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Research Developer Salary in the United States

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

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Research Developer in the United States is $98,390 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): $121,474
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $89,414 to $110,473
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $81,243
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

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): $44,452
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $63,337
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $100,260
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $160,259
  • Expert (over 8 years): $252,438
Levels Salary
Visual Me... Level Research Developer$44,452
Visual Me... Level Research Developer$63,337
Research ... Level Research Developer$100,260
Visual Me... Level Research Developer$160,259
VP of Vis... Level Research Developer$252,438
View as Graph

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: $108,937.
  • California: $108,524.
  • Massachusetts: $107,078.

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: $124,099
  • San Francisco: $122,740
  • Oakland: $120,154

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.
Skills Demand Percentage
Presentation 8.64%
Visual Presentation 0.85%
Store Management 0.27%
See More Skills

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 $106,261
8%
Leadership Development $106,261
8%
Alignment $106,261
8%
Get Latest Data

Research Developer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Research Developer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 60% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit and Retail & Wholesale sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Research Developer positions in Media or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Research Developer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Research Developer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit$127,907$61.030%
Retail & Wholesale$108,229$52.010%

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%
View as Graph

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.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$89,414
Average $98,390/year
$110,473
$7,451
Average $8,199/month
$9,206
$1,720
Average $1,892/week
$2,124
$43
Average $47/hour
$53
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $110,473 $9,206 $2,124 $53
Average $98,390 $8,199 $1,892 $47
25th Percentile $89,414 $7,451 $1,720 $43

Most common benefits for Research Developer

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

Common company salaries for Research Developer

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

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FAQ about Research Developer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Research Developer?

The Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit industry offers the highest average compensation for Research Developer roles, with salaries approximately 30% 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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