What are the main factors that influence a Research Manager's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change A Research Manager's salary?

A Research Manager's salary grows with experience: a Research and Development Associate VI (10-12 years)earns $217,933, a Research and Development Supervisor (12+ years)earns $116,168, a Research Manager (12+ years)earns $147,506, a Research and Development Senior Manager (12+ years)earns $180,491, a Research and Development Director (12+ years)earns $208,031,

What are the highest paying states for a Research Manager?

Research Manager salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Research Manager roles are District of Columbia $164,310, California $163,686, Massachusetts $161,505. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Research Manager roles make?

Salaries for Research Manager level roles vary by specialization: Operations Research Analysis Manager: $212,255; Epidemiology Research Manager: $179,434; Technology Research Manager: $173,264; Manager of Pathological Research: $169,700; Pathology Research Manager: $169,673.

How do different companies affect a Research Manager's salary?

Company size, industry, and compensation structure create significant salary variations for Research Manager roles. Large, established industry leaders like C R Bard Inc ($128,509) and Henry Schein Canada ($124,697) offer base salaries 35-40% above the national average. In contrast, smaller firms or startups may offer closer to $82,041.

Research Manager Salary in the United States

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

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for a Research Manager in the United States is $148,401 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $71.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $171,661
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $137,634 to $160,576
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $127,831

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Research Manager Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$160,576	$13,381	$3,088	$77
Average	$148,401	$12,367	$2,854	$71
25th Percentile	$137,634	$11,470	$2,647	$66

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Key Factors That Influence Research Manager Salaries

A 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 Experience Level Affects Research Manager Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Research Manager'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): $217,933
Early Career (1-2 years): $116,168
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $147,506
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $180,491
Expert (over 8 years): $208,031

Levels	Salary
Research ... Level Research Manager	$217,933
Research ... Level Research Manager	$116,168
Research ... Level Research Manager	$147,506
Research ... Level Research Manager	$180,491
Research ... Level Research Manager	$208,031

View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

How Do 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 Research Managers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $164,310.
California: $163,686.
Massachusetts: $161,505.

District of Columbia $164,310 California $163,686 Massachusetts $161,505 Washington $160,911 New Jersey $160,852 Alaska $160,644 Connecticut $158,596 New York $157,765

Hawaii $155,109 Rhode Island $153,862 Maryland $153,016 Minnesota $151,859 Colorado $151,414 Illinois $151,265 Oregon $150,701 Delaware $150,286

New Hampshire $150,025 Virginia $149,440 Pennsylvania $147,733 Nevada $146,872 North Dakota $146,591 Michigan $146,145 Wisconsin $145,982 Vermont $145,656

Texas $144,750 Maine $144,691 Arizona $144,602 Ohio $144,498 Georgia $143,133 Indiana $142,450 Wyoming $142,317 Utah $142,109

Iowa $142,020 Kansas $141,307 Louisiana $141,100 North Carolina $141,025 Missouri $140,996 Florida $140,417 Montana $140,105 Nebraska $139,809

Kentucky $139,645 South Carolina $139,052 Tennessee $138,681 Idaho $138,532 New Mexico $137,449 Oklahoma $137,212 Alabama $136,336 South Dakota $134,867

Arkansas $134,065 West Virginia $133,635 Mississippi $132,344

Top Paying Cities for 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: $187,178
San Francisco: $185,338
Oakland: $181,227

