Salary guide, May 2025

R&D Manager 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

Architectural and Engineering Managers in U.S.: median $171,270; published 25th to 75th percentile $139,360 to $212,500.

Annual wage percentiles, U.S.
10th	25th	Median	75th	90th
$120,810	$139,360	$171,270	$212,500	$262,760

Architectural and Engineering Managers in U.S.: median $82.34; published 25th to 75th percentile $67.00 to $102.16.

Hourly wage percentiles, U.S.
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?

R&D Manager pay in target metros (May 2025)
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 Manager

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. Nested NAICS rows overlap; they are not independent samples and must not be added together. Identical source rows repeated at different publication levels appear once.

Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing (NAICS 334000)$179,720
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing (NAICS 324000)$178,170
Transportation Equipment Manufacturing (NAICS 336000)$176,340
Miscellaneous Manufacturing (NAICS 339000)$169,200
Chemical Manufacturing (NAICS 325000)$168,900
Paper Manufacturing (NAICS 322000)$167,160
Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing (NAICS 312000)$163,680
Food Manufacturing (NAICS 311000)$162,240
Machinery Manufacturing (NAICS 333000)$162,200
Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing (NAICS 335000)$160,140
Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing (NAICS 327000)$154,710
Primary Metal Manufacturing (NAICS 331000)$145,920
Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing (NAICS 326000)$145,770
Printing and Related Support Activities (NAICS 323000)$143,560
Textile Mills (NAICS 313000)$140,590

Bars compare up to 15 non-overlapping 3-digit manufacturing subsectors with exact annual medians. More detailed scopes remain in the table, identified by code and publication level.

