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Job outlook for research and development technicians in the United States
Research and development technician job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected research and development technician job growth rate is 9% from 2018-2028.
About 7,700 new jobs for research and development technicians are projected over the next decade.
Research and development technician salaries have increased 9% for research and development technicians in the last 5 years.
There are over 21,327 research and development technicians currently employed in the United States.
There are 111,268 active research and development technician job openings in the US.
The average research and development technician salary is $83,552.
Are research and development technician jobs in demand?
Research and development technician job and salary trends over time
Research and development technician jobs over time
Research and development technician job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 21,327 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 22,605 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 22,509 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 22,056 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 21,417 | 0.01% |
Average research and development technician salary over time
Research and development technician salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $83,552 | $40.17 | +1.0% |
| 2024 | $82,687 | $39.75 | +3.1% |
| 2023 | $80,235 | $38.57 | +1.6% |
| 2022 | $78,972 | $37.97 | +3.0% |
| 2021 | $76,665 | $36.86 | +2.1% |
Research and development technician jobs by state
Most common states for research and development technicians
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,876 | 34% |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 2,269 | 33% |
| 3 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 171 | 30% |
| 4 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 217 | 29% |
| 5 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 291 | 28% |
| 6 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 490 | 26% |
| 7 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 229 | 26% |
| 8 | Vermont | 623,657 | 163 | 26% |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 3,159 | 25% |
| 10 | Alaska | 739,795 | 187 | 25% |
| 11 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 166 | 24% |
| 12 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 1,436 | 23% |
| 13 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 1,341 | 23% |
| 14 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 490 | 23% |
| 15 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 234 | 22% |
| 16 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 675 | 21% |
| 17 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 603 | 21% |
| 18 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 286 | 21% |
| 19 | Delaware | 961,939 | 205 | 21% |
| 20 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 1,438 | 20% |
Most common cities for research and development technicians
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Chicago | 2 | 7% | $85,887 |
| 2 | Aliso Viejo | 2 | 4% | $99,015 |
| 3 | Alameda | 2 | 3% | $116,890 |
| 4 | Alpharetta | 2 | 3% | $81,166 |
| 5 | Jonesboro | 2 | 3% | $82,868 |
| 6 | Plymouth | 2 | 3% | $64,981 |
| 7 | Hartford | 3 | 2% | $105,154 |
| 8 | Ann Arbor | 2 | 2% | $69,451 |
| 9 | Farmington Hills | 2 | 2% | $69,660 |
| 10 | Santa Clara | 2 | 2% | $115,848 |
| 11 | Atlanta | 7 | 1% | $81,023 |
| 12 | Irvine | 2 | 1% | $99,345 |
| 13 | Orlando | 2 | 1% | $65,022 |
| 14 | Indianapolis | 4 | 0% | $61,127 |
| 15 | Chicago | 3 | 0% | $85,486 |
| 16 | New York | 3 | 0% | $86,465 |
| 17 | Minneapolis | 2 | 0% | $65,033 |
| 18 | Phoenix | 2 | 0% | $80,739 |
| 19 | San Diego | 2 | 0% | $96,892 |
Research And Development Technician job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of research and development technician experts
North Carolina State University
Quinnipiac University
University of Illinois at Springfield
College of Idaho
SUNY at Albany
Ohio University Southern
Wake Forest University
University of Utah
Meredith College
Boston College
Franklin and Marshall College
Morehouse School of Medicine
The College of Wooster
Portland State University
Ohio State University
Brandeis University
What general advice would you give to a Research And Development Technician?
Aurora Clark: BS level Chemists can be employed in a variety of roles that leverage their scientific knowledge, laboratory and analytical thinking skills. As technicians in companies or government organizations they may be responsible for sample collection and analysis – for example water quality. They may also work in R&D; in industry as part of larger teams doing development of new materials or devices. On a daily basis this may include testing of different properties of materials under development or helping to design new experimental protocols/procedures to optimize synthesis or characterization. Leveraging their fundamental knowledge of Chemistry they may also work in government within interdisciplinary groups, in science policy, or may pursue science communication.
