Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between research and development program managers and research and development engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes More than 10 years to become a research and development program manager, becoming a research and development engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a research and development program manager has an average salary of $116,594, which is higher than the $100,169 average annual salary of a research and development engineer.
The top three skills for a research and development program manager include R, project management and program management. The most important skills for a research and development engineer are python, R, and solidworks.
| Research And Development Program Manager | Research And Development Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $116,594 | $100,169 |
| Hourly rate | $56.05 | $48.16 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 152,460 | 187,910 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 48 | 41 |
| Years of experience | - | 6 |
Research and development program managers are responsible for research, planning, and implementing new programs and protocols into their company or organization and overseeing the development of new products. Their duties and responsibilities also include assessing the scope of the project and ensuring the project is going according to budget. They also develop and implement research and development procedures and techniques.
Research and development engineers generally execute research and tests on product ideas, develop new products, and perform redesigns. They are employed in many industries, including manufacturing, electrical, and science-based companies. Their duties vary and depend on the industries they work in. Responsibilities of these engineers include developing new technologies, designing products, and managing the projects until they are completed. Additionally, they lead the project team members to manage their schedules, design the project plans, and collaborate with key departments in developing new products.
Research and development program managers and research and development engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Research And Development Program Manager | Research And Development Engineer | |
| Average salary | $116,594 | $100,169 |
| Salary range | Between $86,000 And $157,000 | Between $74,000 And $135,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Santa Rosa, CA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | California |
| Best paying company | Zoox | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Technology |
There are a few differences between a research and development program manager and a research and development engineer in terms of educational background:
| Research And Development Program Manager | Research And Development Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between research and development program managers' and research and development engineers' demographics:
| Research And Development Program Manager | Research And Development Engineer | |
| Average age | 48 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 74.6% Female, 25.4% | Male, 85.2% Female, 14.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 2.8% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 17.9% White, 66.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 16.7% White, 67.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 5% |