82%
Process Manufacturing 2.82%
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 Research & Development Engineering Manager's salary.
  • Customer Satisfaction: Can increase your salary by up to 30%.
  • Resource Allocation: Can increase your salary by up to 22%.
  • New Product Development: Can increase your salary by up to 20%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Customer Satisfaction
$192,530
30%
Resource Allocation
$180,682
22%
New Product Development
$177,720
20%
Career Development
$177,720
20%
Process Engineering
$164,391
11%
Intellectual Property
$162,910
10%
Get Latest Data

Chemical Research & Development Engineering Manager Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Chemical Research & Development Engineering Manager salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $165,886. While startup companies pay approximate $140,456.

Chemical Research & Development Engineering Manager Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup1~50$140,456
Growth Stage51~500$148,508
Established501~5000$160,227
Enterprise5000+$165,886

Chemical Research & Development Engineering Manager Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Chemical Research & Development Engineering Manager roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 100% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Business Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Chemical Research & Development Engineering Manager positions in Biotechnology or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Chemical Research & Development Engineering Manager as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Chemical Research & Development Engineering Manager

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$222,150$107.050%

Chemical Research & Development Engineering Manager Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Chemical Research & Development Engineering Manager'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

Salary Trends for Chemical Research & Development Engineering Manager

Salaries for a Chemical Research & Development Engineering Manager can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $149,110 in 2023 to around $140,845 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Chemical Research & Development Engineering Manager salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Chemical Research & Development Engineering Manager Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$149,110
2024
$145,139
2025
$140,845
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $149,110
2024 $145,139
2025 $140,845
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Chemical Research & Development Engineering Manager

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
For Employers

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.

Compensation Planning

Common company salaries for Chemical Research & Development Engineering Manager

Here are companies hiring for Chemical Research & Development Engineering Manager and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Chemical Research & Development Engineering Manager Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Chemical Research & Development Engineering Manager job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
  • KreilKamp Trucking

    Columbus, OH

    KreilKamp Trucking | Columbus, OH

    Regional CDL A Drivers | NEW Grads Welcome | Earn $70,000+ Annually. We're proud to be a 4th generation family truck line, started in 1935, but even proude... more

    19 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Payments Engineering. About the Company. Globally-recognized provider of corporate payment solutions. Industry. Financial Services. Type. P... more

    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

    Chief of Staff. About the Company. Innovative travel platform for booking & managing work trips. Industry. Computer Software. Type. Privately Held, VC-back... more

    21 Days Ago

  • McDonalds

    Columbus, OH

    McDonalds | Columbus, OH

    McDonald’s is seeking Crew Team Members to assist with daily restaurant operations including customer service, food preparation, and maintaining restaurant... more

    28 Days Ago

  • Amazon Flex

    Columbus, OH

    Amazon Flex | Columbus, OH

    Amazon Flex Delivery Drivers use their own vehicle to deliver Amazon packages to customers on scheduled delivery blocks. Drivers are responsible for pickin... more

    28 Days Ago

For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Price My Industry Jobs

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

FAQ about Chemical Research & Development Engineering Manager

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Chemical Research & Development Engineering Manager?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Chemical Research & Development Engineering Manager roles, with salaries approximately 50% above the market median.

2. How much do engineering managers make in the US?

How Much Does a Chemical Research & Development Engineering Manager Make in the US? The average salary ranges from $147,350 to $186,790, with a midpoint of $166,320. Additional cash compensation may vary, but total compensation typically reflects these base figures, providing a competitive salary in the industry.

3. Where do engineering managers make the most money?

Engineering managers in the United States can earn significant salaries, with the average for Chemical Research & Development Engineering Managers ranging from $147,350 to $186,790. Notably, cities like Seattle, WA, offer even higher salaries, averaging around $204,766, making it one of the top-paying locations for this role.

4. Which engineering is highest paid in USA?

Among engineering roles, Chemical Research & Development Engineering Managers are notably well-compensated, with salaries ranging from $147,350 to $186,790, and a median salary of $166,320. This positions them among the highest-paid engineering jobs in the USA, alongside roles like Petroleum and Aerospace Engineers.

5. How much do chemical engineering managers make?

Chemical Engineering Managers earn between $147,350 and $186,790 annually. The average salary is approximately $166,320. This translates to about $12,278 monthly and $15,566 at the 75th percentile. Hourly, this equates to roughly $70.73 for the average salary.

6. What does an Engineering Manager get paid?

The estimated total pay for a Chemical Research & Development Engineering Manager ranges from $147,350 to $186,790 per year, with a mid-salary of $166,320. These figures reflect the salary range based on industry data and represent the typical earnings for this role.

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

In the USA, Chemical Research & Development Engineering Managers earn between $147,350 and $186,790 annually, with a median salary of $166,320. This reflects a competitive salary range compared to general R&D engineers, whose average annual salary is around $96,571.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst
lower level job