What will help Research And Development Technicians increase their earning potential?
Lucian Lucia: THIS IS A VERY LOADED QUESTION! CHEMISTS RECOGNIZE HOW IMPERATIVE IT REMAINS FOR CHANGING THE QUALITY OF OUR LIVES, YET, WE INTENSELY FEEL AND FACE THE BURDEN OF ITS IMAGE AS A POLLUTING FORCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD. IN MANY WAYS, WE HAVE BROUGHT THE BURDEN ON OURSELVES BY NOT RECOGNIZING AND EMBRACING THE POTENTIAL OF GREEN CHEMISTRY AS A FORCE FOR GOOD AND CHANGE. AS WITH ANY TECHNOLOGY, THERE ARE PROS AND CONS, BUT THE COMMUNITY OF CHEMISTRY HAS NOT SUFFICIENTLY PROVIDED A COGENT ARGUMENT FOR WHY IT SHOULD BE PURSUED BY MANY MORE STUDENTS. TODAY, MORE THAN EVER, IT HAS CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF MANY OTHER DISCIPLINES WHO DIP THEIR FEET IN IT BECAUSE IT IS SO ESSENTIAL TO MANY OF THE CHALLENGES WE ENUMERATED ABOVE. WE ARE A NOBLE PROFESSON, LIKE LAW OR MEDICINE, BUT SHROUDED IN MYSTERY BECAUSE WE DO NOT TEND TO ENGAGE IN ARGUMENTS OVERCOMING THE POLEMICS WE FACE IN SOCIETY. CHEMISTRY CAN DO A LOT OF GOOD, BUT WE NEED TO MANAGE OUR SCIENCE TO FOCUS ON ITS SUSTAINABILITY AND PROCLAIM IT FROM THE ROOFTOPS.
Changqing Chen Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorWhat Research And Development Technician skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Changqing Chen Ph.D.: 1. A chemistry degree provides many opportunities for a wide variety of careers. Jobs can be found in big chemical or pharmaceutical companies, government agencies, small startup companies, as well as educational institutions. Sometimes, if you think outside the box, you can find other opportunities, such as some non-lab jobs (sales, technical support, consulting firms, etc.). If it is hard to find a permanent job you like, start with a temporary position, which might turn into a permanent position if your performance is excellent. 2. You do not need to match exactly what you learned in college with your job responsibilities. Be ready to apply the problem-solving skills you learned in new field/project. 3. Be curious, always eager to learn new skills/knowledge. 4. Be honest, learn from your mistakes.
Lisa Cuchara Ph.D.
Professor of Biomedical SciencesQuinnipiac University
Microbiological Sciences And Immunology
What Research And Development Technician skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Lisa Cuchara Ph.D.: The first and foremost would be Critical Thinking. We live in a world where facts can be easily acquired, sometimes even by asking Siri/Alexa/ChatGPT/Google/etc. But critical thinking is timeless and priceless. I can ask anyone on the street what xyz is and they can look it up, but can they provide advice or interpret.
Also being a good steward towards science and being willing and able to communicate not just with peers as we are trained, but also with the public, the politicians, the board members. John Holdren*, stated that Scientists should be tithing at least 10 percent of their time to public service ... including activism. In the ever growing science denialism that is happening in our country being able to communicate science with the public is important. As Peter Hotaz states, "Anti-science propaganda is "killing Americans in unprecedented numbers,""
*Holdren is an American scientist who served as the senior advisor to President Barack Obama on science and technology issues through his roles as assistant to the president for science and technology, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and co-chair of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology and a Research Professor in Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government
Marc Klingshirn Ph.D.
