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R & D Support Associate IV Salary in the United States

How much does a R & D Support Associate IV make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a R & D Support Associate IV in the United States is $131,500 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $63.

However, a R & D Support Associate IV's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $155,190
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $120,100 to $143,900
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $109,721
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence R & D Support Associate IV Salaries

A R & D Support Associate 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.

How Experience Level Affects R & D Support Associate Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a R & D Support Associate 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:

  • R & D Support Associate II (2-4 years): $82,356
  • R & D Support Associate III (4-7 years): $99,644
  • R & D Support Associate IV (7+ years): $131,403
  • R & D Support Associate V (7-10 years): $160,443
  • R & D Support Associate VI (10-12 years): $214,618
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
R & D Support Associate II2-4 years$82,356
R & D Support Associate III4-7 years$99,644
R & D Support Associate IV7+ years$131,403
R & D Support Associate V7-10 years$160,443
R & D Support Associate VI10-12 years$214,618
View as Graph

How Do R & D Support Associate IV Salaries Vary from State to State?

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 R & D Support Associate IVs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $145,500.
  • California: $145,000.
  • Massachusetts: $143,100.

Top Paying Cities for R & D Support Associate IVs

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: $165,800
  • San Francisco: $164,000
  • Oakland: $160,500

What Skills Can Increase a R & D Support Associate IV's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Project Management (Mentioned in 4.21% Job Postings): Project management is the application of processes, methods, skills, knowledge and experience to achieve specific project objectives according to the project acceptance criteria within agreed parameters. Project management has final deliverables that are constrained to a finite timescale and budget.
  • Immunology (Mentioned in 3.16% Job Postings): Immunology is the study of the immune system and is a very important branch of the medical and biological sciences. The immune system protects us from infection through various lines of defence.
  • Data Management (Mentioned in 2.11% Job Postings): Data Management comprises all disciplines related to managing data as a valuable resource. The concept of data management arose in the 1980s as technology moved from sequential processing (first cards, then tape) to random access storage. Since it was now possible to store a discreet fact and quickly access it using random access disk technology, those suggesting that data management was more important than business process management used arguments such as "a customer's home address is stored in 75 (or some other large number) places in our computer systems." However, during this period, random access processing was not competitively fast, so those suggesting "process management" was more important than "data management" used batch processing time as their primary argument. As software applications evolved into real-time, interactive usage, it became obvious that both management processes were important. If the data was not well defined, the data would be mis-used in applications. If the process wasn't well defined, it was impossible to meet user needs.
Skills Demand Percentage
Project Management 4.21%
Immunology 3.16%
Data Management 2.11%
See More Skills

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 R & D Support Associate IV's salary.

  • Marketing Research: Can increase your salary by up to 18%.
  • Illustrator: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Immunology: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Marketing Research $155,170
18%
Illustrator $143,335
9%
Immunology $140,705
7%
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R & D Support Associate IV Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

R & D Support Associate IV salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $146,957. While startup companies pay approximate $124,310.

R & D Support Associate IV Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $124,310
Growth Stage 51~500 $131,471
Established 501~5000 $141,905
Enterprise 5000+ $146,957

R & D Support Associate IV Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For R & D Support Associate IV 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 Energy & Utilities and Software & Networking sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, R & D Support Associate positions in Transportation or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view R & D Support Associate IV as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a R & D Support Associate IV

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Energy & Utilities$164,375$79.025%
Software & Networking$157,800$76.020%
Healthcare$155,170$75.018%
Pharmaceuticals$151,225$73.015%
Aerospace & Defense$147,280$71.012%

How Education impacts a R & D Support Associate IV's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many R & D Support Associate IVs enter the field with a Master's Degree or MBA 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 R & D Support Associate IV with a Master's Degree or MBA is between $124,781 and $133,906).

R & D Support Associate IV Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for R & D Support Associate IV
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.1%
High School 22.2%
Associates 1.1%
Bachelors 22.2%
Masters 37.5%
Doctorate 39.2%
View as Graph

R & D Support Associate IV Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a R & D Support Associate 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 September 01, 2026
$120,100
Average $131,500/year
$143,900
$10,008
Average $10,958/month
$11,992
$2,310
Average $2,529/week
$2,767
$58
Average $63/hour
$69
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $143,900 $11,992 $2,767 $69
Average $131,500 $10,958 $2,529 $63
25th Percentile $120,100 $10,008 $2,310 $58

R & D Support Associate IV Salary Growth & Career Path

R & D Support Associate IV

Next Role

Advancement

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a R & D Support Associate IV, you have the following paths for advancement. The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles. By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.

Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Human Factors Engineer V $159,000 21%
R & D Support Associate V $160,500 22%

Most common benefits for R & D Support Associate IV

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

Common company salaries for R & D Support Associate IV

Here are companies hiring for R & D Support Associate IV and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about R & D Support Associate IV

1. What industry pays the highest salary for R & D Support Associate IV?

The Energy & Utilities industry offers the highest average compensation for R & D Support Associate IV roles, with salaries approximately 25% above the market median.

2. What is the difference between a director and a manager in R&D?

A Research Manager, earning between $122,800 and $155,700, oversees a specific research area or team, focusing on daily operations and projects. In contrast, a Research Director, with a salary range of $138,400 to $155,700, holds a broader strategic role, managing the entire research function and ensuring alignment with the organization's goals and objectives.

3. How much does a director of R&D make in the US?

As of Jan 27, 2025, the average annual pay for a Director of R&D in the United States is around $138,400, with salaries typically ranging from $122,800 to $155,700. This translates to approximately $66.54 an hour, $2,653 weekly, or $11,533 monthly.

4. Do R&D jobs pay well?

R&D jobs can offer competitive salaries. For a R&D Support Associate, salaries range from a minimum of $122,800 to a maximum of $155,700, with a midpoint of $138,400. This indicates that R&D positions generally provide a solid income, significantly higher than the average hourly pay reported for R&D roles in the U.S.

5. What is the highest salary in R&D?

The highest salary that an R&D Support Associate can earn is ₹15.57 Lakhs per year (₹1.30 Lakhs per month).

6. What is the difference between a director and a manager in R&D?

A Research Manager oversees a specific research area or team, focusing on daily operations and projects, earning between $122,800 and $155,700. In contrast, a Research Director has a broader strategic role, overseeing the entire research function and aligning it with organizational goals, typically earning around $138,400.

7. Which engineering is highest paid in USA?

The highest-paying engineering jobs in the USA include Petroleum Engineers, who focus on oil and gas extraction, and other roles like Aerospace and Nuclear Engineers. For R&D Support Associates, salaries range from $122,800 to $155,700, with a midpoint of $138,400, reflecting the competitive nature of engineering salaries in the industry.

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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