R&D Scientist Salary in the United States

How much does an R&D Scientist make in the United States?

As of March 01, 2026, the average salary for an R&D Scientist in the United States is $104,776 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $50.

However, an R&D Scientist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $130,859
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $92,505 to $118,429
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $81,333
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View as table View as graph 25% $92,505 10% $81,333 90% $130,859 75% $118,429 $104,776 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

R&D Scientist Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $118,429 $9,869 $2,277 $57
Average $104,776 $8,731 $2,015 $50
25th Percentile $92,505 $7,709 $1,779 $44
Check out R&D Scientist Job Openings in the United States
Assistant Scientist

Alturas Analytics, Inc - UNIVERSITY, ID

Medical Lab Scientist I

Sonora Quest Laboratories - ADA, OK

Medical Lab Scientist

Sonora Quest Laboratories - PHOENIX, AZ

Medical Lab Scientist PRN

University Health - SAN ANTONIO, TX

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Key Factors That Influence R&D Scientist Salaries

An R&D Scientist'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 R&D Scientist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an R&D Scientist'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): $63,160
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $73,108
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $103,772
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $112,158
  • Expert (over 8 years): $167,007
Levels Salary
Clinical ... Level R&D Scientist$63,160
Clinical ... Level R&D Scientist$73,108
R&D Scien... Level R&D Scientist$103,772
Clinical ... Level R&D Scientist$112,158
Clinical ... Level R&D Scientist$167,007
$63,160 0 yr
$73,108 < 2 yrs
$103,772 2-4 yrs
$112,158 5-8 yrs
$167,007 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for R&D Scientists

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: $132,154
  • San Francisco: $130,855
  • Oakland: $127,952

What Skills Can Increase an R&D Scientist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 10.33% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • SOP (Mentioned in 2.98% 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.
  • Process Development (Mentioned in 1.99% Job Postings): Process development consists of designing and developing, as well as evaluating costs and efficiency.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 10.33%
SOP 2.98%
Process Development 1.99%
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 an R&D Scientist's salary.
  • Drug Discovery: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
  • Cell Culture: Can increase your salary by up to 15%.
  • Chromatography: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Drug Discovery
 $121,540
16%
Cell Culture
 $120,492
15%
Chromatography
 $115,254
10%
Process Development
 $114,206
9%
Biotechnology
 $114,206
9%
Insight
 $112,110
7%
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How Education impacts an R&D Scientist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many R&D Scientists enter the field with a JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent 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 R&D Scientist with a JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent is between $96,322 and $106,046).

R&D Scientist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for R&D Scientist
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.4%
High School 1.4%
Associates 25.4%
Bachelors 11.3%
Masters 25.4%
Doctorate 62.0%
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R&D Scientist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an R&D Scientist'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 March 01, 2026
$92,505
Average $104,776/year
$118,429
$7,709
Average $8,731/month
$9,869
$1,779
Average $2,015/week
$2,277
$44
Average $50/hour
$57
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $118,429 $9,869 $2,277 $57
Average $104,776 $8,731 $2,015 $50
25th Percentile $92,505 $7,709 $1,779 $44

Salaries of jobs related to R&D Scientist

Salary Trends for R&D Scientist

Salaries for an R&D Scientist can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $89,640 in 2023 to around $87,287 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of R&D Scientist salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of R&D Scientist Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$89,640
2024
$88,133
2025
$87,287
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $89,640
2024 $88,133
2025 $87,287
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for R&D Scientist

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401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for R&D Scientist

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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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