Associate Professor of ChemistryUniversity of Illinois at Springfield
Chemistry
What Research And Development Technician skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Marc Klingshirn Ph.D.: People are drawn to science for various reasons, but many enjoy science-related fields due to the discovery aspect. Science continually to leads to new questions and subsequent answers that help us understand the world around us, which can be exciting. At the same time, that discovery leads to constant change, which can lead to frustration. We tend to like clear-cut answers that are black and white. That doesn't always happen in science. That ambiguity then has tendencies to make those outside of the profession question the validity of science, which in turn is frustrating to those who are actively engaged because they feel their work is deemed false.
What general advice would you give to a Research And Development Technician?
Bonnie Cantrell: Chemistry is the backbone to most protocols for the material, medical, and biological sciences.
Without chemistry, we would not know many of the things we know today. It will always be relevant in
helping change the scientific world as we know it. The advancements in science technology alone makes
chemistry today more exciting than ever. Just with balances from 1980's to now, we went from only
being able to weigh with counter balance weights to having a digital scale read accurately to 0.001
milligrams. Chemistry used to be more theoretical and only explainable from what we could make react
together. Now we have technology that can visualize the chemical composition and structure allowing
for us to create solutions to problems we could only dream of before. Whether you are wanting danger,
to save lives, or to help make this planet a better place to live, being a chemist can help you fuel your
passions.
What Research And Development Technician skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Bonnie Cantrell: When I ask students and faculty what they enjoy about being a chemist, their answers are
always related to enjoying the science. This includes getting to work with lasers, making drugs,
exploding things, setting things on fire, solving problems, explaining the unexplainable, and never
knowing what you are going to find out, but enjoying the adventure. There is a thrill to science that can
be coupled with any moral cause. Those that get to choose their research have even more freedom to
structure what they do to their passions. Making the world a better place and having fun while doing it
is a goal for a lot of scientists. Being a chemist allows thousands of people to do that every day making
chemistry a very rewarding career.
With any job it is usually the work load and/or regulations that make the job less enjoyable.
Working with chemicals can be exciting, but it can also be extremely dangerous to our health and those
around us. As worker safety became more of a focus for the government, the chemical industry changed
drastically with a focus on laboratory safety. This meant more regulations and documentation. Grants
are also extremely competitive and the review process on a manuscript is very time consuming. A
majority of advanced level chemists are forced into doing more paperwork and less hands-on laboratory
science as they gain more responsibilities. Essentially the whole reason they enjoyed doing science is
buried in paperwork.
While all chemists would like more time to do science, it is their mentees that really make it
worth it. There is a pride in being able to help someone else succeed that is seen on every professors'
face when their student gets into a great school, a great job, finally figures out that problem, etc. It is
the alumni coming back and talking about the professors that inspired them to be successful in some
way. This is what gets me out of bed in the morning. The feeling of being able to do more than I
physically can myself because I am in proxy mentoring hundreds of people every year to be the best
they can be. I can fail in my life, but still have a lasting legacy and positive impact through others. That is
what makes chemistry great.
What will help Research And Development Technicians increase their earning potential?
Bonnie Cantrell: When a chemist enters the job field, there is three main options for them: academia,
government, or industry. In academia, there are two types of careers: lecturers and researchers. A
lecturer position usually teaches the introductory level classes and one or two advanced level courses. A
majority of their days revolve around creating course content, setting up teaching laboratories,
mentoring students, and grading. Research professors typically teach the upper level courses in their
research specialty, but overall teach less courses than a lecturer to allow time for research. A majority of
a researcher's days include the same tasks as the lecturer, but they also work on writing grants to
continue to fund their research and edit manuscripts for journal publication of their research. Both
positions are also required to participate on committees that create the structure for the school's future
directions. Faculty entering academia all work towards becoming tenured. Those that have made it,
have job security and more confidence in their jobs.
