Salary guide, May 2025
R&D Engineer pay, United States
Manufacturing Headhunters uses the published BLS OEWS figures below. They describe the mapped occupation and area, not an individual offer.
This is what we do all day: recruit manufacturing professionals.
The median annual wage for Architectural and Engineering Managers in the United States was $171,270 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $139,360 and $212,500.
Broader occupation · SOC 11-9041 Architectural and Engineering Managers
R&D Engineer is shown within the broader published occupation. BLS does not separate this plant-specific title, seniority, shift, process or credential. Compare the duties with the SOC definition before using the range.
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $120,810 | $139,360 | $171,270 | $212,500 | $262,760 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $58.08 | $67.00 | $82.34 | $102.16 | $126.33 |
BLS estimated 220,260 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 11-9041 Architectural and Engineering Managers, U.S.. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
How does pay compare in the target metros?
| Metro | Median | 25th to 75th | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $167,160 | $132,350 to $203,900 | 1,610 | 0.4 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $169,310 | $137,270 to $205,740 | 1,480 | 0.72 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $177,990 | $158,600 to $213,580 | 1,780 | 0.89 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $169,780 | $139,040 to $208,590 | 1,850 | 1.76 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $183,890 | $157,290 to $222,800 | 7,580 | 0.56 |
| Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $183,890 | $157,290 to $222,800 | 7,580 | 0.56 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $172,160 | $141,460 to $219,080 | 5,970 | 1.04 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $163,430 | $133,100 to $200,400 | 6,670 | 1.04 |
Rank every metro for R&D Engineer
What should you know about pay by manufacturing industry, United States?
Same BLS occupation, national estimates for each manufacturing industry (NAICS) BLS publishes, May 2025. Industry names are BLS labels.
- Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing$192,800
- Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing$183,950
- Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing$179,720
- Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing$179,270
- Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing$179,100
- Animal Slaughtering and Processing$178,790
- Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing$178,170
- Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing$178,170
- Communications Equipment Manufacturing$178,010
- Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing$177,090
- Transportation Equipment Manufacturing$176,340
- Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing$172,680
- Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing$171,190
- Motor Vehicle Manufacturing$170,820
- Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills$169,750
Bars show up to 15 industries with exact annual medians. The table lists every published industry.
| NAICS | Industry | Employment | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31-33 | Manufacturing | 77,280 | $137,220 | $169,690 | $210,340 |
| 334000 | Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | 19,820 | $158,830 | $179,720 | $219,310 |
| 336000 | Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 18,950 | $149,140 | $176,340 | $215,580 |
| 333000 | Machinery Manufacturing | 11,930 | $130,970 | $162,200 | $196,430 |
| 336400 | Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 11,760 | $169,310 | $192,800 | $220,610 |
| 334500 | Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | 9,080 | $158,840 | $177,090 | $216,340 |
| 3330A1 | Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | 8,580 | $130,920 | $160,430 | $192,970 |
| 334400 | Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | 7,670 | $161,720 | $183,950 | $225,030 |
| 325000 | Chemical Manufacturing | 5,310 | $137,290 | $168,900 | $199,930 |
| 332000 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 5,270 | $122,050 | $140,510 | $169,040 |
| 339000 | Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 4,190 | $137,590 | $169,200 | $206,810 |
| 335000 | Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing | 4,150 | $132,920 | $160,140 | $192,140 |
| 336300 | Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | 4,120 | $129,410 | $157,330 | $174,550 |
| 339100 | Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | 3,240 | $144,010 | $171,190 | $210,000 |
| 3320A1 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | 2,810 | $124,820 | $147,400 | $169,630 |
| 325400 | Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | 2,670 | $137,780 | $169,340 | $202,830 |
| 326000 | Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing | 2,350 | $127,350 | $145,770 | $171,520 |
| 3250A1 | Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | 2,180 | $138,760 | $166,850 | $196,740 |
| 326100 | Plastics Product Manufacturing | 1,870 | $127,920 | $147,700 | $173,290 |
| 335900 | Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | 1,790 | $137,730 | $165,520 | $210,850 |
| 335300 | Electrical Equipment Manufacturing | 1,760 | $130,100 | $157,280 | $180,560 |
