The salary of a Research and Development Engineer in the United States varies depending on several factors, including experience, location, education level, marketing trend and company sizes.
As of April 01, 2025, the average annual salary for a Research and Development Engineer in the United States is $111,257. According to Salary.com, salaries can range from a low of $92,997 to a high of $131,638, with most professionals earning between $101,699 and $121,925.
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $121,925 | $10,160 | $2,345 | $59 |
| Average | $111,257 | $9,271 | $2,140 | $53 |
| 25th Percentile | $101,699 | $8,475 | $1,956 | $49 |
An entry-level Research and Development Engineer with less than 1 year of experience earns about $108,119. With 1-2 years of experience, the average salary increases to $108,404. For 2-4 years of experience, the pay typically rises to $109,545. Senior-level professionals with 5-8 years of experience earn around $114,441, and those with over 8 years of experience can expect an average of $116,830.
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Research and Development Engineer | $108,119 |
| Intermediate Level Research and Development Engineer | $108,404 |
| Senior Level Research and Development Engineer | $109,545 |
| Specialist Level Research and Development Engineer | $114,441 |
| Expert Level Research and Development Engineer | $116,830 |
| Entry Level | 3% |
| Mid Level | 3% |
| Senior Level | 2% |
| Top Level | 3% |
| Experienced | 5% |
Salaries in the United States differ widely between states due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
What Am I Worth?
Salaries in the United States can vary greatly between cities due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
As of April 01, 2025, our research reveals a significant shift in Research and Development Engineer compensation over the past six years. For example, the median salary increased from $120,204 in 2023 to approximately $120,607 in 2024. (For a detailed analysis of Research and Development Engineer salary trends, click here.)
Key factors like location, experience, industry demand, and economic growth significantly influence salary variations, making them important to consider.
Salary.com job board provides millions of Research and Development Engineer information for you to search for. Click on search button below to see Research and Development Engineer job openings or enter a new job title here.
Here are companies hiring for Research and Development Engineer and their salaries, click below for more details.
| Core Compensation | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Base Salary | $111,257 | 71.9% | ||
| Bonus | $0 | 0.0% | ||
| Value of Benefits | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Social Security | $8,511 | 5.5% | ||
| 401K/403B | $4,673 | 3.0% | ||
| Disability | $2,225 | 1.4% | ||
| Healthcare | $8,352 | 5.4% | ||
| Pension | $6,008 | 3.9% | ||
| Time Off | $13,693 | 8.9% | ||
| Total Compensation | $154,719 | 100% | ||
| Degree Level | % of user with this level of education |
|---|---|
| Associates | 0.9% |
| Bachelors | 14.7% |
| Masters | 25.7% |
| Doctorate | 58.7% |
What Am I Worth?
The average annual salary of Research and Development Engineer is $111,257. In case you are finding an easy salary calculator, the average hourly pay of Research and Development Engineer is $53; the average weekly pay of Research and Development Engineer is $2,140; the average monthly pay of Research and Development Engineer is $9,271.
A Research and Development Engineer's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Research and Development Engineer earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Research and Development Engineer is $140,328.
The highest pay for Research and Development Engineer is $131,638.
The lowest pay for Research and Development Engineer is $92,997.
Conducts research and development activities for an organization. Applies research theories, principles, and models when conducting experiments and research activities. Summarizes research results and communicates findings to internal and external bodies. Assesses the scope of research projects and ensures projects are on time and within budget. Develops technical documentation for all projects. May require an advanced degree. Typically reports to a manager. Work is generally independent and collaborative in nature. Contributes to moderately complex aspects of a project. Typically requires 4-7 years of related experience.
Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.
Analysis: Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
Computer Vision: Designing and utilizing digital systems process, analyze, and interpret visual data.
Deep Learning: Analyzing, developing, and applying big data and algorithms to imitate how humans think and learn.
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.
