Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Job outlook for research managers in the United States
Research manager job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected research manager job growth rate is 19% from 2018-2028.
About 150,300 new jobs for research managers are projected over the next decade.
Research manager salaries have increased 5% for research managers in the last 5 years.
There are over 17,174 research managers currently employed in the United States.
There are 48,867 active research manager job openings in the US.
The average research manager salary is $82,894.
Are research manager jobs in demand?
Research manager job and salary trends over time
Research manager jobs over time
Research manager job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 17,174 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 16,256 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 15,988 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 15,041 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 14,062 | 0.00% |
Average research manager salary over time
Research manager salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $82,894 | $39.85 | +3.2% |
| 2025 | $80,350 | $38.63 | +1.1% |
| 2024 | $79,506 | $38.22 | --0.2% |
| 2023 | $79,644 | $38.29 | +1.1% |
| 2022 | $78,800 | $37.88 | +0.7% |
Research manager jobs by state
Most common states for research managers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 172 | 25% |
| 2 | Vermont | 623,657 | 88 | 14% |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 886 | 13% |
| 4 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 547 | 13% |
| 5 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 175 | 13% |
| 6 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 667 | 12% |
| 7 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 658 | 12% |
| 8 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 129 | 12% |
| 9 | Delaware | 961,939 | 109 | 11% |
| 10 | California | 39,536,653 | 4,018 | 10% |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 1,267 | 10% |
| 12 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 865 | 10% |
| 13 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 848 | 10% |
| 14 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 184 | 10% |
| 15 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 528 | 9% |
| 16 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 309 | 9% |
| 17 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 274 | 9% |
| 18 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 183 | 9% |
| 19 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 79 | 9% |
| 20 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 52 | 9% |
Most common cities for research managers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bridgewater | 1 | 4% | $91,869 |
| 2 | Andover | 1 | 3% | $90,929 |
| 3 | Miami | 9 | 2% | $64,337 |
| 4 | Cambridge | 2 | 2% | $91,322 |
| 5 | Boston | 8 | 1% | $91,354 |
| 6 | Atlanta | 6 | 1% | $65,543 |
| 7 | Washington | 5 | 1% | $87,347 |
| 8 | Birmingham | 2 | 1% | $66,220 |
| 9 | Boca Raton | 1 | 1% | $64,352 |
| 10 | Columbia | 1 | 1% | $82,540 |
| 11 | Chicago | 7 | 0% | $76,238 |
| 12 | New York | 7 | 0% | $90,706 |
| 13 | Los Angeles | 6 | 0% | $111,836 |
| 14 | Denver | 3 | 0% | $75,028 |
| 15 | Detroit | 3 | 0% | $69,042 |
| 16 | Houston | 3 | 0% | $77,649 |
| 17 | Indianapolis | 3 | 0% | $69,517 |
| 18 | Baltimore | 2 | 0% | $82,844 |
| 19 | Jacksonville | 2 | 0% | $63,081 |
| 20 | Colorado Springs | 1 | 0% | $75,144 |
Research Manager job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of research manager experts
College of New Jersey, The
North Dakota State University
University of Nebraska - Omaha
Middlebury College
Lafayette College
Furman University
Pepperdine University
Dillard University
Bowling Green State University
University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh
Washington University in St Louis
University of Michigan
Howard University
Montana State University
Claremont McKenna College
Texas Tech University
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Grove City College
Chrissy Daeschner OTD, MS, OTR/L
Capstone CoordinatorWhat general advice would you give to a Research Manager?
Chrissy Daeschner OTD, MS, OTR/L: By saying "Yes". Most companies have standard salaries or small scale for adjusting salary. Per Diem jobs, research interventionist, additional weekend on call, adjunct jobs, and other opportunities gives you the ability to increase salary and opportunities.
What Research Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Chrissy Daeschner OTD, MS, OTR/L: Research skills will be extremely important as the use of evidence-based research in practice and value-based services are imperative. Leadership and entrepreneurship skills will also be important as we promote programming and services in community-based settings.
What will help Research Managers increase their earning potential?