Entry government positions and most of industry for a chemist would be a lot more directly
involved with laboratory work. The laboratory work you do though is almost always dictated by your
employer. This means you don't get to study what you are interested in, but you can focus more on the
chemistry as you don't have to teach and constantly apply for grants. Usually advancement in these
types of careers changes your day to day into more regulation and management responsibilities and less
hands-on involvement with chemicals.
What general advice would you give to a Research And Development Technician?
Dr. Kevin Francis: I am a firm believer that if you love your job you will never work a day in your life, so feel this
should not be the primary goal. Many of those I was in school with make triple or even more
than my salary but have expressed dissatisfaction with their jobs. Some have switched jobs
multiple times due to this dissatisfaction. At the same time, if you have invested in your
education and training you should at least make a living wage.
In Chemistry at least a Master's degree is needed for most decent paying jobs. I encourage
students not to fear graduate schools and remain confident. Apply to those offering intership
opportunities or other on the job trainings. Many of our graduate students complete these during
the summer. Many of the internships lead to good jobs in those companies upon graduation.
It is more important to enjoy your job though than to get paid a lot to do it.
What Research And Development Technician skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Kevin Francis: The use of Artificial Intelligence. This is, in fact, bringing me some of the anxiety mentioned
above because at present I am almost completely ignorant of ChatGPT. I am therefore attending
workshops and trainings to learn more about AI. It is being clear that it will be increasingly used
and holds great potential for data mining and many of the "-omics" that are critical for
Biochemical research. Critical thinking will remain a tool that must be developed but I believe
the field will rely more and more on AI as time goes on.
Alan Chen Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Dept of Chemistry & the RNA Institute, University at AlbanySUNY at Albany
Chemistry
What general advice would you give to a Research And Development Technician?
Alan Chen Ph.D.: For entry-level chemistry jobs, by far the best preparation you can get is to do as much hands-on lab research as you can during your undergraduate training. This includes summer REU programs, mentored thesis research, volunteering in labs, summer internships, co-ops, etc. Hiring managers universally want to see not only what skills/assays/instruments you are familiar with, but also that you have real-world, problem solving experience that goes beyond the classroom and textbooks.
What Research And Development Technician skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Alan Chen Ph.D.: Our most successful students start research no later than sophomore year and many opt for our 5-year combined BS/MS track. These students outcompete BS-level applicants for entry-level jobs, and start at higher salary and responsibility levels as many companies will count time in graduate school as "prior experience". The MS degree is particularly versatile as it can also be earned part-time by current employees looking to advance, and unlike the PhD does not over-qualify you for the vast majority of entry level chemist positions. MS degrees typically enable early-career chemists to move up the ranks into management or team-leader positions after a few years. They are also a possible way for recent grads who were unable to get a job due to lack of research experience in undergrad, to get that crucial research experience during their MS thesis, and possibly even upgrade-in-place to our PhD program if they are doing really well. Basically, there seems to be no drawback to getting an MS in Chemistry at a research-intensive university for the vast majority of scientific career tracks.
Zippia Expert
What soft skills should all Research And Development Technicians possess?
Zippia Expert : Working in a team and communication, in my opinion.
Kyle Kemats Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of InstructionOhio University Southern
Chemistry Department
What hard/technical skills are most important for Research And Development Technicians?
Kyle Kemats Ph.D.: As I mentioned in question 1, training/experience on various instruments is the most important for industry/research jobs. For teaching positions, experience with different pedagogical/education techniques will be helpful for a potential candidate.
Brian Mendenhall
Associate Director and Career CoachWake Forest University
Office of Personal and Career Development
What skills stand out on Research And Development Technician resumes?
Brian Mendenhall: Two things that stand out for me, regardless of whether the person is seeking employment in research or industry, are data analysis (Excel, Python, R) and presentation skills. Research specific skills would also include experimental design and specific relevant laboratory techniques & equipment experience.
What soft skills should all Research And Development Technicians possess?