| 334200 | Communications Equipment Manufacturing | 1,690 | $159,680 | $178,010 | $219,080 |
| 336100 | Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | 1,470 | $142,060 | $170,820 | $209,450 |
| 3320A2 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | 1,430 | $117,930 | $136,900 | $167,490 |
| 331000 | Primary Metal Manufacturing | 1,290 | $128,190 | $145,920 | $177,000 |
| 333600 | Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing | 1,200 | $164,040 | $179,100 | $215,860 |
| 333300 | Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing | 1,190 | $131,880 | $168,240 | $203,010 |
| 334100 | Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | 1,140 | $137,090 | $179,270 | $224,400 |
| 333500 | Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing | 970 | $124,270 | $134,350 | $165,050 |
| 339900 | Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 940 | $126,670 | $153,170 | $186,260 |
| 332700 | Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 910 | $116,610 | $137,490 | $165,720 |
| 311000 | Food Manufacturing | 900 | $140,840 | $162,240 | $195,440 |
| 324000 | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 750 | $161,880 | $178,170 | $222,270 |
| 324100 | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 750 | $161,880 | $178,170 | $222,270 |
| 322000 | Paper Manufacturing | 660 | $137,450 | $167,160 | $188,490 |
| 336600 | Ship and Boat Building | 610 | $133,420 | $168,410 | $208,000 |
| 332710 | Machine Shops | 570 | $112,120 | $135,840 | $165,410 |
| 337000 | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing | 550 | $107,720 | $133,440 | $160,790 |
| 327000 | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 540 | $129,060 | $154,710 | $184,360 |
| 327000 | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 540 | $129,060 | $154,710 | $184,360 |
| 3370A1 | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing (3371 and 3372 only) | 510 | $106,410 | $131,150 | $158,650 |
| 326200 | Rubber Product Manufacturing | 480 | $126,070 | $141,240 | $168,240 |
| 3250A2 | Chemical Manufacturing (3255 and 3256 only) | 460 | $133,900 | $155,390 | $176,300 |
| 336200 | Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing | 460 | $118,280 | $137,580 | $166,450 |
| 322200 | Converted Paper Product Manufacturing | 360 | $135,630 | $163,540 | $186,960 |
| 331500 | Foundries | 360 | $125,410 | $134,640 | $161,410 |
| 332720 | Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 340 | $123,470 | $139,830 | $166,660 |
| 331100 | Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | 310 | $129,920 | $155,070 | $197,180 |
| 335100 | Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing | 310 | $128,100 | $151,980 | $184,410 |
| 322100 | Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills | 300 | $141,720 | $169,750 | $193,370 |
| 335200 | Household Appliance Manufacturing | 290 | $130,900 | $160,810 | $167,440 |
| 331400 | Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | 270 | $139,150 | $162,560 | $183,950 |
| 336500 | Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing | 260 | $154,180 | $167,850 | $199,610 |
| 336900 | Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 260 | $124,460 | $143,830 | $170,290 |
| 311900 | Other Food Manufacturing | 200 | $147,420 | $166,120 | $193,680 |
| 331300 | Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing | 190 | $120,290 | $140,260 | $168,600 |
| 334300 | Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing | 180 | $152,310 | $172,680 | $210,320 |
| 311500 | Dairy Product Manufacturing | 170 | $139,100 | $156,650 | $187,200 |
| 321000 | Wood Product Manufacturing | 170 | $108,760 | $135,450 | $160,810 |
| 312000 | Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing | 160 | $147,830 | $163,680 | $179,880 |
| 331200 | Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel | 150 | $128,080 | $144,020 | $195,010 |
| 312100 | Beverage Manufacturing | 140 | $145,610 | $163,250 | $176,890 |
| 311400 | Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing | 130 | $139,700 | $165,720 | $177,000 |
| 321900 | Other Wood Product Manufacturing | 130 | $111,790 | $137,330 | $160,440 |
| 332800 | Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities | 130 | $123,280 | $133,960 | $169,990 |
| 311800 | Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing | 110 | $132,620 | $156,340 | $202,510 |
| 313000 | Textile Mills | 100 | $121,700 | $140,590 | $165,250 |
| 311300 | Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing | 90 | $149,330 | $167,020 | $208,470 |
| 311600 | Animal Slaughtering and Processing | 90 | $155,460 | $178,790 | $211,910 |
| 323000 | Printing and Related Support Activities | 90 | $131,110 | $143,560 | $165,320 |
| 323100 | Printing and Related Support Activities | 90 | $131,110 | $143,560 | $165,320 |
| 311200 | Grain and Oilseed Milling | 80 | $132,120 | $160,800 | $209,530 |
| 314000 | Textile Product Mills | 80 | $108,130 | $125,000 | $161,220 |
| 313200 | Fabric Mills | 60 | $124,350 | $142,990 | $168,260 |
| 314900 | Other Textile Product Mills | 60 | $104,010 | $119,660 | $162,260 |
| 339910 | Jewelry and Silverware Manufacturing | 50 | $143,870 | $167,760 | $192,510 |
| 311100 | Animal Food Manufacturing | 40 | $122,640 | $149,750 | $169,220 |
| 337900 | Other Furniture Related Product Manufacturing | 40 | $137,270 | $165,820 | $178,300 |
What should you know about manufacturing pay mix?
