by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Research and Development Management involves the study of Research And Development Management. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Manage Projects, Programs And Organizations Involving Basic And Applied Research, Or Specialized Technology Applications, In The Public Or Private Sectors. Includes Instruction In All Aspects Of Business Management Applied To The Leadership And Control Of Scientific, Clinical, Engineering And Social Scientific Enterprises; The Management Of Related Operational, Security And Logistical Issues; And Technical Competence In One Or More Research Disciplines. Continue reading for the essential details every research and development management student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering research and development management programs.
Nationwide, research and development management draws strong interest, with 268 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Research and Development Management Schools ranking analyzes these 25 schools to determine the best overall colleges for research and development management students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of research and development management programs later in this article.
Programs in Research and Development Management build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations research and development management graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a research and development management program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a research and development management major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several research and development management degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 5 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 18 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 245 |
People currently working in careers related to research and development management tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 52.5% |
| Master’s degree | 12.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 8.0% |
| Doctoral degree | 6.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 5.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 5.4% |
| Some college courses | 4.2% |
| Post-doctoral training | 2.5% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.6% |
| First professional degree | 0.6% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.2% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in research and development management careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying research and development management prepares you for many career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to research and development management.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to research and development management.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | 419,330 | 8.8% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
| Loss Prevention Managers | 265,210 | 2.2% |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | 206,415 | 9.9% |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | 181,317 | 10.6% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 179,495 | 8.7% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of research and development management graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $62,537 |
| 4 years | $63,883 |
| 5 years | $71,749 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for research and development management graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers research and development management grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $129,557 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
With 25 different research and development management programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased research and development management school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in research and development management, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management, General | 336,590 |
| Organizational Leadership | 15,674 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other | 12,497 |
| Operations Management and Supervision | 12,273 |
| Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management | 10,865 |
| Project Management | 4,784 |
| Office Management and Supervision | 3,126 |
| Non-Profit/Public/Organizational Management | 2,454 |
| Retail Management | 1,434 |
| Purchasing, Procurement/Acquisitions and Contracts Management | 1,230 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
