Hourly Wage for Research and Development Engineer Salary in the United States

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

As of August 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Research and Development Engineer in the United States is $56, which translates to an annual salary of about $116,931.

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): $65 per hour
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $52 to $61 per hour
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $48 per hour

Key Factors That Influence Research and Development Engineer Salaries

A Research and Development 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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Research and Development Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Research and Development 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): $114,040
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $114,303
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $115,354
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $119,897
  • Expert (over 8 years): $122,122
Levels Salary
Entry Level Research and Development Engineer$114,040
Intermediate Level Research and Development Engineer$114,303
Senior Level Research and Development Engineer$115,354
Specialist Level Research and Development Engineer$119,897
Expert Level Research and Development Engineer$122,122

Top Paying Cities for Research and Development Engineer

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: $147,485
  • San Francisco: $145,870
  • Oakland: $142,796

What Skills Can Increase a Research and Development Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 8.08% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Computer Vision (Mentioned in 2.84% Job Postings): Designing and utilizing digital systems process, analyze, and interpret visual data.
  • Deep Learning (Mentioned in 2.06% Job Postings): Analyzing, developing, and applying big data and algorithms to imitate how humans think and learn.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 8.08%
Computer Vision 2.84%
Deep Learning 2.06%

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 Engineer's salary.

  • Deep Learning: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Computer Vision: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Artificial Intelligence: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Deep Learning $127,455
9%
Computer Vision $125,116
7%
Artificial Intelligence $123,947
6%

Research and Development Engineer Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Research and Development Engineer salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $130,898. While startup companies pay approximate $110,736.

Research and Development Engineer Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $110,736
Growth Stage 51~500 $117,117
Established 501~5000 $126,405
Enterprise 5000+ $130,898

Research and Development Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Research and Development 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, Research and Development Engineer positions in Telecom or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Research and Development Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Research and Development Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$175,396$84.050%

How Education impacts an Research and Development Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Research and Development Engineer enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Research and Development Engineer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $115,563 and $123,542.

Research and Development Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Research and Development Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.9%
High School 14.7%
Associates 0.9%
Bachelors 14.7%
Masters 25.7%
Doctorate 58.7%

Research and Development Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Research and Development 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.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$108,126
Average $116,931/year
$126,868
$9,011
Average $9,744/month
$10,572
$2,079
Average $2,249/week
$2,440
$52
Average $56/hour
$61
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $126,868 $10,572 $2,440 $61
Average $116,931 $9,744 $2,249 $56
25th Percentile $108,126 $9,011 $2,079 $52

Most common benefits for Research and Development Engineer

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

Common company salaries for Research and Development Engineer

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

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FAQ about Research and Development Engineer

1. What are the responsibilities of Research and Development Engineer?

Conducts research and development activities for an organization. Applies research theories, principles, and models when conducting experiments and research activities. Summarizes research results and communicates findings to internal and external bodies. Assesses the scope of research projects and ensures projects are on time and within budget. Develops technical documentation for all projects. May require an advanced degree. Typically reports to a manager. Work is generally independent and collaborative in nature. Contributes to moderately complex aspects of a project. Typically requires 4-7 years of related experience.

2. What are the skills of Research and Development Engineer

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.)

Analysis: Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.

2.)

Computer Vision: Designing and utilizing digital systems process, analyze, and interpret visual data.

3.)

Deep Learning: Analyzing, developing, and applying big data and algorithms to imitate how humans think and learn.

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.

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