Chrissy Daeschner OTD, MS, OTR/L: I would suggest they keep an open mind and don't be fearful of the unknown, embrace it. I think there is a lot of stress of a getting a certain job or style of job, but taking different opportunities increases your connections and experiences.
What Research Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Piper Williams PhD: I would advise a graduate to reflect on what they've learned about the contributions, experiences, history and present reality of people of African descent in the New World. In addition, thinking about the skills they developed related to the major in African American Studies, including but not limited to: Research and Analysis, Writing, Public Speaking, Project Development and Completion, Ethical Reasoning, Listening, Teamwork and Collaboration, Perspective-Taking, Awareness of Context and what they call 'Cultural Competence. Use this education, to make the case that in addition to all the skills you can bring, the education offered by AAS will allow you to distinguish yourself as a candidate who can meet the needs the current moment demands. Black Americans encounter implicit racism in all walks of life: medicine and healthcare, law, politics and gov't, business and industry, performing arts and entertainment, sports, education, news media and social, community and humanitarian services. With this degree, you can enter almost any field and be more equitable to everyone you meet. (And by the way, in the list above, there are a number of people with a degree in African American Studies.)
What general advice would you give to a Research Manager?
Christina Weber PhD: There are a number of skills that will be important. Soft skills such as creativity, adaptability, collaboration, emotional intelligence, and persuasion. In addition, there is a growing need for folks who have high cultural competence, especially with understanding the experiences of diverse groups. Finally, there is a need for folks to have skills in social science research—understanding how to develop research projects, conduct surveys, focus groups, as well as experience with programs such as GIS, SPSS, and r-studio.
What Research Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Christina Weber PhD: As stated above, I think that having the skills listed above with help a lot with this. I also think that doing research on the field they are entering, so they know the typical salary can help folks with negotiating their salary.
What general advice would you give to a Research Manager?
John Lyden: Research skills (ability to find and interpret information), oral and written communication skills (ability to present information clearly), data analysis and interpretation, language interpretation and translation. Computer facility will be highly valued. Employers will include those in higher education, government, non-profits, research institutes, and museums.
What Research Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
John Lyden: You should realize that your degree can lead to many careers, and that you can even change your career direction easily. Your degree has given you important skills in communication, critical thinking, analysis, and problem solving. Employers will see that you are good at adapting to new tasks and learning new skills that go well beyond the content you have studied.
What will help Research Managers increase their earning potential?
John Lyden: Convey to potential employers the range of skills you possess and the ways you have used them. If you had an internship, describe the skills you used and explain how they can apply to various jobs. Emphasize and demonstrate your communication and research skills. Give examples from the courses you took and explain the connections between them that have allowed you to utilize higher order thinking of analysis and synthesis. Your degree in Religion can also be combined with a complementary minor or double major and may lead you to graduate school in almost any field you choose to pursue.
What general advice would you give to a Research Manager?
Jeffrey Knopf: Some of the most important skills are traditional skills. Good communication skills are still number one. The ability to write well and communicate clearly will always help you. Qualitative research skills also remain important. The ability to learn from history or understand other cultures will always be valuable. Beyond this, I am seeing increasing demand for a variety of hard practical skills, such as data analytics or imagery analysis. Finally, in a world where the problems of misinformation and disinformation keep getting worse, critical thinking skills and the ability to discern what is true and what is fake will only increase in importance.
What Research Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Jeffrey Knopf: Getting your foot in the door is still the most important first step. For example, if you can get a government job, even if it's not your preferred position, it becomes easier to learn about other openings and to move lateral to something better. Doing a good job also helps. If you prove your worth to employers, they will want to keep you and promote you, or your bosses may want to bring you with them if they move elsewhere. Finally, it is good to have specific skills or training you can highlight. These might include being fluent in other languages or having data analytics skills, among others.
What will help Research Managers increase their earning potential?
Jeffrey Knopf: It's a good idea to be open to different possibilities. If a graduate is willing to say yes to an opportunity, even if it is not ideally what they were looking for, this can open the door to better opportunities down the road. Relationships with other people are also very important. The better you can get along with and work with other people, the more those people will become part of your network and maybe able to help you later on.
