research manager
Research managers oversee the research and development functions of a research facility or program or university. They support the executive staff, coordinate work activities, and monitor staff and research projects. They may work in a wide array of sectors, such as the chemical, technical and life sciences sector. Research managers can also advise on research and execute research themselves.
research manager research managers oversee the research and development functions of a research facility or program or university. They support the executive staff, coordinate work activities, and monitor staff and research projects. The role shows moderate AI exposure (0.50 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include project management, research design, multidisciplinary research, scientific research methodology, manage budgets.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £55,519 a year for Research and development (R&D) managers (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
Middle half of full-time jobs: £44,101 to £75,207 a year
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 2161). ONS rates this estimate precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Managers” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only research manager, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 1. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Biology
- English Language
- Administration and Management
- Computers and Electronics
- Administrative
- Chemistry
- Mathematics
- Personnel and Human Resources
What you'd actually do
- Hire, supervise, or evaluate engineers, technicians, researchers, or other staff.
- Design or coordinate successive phases of problem analysis, solution proposals, or testing.
- Plan or direct research, development, or production activities.
- Review project activities and prepare and review research, testing, or operational reports.
- Confer with scientists, engineers, regulators, or others to plan or review projects or to provide technical assistance.
- Develop client relationships and communicate with clients to explain proposals, present research findings, establish specifications, or discuss project status.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does research manager do?
Research managers oversee the research and development functions of a research facility or program or university. They support the executive staff, coordinate work activities, and monitor staff and research projects. They may work in a wide array of sectors, such as the chemical, technical and life sciences sector. Research managers can also advise on research and execute research themselves.
What skills does research manager need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include project management, research design, multidisciplinary research, scientific research methodology, manage budgets, manage staff. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace research manager?
Our AI-durability model gives research manager a score of 0.50 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.