San Jose, CA $187,178

San Francisco, CA $185,338

Oakland, CA $181,227

New York, NY $171,982

Queens Village, NY $170,869

Paramus, NJ $169,682

Passaic, NJ $169,533

Bergenfield, NJ $169,385

Stamford, CT $169,162

Huntington, NY $169,014

Newark, NJ $168,049

Bridgeport, CT $167,752

New Brunswick, NJ $167,263

Vallejo, CA $166,951

Middlesex, NJ $166,862

Somerset, NJ $166,729

Petaluma, CA $166,387

Santa Cruz, CA $165,808

Boston, MA $165,512

Monterey, CA $164,770

Fairbanks, AK $164,666

Los Angeles, CA $164,384

Washington, DC $164,310

Seattle, WA $164,042

Santa Rosa, CA $164,013

Juneau, AK $163,582

Orange, CA $163,093

Anchorage, AK $162,826

Anaheim, CA $162,722

Santa Ana, CA $162,499

Nassau, NY $162,410

Long Beach, CA $162,351

Danbury, CT $162,306

Santa Maria, CA $161,802

Everett, WA $161,772

Bremerton, WA $161,045

Trenton, NJ $160,763

Sacramento, CA $160,703

San Diego, CA $160,629

Brockton, MA $160,570

Tacoma, WA $160,511

Santa Barbara, CA $160,303

Lowell, MA $159,709

New Suffolk, NY $159,650

Nashua, NH $159,472

Lompoc, CA $159,234

Ventura, CA $159,086

Stockton, CA $159,041

New Haven, CT $158,745

Atlantic City, NJ $158,359

Hartford, CT $158,032

Modesto, CA $157,958

Poughkeepsie, NY $157,632

New Britain, CT $157,557

Olympia, WA $157,350

Kennewick, WA $157,350

New London, CT $157,320

Norwich, CT $157,275

Lawrence, MA $157,201

Bakersfield, CA $156,786

Riverside, CA $156,578

New Bedford, MA $156,578

Richland, WA $156,429

Portsmouth, NH $156,311

Vineland, NJ $156,281

San Bernardino, CA $156,162

Boulder, CO $155,747

Worcester, MA $155,628

Portland, OR $155,495

Saint Paul, MN $155,316

Minneapolis, MN $155,316

Philadelphia, PA $155,109

Honolulu, HI $154,322

Springfield, MA $153,803

Providence, RI $153,788

Chicago, IL $153,358

Bellingham, WA $153,180

Baltimore, MD $153,016

Chico, CA $152,645

Wilmington, DE $152,393

Pittsfield, MA $152,245

Manchester, NH $151,963

Spokane, WA $151,310

Denver, CO $151,295

Albany, NY $150,597

Troy, NY $150,538

Schenectady, NY $150,226

Burlington, VT $149,900

Portland, ME $149,380

Salem, OR $149,262

Yakima, WA $149,232

Ann Arbor, MI $149,188

Rochester, MN $148,772

Fresno, CA $148,698

Reno, NV $148,698

Milwaukee, WI $148,564

Detroit, MI $148,416

Allentown, PA $148,371

Carson City, NV $148,356

Houston, TX $148,134

Colorado Springs, CO $148,119

Syracuse, NY $148,045

Eugene, OR $147,763

Bismarck, ND $147,585

Gary, IN $147,585

Galveston, TX $147,585

Springfield, OR $147,466

Medford, OR $147,110

Fort Collins, CO $147,051

Austin, TX $146,932

Mesa, AZ $146,620

Phoenix, AZ $146,591

Dallas, TX $146,546

Reading, PA $146,457

Saint Cloud, MN $146,398

Concord, NH $146,264

Madison, WI $146,205

Utica, NY $145,804

Raleigh, NC $145,685

Las Vegas, NV $145,670

Rochester, NY $145,567

Des Moines, IA $145,552

Atlanta, GA $145,314

Battle Creek, MI $145,270

Salt Lake City, UT $145,225

Lancaster, PA $145,003

Champaign, IL $144,973

Harrisburg, PA $144,795

Durham, NC $144,661

Kansas City, MO $144,646

Kansas City, KS $144,617

Fort Worth, TX $144,602

Boca Raton, FL $144,543

Cleveland, OH $144,528

Columbus, OH $144,498

Pittsburgh, PA $144,483

Richmond, VA $144,424

Indianapolis, IN $144,394

Cincinnati, OH $144,201

Petersburg, VA $143,979

Billings, MT $143,652

Lansing, MI $143,652

Huntsville, AL $143,652

Lebanon, PA $143,637

Dayton, OH $143,622

Pueblo, CO $143,622

Appleton, WI $143,578

Buffalo, NY $143,519

Racine, WI $143,444

