Qualitative Research Manager Salary in the United States

How much does a Qualitative Research Manager make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Qualitative Research Manager in the United States is $88,668 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $43.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $105,447
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $74,861 to $97,451
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $62,290
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View as table View as graph 25% $74,861 10% $62,290 90% $105,447 75% $97,451 $88,668 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Qualitative Research Manager Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $97,451 $8,121 $1,874 $47
Average $88,668 $7,389 $1,705 $43
25th Percentile $74,861 $6,238 $1,440 $36
Check out Qualitative Research Manager Job Openings in the United States
Research Assistant

Evolution Research Group - Columbus, OH

Research Assistant

OhioHealth - Columbus, OH

Research Clerk

Cass Information Systems Inc. - Columbus, OH

EMS Research Fellow

National Registry of EMTs - Columbus, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Qualitative Research Manager Salaries

A Qualitative Research Manager'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 Do Qualitative Research Manager 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 Qualitative Research Managers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $98,173.
  • California: $97,800.
  • Massachusetts: $96,497.

Top Paying Cities for Qualitative Research Managers

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: $111,837
  • San Francisco: $110,612
  • Oakland: $108,281

What Skills Can Increase a Qualitative Research Manager's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 14.17% 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 3.45% 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.
  • Cell Biology (Mentioned in 1.79% Job Postings): Utilizing techniques to study cell structures and functions for further research on human anatomy, physiology, and medications.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 14.17%
Data Analysis 3.45%
Cell Biology 1.79%
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 Qualitative Research Manager's salary.
  • Oncology: Can increase your salary by up to 29%.
  • Microbiology: Can increase your salary by up to 23%.
  • Immunology: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Oncology
$114,381
29%
Microbiology
$109,061
23%
Immunology
$101,081
14%
Research and Development
$99,308
12%
Chemistry
$97,534
10%
Product Development
$96,648
9%
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Qualitative Research Manager Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Qualitative Research Manager roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 55% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 35% above the average. In contrast, Qualitative Research Manager positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Healthcare typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Qualitative Research Manager as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Qualitative Research Manager

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$119,701$58.035%
Energy & Utilities$101,968$49.015%
Construction$97,534$47.010%
Software & Networking$97,534$47.010%
Business Services$93,101$45.05%

How Education impacts a Qualitative Research Manager's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Qualitative Research Managers 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 Qualitative Research Manager with a Master's Degree or MBA is between $88,967 and $96,667).

Qualitative Research Manager Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Qualitative Research Manager
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.5%
High School 0.3%
Associates 0.3%
Bachelors 8.8%
Masters 30.3%
Doctorate 59.8%
view as graph

Qualitative Research Manager Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Qualitative Research Manager'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 Qualitative Research Manager

Salaries for a Qualitative Research Manager can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $94,376 in 2023 to around $92,048 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Qualitative Research Manager salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Qualitative Research Manager Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$94,376
2024
$94,555
2025
$92,048
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $94,376
2024 $94,555
2025 $92,048
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Qualitative Research Manager

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

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

Find Your Next Qualitative Research Manager Job

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

United States
  • Ohio State University

    Columbus, OH

    Ohio State University | Columbus, OH

    Clinical Research Coordinator - Oncology. The Clinical Research Coordinator performs daily clinical research activities in accordance with approved protoco... more

    3 Days Ago

  • Trinity Health

    Columbus, OH

    Trinity Health | Columbus, OH

    Research Nurse. In accordance with the Mission and Guiding Behaviors. the Research Nurse is responsible for implementing and managing oncology clinical res... more

    4 Days Ago

  • Nationwide Children's Hospital

    Columbus, OH

    Nationwide Children's Hospital | Columbus, OH

    Financial Records ManagerManages financial records, prepares and analyzes financial statements, and ensures compliance with accounting standards and regula... more

    5 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Senior Director of Policy & Research. About the Company. Innovative organization advocating for economic security. Industry. Government Administration. Typ... more

    11 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Head of GTM, Research Services. About the Company. International product research platform providing consumer insights & metrics. Industry. Design. Type. P... more

    1 Month Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Senior Director of Policy & Research. About the Company. Innovative organization advocating for economic security. Industry. Government Administration. Typ... more

    1 Day Ago

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FAQ about Qualitative Research Manager

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Qualitative Research Manager?

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Qualitative Research Manager roles, with salaries approximately 35% 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.)

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