As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for a Packaging R&D Engineer IV in the United States is $129,490 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $62.
However, a Packaging R&D Engineer IV's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
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A Packaging R&D Engineer IV'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.
Experience is a primary driver of a Packaging R&D Engineer IV'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:
| Job Role | Years of Experience | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Intermediate Packaging Engineer | 2-4 years | $88,483 |
| Packaging Development Engineer III | 4-7 years | $105,098 |
| Packaging R&D Engineer IV | 7+ years | $129,498 |
| Lead Packaging Engineer | 7-10 years | $162,448 |
| Packaging R&D Engineering Manager | 10+ years | $138,628 |
What Am I Worth?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Packaging R&D Engineer IVs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Demanded Skills for the Role:
| Skills | Demand Percentage |
|---|---|
| Project Management | 2.34% |
| Product Development | 1.3% |
| Lean | 0.78% |
| Skill | Salary | Salary % Increase |
|---|---|---|
|
AutoCAD
|
$154,093 |
19%
|
|
Industrial Engineering
|
$147,619 |
14%
|
|
Verification and Validation
|
$145,029 |
12%
|
|
ISO
|
$143,734 |
11%
|
|
Products and Services
|
$142,439 |
10%
|
|
Self-Directed
|
$142,439 |
10%
|
Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Packaging R&D Engineer IVs 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 Packaging R&D Engineer IV with a Bachelor's Degree is between $135,139 and $140,887).
Packaging R&D Engineer IV Salaries by Degree Level
| Degree Level | % of user with this level of education |
|---|---|
| No Diploma | 2.8% |
| High School | 2.8% |
| Associates | 8.3% |
| Bachelors | 47.2% |
| Masters | 36.1% |
| Doctorate | 5.6% |
Understanding how a Packaging R&D Engineer IV'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 April 01, 2026For a Packaging R&D Engineer IV, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Lead Packaging Engineer role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $162,450 - a projected growth of 25% over your current level.
Salaries for a Packaging R&D Engineer IV can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $129,672 in 2023 to around $129,436 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Packaging R&D Engineer IV salary trends, .
| Year | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 2022 |
View More
|
| 2023 | $129,672 |
| 2024 | $130,468 |
| 2025 | $129,436 |
| 2026 |
View More
|
| 2027 |
View More
|
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Packaging R&D Engineers earn competitive salaries, with a minimum of $130,590, a mid-range salary of $140,990, and a maximum of $151,890. While petroleum engineers often lead in overall engineering salaries, the demand for skilled professionals in packaging R&D is also significant, reflecting the industry's growth and innovation.
The highest salary that a Packaging R&D Engineer can earn is $151,890 per year, which translates to approximately $12,657 per month.
The salary for a Packaging R&D Engineer in the USA ranges from $130,590 to $151,890, with a mid-salary of $140,990. This reflects the competitive compensation in the field, highlighting the importance of expertise and experience in determining earnings.
R&D positions can offer competitive salaries. For a Packaging R&D Engineer, the salary ranges from a minimum of $130,590 to a maximum of $151,890, with a mid-salary of $140,990. This indicates that R&D roles, particularly in packaging, can provide substantial compensation compared to the average R&D engineer salary in the US.
For the highest salary, Packaging R&D Engineers in the United States can earn between $130,590 and $151,890 annually, with a mid-salary of $140,990. This positions the U.S. as one of the top-paying countries for research scientists, surpassing many other nations in terms of compensation.
The highest-paid engineering role in the USA is the Packaging R&D Engineer, with a salary range from $130,590 to $151,890. The average salary for this position is approximately $140,990. This places it among the top-paying engineering fields, surpassing many other engineering disciplines in terms of compensation.
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.)
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