Brian Mendenhall: In the past, the most important attributes have been leadership and problem-solving skills. If the pandemic has taught us anything, the most important attribute is the ability to work with others and get along in multiple virtual and in-person environments. The rest seem elementary and are all dependent on each other. To work well on a team, you need to problem-solve, both on the topic and on how to share information. To solve problems, you need to be analytical and quantitative. Certainly, to do this well, you need to communicate across diverse audiences and levels of understanding. The National Association of Colleges and Employers surveys employers on these priorities and updates the results frequently. (see below for your reference)
Ability to work in a team 81.0%
Problem-solving skills 79.0%
Analytical/quantitative skills 76.1%
Communication skills (verbal) 73.2%
Communication skills (written)
https://www.naceweb.org/about-us/press/the-key-attributes-employers-seek-on-college-graduates-resumes/
Shelley Minteer Ph.D.
Dale and Susan Poulter Endowed Chair in Biological Chemistry, Associate Chair of ChemistryUniversity of Utah
Department Of Chemistry
What skills stand out on Research And Development Technician resumes?
Shelley Minteer Ph.D.: The skills that stand out are research experience, characterization instrumentation experience, and more recently, data science experience and coding experience, as machine learning and AI become more and more important in chemistry.
What soft skills should all Research And Development Technicians possess?
Shelley Minteer Ph.D.: The most important soft skills are communication and people management skills. It is critical to be strong in both oral and written communication.
Alexandra (Sasha) Ormond Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Chemistry, Director of Dual Degree EngineeringMeredith College
Department of Chemistry, Physics, and Geoscience
What Research And Development Technician skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Alexandra (Sasha) Ormond Ph.D.: Having hands-on experience through research, internships, and working with instruments can make a candidate more attractive to employers. Pursuing a Master's or Ph.D. degree can also lead to a higher starting salary, although the job opportunities may differ based on the level of education.
What will help Research And Development Technicians increase their earning potential?
Alexandra (Sasha) Ormond Ph.D.: Using automation and AI are becoming more important to do more with less people and less time. Working in interdisciplinary teams where you are the only expert in your field, and you will need to communicate to others who may not understand the content on the same level as you.
Dunwei Wang Ph.D.
Margaret A & Thomas A Vanderslice Chair in Chemistry, Professor of Chemistry, Chairperson of Chemistry DepartmentBoston College
Chemistry Department
What soft skills should all Research And Development Technicians possess?
Dunwei Wang Ph.D.: Problem-solving skills. When presented with a problem, knowing where to go to find information to solve it.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Research And Development Technicians?
Dunwei Wang Ph.D.: Chemistry is a diverse field. As a foundational discipline, it enables several sub-fields and supports emerging new fields. As one example, our graduates become experts in medical research, health care, and scientists and engineers in many other fields. Depending on the different career goals, what is important can be drastically different. Generally speaking, doing bench work (either in the lab or on a computer) should be a good skill to have at graduation.
Fronefield Crawford
ProfessorFranklin and Marshall College
Department of Physics and Astronomy
What's a good job out of college for Research And Development Technicians?
Fronefield Crawford: In my view it depends on your interests. One thing to keep in mind with a degree such as astrophysics is that you are prepared with this degree to take on a range of challenging professional opportunities, so one's first job out of college may not be as important as the job one eventually will have after applying the various skills and knowledge learned in a challenging academic major.
Dr. DeQuan Smith
Assistant Director, Graduate Education & Career ConnectionsMorehouse School of Medicine
Division of Graduate Education in Biomedical Sciences
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Research And Development Technicians?
Dr. DeQuan Smith: What we are experiencing now is the most uncertain workforce since the Great Depression of the 1930s. In the coming months, new graduates by the thousands will enter the workforce eager to make their mark on the world. For graduates across the nation, many will enter their new careers remotely forcing them to adapt to new ways of learning and working post pandemic. It is increasingly important now that future graduates begin to construct a "Game Plan". I highly encourage graduates to explore alternative forms of networking, communicating their skillsets, and strategies diversifying themselves from the competition of the workforce. Graduates should also consider high demand careers where their transferable skillsets can make a significant contribution in fields such as: Biotechnology, Health Informatics, Data Science and other related careers within the scientific and technological fields. The coronavirus will have an unprecedented impact on our graduates; however, this provides an opportunity for our graduates to emerge as better thinkers, stronger communicators, and more agile leaders.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Research And Development Technician job market given the pandemic?