What general advice would you give to a Research Manager?
Brett Hendrickson PhD, MDiv (he/him): Remember that employers in many sectors want and need people with the skill set that Religious Studies teaches you. With a Religious Studies major, you have high levels of cultural competence and cultural empathy. Your critical thinking skills are matched by your ability to communicate your ideas in both oral and written formats. When it comes to problem-solving, you are highly skilled in studying and understanding the historical, political, and ethical contexts that guide people's decision making. You are an expert researcher, able to read and digest large amounts of text in a short amount of time.
What Research Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Brett Hendrickson PhD, MDiv (he/him): Religious Studies majors who wish to maximize their salary potential should be bold in articulating the digital research tools that they learned as part of their education. Religious Studies graduates know how to use and assess historical and cultural data from multiple online data sources. They should also emphasize their excellent interpersonal skills and that they are well-versed in interacting with diverse people on highly sensitive topics.
What general advice would you give to a Research Manager?
Dr. Claire Gilliland PhD: The skills we prioritize in sociology (generating research questions, thinking critically, examining social systems, analyzing multiple types of data) are all skills that are well-suited to multiple different careers, but it may require some translation to match the priorities of a particular field.
What Research Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Claire Gilliland PhD: I've only worked in academia, so I don't have a good sense about salary potential or where the field is heading. Someone in career services would know more about what job ads are looking for in current graduates.
What will help Research Managers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Claire Gilliland PhD: my general advice is for students to be thoughtful and strategic about how they sell the skills they've gained in sociology to potential employers. The skills we prioritize in sociology (generating research questions, thinking critically, examining social systems, analyzing multiple types of data) are all skills that are well-suited to multiple different careers, but it may require some translation to match the priorities of a particular field. For example, students would describe a class paper where they searched for and read about empirical research as a "literature review," a term that mostly applies to academic work. However, the skills required for a literature review are gathering, analyzing, and synthesizing information from a range of sources, which is a skill many employers would want in a future employee.
What Research Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Anna Penner: Market yourself strategically. Think about what you learned by getting a sociology degree--the ability to do original research and analyze data, the ability to understand how institutions shape society and individuals, the ability to think critically about problems you see in the world around you. Make sure to highlight the assets that you bring to the table as a possible outsider to the industry you are applying for. Also be aware that you may need to spend some time making less than you'd like, but know what you're worth, and after some time proving yourself at your organization make sure you're properly compensated for what you add to the team.
What will help Research Managers increase their earning potential?
Anna Penner: Methodological skills are important. Knowing how to construct a good survey or conduct an interview to get rich data is critical. But I think just as important as being able to analyze qualitative or statistical data, is finding ways to communicate results in clear and compelling ways so that stakeholders know what action to take is equally important. Some of the gaps we are seeing between science and the general public today could be ameliorated by someone explaining findings in concise and applicable ways that show why we should care about this information. You could be the bridge from expertise to the general public.
Giovanna Percontino
Communication Career Coach, M.Ed.What Research Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Giovanna Percontino: The soft skills are really important now: Communication, Adaptability, Reliability, Leadership, Writing, Rigor
How have salaries changed over time for Research Managers?
Eva Baham: History graduates also account for their preparation to work in a number of positions in business.
Overall, history degrees shall serve individuals quite well, especially as the current health crisis (hopefully) comes to a close.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Research Manager job market given the pandemic?
Malcolm Forbes Ph.D.: Work from home will become much more normal for many people. Perhaps not 100%, but maybe 2-3 days per week. Chemists with intense lab activities might not get as much of this privilege as others.
WFH will make it easier for women with families to be hired. Companies and managers will be more tuned in to employees' mental health.
What's a good job out of college for Research Managers?
Gabriel Loiacono: I would say that a good job out of college is an entry-level start to a career you are really curious about. Try it. It could be the start of something interesting. If you hate it, that is really good to know too. You can cross it off your list and try something else.
What will help Research Managers increase their earning potential?
Gabriel Loiacono: I would say this: history majors go on to a wide variety of good jobs. Historians use their research, writing, communication, and critical reading strengths in careers from insurance to law to you name it. To help with earning potential, strengthen these skills in college, but also branch out and add others: another language, whether it is C++ or Spanish, perhaps a mapping or public administration class. Then you can point to all these skills when you are looking for a good fit for you.
Sharon Deem DVM, PhD
Director of Saint Louis zoo institute for Conservation Medicine, Adjunct professor at WUSTLWashington University in St Louis
Institute for Conservation Medicine
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Research Manager job market given the pandemic?
Sharon Deem DVM, PhD: I teach a course called One Health: Linking the Health of Humans, Animals, and Environments. I teach to both undergraduate and graduate students. One Health is a growing movement that takes a transdisciplinary approach and is based on the understanding that the health of human and non-human animals, plants, and the environments that sustain all life are interconnected. We will not have health of one without ensuring health of the others. The COVID-19 pandemic has been a wake-up call of this interconnection of health and to the many human public health, including zoonotic infectious diseases such as SARS-CoV-2, and wildlife conservation challenges, such as those related to the unsustainable trade in wildlife. A wakeup call that has made many aware of the need for a One Health approach and for finding a new normal post-pandemic world that will help ensure we prevent the next pandemic.
The outlook for recent graduates that are interested in the One Health approach and for addressing these health challenges for humans, animals, and environments-the One Health Triad-will increase in the coming years. I believe career opportunities that strive for preventive measures that lessen the negative impacts of climate change, emerging infectious diseases, and the loss of biodiversity will increase greatly in the coming months and years. These career opportunities may be in the environmental, veterinary, and human health sciences. They may also be in other disciplines, from communication and art to IT, engineering, law, and political science. The job market will open with positions we may only dream of today, but also with those familiar jobs that help optimize the health of animals, humans, and environments.
How have salaries changed over time for Research Managers?
Sharon Deem DVM, PhD: My field of One Health is so varied, as are the salaries. You may have a career as an infectious disease specialist, such as Dr. Anthony Fauci, a position in a state public health agency, work for a zoological park, or be a forester. The list of careers within One Health are as varied as the range of the salaries people may receive. As a wildlife veterinarian and epidemiologist, I think salaries have not changed significantly, albeit keeping up with inflation, over the past couple of decades.
Margit Burmeister Ph.D.
Research Professor, Molecular & Behavioral Neuroscience Institute, Professor of Computational Medicine & Bioinformatics, Professor of Human Genetics, Professor of Psychiatry, Co-Director, Bioinformatics Graduate ProgramUniversity of Michigan
Computational Medicine & Bioinformatics and Molecular & Behavioral Neuroscience Institute
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Research Manager job market given the pandemic?
Margit Burmeister Ph.D.: With everything going online, bioinformaticians have a big advantage over biologists working in wet labs that may be operating at reduced capacity. But on the other hand, in many companies and Universities, employees willing to come in and work in person also have advantages. Overall, those who can pivot rapidly - work in person in wet lab if open and required, but able to work for several weeks analytically only, have the best chances.
However, academic positions are frozen at many Universities, so those who are in postdoc positions hoping for faculty positions can't move on.
Worldwide the biggest trend is women dropping out.
Rui Diogo Ph.D.
Assistant ProfessorHoward University
Anatomy Department
What's a good job out of college for Research Managers?
Rui Diogo Ph.D.: Most people having a master or phd in anatomy tend to have jobs at universities, teaching anatomy at medical schools and doing research. Outside academia it is more difficult for an anatomist. Possible options could be working in natural history museums, or in the production of anatomical/educational textbooks.
What will help Research Managers increase their earning potential?
Rui Diogo Ph.D.: To include, in their graduate studies, more components that will open them the door to other potential jobs, for instance including classes on science dissemination so they can eventually work on the press/science dissemination in the future, and so on.
Dr. Walter Fleming Ph.D.
