SOC 2161 Science, research, engineering and technology professionals

Research and development (R&D) managers Salary

Median salary £54,857 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.

Gross pay, before deductions. See take-home pay on £55,000 after tax and National Insurance →

For research and development (r&d) managers, £55,519 is the typical (median) pay. That is well above the UK full-time median of £39,039 — +42% versus the national average. Experienced research and development (r&d) managers (top 25%) earn over £73,106.

About this role

Research and development managers (2020 SOC) direct research programmes and innovation activities, managing scientific or technical teams to develop new products, technologies, processes or services that create competitive advantage.

Key responsibilities

Directing R&D programmes and innovation pipelines
Managing multidisciplinary research teams
Securing and managing research funding and budgets
Evaluating feasibility and commercial viability of research outcomes
Protecting intellectual property and managing patent strategies

Qualifications and entry routes

Typically requires a PhD or extensive senior research experience, combined with management qualifications or demonstrated leadership capability. Professional institution membership and industry recognition are important.

Career outlook

Growing investment in UK R&D, particularly in life sciences, clean energy and AI. Experienced R&D leaders who bridge technical depth and commercial awareness are highly sought after.

Key skills

Innovation management Scientific leadership IP management Grant writing and funding Cross-functional collaboration

Common industries

Pharmaceuticals and biotech
Technology
Automotive and aerospace
Chemical and materials
Energy and renewables

Data coverage

SOC code 2161

Data source ONS ASHE

Years available 2021–2025

Estimated jobs 81,000

Median Salary

£54,857

Mean Salary

£61,929

Jobs (000s)

81k

Data Years

5 years

Salary Range (2025)

P25: £42,237Median: £54,857P75: £73,106

P10: £33kP25: £42kMedian: £55kP75: £73kP90: --

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Entry Level

£33,154

0-2 years

Mid Level

£42,237

3-7 years

Senior

£73,106

8-15 years

Potential career growth: +121% from entry to leadership

Salary Trend (2021-2025)

Adjust for inflation

Nominal growth: +18.9%Real growth: -3.9%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Gender pay gap: 7.5%

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£54,857

Full-time Only

£55,519

Full-time premium: +£662

Research and development (R&D) managers salary: common questions

How much do research and development (r&d) managers earn in the UK?

Research and development (R&D) managers earn a median of £55,519 a year (ONS ASHE 2025). The middle half earn between £42,237 and £73,106.

Is £55,519 a good salary in the UK?

What is the starting salary for research and development (r&d) managers?

Entry-level research and development (r&d) managers typically start near the lower end of the range. The bottom 25% earn up to £42,237, and the lowest-paid 10% earn under £33,154.

Have research and development (r&d) managers salaries kept up with inflation?

Since 2021, median research and development (r&d) managers pay has risen from £47,755 to £55,519 — +16% in cash terms, or -6.0% after CPIH inflation. That is behind inflation over the period.

Is there a gender pay gap for research and development (r&d) managers?

Male research and development (r&d) managers earn a median £55,735 and female research and development (r&d) managers £51,576 — a gap of +7.0% in 2025.

Figures: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, gross annual pay. UK full-time median £39,039 (2025).