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

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

As of March 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Research and Development Manager in the United States is $70, which translates to an annual salary of about $145,227.

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): $81 per hour
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $65 to $76 per hour
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $60 per hour
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View as table View as graph 25% $65 10% $60 90% $81 75% $76 $70 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Research and Development Manager Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $157,144 $13,095 $3,022 $76
Average $145,227 $12,102 $2,793 $70
25th Percentile $134,577 $11,215 $2,588 $65
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STAFF DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR

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Whittingham Agencies - NORTHWOOD, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Research and Development Manager Salaries

A Research and Development Manager'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 Manager Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Research and Development Manager'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 VI (10-12 years): $214,554
  • Research and Development Supervisor (12+ years): $114,367
  • Research and Development Manager (12+ years): $145,227
  • Research and Development Senior Manager (12+ years): $177,689
  • Research and Development Director (12+ years): $204,812
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Research and Development Associate VI10-12 years$214,554
Research and Development Supervisor12+ years$114,367
Research and Development Manager12+ years$145,227
Research and Development Senior Manager12+ years$177,689
Research and Development Director12+ years$204,812
$214,554 Research ...
$114,367 Research ...
$145,227 Research ...
$177,689 Research ...
$204,812 Research ...
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Research and Development Managers

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: $183,175
  • San Francisco: $181,374
  • Oakland: $177,351

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

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 10.36% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Economics (Mentioned in 1.54% Job Postings): Economics is a social science that focuses on the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services, and analyzes the choices that individuals, businesses, governments, and nations make to allocate resources.
  • PowerPoint (Mentioned in 1.28% Job Postings): A computer software created by Microsoft which allows the user to create slides with recordings, narrations, transitions and other features in order to present information.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 10.36%
Economics 1.54%
PowerPoint 1.28%
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 Manager's salary.
  • People Management: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • New Product Development: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Coaching: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
People Management
$156,845
8%
New Product Development
$152,488
5%
Coaching
$152,488
5%
Flexibility
$152,488
5%
Innovation
$151,036
4%
Tableau
$151,036
4%
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How Education impacts a Research and Development Manager's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Research and Development Managers 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 Manager with a Master's Degree or MBA is between $150,727 and $159,635).

Research and Development Manager Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Research and Development Manager
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.4%
High School 1.4%
Associates 2.0%
Bachelors 21.5%
Masters 27.2%
Doctorate 47.9%
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Research and Development Manager Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Research and Development Manager'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 March 01, 2026

Most common benefits for Research and Development Manager

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Research and Development Manager

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

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FAQ about Research and Development Manager

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

Manages the research and development programs to meet organizational needs and capitalize on potential new products. Implements research and development procedures and techniques to ensure consistent methods, documentation, and testing. Assesses the scope of research projects and ensures they are on time and within budget. Oversees complex research projects, analyzes results, and provides recommendations based on findings. May require a master's degree. Typically reports to a director. Manages subordinate staff in the day-to-day performance of their jobs. True first level manager. Ensures that project/department milestones/goals are met and adhering to approved budgets. Has full authority for personnel actions. Typically requires 5 years experience in the related area as an individual contributor. 1-3 years supervisory experience may be required. Extensive knowledge of the function and department processes.

2. What are the skills of Research and Development Manager

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.)

Economics: Economics is a social science that focuses on the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services, and analyzes the choices that individuals, businesses, governments, and nations make to allocate resources.

3.)

PowerPoint: A computer software created by Microsoft which allows the user to create slides with recordings, narrations, transitions and other features in order to present information.

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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