How Much Do Applied Research Scientists Make?
Having a clear understanding of earnings potential is important, especially if you are researching career paths or considering changing jobs. If you're one of those people, and you're curious what kind of salary applied research scientists make, you've come to the right place.
Using data from Lightcast,™ the Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled rich information about salary for applied research scientists and related jobs, including details about average compensation, salary trends and job growth. We've also gathered advertised salaries from actual job postings to provide insight into what employers of applied research scientists are offering as compensation.
Keep reading to learn more about how much applied research scientists can expect to make in the United States.
At a Glance: Salary & Jobs for Applied Research Scientists
According to data from 2022, there were about 37,908 positions for applied research scientists in the United States. In terms of salary, the national median salary for applied research scientists was reported to be $136,635. Additionally, when examining job demand, employers across the country posted 6,769 job postings related to positions for applied research scientists.
How Much Money Do Applied Research Scientists Make?
Median salary is just one data point. To build a better understanding of how much money applied research scientists and related positions can expect to make in the United States, it can be helpful to look at the full range of compensation for those jobs.
Let's look more deeply at data that was reported to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for detail into the lowest and highest salary earnings for applied research scientists.
Annual Salary for Applied Research Scientists
According to the BLS, the lowest earners for applied research scientists and related professions earned about $78,187 per year in 2022. Meanwhile, at the other end of the spectrum, the highest earners made about $232,003 annually.
As mentioned previously, the median salary for applied research scientists in the United States in 2022 was $136,635.
Annual Salary Range For Applied Research Scientists In 2022
Hourly Salary for Applied Research Scientists
The BLS also breaks down compensation for applied research scientists by hourly salary, and the median average hourly pay for applied research scientists in 2022 was $66. Lowest hourly earners took home $38 while the highest reported hourly salaries for applied research scientists was $112.
Hourly Salary Range For Applied Research Scientists In 2022
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Degree Options for Applied Research Scientists
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Advertised Compensation for Applied Research Scientists
Data from the BLS is one way to dig into compensation for applied research scientists, but another way to build a more real-time understanding of salary is to look at actual job postings and see what compensation organizations are currently providing to fill open positions for applied research scientists.
Keep in mind that salary data is not included in every job posting, so the information compiled here is reflective of the data available through Lightcast.™
Annual Salary from Job Postings for Applied Research Scientists
Advertised Annual Salary
During a review of 15,896 job postings related to applied research scientists, advertised salary was included in 2,952 of them, which was 19%. Based on those postings, the median advertised salary for applied research scientists was $111,872 per year.
Hourly Salary from Job Postings for Applied Research Scientists
Advertised Hourly Salary
A similar analysis of job postings provides insight into advertised hourly salary for applied research scientists. Based on 44% of postings with advertised compensation, the median hourly salary for open positions for applied research scientists in the United States is about $54.
Salary Trend for Applied Research Scientists
If you're thinking about pursuing a career in the field, you may want to understand how compensation has changed over time for applied research scientists. The chart below provides a snapshot of advertised salaries over the past three years.
Based on compensation data that was included in job postings for applied research scientists dating back to September 2019, advertised salaries for applied research scientists have increased 18%.
Advertised Wage Trend For Applied Research Scientists
What's the Job Growth for Applied Research Scientists?
Another data point that someone thinking about a career path should consider is whether or not jobs are expected to see growth in the future. The chart below looks at projected employment for applied research scientists over the next 10 years.
According to the data obtained through Lightcast,™ there were 37,858 jobs for applied research scientists in the United States in 2022. By 2032, it is expected that about 10,418 jobs will be added. That's a 27.5% increase over the next 10-year period.
Employment Projections For Applied Research Scientists
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about applied research scientists? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for applied research scientists.
What do applied research scientists do?
Applied Research Scientists: How do you become one?
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