Research and development (R&D) managers salary in South East
Full-time average annual pay in South East
£53,364
Based on ~11,000 employees · 2025 · moderate suppression
Median
£53,364
Mean
£57,018
| Statistic | Annual pay (gross) |
|---|---|
| Median | £53,364 |
| Mean | £57,018 |
Region-level range withheld by ONS — UK-wide, the middle half of research and development (r&d) managers earn £42,237–£73,106. See full methodology →
Skilled Worker visa minimum
£54,400
Understanding Research and development (R&D) managers pay in South East
The typical research and development (r&d) managers in South East earns a median salary of £53,364 in 2025/26, based on around 11,000 employees — 2.7% (£1,493) below the UK-wide median of £54,857. 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.
Across the UK, South East ranks 7th of 11 regions for research and development (r&d) managers pay. Regional medians run from £44,036 in Wales up to £61,923 in West Midlands, a spread of £17,887 (41%).
The mean (average) salary is higher, at £57,018. When the mean sits above the median like this, a smaller group of high earners pulls the average up, which is why the median is the better guide to what a typical research and development (r&d) managers in South East actually earns.
To see what £53,364 means after income tax and National Insurance, use the take-home pay calculator below — it also factors in student loan repayments.
Take-home pay estimate
Tax year 2025/26| Monthly | Annual | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross salary | £4,447 | £53,364 |
| Income tax | £731 | £8,778 |
| National Insurance | £256 | £3,078 |
| Take-home pay | £3,459 | £41,509 |
Estimate only · 2025/26 HMRC rates · Standard tax code · No pension contribution · Not financial or tax advice
How Research and development (R&D) managers 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 (current region) | £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 (current region) £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.
How research and development (r&d) managers pay in South East has changed over time
Median annual pay for research and development (r&d) managers in South East by year, shown against the UK-wide median (Source: ONS ASHE). The shaded band is the UK-wide 25th–75th percentile range — ONS does not publish percentile ranges at region level.
South East median
UK median
▪ UK-wide 25th–75th percentile range
Pre-2021 figures mapped from SOC 2010 via ONS concordance table
How the figures are sourced
Data sources: Official UK earnings data (2025 provisional)(opens in new tab)