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.

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.

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

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

Quoted expert

Dr. William Collier Ph.D.

A research and development technician works in the field of research and development to support scientists and engineers in creating new products, processes or technologies. They conduct experiments, analyze data, troubleshoot equipment, and make adjustments to complete projects on time and within budget. They also provide technical assistance, maintain laboratory equipment, and keep accurate records. A research and development technician posseses analytical skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work independently or collaboratively.

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

Dr. William Collier Ph.D.

Professor of Chemistry, Oral Roberts University

Know where you want to go, and head in that direction. Be open to a lot of different starting positions; you are young and can change at this point in your career reasonably quickly. In short, if an exciting job comes up, it is not exactly what you are looking for, but you need a job. You might be surprised to find out what you do and do not like about it. You can always change a few years down the line. Work hard, be honest, treat others right, be a team person, and leave excellent impressions of yourself. You will live happier, and be surprised at how far your reputation (for good or ill) will travel. Verbal references to your work skill, talent, and work behavior can carry more weight than a resume.

ScoreResearch And Development TechnicianUS Average

Salary

6.5

Avg. Salary $83,552

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

4.9

Growth rate 9%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.2

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 2.40%

Asian 15.39%

Black or African American 11.26%

Hispanic or Latino 14.21%

Unknown 6.10%

White 50.65%

Gender

female 27.52%

male 72.48%

Age - 37

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 - 37

Stress level

4.9

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

7.8

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

8.1

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a research and development technician?

Pros

Possibility for career advancement within the R&D; field
Variety of tasks and responsibilities, making work interesting and engaging
Possibility for flexible work arrangements (such as remote work or flexible scheduling)
Potential for competitive salary and benefits packages
Ability to use creativity and problem-solving skills to overcome challenges

Cons

Long hours and potential for overtime, especially during project crunch time
Potential for repetitive or mundane tasks
Possibility of encountering setbacks or failures that can be demotivating
Can be highly competitive, with limited job opportunities in certain areas of research
Possibility of working with hazardous or dangerous materials or equipment

Key steps to become a research and development technician

Explore research and development technician education requirements

Most common research and development technician degrees

Bachelor's

61.3 %

Associate

18.6 %

Master's

11.2 %

Start to develop specific research and development technician skills

Skills	Percentages
R	12.76%
Project Management	6.33%
Product Management	5.03%
Product Development	4.98%
Business Development	4.11%

Complete relevant research and development technician training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New research and development technicians 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 technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real research and development technician resumes.

Research research and development technician duties and responsibilities

Lead team to standardize test procedures and develop test database to achieve UL approve test laboratory status.
Develop BlazeMaster and TempRite products and achieve CSA, UL and NSF approvals.
Design and manage the infrastructure of a quality management system to support regulate clinical and non-clinical GLP studies.
Manage customer support, and administered/instal office mini-computers and PC network.

Prepare your research and development technician resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your research and development technician 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 technician 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 technician resume templates

Build a professional research and development technician 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 technician resume.

Apply for research and development technician jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a research and development technician 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 technician salary

The average research and development technician salary in the United States is $83,552 per year or $40 per hour. Research and development technician salaries range between $55,000 and $125,000 per year.

Average research and development technician salary

$83,552 Yearly

$40.17 hourly

How do research and development technicians rate their job?

5/5

Based on 1 ratings

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Research and development technician reviews

5.0

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 technician and how to become one

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

What are the pros and cons of being a research and development technician?

Research and development technician career paths

Key steps to become a research and development technician

Explore research and development technician education requirements

Most common research and development technician degrees

Start to develop specific research and development technician skills

Complete relevant research and development technician training and internships

Research research and development technician duties and responsibilities

Prepare your research and development technician resume

Choose from 10+ customizable research and development technician resume templates

Apply for research and development technician jobs

How did you land your first research and development technician job

Average research and development technician salary

How do research and development technicians rate their job?

Research and development technician reviews

Research and development technician FAQs

How do I start a career in research and development?

What degree do you need for research and development?

Search for research and development technician jobs

Research and development technician jobs by state