Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) — Average Employee Salary
The average employee in the research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences (except nanotechnology and biotechnology) industry earns $153,557 per year ($73.83/hour), according to Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW data.
What Do Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences Workers Earn?
At $153,557/year (equivalent to $73.83/hour for a full-time worker), research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences (except nanotechnology and biotechnology) wages are significantly above the national average of ~$65,000.
Higher wages in this industry typically reflect specialized skills, professional certifications, or technical expertise required for the work. Employers competing for talent in this space face elevated labor costs.
The typical research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences (except nanotechnology and biotechnology) business employs 21 people. These are larger operations where staffing represents a major cost center and management complexity.
Wages as a Percentage of Revenue
For the average research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences (except nanotechnology and biotechnology) business generating $15.5M/year with 21 employees at $153,557 each, total payroll represents roughly 20.9% of revenue. Labor costs are relatively low compared to revenue — other costs (materials, equipment, overhead) dominate.
What This Means for Business Owners
If you're starting or running a research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences (except nanotechnology and biotechnology)business, here's what the wage data means for your bottom line:
- Per-employee cost: Budget approximately $199,624/year per employee (salary + ~30% for benefits, taxes, and insurance).
- Typical team size: 21 employees = ~$3,224,697/year in base payroll.
- Hourly equivalent: $73.83/hour base — factor this into pricing and project estimates.
- Revenue needed: With average revenue of $15.5M/business, you need strong utilization rates to maintain healthy margins after payroll.
See how these wages compare to total revenue and profit margins.
View full Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) revenue benchmarks →Frequently Asked Questions
- How much do research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences (except nanotechnology and biotechnology) employees make?
- The average research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences (except nanotechnology and biotechnology) employee earns $153,557 per year, which is equivalent to $73.83/hour for a full-time worker (2,080 hours/year). This is above the national average of approximately $65,000.
- How many people work in the research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences (except nanotechnology and biotechnology) industry?
- The research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences (except nanotechnology and biotechnology) industry employs 539,511 workers across 25,904 establishments in the United States. The average business in this industry has approximately 21 employees.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW 2023).