R&D Manager (SOC 11-9041) by manufacturing industry, national, May 2025
NAICS / scope	Industry	Employment	25th	Median	75th
31-33 · sector	Manufacturing	77,280	$137,220	$169,690	$210,340
334000 · 3-digit	Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing	19,820	$158,830	$179,720	$219,310
336000 · 3-digit	Transportation Equipment Manufacturing	18,950	$149,140	$176,340	$215,580
333000 · 3-digit	Machinery Manufacturing	11,930	$130,970	$162,200	$196,430
336400 · 4-digit	Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing	11,760	$169,310	$192,800	$220,610
334500 · 4-digit	Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing	9,080	$158,840	$177,090	$216,340
3330A1 · 4-digit	Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only)	8,580	$130,920	$160,430	$192,970
334400 · 4-digit	Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing	7,670	$161,720	$183,950	$225,030
325000 · 3-digit	Chemical Manufacturing	5,310	$137,290	$168,900	$199,930
332000 · 3-digit	Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing	5,270	$122,050	$140,510	$169,040
339000 · 3-digit	Miscellaneous Manufacturing	4,190	$137,590	$169,200	$206,810
335000 · 3-digit	Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing	4,150	$132,920	$160,140	$192,140
336300 · 4-digit	Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing	4,120	$129,410	$157,330	$174,550
339100 · 4-digit	Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing	3,240	$144,010	$171,190	$210,000
3320A1 · 4-digit	Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only)	2,810	$124,820	$147,400	$169,630
325400 · 4-digit	Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing	2,670	$137,780	$169,340	$202,830
326000 · 3-digit	Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing	2,350	$127,350	$145,770	$171,520
3250A1 · 4-digit	Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only)	2,180	$138,760	$166,850	$196,740
326100 · 4-digit	Plastics Product Manufacturing	1,870	$127,920	$147,700	$173,290
335900 · 4-digit	Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing	1,790	$137,730	$165,520	$210,850
335300 · 4-digit	Electrical Equipment Manufacturing	1,760	$130,100	$157,280	$180,560
334200 · 4-digit	Communications Equipment Manufacturing	1,690	$159,680	$178,010	$219,080
336100 · 4-digit	Motor Vehicle Manufacturing	1,470	$142,060	$170,820	$209,450
3320A2 · 4-digit	Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only)	1,430	$117,930	$136,900	$167,490
331000 · 3-digit	Primary Metal Manufacturing	1,290	$128,190	$145,920	$177,000
333600 · 4-digit	Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing	1,200	$164,040	$179,100	$215,860
333300 · 4-digit	Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing	1,190	$131,880	$168,240	$203,010
334100 · 4-digit	Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing	1,140	$137,090	$179,270	$224,400
333500 · 4-digit	Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing	970	$124,270	$134,350	$165,050
339900 · 4-digit	Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing	940	$126,670	$153,170	$186,260
332700 · 4-digit	Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing	910	$116,610	$137,490	$165,720
311000 · 3-digit	Food Manufacturing	900	$140,840	$162,240	$195,440
324000 · 3-digit	Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing	750	$161,880	$178,170	$222,270
324100 · 4-digit	Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing	750	$161,880	$178,170	$222,270
322000 · 3-digit	Paper Manufacturing	660	$137,450	$167,160	$188,490
336600 · 4-digit	Ship and Boat Building	610	$133,420	$168,410	$208,000
332710 · 5-digit	Machine Shops	570	$112,120	$135,840	$165,410
337000 · 3-digit	Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing	550	$107,720	$133,440	$160,790
327000 · 3-digit	Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing	540	$129,060	$154,710	$184,360
3370A1 · 4-digit	Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing (3371 and 3372 only)	510	$106,410	$131,150	$158,650
326200 · 4-digit	Rubber Product Manufacturing	480	$126,070	$141,240	$168,240
3250A2 · 4-digit	Chemical Manufacturing (3255 and 3256 only)	460	$133,900	$155,390	$176,300
336200 · 4-digit	Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing	460	$118,280	$137,580	$166,450
322200 · 4-digit	Converted Paper Product Manufacturing	360	$135,630	$163,540	$186,960
331500 · 4-digit	Foundries	360	$125,410	$134,640	$161,410
332720 · 5-digit	Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing	340	$123,470	$139,830	$166,660
331100 · 4-digit	Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing	310	$129,920	$155,070	$197,180
335100 · 4-digit	Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing	310	$128,100	$151,980	$184,410
322100 · 4-digit	Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills	300	$141,720	$169,750	$193,370
335200 · 4-digit	Household Appliance Manufacturing	290	$130,900	$160,810	$167,440
331400 · 4-digit	Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing	270	$139,150	$162,560	$183,950
336500 · 4-digit	Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing	260	$154,180	$167,850	$199,610
336900 · 4-digit	Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing	260	$124,460	$143,830	$170,290
311900 · 4-digit	Other Food Manufacturing	200	$147,420	$166,120	$193,680
331300 · 4-digit	Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing	190	$120,290	$140,260	$168,600
334300 · 4-digit	Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing	180	$152,310	$172,680	$210,320
311500 · 4-digit	Dairy Product Manufacturing	170	$139,100	$156,650	$187,200
321000 · 3-digit	Wood Product Manufacturing	170	$108,760	$135,450	$160,810
312000 · 3-digit	Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing	160	$147,830	$163,680	$179,880
331200 · 4-digit	Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel	150	$128,080	$144,020	$195,010
312100 · 4-digit	Beverage Manufacturing	140	$145,610	$163,250	$176,890
311400 · 4-digit	Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing	130	$139,700	$165,720	$177,000
321900 · 4-digit	Other Wood Product Manufacturing	130	$111,790	$137,330	$160,440
332800 · 4-digit	Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities	130	$123,280	$133,960	$169,990
311800 · 4-digit	Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing	110	$132,620	$156,340	$202,510
313000 · 3-digit	Textile Mills	100	$121,700	$140,590	$165,250
311300 · 4-digit	Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing	90	$149,330	$167,020	$208,470
311600 · 4-digit	Animal Slaughtering and Processing	90	$155,460	$178,790	$211,910
323000 · 3-digit	Printing and Related Support Activities	90	$131,110	$143,560	$165,320
323100 · 4-digit	Printing and Related Support Activities	90	$131,110	$143,560	$165,320
311200 · 4-digit	Grain and Oilseed Milling	80	$132,120	$160,800	$209,530
314000 · 3-digit	Textile Product Mills	80	$108,130	$125,000	$161,220
313200 · 4-digit	Fabric Mills	60	$124,350	$142,990	$168,260
314900 · 4-digit	Other Textile Product Mills	60	$104,010	$119,660	$162,260
339910 · 5-digit	Jewelry and Silverware Manufacturing	50	$143,870	$167,760	$192,510
311100 · 4-digit	Animal Food Manufacturing	40	$122,640	$149,750	$169,220
337900 · 4-digit	Other Furniture Related Product Manufacturing	40	$137,270	$165,820	$178,300

