upper level job

Hourly Wage for Research and Development Associate IV Salary in the United States

What is the highest and lowest hourly pay for Research and Development Associate IV?

As of May 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Research and Development Associate IV in the United States is $63, which translates to an annual salary of about $131,389.

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): $75 per hour
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $58 to $69 per hour
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $53 per hour
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2025 Compensation Trend
Smart Recruiting
Recruit with AI
View as table View as graph 25% $58 10% $53 90% $75 75% $69 $63 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Research and Development Associate IV Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $143,745 $11,979 $2,764 $69
Average $131,389 $10,949 $2,527 $63
25th Percentile $119,973 $9,998 $2,307 $58
Check out Research and Development Associate IV Job Openings in the United States
Associate Attorney

Duncan Disability Law, SC - NEKOOSA, WI

Associate Dentist

Premier Dentist Partners - RED WING, MN

Physician Associate

Northern Light Health - BANGOR, ME

Associate Veterinarian

Twin Pines Veterinary Clinic - ASKOV, MN

Search More Research and Development Associate IV Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Research and Development Associate IV Salaries

A Research and Development 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 Research and Development Associate Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Research and Development 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:

  • Research and Development Associate II (2-4 years): $82,372
  • Research and Development Associate III (4-7 years): $99,684
  • Research and Development Associate IV (7+ years): $131,389
  • Research and Development Associate V (7-10 years): $160,449
  • Research and Development Associate VI (10-12 years): $214,575
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Research and Development Associate II2-4 years$82,372
Research and Development Associate III4-7 years$99,684
Research and Development Associate IV7+ years$131,389
Research and Development Associate V7-10 years$160,449
Research and Development Associate VI10-12 years$214,575
$82,372 Research ...
$99,684 Research ...
$131,389 Research ...
$160,449 Research ...
$214,575 Research ...
View as Table
View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Research and Development 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: $165,721
  • San Francisco: $163,906
  • Oakland: $160,452

What Skills Can Increase a Research and Development 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.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Project Management 4.21%
Immunology 3.16%
Data Management 2.11%
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 Research and Development 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
$155,039
18%
Illustrator
$143,214
9%
Immunology
$140,586
7%
Diagnostic Tests
$140,586
7%
Team Development
$139,272
6%
Insight
$137,958
5%
Get Latest Data

How Education impacts a Research and Development Associate IV's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Research and Development 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 Research and Development Associate IV with a Master's Degree or MBA is between $125,346 and $134,511).

Research and Development Associate IV Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Research and Development 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

Research and Development Associate IV Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Research and Development 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 May 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Research and Development Associate IV

Salaries for a Research and Development Associate IV can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $113,408 in 2023 to around $111,735 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Research and Development Associate IV salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Research and Development Associate IV Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$113,408
2024
$113,751
2025
$111,735
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $113,408
2024 $113,751
2025 $111,735
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Research and Development Associate IV

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 Research and Development Associate IV

Here are companies hiring for Research and Development Associate IV and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Research and Development Associate IV Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Research and Development Associate IV 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.

FAQ about Research and Development Associate IV

1. What are the responsibilities of Research and Development Associate IV?

Participates in research and design activities that develop or improve products, components, technologies, or processes. Utilizes mathematical and scientific frameworks to compile and analyze data. Documents research and development methodologies and ensures adherence to scientific, engineering, and industry standards. Writes technical reports detailing procedures, outcomes, and observations. Conducts prototype testing to ensure quality, safety, and compliance with internal and external standards, regulations, and requirements. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a manager. Work is highly independent. May assume a team lead role for the work group. A specialist on complex technical and business matters. Typically requires 7+ years of related experience.

2. What are the skills of Research and Development Associate IV

Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.

1.)

Project Management: 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.

2.)

Immunology: 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.

3.)

Data Management: 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.

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