Research and development (R&D) managers roles in the UK earn a median of £55,000 per year, equivalent to £28.38 per hour as of 2025. Pay increased 2.7% compared to the previous year. Regionally, pay ranges from £45,000 in Wales to £64,000 in West Midlands. Pay has risen over the past 4 years. The ONS national median for this occupation is £55,519/yr (1% below our computed national average).
Median Annual Pay
£55,000
as of 2025
High confidenceMedian Hourly Pay
£28.38
per hour
Year-on-Year Change
+2.7%
vs 2024
Annual Pay Range
£47,000 – £69,500
25th – 75th percentile
UK Employment (2024)
~119,000
estimated employees
84 of 180 areas not disclosed by ONS
Employment Change
2021–2024
2021: ~132,000 → 2024: ~119,000
Market Signal
Growing marketPay and employment are both rising — competition for workers is increasing.
Employment figures from ONS Annual Population Survey (APS). Counts are estimates; suppressed cells (small samples) are excluded from totals.
Median annual pay for Research and development (R&D) managers across UK regions.
Source: ONS ASHE. Based on broad UK regions (NUTS1).
| Region | Median Pay |
|---|---|
| West Midlands | £64,000 |
| South West | £61,500 |
| North East | £61,000 |
| East Midlands | £59,000 |
| South East | £55,500 |
| London | £55,000 |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | £52,000 |
| North West | £52,000 |
| Scotland | £51,000 |
| Wales | £45,000 |
| UK | £55,000 |
Annual pay grew by +2.7% from 2024 to 2025.
National average (NUTS1 actuals) based on ONS ASHE April snapshot.
Annual percentage change in median pay for Research and development (R&D) managers.
Percentage change from the prior year's April figure.
For job seekers
Check your salary against official UK data for Research and development (R&D) managers roles — broken down by region and seniority level. Free, instant, no sign-up required.
For employers & recruiters
Managers in this unit group plan, organise, co-ordinate and manage resources to undertake the systematic investigation necessary for the development of new, or to enhance the performance of existing, products and services.
Entrants usually possess a relevant degree or equivalent qualification. Training is usually provided on-the-job, although support may be provided for postgraduate study. Professional qualifications are available.
Salary data is sourced from official UK pay datasets and updated periodically.