VP of Research and Development Salary.
Across 81 U.S. cities.
$255,000
estimated national base salary
$199,000 to $332,000. Last updated September 2026.
Orbyt prices 4 titles at this same figure: VP of Legal, Chief Diversity Officer, VP of Research and Development, and Chief Audit Officer. Orbyt does not hold title-level wage data that would separate them.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $167,220 for Natural Sciences Managers (SOC 11-9121) across the United States, based on 108,690 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$79,710
25th percentile
$119,430
Median
$167,220
75th percentile
$221,540
90th percentile
$316,850
Workers surveyed
108,690
What BLS published in each release
May 2024 release
$161,180
May 2025 release
$167,220
These are two separate published estimates, not a time series. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not encourage the use of OEWS data for time-series analysis. Differences between releases reflect changes in occupational classification, survey methodology, and the three-year pooled sample as well as any change in pay, so the two figures should not be read as a rate of wage growth.
Why this differs from the estimate above. The Orbyt estimate of $255,000 is 52% higher than this published figure. That is usually not an error in either number: BLS reports by occupation code, and Natural Sciences Managers covers a different population than the VP of Research and Development title as it is typically advertised. Both are shown, unreconciled, so you can judge which one describes the job you mean.
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Natural Sciences Managers (SOC 11-9121) rather than VP of Research and Development specifically. The national range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 11-9121Highest Paying
$366,000
San Jose, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$266,000
Washington DC, DC
Lowest Paying
$193,000
Charleston, WV
The salary figures on this page are computed estimates, not observed wages. Each one is a national role baseline scaled by a Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity cost-of-living multiplier (2025 index) and rounded to the nearest $1,000. No published wage percentile is consulted and no wage survey response enters the calculation, so an Orbyt estimate must not be cited as a Bureau of Labor Statistics figure or as measured pay. The published wage data Orbyt holds is Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and Department of Labor H-1B Labor Condition Application filings, which record a filed minimum visa base wage rather than market pay. Where BLS publishes a wage for the occupation a role maps to, it is shown on that role's page as a separate benchmark, labelled with its occupation code, metro area and the number of employed workers it covers. Last updated September 2026. This role maps to BLS occupation code 11-9121. Full methodology.
Orbyt estimates the average VP of Research and Development salary in the United States at $255,000 in 2026, within a range of $199,000 to $332,000. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page. This figure is not specific to this title: Orbyt prices 4 titles at the same estimate. San Jose is the highest of the 81 cities at $366,000, while Washington DC offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. VP of Research and Development compensation is driven by publication record, domain specialization, and whether the work involves production model training or applied research.
VP of Research and Development salary by city.
Skills that increase VP of Research and Development pay.
The premiums below are Orbyt's modelled scenarios for VP of Research and Developments, not effects measured from job postings: each is a fixed percentage applied to the estimated base. At the top premium that works out to $35,700 a year.
≈ +$35,700 per year
≈ +$33,150 per year
≈ +$30,600 per year
≈ +$28,050 per year
≈ +$28,050 per year
≈ +$25,500 per year
≈ +$25,500 per year
≈ +$22,950 per year
What you should know.
VP of Research and Development compensation is driven by publication record, domain specialization, and whether the work involves production model training or applied research. Equity is a major component at roughly 45% of base — candidates should weight stock grants as heavily as salary when comparing offers. At the leadership level, the scope of the organization under management ($10M budget vs $100M+) drives the largest compensation variance.
VP of Research and Developments progress from entry to senior over 5 to 10 years, with principal and staff levels typically requiring a PhD or equivalent publication-backed expertise. For VP of Research and Developments specifically, the seniority anchor means roughly 12+ years of experience and demonstrated P&L or strategic leadership.
Total compensation for VP of Research and Developments runs roughly $463K at median when factoring base + equity (45% of base annually) + bonus (25% of base). Equity is the single largest non-base component — candidates should model vesting schedules (typically 4-year with 1-year cliff) and compare grant values across offers carefully. At management levels, variable compensation (bonus + LTIP) grows as a share of total — expect 30–50% variable at director and 50%+ variable at VP and above.
Total compensation breakdown.
Salary by company size
Remote salary adjustment
Remote VP of Research and Developments typically earn $242,000 (5% less than on-site). This reflects location-adjusted pay policies at companies using geographic salary bands. Some companies pay flat national rates regardless of location.
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Common questions about VP of Research and Development pay.
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