Staff Research and Development Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does a Staff Research and Development Engineer make in the United States?

As of May 01, 2026, the average salary for a Staff Research and Development Engineer in the United States is $115,697 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $56.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $134,630
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $107,063 to $125,607
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $99,202
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2025 Compensation Trend
Recruit with AI
AI-Powered HR
Salary Salary + Bonus Benefits
Paid Annually Paid Monthly Paid Semimonthly Paid Biweekly Paid Weekly Paid Hourly
View as table View as graph 25% $107,063 10% $99,202 90% $134,630 75% $125,607 $115,697 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Staff Research and Development Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $125,607 $10,467 $2,416 $60
Average $115,697 $9,641 $2,225 $56
25th Percentile $107,063 $8,922 $2,059 $51
Check out Staff Research and Development Engineer Job Openings in the United States
Research And Development Engineer

LayerZero Power Systems - Aurora, OH

Chief of Staff, Research & Development

Confidential - Columbus, OH

Director, Clinical Development, Neuroscience

Jazz Pharmaceuticals - MIDDLE WEST, PA

Early Development Team Lead

Jazz Pharmaceuticals - EAST PALO ALTO, CA

Search More Staff Research and Development Engineer Jobs in the United States
Choose Similar Job
Choose Category
Cost of Living
Average Salary for United States
See it in Action

Key Factors That Influence Staff Research and Development Engineer Salaries

A Staff Research and Development Engineer'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 Staff Research and Development Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Staff Research and Development Engineer'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): $112,117
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $112,376
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $113,413
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $117,883
  • Expert (over 8 years): $120,069
Levels Salary
Entry Level Staff Research and Development Engineer$112,117
Intermediate Level Staff Research and Development Engineer$112,376
Senior Level Staff Research and Development Engineer$113,413
Specialist Level Staff Research and Development Engineer$117,883
Expert Level Staff Research and Development Engineer$120,069
$112,117 0 yr
$112,376 < 2 yrs
$113,413 2-4 yrs
$117,883 5-8 yrs
$120,069 > 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

How Do Staff Research and Development Engineer 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 Staff Research and Development Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $128,100.
  • California: $127,614.
  • Massachusetts: $125,913.

Top Paying Cities for Staff Research and Development Engineers

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: $145,929
  • San Francisco: $144,331
  • Oakland: $141,289

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

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 8.08% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Computer Vision (Mentioned in 2.84% Job Postings): Designing and utilizing digital systems process, analyze, and interpret visual data.
  • Deep Learning (Mentioned in 2.06% Job Postings): Analyzing, developing, and applying big data and algorithms to imitate how humans think and learn.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 8.08%
Computer Vision 2.84%
Deep Learning 2.06%
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 Staff Research and Development Engineer's salary.
  • Deep Learning: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Computer Vision: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Artificial Intelligence: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Deep Learning
 $126,110
9%
Computer Vision
 $123,796
7%
Artificial Intelligence
 $122,639
6%
Machine Learning
 $122,639
6%
Computer Science
 $120,325
4%
Algorithms
 $120,325
4%
Get Latest Data

How Education impacts a Staff Research and Development Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Staff Research and Development Engineers enter the field with a Bachelor'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 Staff Research and Development Engineer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $115,563 and $123,542).

Staff Research and Development Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Staff Research and Development Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.9%
High School 14.7%
Associates 0.9%
Bachelors 14.7%
Masters 25.7%
Doctorate 58.7%
view as graph

Staff Research and Development Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Staff Research and Development Engineer'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 May 01, 2026
$107,063
Average $115,697/year
$125,607
$8,922
Average $9,641/month
$10,467
$2,059
Average $2,225/week
$2,416
$51
Average $56/hour
$60
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $125,607 $10,467 $2,416 $60
Average $115,697 $9,641 $2,225 $56
25th Percentile $107,063 $8,922 $2,059 $51

Salaries of jobs related to Staff Research and Development Engineer

Salary Trends for Staff Research and Development Engineer

Salaries for a Staff Research and Development Engineer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $118,208 in 2023 to around $116,941 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Staff Research and Development Engineer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Staff Research and Development Engineer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$118,208
2024
$118,605
2025
$116,941
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $118,208
2024 $118,605
2025 $116,941
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Staff Research and Development Engineer

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

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.

Compensation Planning

Common company salaries for Staff Research and Development Engineer

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

Find Your Next Staff Research and Development Engineer Job

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

United States
For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Price My Industry Jobs

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

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.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst