Research and development (R&D) managers salary in the UK (2025/26)
Official UK Average earnings data 2025
£54,857
Typical Annual pay range
Understanding Research and development (R&D) managers pay in the UK
The typical research and development (r&d) managers in the UK earns a median salary of £54,857 in 2025/26. These figures come from the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), so they reflect actual reported pay rather than self-reported estimates or job-advert ranges.
The middle half of research and development (r&d) managers earnings fall between £42,237 and £73,106 a year. That is a wide range, a sign that pay climbs steeply with experience, specialism and employer, so the median is a starting point rather than a ceiling.
The mean (average) salary is higher, at £61,929. When the mean sits above the median like this, a smaller group of high earners is pulling the average up, which is why the median is the better guide to what a typical research and development (r&d) managers actually takes home.
Where you work changes the picture: research and development (r&d) managers pay ranges from £44,036 in Wales up to £61,923 in West Midlands, a difference of £17,887 (41%). The full regional breakdown is below.
Dig deeper: see research and development (r&d) managers pay in West Midlands or read how we source and check this data.
How pay varies by region
West Midlands is the highest-paying region for research and development (r&d) managers at £61,923 — 13% above the UK median. Wales is lowest at £44,036.
UK median £54,857
| Region | Median payUK median £54,857 | Median | Mean | vs UK median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Midlands | £61,923 | £61,923 | £72,871 | +13% |
| North East | £60,883 | £60,883 | £61,126 | +11% |
| South West | £59,333 | £59,333 | £61,162 | +8% |
| East of England | £55,128 | £55,128 | £57,444 | ±0% |
| London | £54,843 | £54,843 | £70,860 | ±0% |
| East Midlands | £54,739 | £54,739 | £59,689 | ±0% |
| South East | £53,364 | £53,364 | £57,018 | -3% |
| Scotland | £51,456 | £51,456 | £52,620 | -6% |
| North West | £51,354 | £51,354 | £54,972 | -6% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £44,239 | £44,239 | £49,791 | -19% |
| Wales | £44,036 | £44,036 | £46,050 | -20% |
| Region | Median | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| West Midlands £61,923 | £61,923Mean £72,871 | +13% |
| North East £60,883 | £60,883Mean £61,126 | +11% |
| South West £59,333 | £59,333Mean £61,162 | +8% |
| East of England £55,128 | £55,128Mean £57,444 | ±0% |
| London £54,843 | £54,843Mean £70,860 | ±0% |
| East Midlands £54,739 | £54,739Mean £59,689 | ±0% |
| South East £53,364 | £53,364Mean £57,018 | -3% |
| Scotland £51,456 | £51,456Mean £52,620 | -6% |
| North West £51,354 | £51,354Mean £54,972 | -6% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber £44,239 | £44,239Mean £49,791 | -19% |
| Wales £44,036 | £44,036Mean £46,050 | -20% |
Sorted highest median to lowest. The vertical line marks the UK median (£54,857); ‘Vs UK median’ compares each region’s median to it. Suppressed values mean ONS withheld this figure because the sample was too small to publish.
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Calculate take-home pay for your region
Choose a region above to see local research and development (r&d) managers pay and calculate your monthly take-home after tax on the local salary page.
Back to region listHow research and development (r&d) managers pay has changed over time
UK median annual pay for research and development (r&d) managers by year (ONS ASHE).
Median salary
▪ 25th–75th percentile range
Pre-2021 figures mapped from SOC 2010 via ONS concordance table