Department Head and ProfessorMontana State University
Department of Native American Studies
What will help Research Managers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Walter Fleming Ph.D.: It would be important to someone in Native American Studies to have worked with tribal communities, perhaps with an internship or field experience. A familiarity with the history of Native people and some knowledge of Indigenous culture is quite important. A willingness to work in more isolated communities can often result in a higher salary as it is difficult to recruit otherwise. But, one needs to recognize that tribal communities are historic areas of poverty.
Daniel Livesay Ph.D.
Associate Professor of History, History Department ChairClaremont McKenna College
History Department
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Research Manager job market given the pandemic?
Daniel Livesay Ph.D.: It's always hard to predict the future, especially with so much uncertainty in the job market right now. It seems unavoidable, though, that companies will have to make major adjustments in the coming months and years. That means that graduates will have to hold a number of different skills: strong organization, excellent communication, and passionate drive. Those are always employable characteristics and I imagine they'll still be needed in the post-pandemic economy.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Research Manager job market given the pandemic?
Sean Cunningham Ph.D.: Schools have been incorporating online/virtual components into the learning experience for several years now, but the pandemic has accelerated that process by quite a bit. Graduates entering the market in 2021 and beyond will need to be able to speak to these technological realities. Whether it's in the classroom as a teacher or in some other field, the ability to foster effective communication through non-traditional means will be important.
How have salaries changed over time for Research Managers?
Sean Cunningham Ph.D.: Salaries have grown slowly in our field, but that's to be expected since so much of what we do is publicly funded through state and local governments. The concern for history majors would likely be about declining opportunities, not declining wages.
What will help Research Managers increase their earning potential?
Heidi Jo Newberg: Students who have a strong command of programming are in heavy demand whether they stay in astronomy or decide to pursue employment in the private sector. Taking programming classes and getting computational experience in research settings will put students in a good position to earn higher salaries.
What's a day at work look like for a Research Manager?
Heidi Jo Newberg: A recent graduate will be expected to search through data (usually using Python), communicate results effectively through lectures and written reports, and carefully assess the significance of findings.
What's a good job out of college for Research Managers?
DJ Wagner Ph.D.: What constitutes "a good job" will vary by the individual. Every graduate has their own set of priorities. Some need to feel they are helping to address societal issues. Others want to earn a certain minimum salary to support a desired lifestyle. Still others want to be on the cutting edge of research, addressing the unanswered questions of physics. The AIP SRC provides data on different aspects of physics majors' job satisfaction, such as job security, level of responsibility, and intellectual challenge. (https://www.aip.org/statistics/reports/physics-bachelors-initial-employment2014.) But as their research manager Patrick Mulvey puts it, "a high satisfaction score does not necessarily mean it is a 'good job.'" In my personal opinion, a good job is one that you enjoy pursuing, that takes advantage of your unique abilities and knowledge, that provides opportunities for personal and intellectual/professional growth, and that pays you enough to support your household. The weight assigned to each of those characteristics will depend upon the individual graduate. The diverse career paths pursued by physics graduates reflect such diverse priorities.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Research Managers?
DJ Wagner Ph.D.: I would have to say that the biggest impact is due not to the courses a student takes but to what professional opportunities outside of the classroom the student pursues. The employers with which I've spoken suggest that evidence of independent research projects and of the ability to work collaboratively are very important considerations in the hiring process. Networking is also key. At Grove City College, we encourage our physics majors to get involved in research starting their freshman year, and we provide many opportunities for them to network with alumni in the field and by attending conferences. Research builds several critical skills of value to employers: the ability to take ownership of a project and follow it through over a period of time, the ability to work as a team toward a common goal, the ability to operate and trouble-shoot apparatus (for experimental research), the ability to extract meaning from data, etc. Interacting with professionals in the field gives students a wide perspective about possible career paths, connections within those careers, and an understanding of the current state of the field not typically obtained in college courses.
When I have heard professionals speak to students at conferences, they often recommend that physics majors take communication and management courses in addition to their required physics curriculum. The skills and knowledge gained in those courses can help graduates navigate the corporate world successfully.