Scientific research and development servicesAverage pay, explained.
Compare published payroll wages for covered private jobs in this industry. See its national average and available state figures with employment and establishment context.
- Average annual pay
- $185,550 Payroll wages per covered job
- Average weekly wage
- $3,568 Native published weekly average
- Average employment
- 923,243 Covered jobs, including part-time work
- Average establishments
- 59,971 Reporting locations; not distinct companies
Read the pay definition first.
These are average payroll wages for covered private-sector jobs in the industry, including full-time and part-time work. They are not a median, an occupation-specific salary, an individual offer or a total compensation package. Employer benefits are excluded; the wage definition can include bonuses and certain stock-option payments. The coverage is private establishments in the QCEW program; public-sector employers and many self-employed workers are outside this selection. Different job mixes and hours worked affect comparisons. Broad industry groups and their detailed subindustries overlap; their employment counts must not be added together.
Understand Wages.fyi pay measurements →How pay varies by state.
51 available state / DC records · 2025 · Covered private jobs
| State / DC | Average annual pay | Average weekly wage | Average employment | Establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $137,846 | $2,651 | 9,262 | 734 |
| Alaska | $70,265 | $1,351 | 660 | 124 |
| Arizona | $138,705 | $2,667 | 7,202 | 1,170 |
| Arkansas | $100,341 | $1,930 | 1,238 | 308 |
| California | $250,382 | $4,815 | 183,043 | 7,417 |
| Colorado | $168,490 | $3,240 | 18,470 | 1,649 |
| Connecticut | $237,831 | $4,574 | 9,846 | 1,129 |
| Delaware | $249,658 | $4,801 | 2,515 | 369 |
| District of Columbia, not unknown | $151,532 | $2,914 | 9,875 | 802 |
| Florida | $145,839 | $2,805 | 30,704 | 3,174 |
| Georgia | $133,113 | $2,560 | 10,609 | 1,201 |
| Hawaii | $115,683 | $2,225 | 1,414 | 290 |
| Idaho | $125,429 | $2,412 | 9,099 | 584 |
| Illinois | $162,799 | $3,131 | 22,865 | 1,650 |
| Indiana | $127,487 | $2,452 | 6,349 | 894 |
| Iowa | $122,018 | $2,346 | 2,537 | 389 |
| Kansas | $122,590 | $2,357 | 3,408 | 442 |
| Kentucky | $136,901 | $2,633 | 2,813 | 681 |
| Louisiana | $113,814 | $2,189 | 1,203 | 428 |
| Maine | $104,507 | $2,010 | 2,469 | 281 |
| Maryland | $148,738 | $2,860 | 40,166 | 2,160 |
| Massachusetts | $246,262 | $4,736 | 103,053 | 4,376 |
| Michigan | $136,503 | $2,625 | 24,926 | 1,632 |
| Minnesota | $148,140 | $2,849 | 8,898 | 1,188 |
| Mississippi | $109,283 | $2,102 | 1,675 | 291 |
The coverage behind the number.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics · QCEW
2025 annual data · NAICS 5417 · 2022 classification · Private ownership · All establishment sizes.
Original official data archive
QCEW coverage and wage definitions
What remains unknown?
These averages do not reveal an individual worker’s base salary, experience level, bonus, hours, equity or benefits. Suppressed figures stay undisclosed. Employment counts are covered jobs, not unique people or anonymous Wages.fyi salary submissions.
Source period: 2025 annual average. Evidence acquired 2026-10-18.