Senior Research & Development (R&D) Engineer Salary in Massachusetts

How much does a Senior Research & Development (R&D) Engineer make in Massachusetts?

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Senior Research & Development (R&D) Engineer in Massachusetts is $127,250 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $61.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $147,921
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $117,680 to $138,070
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $108,967
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
Recruit with AI
Smart Recruiting
Salary Salary + Bonus Benefits
Paid Annually Paid Monthly Paid Semimonthly Paid Biweekly Paid Weekly Paid Hourly
View as table View as graph 25% $117,680 10% $108,967 90% $147,921 75% $138,070 $127,250 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Senior Research & Development (R&D) Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $138,070 $11,506 $2,655 $66
Average $127,250 $10,604 $2,447 $61
25th Percentile $117,680 $9,807 $2,263 $57
Select State
Select City in MA
Choose Similar Job
Choose Category
Cost of Living
Average Salary for United States
See it in Action

Key Factors That Influence Senior Research & Development (R&D) Engineer Salaries

A Senior Research & Development (R&D) Engineer'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 Senior Research & Development (R&D) Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Senior Research & Development (R&D) Engineer'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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $124,110
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $124,396
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $125,540
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $130,484
  • Expert (over 8 years): $132,906
Levels Salary
Entry Level Senior Research & Development (R&D) Engineer$124,110
Intermediate Level Senior Research & Development (R&D) Engineer$124,396
Senior Level Senior Research & Development (R&D) Engineer$125,540
Specialist Level Senior Research & Development (R&D) Engineer$130,484
Expert Level Senior Research & Development (R&D) Engineer$132,906
$124,110 0 yr
$124,396 < 2 yrs
$125,540 2-4 yrs
$130,484 5-8 yrs
$132,906 > 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Senior Research & Development (R&D) Engineers

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:

  • Agawam: $120,620
  • Amherst: $121,500
  • Barre: $122,720

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

Senior Research & Development (R&D) Engineer salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $142,328. While startup companies pay approximate $120,367.

Senior Research & Development (R&D) Engineer Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup1~50$120,367
Growth Stage51~500$127,307
Established501~5000$137,445
Enterprise5000+$142,328

Senior Research & Development (R&D) Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Senior Research & Development (R&D) Engineer 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 Biotechnology and Aerospace & Defense sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Senior Research & Development (R&D) Engineer positions in Telecom or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Senior Research & Development (R&D) Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Senior Research & Development (R&D) Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$190,875$92.050%

Senior Research & Development (R&D) Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Senior Research & Development (R&D) Engineer'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.

  • Yearly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Hourly
  • Table View
Last Updated on July 01, 2026
$117,680
Average $127,250/year
$138,070
$9,807
Average $10,604/month
$11,506
$2,263
Average $2,447/week
$2,655
$57
Average $61/hour
$66
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $138,070 $11,506 $2,655 $66
Average $127,250 $10,604 $2,447 $61
25th Percentile $117,680 $9,807 $2,263 $57

Senior Research & Development (R&D) Engineer Salary Growth & Career Path

Senior Research & Development (R&D) Engineer
Human Factors Engineer IV
R & D Support Associate IV
Human Factors Engineer V
SVP of R & D

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a Senior Research & Development (R&D) Engineer, 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.

Senior Research & Development (R&D) Engineer Salary Growth and Career Path
Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Human Factors Engineer IV $146,600 15%
R & D Support Associate IV $143,000 12%

Salaries of jobs related to Senior Research & Development (R&D) Engineer

Find Your Next Senior Research & Development (R&D) Engineer Job

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

United States
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.

Cost of Living In Massachusetts

Cost of Living in Massachusetts is
8.8% Higher
than the National Average

Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.

Explore Cost of Living Calculator
Empower Your Team

Salary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.

Find Salary.com Comp Consulting
See Salary Trends in 2025

Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.

Price Your Company Jobs and Make Pay Fair

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