The salary of a Research and Development Director in the United States varies depending on several factors, including experience, location, education level, marketing trend and company sizes.
As of March 01, 2025, the average annual salary for a Research and Development Director in the United States is $233,666. According to Salary.com, salaries can range from a low of $179,374 to a high of $291,136, with most professionals earning between $205,248 and $263,748.
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $263,748 | $21,979 | $5,072 | $127 |
| Average | $233,666 | $19,472 | $4,494 | $112 |
| 25th Percentile | $205,248 | $17,104 | $3,947 | $99 |
An entry-level Research and Development Director with less than 1 year of experience earns about $213,603. With 1-2 years of experience, the average salary increases to $216,118. For 2-4 years of experience, the pay typically rises to $219,472. Senior-level professionals with 5-8 years of experience earn around $223,663, and those with over 8 years of experience can expect an average of $227,855.
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Research and Development Director | $213,603 |
| Intermediate Level Research and Development Director | $216,118 |
| Senior Level Research and Development Director | $219,472 |
| Specialist Level Research and Development Director | $223,663 |
| Expert Level Research and Development Director | $227,855 |
| Entry Level | 9% |
| Mid Level | 8% |
| Senior Level | 6% |
| Top Level | 4% |
| Experienced | 2% |
Salaries in the United States differ widely between states due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
What Am I Worth?
Salaries in the United States can vary greatly between cities due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
As of March 01, 2025, our research reveals a significant shift in Research and Development Director compensation over the past six years. For example, the median salary increased from $196,113 in 2023 to approximately $194,404 in 2024. (For a detailed analysis of Research and Development Director salary trends, click here.)
Key factors like location, experience, industry demand, and economic growth significantly influence salary variations, making them important to consider.
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Here are companies hiring for Research and Development Director and their salaries, click below for more details.
| Core Compensation | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Base Salary | $233,666 | 64.9% | ||
| Bonus | $40,354 | 11.2% | ||
| Value of Benefits | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Social Security | $14,426 | 4.0% | ||
| 401K/403B | $10,500 | 2.9% | ||
| Disability | $5,480 | 1.5% | ||
| Healthcare | $8,352 | 2.3% | ||
| Pension | $13,500 | 3.7% | ||
| Time Off | $33,726 | 9.4% | ||
| Total Compensation | $360,005 | 100% | ||
| Degree Level | % of user with this level of education |
|---|---|
| High School | 1.1% |
| Associates | 1.3% |
| Bachelors | 14.1% |
| Masters | 24.1% |
| Doctorate | 59.4% |
What Am I Worth?
The average annual salary of Research and Development Director is $233,666. In case you are finding an easy salary calculator, the average hourly pay of Research and Development Director is $112; the average weekly pay of Research and Development Director is $4,494; the average monthly pay of Research and Development Director is $19,472.
A Research and Development Director's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Research and Development Director earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Research and Development Director is $293,251.
The highest pay for Research and Development Director is $291,136.
The lowest pay for Research and Development Director is $179,374.
Research and Development Director directs and implements an organization's research and development policies, objectives, and initiatives. Ensures research and development activities will maintain an organization's competitive position and profitability. Being a Research and Development Director consults with top management and research and development team and makes recommendations based on research findings and product performance. May require an advanced degree. Additionally, Research and Development Director typically reports to top management. The Research and Development Director manages a departmental sub-function within a broader departmental function. Creates functional strategies and specific objectives for the sub-function and develops budgets/policies/procedures to support the functional infrastructure. Deep knowledge of the managed sub-function and solid knowledge of the overall departmental function. To be a Research and Development Director typically requires 5+ years of managerial experience.
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.
Innovation: The ability and process of implementing new ideas and initiatives to improve organizational performance.
Research and Development: Research and development (R&D, R+D, or R'n'D), known in Europe as research and technological development (RTD), refers to innovative activities undertaken by corporations or governments in developing new services or products, or improving existing services or products. Research and development constitutes the first stage of development of a potential new service or the production process. R&D activities differ from institution to institution, with two primary models of an R&D department either staffed by engineers and tasked with directly developing new products, or staffed with industrial scientists and tasked with applied research in scientific or technological fields, which may facilitate future product development. R&D differs from the vast majority of corporate activities in that it is not intended to yield immediate profit, and generally carries greater risk and an uncertain return on investment. However R&D is crucial for acquiring larger shares of the market through the marketisation of new products.
Microsoft Office: Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
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