Research Developer Salary in the United States

How much does a Research Developer make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Research Developer in the United States is $98,302 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $47.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $121,402
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $89,304 to $110,393
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $81,112
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View as table View as graph 25% $89,304 10% $81,112 90% $121,402 75% $110,393 $98,302 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Research Developer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $110,393 $9,199 $2,123 $53
Average $98,302 $8,192 $1,890 $47
25th Percentile $89,304 $7,442 $1,717 $43
Check out Research Developer Job Openings in the United States
Research Developer

Fourier Ltd - CHICAGO, IL

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Booz Allen Hamilton - QUANTICO, VA

Android Vulnerability Research Engineer and Developer Senior

Booz Allen Hamilton - QUANTICO, VA

MuleSoft Developer

UniFirst - WILMINGTON, MA

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Key Factors That Influence Research Developer Salaries

A Research Developer'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 Developer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Research Developer'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): $97,052
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $97,427
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $98,302
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $99,301
  • Expert (over 8 years): $101,636
Levels Salary
Entry Level Research Developer$97,052
Intermediate Level Research Developer$97,427
Senior Level Research Developer$98,302
Specialist Level Research Developer$99,301
Expert Level Research Developer$101,636
$97,052 0 yr
$97,427 < 2 yrs
$98,302 2-4 yrs
$99,301 5-8 yrs
$101,636 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Research Developer Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Research Developers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $108,840.
  • California: $108,427.
  • Massachusetts: $106,982.

Top Paying Cities for Research Developers

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: $123,988
  • San Francisco: $122,769
  • Oakland: $120,046

What Skills Can Increase a Research Developer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Presentation (Mentioned in 8.64% Job Postings): Presentation conveys information from a speaker to an audience. Presentations are typically demonstrations, introduction, lecture, or speech meant to inform, persuade, inspire, motivate, build goodwill, or present a new idea/product.
  • Visual Presentation (Mentioned in 0.85% Job Postings): Visual presentation refers to the expression of ideas about some matters while using visual aids such as visual multimedia.
  • Store Management (Mentioned in 0.27% Job Postings): Store management is the activity of running and monitoring all operations in a store. Its main responsibilities include working with employees, creating work schedules, communicating with suppliers, and dealing with customer complaints.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Presentation 8.64%
Visual Presentation 0.85%
Store Management 0.27%
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 Developer's salary.
  • Shipping and Receiving: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Leadership Development: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Alignment: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Shipping and Receiving
 $106,166
8%
Leadership Development
 $106,166
8%
Alignment
 $106,166
8%
Self-Development
 $105,183
7%
Photoshop
 $105,183
7%
Continuous Learning
 $105,183
7%
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How Education impacts a Research Developer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Research Developers enter the field with a Associate's Degree 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 Developer with a Associate's Degree is between $101,892 and $109,036).

Research Developer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Research Developer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.9%
High School 12.9%
Associates 19.0%
Bachelors 56.9%
Masters 10.3%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Research Developer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Research Developer'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.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on January 01, 2026
$89,304
Average $98,302/year
$110,393
$7,442
Average $8,192/month
$9,199
$1,717
Average $1,890/week
$2,123
$43
Average $47/hour
$53
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $110,393 $9,199 $2,123 $53
Average $98,302 $8,192 $1,890 $47
25th Percentile $89,304 $7,442 $1,717 $43

Salaries of jobs related to Research Developer

Salary Trends for Research Developer

Salaries for a Research Developer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $98,054 in 2023 to around $97,466 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Research Developer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Research Developer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$98,054
2024
$97,879
2025
$97,466
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $98,054
2024 $97,879
2025 $97,466
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Research Developer

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401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Research Developer

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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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