Charlotte, NC $143,430

Saint Louis, MO $143,385

Springfield, IL $143,326

Elkhart, IN $143,296

York, PA $143,296

Gastonia, NC $143,281

Benton Harbor, MI $143,281

Beaumont, TX $143,192

Lorain, OH $143,162

Toledo, OH $143,103

Binghamton, NY $143,029

Rock Hill, SC $143,014

Rockford, IL $142,940

Fargo, ND $142,866

Elyria, OH $142,866

Flagstaff, AZ $142,762

Fort Lauderdale, FL $142,673

Miami, FL $142,584

Duluth, MN $142,346

Bangor, ME $142,153

Cedar Rapids, IA $141,990

Louisville, KY $141,916

Grand Rapids, MI $141,886

Hialeah, FL $141,871

Casper, WY $141,664

Scranton, PA $141,486

New Orleans, LA $141,441

Virginia Beach, VA $141,426

Akron, OH $141,352

Peoria, IL $141,159

Sarasota, FL $141,129

Green Bay, WI $141,025

Baton Rouge, LA $140,951

Charleston, SC $140,922

Nashville, TN $140,877

Jamestown, NY $140,847

Davenport, IA $140,847

Tucson, AZ $140,773

Cheyenne, WY $140,729

Saint Petersburg, FL $140,684

Tampa, FL $140,654

Omaha, NE $140,625

Port Arthur, TX $140,565

Evansville, IN $140,565

Bradenton, FL $140,506

Santa Fe, NM $140,239

Orlando, FL $140,091

Clearwater, FL $139,927

Canton, OH $139,616

La Crosse, WI $139,616

Grand Forks, ND $139,571

Albuquerque, NM $139,527

Tulsa, OK $139,527

Newport News, VA $139,512

High Point, NC $139,467

Ogden, UT $139,408

Corpus Christi, TX $139,289

Laramie, WY $139,200

Norfolk, VA $139,200

Rock Island, IL $139,111

Saginaw, MI $139,081

Jacksonville, FL $139,067

Salisbury, NC $139,037

Memphis, TN $139,007

Moline, IL $138,933

Fort Myers, FL $138,888

Waterloo, IA $138,696

Spartanburg, SC $138,547

Lincoln, NE $138,473

Fort Wayne, IN $138,443

Birmingham, AL $138,280

Cedar Falls, IA $138,250

Provo, UT $138,236

Springfield, OH $138,221

San Antonio, TX $138,191

Greensboro, NC $138,132

South Bend, IN $138,117

Winston Salem, NC $138,102

Boise, ID $138,057

Savannah, GA $137,954

Muskegon, MI $137,686

Lima, OH $137,508

Lake Charles, LA $137,449

Anderson, IN $137,419

Lexington, KY $137,375

Augusta, GA $137,330

Greenville, SC $137,330

Wichita, KS $137,197

Tuscaloosa, AL $137,197

Columbia, SC $137,063

Bloomington, IN $136,692

Roanoke, VA $136,603

Asheville, NC $136,410

Knoxville, TN $136,158

Shreveport, LA $136,143

Wilmington, NC $135,950

Frankfort, KY $135,668

Oklahoma City, OK $135,564

Chillicothe, OH $135,505

Longview, TX $135,490

Topeka, KS $135,446

Mobile, AL $135,223

Terre Haute, IN $135,164

Erie, PA $135,149

Altoona, PA $135,075

Melbourne, FL $135,030

Amarillo, TX $134,971

Killeen, TX $134,926

Fayetteville, AR $134,807

Sioux Falls, SD $134,704

Chattanooga, TN $134,615

Idaho Falls, ID $134,600

Gainesville, FL $134,288

Portsmouth, OH $134,214

Little Rock, AR $134,184

Lynchburg, VA $134,184

Lafayette, LA $134,125

Youngstown, OH $134,125

Temple, TX $134,065

Daytona Beach, FL $134,036

Clarksville, TN $134,021

Pensacola, FL $134,006

Hopkinsville, KY $133,561

Charleston, WV $133,546

Florence, SC $133,472

Sioux City, IA $133,383

Macon, GA $132,952

Tallahassee, FL $132,938

Fayetteville, NC $132,908

Waco, TX $132,878

Wichita Falls, TX $132,878

Pine Bluff, AR $132,819

Vincennes, IN $132,537

Lubbock, TX $132,478

Great Falls, MT $132,389

Alamogordo, NM $132,374

Abilene, TX $132,255

Rapid City, SD $132,062

Monroe, LA $132,062

Albany, GA $131,973

Huntington, WV $131,958

Jackson, MS $131,943

Greenville, MS $131,928

Parkersburg, WV $131,780

Montgomery, AL $131,750

Johnstown, PA $131,721

Springfield, MO $131,602