For R&D Engineer, separate the guaranteed salary from any discretionary bonus or commission arrangement. OEWS includes base rate, guaranteed pay and production incentive pay. It excludes overtime premium, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses. An attendance bonus is not a production bonus; confirm its purpose and treatment rather than adding every bonus to the BLS figure.
Skills-based pay steps affect the base rate when they are part of straight-time pay; BLS does not publish a separate rate for each plant's skill grade. Ask whether a tool allowance is expense reimbursement or wage pay. OEWS does not publish a separate tool-allowance component. Keep these items separate in the offer so the published wage is not mistaken for the whole package.
Pay mix here means how published medians for this one BLS occupation differ across manufacturing industries and against the all-industry median. It does not split pay into base, incentive or overtime. BLS wages are straight-time gross pay and exclude overtime, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses.
What should you know about two BLS releases?
| Release period | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | $134,930 | $167,740 | $207,210 |
| May 2025 | $139,360 | $171,270 | $212,500 |
These are two separate BLS estimates from different survey panels. The workers and employers behind them differ, so the gap is not like-for-like pay for the same workers and is not a growth rate. We show no percentage change.
Recruiter's read. Qualitative, not BLS data.
What should you know about the authority you are offering?
Settle exploratory development rather than support of a stable production line before outreach begins. We put the difference around exploratory development rather than support of a stable production line in front of you so the interview tests missing experience rather than assuming it is already there.
What should you know about questions?
Wages for the OEWS survey are straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay. Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
What is the median pay for a R&D Engineer?
The median annual wage for Architectural and Engineering Managers in the United States was $171,270 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $139,360 and $212,500. This is the broader occupation BLS publishes, not a figure for this exact title.
What does the 10th percentile mean here?
10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than $120,810. 90% earned less than $262,760.
Does this include overtime or bonuses?
Wages for the OEWS survey are straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay. Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
Is this the pay for a R&D Engineer at a plant?
R&D Engineer is shown within the broader published occupation. BLS does not separate this plant-specific title, seniority, shift, process or credential. Compare the duties with the SOC definition before using the range. These are occupation estimates across all industries, not an offer for a particular manufacturing title.
How many people work in this occupation?
BLS estimated 220,260 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
What should you know about related?
What does this data mean for your opening?
Manufacturing Headhunters assesses the R&D Engineer role, categorized under the Architectural and Engineering Managers mapping. The national median for this category is $171,270, rising from $167,740 in the prior May 2024 period. The middle-band width spans $73,140, calculated between the P25 of $139,360 and the P75 of $212,500.
It is crucial to note that BLS data aggregates all management roles within engineering, meaning it does not reflect the unique technical focus or exploratory nature of R&D engineering as a distinct job title.
Regional analysis reveals that the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim hub maintains a median of $190,900, while Detroit-Warren-Dearborn sits at $168,550. These metros serve as the highest employment hubs for the broader occupational group. The national industry figures highlight a significant premium for R&D work in Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing at $192,800. Semiconductors and other electronic component industries also report high medians of $183,950. These values confirm the sector-specific value placed on engineering design expertise, though the data remains general to the management occupational code.
The effectiveness of using these figures in compensation strategy depends on understanding the screening requirements for this specific role. We focus on engineers who can handle failed experiments and turn those insights into design or testing corrections, rather than those focused solely on sustaining existing lines. The provided median is an annual figure; it does not capture the hourly variance or additional compensation components like sign-on bonuses or specialized retention packages. As this data does not account for firm-specific R&D needs or the seniority level required for specific engineering tasks, it should be used to calibrate total pay expectations rather than setting exact job-offer amounts.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
How does the national median shift influence engineering recruiting?
The $3,530 median increase suggests a tightening market for experienced engineering management talent. Employers should use these trends to ensure their competitive positioning.
What does the location quotient reveal about the R&D Engineer market?
The quotient measures the employment concentration of the broader category in specific metros. It does not measure the availability of specialized R&D engineers.
Why is the middle-band width important for R&D roles?
A $73,140 band suggests that experience level significantly drives compensation. This width allows companies to differentiate between junior and senior technical design management.
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