Melanie Long Ph.D.: Of course, the biggest question at the moment is how quickly the job market will recover, especially in industries that experienced the largest declines due to the pandemic such as hospitality and travel. Once the public health crisis has been addressed and demand does recover, some industries may see a surge in applications from recent graduates and others whose career trajectories were on pause during the pandemic.
For example, we have been discussing this possibility in the job market for economics professors. Some observers have noted that PhD candidates may delay their search for academic posts by a year due to the sharp decline in hiring this year. As a result, even if the number of academic posts increases to normal levels next year, the number of applicants may increase as well, heightening competition for the available jobs.
I would also expect that some employers will consider making telecommuting a permanent option moving forward. Many companies found themselves forced to have employees work remotely due to the pandemic, despite any concerns about potential drawbacks. This situation created an experiment of sorts for companies, and those satisfied with the results in terms of productivity and other outcomes may look to adopt telework in the long term. Moreover, some employees are likely to appreciate more options to work from home as a way to avoid long commutes or high housing prices in metropolitan areas with strong labor markets.
Finally, the pandemic has shed light on the challenges faced by families and individuals trying to balance work with childcare. These challenges have been particularly acute for women, who continue to spend more time on care of dependents than men. Time spent on childcare increased dramatically as schools and childcare services shut down. The result has been that women have dropped out of the labor force at a far greater rate than men during the pandemic. Moving forward, the heightened visibility of these challenges for women may prompt employers to consider greater scheduling flexibility or other policies that make it easier to balance family obligations with work.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Research And Development Technicians?
David Cadiz MBA, Ph.D.: Yes, I believe there will definitely be an enduring impact of the pandemic on graduates. First, depending on how quickly the new graduate is able to secure a job post-graduation. If a graduate is unable to get a job in the HR profession for an extended period of time, this could hold them back in terms of advancing their career because the HR profession deals with the ambiguities and sometimes unpredictable nature of human behavior; knowing how to manage these comes with experience. Second, a lot of graduates are going to face a different workplace, especially with work transitioning to be more virtual. We were starting to see organizations rethink the idea that everyone has to come into a central location to complete their work, and this trend has only increased during the pandemic. This means, that as an HR professional, you may be in a physically different location than your colleagues, and so trying to establish relationships and connecting with employees will need to be done through technology. Third, I think because the students have had to be so adaptable and resilient in order to complete their degree, this will translate into a long-term strength in terms of their ability to deal and manage the variety of situations that they will face once they are in the workforce.
What type of skills will young Research And Development Technicians need?
Bart Elmore: There really is no profession that does not lean on history. Politicians speak of what the "Founding Fathers" believed in trying and getting legislation passed. Business leaders have to look back at old annual reports and financial records to understand economic trends and predict problems that might arise in the future. Even doctors have to learn how to examine health data compiled decades ago to understand how best to treat their patients. I'm not sure people think of history this way, but the truth is, knowing how to digest historical data and translate it into useful information that can help guide decisions in the present is what historians do. I cannot think of a more powerful discipline when it comes to learning skills that will help young graduates live better lives once they leave the university.
How do you envision technology impacting Research And Development Technicians in the next 5 years?
Dwight Peavey Ph.D.: Technology is the key to identifying environmental problems/hotspots. The drone will increase ecological data collections and routine monitoring of facilities, crops, or ecosystems. Remote sensors are cost-effective and timely in 24/7 monitoring. Technology is the key to pollution prevention. Fix the problem before the accident or release.