▼17%
$75,071
Avg. Base Salary (USD)
/ year
Avg. Base Salary (USD)
10%
$53k
MEDIAN
$75k
90%
$99k
The average salary for a Research and Development Engineer is $75,071 in 2025
Base Salary
$53k - $99k
Bonus
$2k - $7k
Profit Sharing
$0 - $5k
Total Pay
$56k - $106k
Is Average Mid-Career Research and Development Engineer with Microsoft Office Skills Salary your job title? Find out what you should be paid
Use our tool to get a personalized report on your market worth.What's this?
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What is the Pay by Experience Level for Research and Development Engineers?
What Do Research and Development Engineers Do?
Research and Development Engineer Tasks
- Define material properties, develop concepts, verify prototypes, create and execute clinically simulated bench tests.
- Manage multiple project timelines, resources and responsibilities to achieve goals.
- Verify and validate designs and transfer new products into production.
- Transfer products designed for manufacturing throughout the development cycle and into full production.
- Lead a design team to create and develop new products and innovations.
Find your market worth – how it works:
Common Health Benefits for a Research and Development Engineer
Medical
86%
Dental
76%
Vision
67%
None
14%
Gender Breakdown for Research and Development Engineers
Male
83.3%
Female
16.7%
This data is based on 18 survey responses. Learn more about the gender pay gap.
FAQs About Research and Development Engineers
What is the highest pay for Research and Development Engineers?
Our data indicates that the highest pay for a Research and Development Engineer is $99k / year
What is the lowest pay for Research and Development Engineers?
Our data indicates that the lowest pay for a Research and Development Engineer is $53k / year
How can Research and Development Engineers increase their salary?
Increasing your pay as a Research and Development Engineer is possible in different ways. Change of employer: Consider a career move to a new employer that is willing to pay higher for your skills. Level of Education: Gaining advanced degrees may allow this role to increase their income potential and qualify for promotions. Managing Experience: If you are a Research and Development Engineer that oversees more junior Research and Development Engineers, this experience can increase the likelihood to earn more.