What should you know about manufacturing pay mix?

For R&D Manager, separate the guaranteed salary from any discretionary bonus or commission arrangement. OEWS measures straight-time gross wages, not pure base salary or total compensation. It includes base rate, guaranteed pay, commissions and production bonuses. It excludes overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits.

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?

R&D Manager in the United States, annual wages, May 2024 and May 2025
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 an interview based on the work?

Build the interview around development scientists or engineers and their project priorities. Those limits help establish people and laboratory management rather than only personal research work; they are part of competence, not a weakness to talk around.

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 Manager?

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?

Is this the pay for a R&D Manager at a plant?

R&D Manager 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?

Underlying BLS figures for this role (JSON)

Reading this wage estimate

What does this data mean for your opening?

Manufacturing Headhunters analyzes the R&D Manager position under the Architectural and Engineering Managers SOC title. For R&D Manager in the United States, releases are separate survey estimates. The May 2025 median is $171,270; the May 2024 median is $167,740. Their arithmetic difference is $3,530.

They are not the same workers' raises and do not establish a pay trend or its cause. The middle-band width is $73,140, based on a 25th percentile of $139,360 and a 75th percentile of $212,500. Because the BLS classifies these roles under a general management code, these numbers do not capture the variation in laboratory-specific budgets or headcount accountability that often define R&D management in a manufacturing environment.

For comparative context, the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metro has a median of $190,900 and the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn area reports $168,550. These locations represent the top employment concentrations for the broader category, and their respective band widths of $65,730 and $65,280 provide insight into regional pay variance. National industry-specific data shows stronger medians in the Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing sector at $192,800, followed by Semiconductor manufacturing at $183,950 and Computer and Electronic Product manufacturing at $179,720.

Evaluation of R&D managers requires careful attention to the specific scope of the role, as the SOC mapping does not differentiate between exploratory research and applied development management. Our screening criteria prioritize candidates who have successfully managed product trial shutdowns and transitioned lab results into production, moving beyond personal research contributions. Hiring managers should view these BLS figures as foundational benchmarks. For R&D Manager in the United States, OEWS measures straight-time gross wages, not pure base salary or total compensation. Commissions and production bonuses are included; overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits are excluded. For R&D Manager in the United States, releases are separate survey estimates. The May 2025 median is $171,270; the May 2024 median is $167,740. Their arithmetic difference is $3,530. They are not the same workers' raises and do not establish a pay trend or its cause.

Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?

For R&D Manager in the United States, OEWS measures straight-time gross wages, not pure base salary or total compensation. Commissions and production bonuses are included; overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits are excluded. It acts as a baseline for the broader engineering management group.

How do industrial sector wages compare to the broader national median?

Sectors like Aerospace and Semiconductors show significantly higher medians than the general national average. These represent specialized concentrations of high-value engineering management.

Is the R&D Manager role specifically isolated in this data?

No, this role is included within the broader Architectural and Engineering Managers category. BLS reporting does not separate specific R&D functions from general engineering management.

What is the primary limit of this compensation data?