Biloxi, MS $131,528

Sumter, SC $131,216

Columbus, GA $131,201

Twin Falls, ID $131,112

Pascagoula, MS $130,919

Kingsport, TN $130,534

Gulfport, MS $130,489

Alexandria, LA $129,999

Fort Smith, AR $129,628

El Paso, TX $129,228

Helena, MT $129,035

Las Cruces, NM $128,560

Harlingen, TX $128,144

Pocatello, ID $128,011

Florence, AL $127,966

Brownsville, TX $127,937

Dothan, AL $127,699

Mcallen, TX $127,625

Columbus, MS $126,527

Altus, OK $125,844

Lawton, OK $125,562

Pierre, SD $125,028

What Skills Can Increase a Research Manager's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

Analysis (Mentioned in 10.36% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
Economics (Mentioned in 1.54% Job Postings): Economics is a social science that focuses on the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services, and analyzes the choices that individuals, businesses, governments, and nations make to allocate resources.
PowerPoint (Mentioned in 1.28% Job Postings): A computer software created by Microsoft which allows the user to create slides with recordings, narrations, transitions and other features in order to present information.

See More Skills

Skills	Demand Percentage
Analysis	10.36%
Economics	1.54%
PowerPoint	1.28%

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 Manager's salary.

People Management: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
New Product Development: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Coaching: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.

Skill	Salary	Salary % Increase
People Management	$160,273	8%
New Product Development	$155,821	5%
Coaching	$155,821	5%
Flexibility	$155,821	5%
Innovation	$154,337	4%
Tableau	$154,337	4%

Get Latest Data

How Education impacts a Research Manager's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many 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 Research Manager with a Master's Degree or MBA is between $150,727 and $159,635).

Research Manager Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Research Manager

No Diploma 1.4%

High School 1.4%

Associates 2.0%

Bachelors 21.5%

Masters 27.2%

Doctorate 47.9%

view as table

Degree Level	% of user with this level of education
No Diploma	1.4%
High School	1.4%
Associates	2.0%
Bachelors	21.5%
Masters	27.2%
Doctorate	47.9%

view as graph

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

Understanding how a 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 April 01, 2026

$137,634

Average $148,401/year

$160,576

$11,470

Average $12,367/month

$13,381

$2,647

Average $2,854/week

$3,088

$66

Average $71/hour

$77

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$160,576	$13,381	$3,088	$77
Average	$148,401	$12,367	$2,854	$71
25th Percentile	$137,634	$11,470	$2,647	$66

Salaries of jobs related to Research Manager

Salary Trends for Research Manager

Salaries for a Research Manager can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $151,965 in 2023 to around $150,260 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Research Manager salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Research Manager Over Time

2022

$???

2023

$151,965

2024

$152,646

2025

$150,260

2026

$???

2027

$???

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$151,965
2024	$152,646
2025	$150,260
2026	View More
2027	View More

Most common benefits for Research Manager

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

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