Annual Salary
£25,000 to £65,000
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
Swap to Maths or Science or go back to all job sectors
Swap to Maths or Science or go back to all job sectors
Research and development (R&D) managers lead teams of scientists and engineers to create new products and improve existing ones.
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
You could work: evenings / weekends; away from home
There will be
2.4% more Research and development manager jobs in 2027.
Your day-to-day duties may include:
You could work at a university, in a laboratory or in a factory.
You can get into this job through:
You'll need a degree or postgraduate qualification to become a research and development manager. The subject you take will depend on which research area you want to work in but common examples include:
You'll also need several years' relevant experience in industry, with an understanding of research methods, data analysis and development processes.
You'll usually need:
You'll usually be a member of a professional body relevant to your particular line of work.
You can get an overview of research and development across different industries from UK Research and Innovation.
With experience in industry, you could become a senior project manager or research director.
In higher education, you could become a senior research fellow or professor.
You'll need: