Research And Development Salary in the United States

How much does a Research And Development make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Research And Development in the United States is $97,259 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $47.

However, a Research And Development's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $112,191
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $89,254 to $105,075
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $81,965
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View as table View as graph 25% $89,254 10% $81,965 90% $112,191 75% $105,075 $97,259 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Research And Development Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $105,075 $8,756 $2,021 $51
Average $97,259 $8,105 $1,870 $47
25th Percentile $89,254 $7,438 $1,716 $43
Check out Research And Development Job Openings in the United States
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Local CDL

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Key Factors That Influence Research And Development Salaries

A Research And Development'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 Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Research And Development'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): $70,298
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $81,759
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $98,927
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $130,440
  • Expert (over 8 years): $159,274
Levels Salary
Research ... Level Research And Development$70,298
Research ... Level Research And Development$81,759
Research ... Level Research And Development$98,927
Research ... Level Research And Development$130,440
Research ... Level Research And Development$159,274
$70,298 0 yr
$81,759 < 2 yrs
$98,927 2-4 yrs
$130,440 5-8 yrs
$159,274 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Research And Developments

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: $122,673
  • San Francisco: $121,329
  • Oakland: $118,772

What Skills Can Increase a Research And Development's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 13.05% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Data Analysis (Mentioned in 2.91% Job Postings): Data analysis is a process of inspecting, cleansing, transforming, and modeling data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions, and supporting decision-making. Data analysis has multiple facets and approaches, encompassing diverse techniques under a variety of names, and is used in different business, science, and social science domains. In today's business world, data analysis plays a role in making decisions more scientific and helping businesses operate more effectively. Data mining is a particular data analysis technique that focuses on modeling and knowledge discovery for predictive rather than purely descriptive purposes, while business intelligence covers data analysis that relies heavily on aggregation, focusing mainly on business information. In statistical applications, data analysis can be divided into descriptive statistics, exploratory data analysis (EDA), and confirmatory data analysis (CDA). EDA focuses on discovering new features in the data while CDA focuses on confirming or falsifying existing hypotheses. Predictive analytics focuses on application of statistical models for predictive forecasting or classification, while text analytics applies statistical, linguistic, and structural techniques to extract and classify information from textual sources, a species of unstructured data. All of the above are varieties of data analysis.
  • SOP (Mentioned in 1.68% Job Postings): SOP is A standard operating procedure is a set of step-by-step instructions compiled by an organization to help workers carry out routine operations.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 13.05%
Data Analysis 2.91%
SOP 1.68%
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's salary.
  • Oncology: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Team Development: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Biotechnology: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Oncology
$105,040
8%
Team Development
$104,067
7%
Biotechnology
$104,067
7%
Process Development
$103,094
6%
Immunology
$103,094
6%
Collaboration
$101,149
4%
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Research And Development Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Research And Development roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 20% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 10% above the average. In contrast, Research And Development positions in Transportation or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Research And Development as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Research And Development

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$106,985$51.010%
Biotechnology$106,985$51.010%
Energy & Utilities$106,985$51.010%
Financial Services$106,985$51.010%
Healthcare$106,985$51.010%

How Education impacts a Research And Development's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Research And Developments 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 with a Master's Degree or MBA is between $102,607 and $109,390).

Research And Development Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Research And Development
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.0%
High School 1.6%
Associates 1.3%
Bachelors 28.0%
Masters 34.6%
Doctorate 33.5%
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Research And Development Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Research And Development'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

Salary Trends for Research And Development

Salaries for a Research And Development can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $105,953 in 2023 to around $104,018 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Research And Development salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Research And Development Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$105,953
2024
$105,582
2025
$104,018
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $105,953
2024 $105,582
2025 $104,018
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Research And Development

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

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

Find Your Next Research And Development Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Research And Development job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
  • Maxim Healthcare

    Columbus, OH

    Maxim Healthcare | Columbus, OH

    Private duty nursing (PDN) allows medically fragile patients to receive quality, skilled nursing care in the comfort of their home: a setting preferred by ... more

    13 Days Ago

  • XPO

    Columbus, OH

    CDL

    XPO | Columbus, OH

    XPO is Hiring Driver Teams. XPO Teams. As an XPO Team, you’ll run dedicated routes between XPO facilities in. new sleeper. trucks equipped with microwaves ... more

    13 Days Ago

  • Schneider

    Columbus, OH

    Schneider | Columbus, OH

    CDL-A - Dedicated Reefer truck driver - Kroger. Dedicated Reefer truck driver - Kroger. Average pay. $1,200-$1,450 weekly. Home time. Daily. Experience. Al... more

    14 Days Ago

  • Summit Recruiting Group

    Columbus, OH

    Summit Recruiting Group | Columbus, OH

    NP/PA Dermatology job opening in Columbus, OHPosition Details. Full-time, permanent opening. Experience required. Well-Established Practice. Seeking a NP/P... more

    15 Days Ago

  • Family Dollar

    Columbus, OH

    Family Dollar | Columbus, OH

    Customer Service Associate. We're seeking a Customer Service Associate to join our team and deliver a great shopping experience for every customer. Duties ... more

    16 Days Ago

  • GO Staffing

    Columbus, OH

    GO Staffing | Columbus, OH

    Locums - A well respected group has a Trauma Surgery APP opportunity available in Columbus, Ohio. Certified Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant. 1/1/... more

    16 Days Ago

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FAQ about Research And Development

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Research And Development?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Research And Development roles, with salaries approximately 10% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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