How do I start a career in research and development?

To start a career in research and development, it's important to have a passion for science, a formal education, and hands-on experience. There are two main types of research and development positions; those in industry and those in academia.

Is R&D a good career?

Yes, R&D is a good career. Not only is R&D a lucrative career with lots of opportunities to grow, but it's also in high demand. R&D is a great career option for those who are interested in the science and technology sector and who are innovative and creative.

What degree do you need for research and development?

The degree needed to work in research and development is a bachelor's degree. While it is possible to get roles in this field with only an associate's degree, the best way to leverage a career in research and development is to gain a bachelor's degree.

How To Become A Research And Development Scientist: What It Is and Career Path

Q: What is a research and development scientist?

A research and development scientist is someone who specializes in conducting scientific studies and experiments to develop new products and technologies. They usually work at laboratories where they are in charge of conducting research and assessments. This includes designing the study or metrics, performing tests, streamlining product requirements and guidelines. To accomplish this requires collaborating with fellow experts and maintaining records of all procedures.

What is a research and development scientist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Dr. Betsy Smith

A research and development scientist spends his/her time conducting research, scientific studies, and experiments to develop new products or technologies and improve existing ones. You would spend a lot of your time in the laboratory, not just conducting scientific studies and research but collaborating with other experts in the field, providing recommendations for products, and performing product reviews.

You will be expected to conduct regular assessments and reviews to ensure there are no weak areas and to ensure that all products adhere to safety standards and regulations. You must be able to utilize all laboratory equipment and incorporate technology into your research. You should also be able to present your reports using the slideshow.

You will earn about $61,000 a year at an entry-level position, although the average R&D; scientist earns about $84,000. The minimum educational qualification is a bachelor's degree in a science-based course. Relevant skills for this role are research, data analysis, and python. You will usually find jobs in technology, manufacturing, and pharmaceutical companies.

What general advice would you give to a research and development scientist?

Dr. Betsy Smith

Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Elmira College

I would advise students just graduating to be flexible and open-minded in their job search. Chemistry is a challenging major, and students who succeed in it have learned how to learn, so they shouldn't assume that pure chemistry is the only thing they can do. One growing field is biomedical research, and chemistry majors are often qualified for jobs in that area. If you have other strengths, like writing, there are often jobs that can combine them as a technical writer or work for a science journal. There are jobs out there that might be perfect for you that you haven't heard of until you see an ad for it, so be open to different possibilities.

ScoreResearch And Development ScientistUS Average

Salary

7.1

Avg. Salary $90,278

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

6.3

Growth rate 17%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

2.9

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.15%

Asian 26.33%

Black or African American 6.43%

Hispanic or Latino 9.68%

Unknown 4.12%

White 53.30%

Gender

female 35.65%

male 64.35%

Age - 39

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 39

Stress level

6.3

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.8

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.7

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a research and development scientist

Explore research and development scientist education requirements

Most common research and development scientist degrees

Bachelor's

62.0 %

Master's

16.9 %

Doctorate

9.7 %

Start to develop specific research and development scientist skills

Skills	Percentages
R	7.48%
Patients	5.71%
Data Analysis	5.20%
Python	4.50%
Technical Support	3.73%

Complete relevant research and development scientist training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New research and development scientists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a research and development scientist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real research and development scientist resumes.

Research research and development scientist duties and responsibilities

Lead technology evaluation, scale-up & commercialization (milling, extraction, distillation, clarification, ultra-filtration & concentration).
Manage security configurations of multiple GMP equipment to ensure sensitive data is backed up and secure via active directory.
Perform method development and validation of dissolution method by HPLC.
Execute and evaluate test protocols utilizing chemistry, laboratory equipment and computer software.

Prepare your research and development scientist resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your research and development scientist resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a research and development scientist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable research and development scientist resume templates

Build a professional research and development scientist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your research and development scientist resume.

Apply for research and development scientist jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a research and development scientist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

Average research and development scientist salary

The average research and development scientist salary in the United States is $90,278 per year or $43 per hour. Research and development scientist salaries range between $64,000 and $125,000 per year.

Average research and development scientist salary

$90,278 Yearly

$43.40 hourly

How do research and development scientists rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Research and development scientist reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on May 2019

Pros

Science of observation

Cons

Haven't gotten to that point yet! you are looking for a story that has yet left the summary

A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2019

Pros

Ingenuity and the fast paced environment while critical thinking to solve the problems.

What is a research and development scientist and how to become one

What general advice would you give to a research and development scientist?

Research and development scientist career paths

Key steps to become a research and development scientist

Explore research and development scientist education requirements

Most common research and development scientist degrees

Start to develop specific research and development scientist skills

Complete relevant research and development scientist training and internships

Research research and development scientist duties and responsibilities

Prepare your research and development scientist resume

Choose from 10+ customizable research and development scientist resume templates

Apply for research and development scientist jobs

How did you land your first research and development scientist job

Average research and development scientist salary

How do research and development scientists rate their job?

Research and development scientist reviews

Research and development scientist FAQs

How do I start a career in research and development?

Is R&D a good career?

What degree do you need for research and development?

What is a research and development scientist?

Search for research and development scientist jobs