Average Research Director Salary

The top respondents for the job title Research Director are from the companies Gartner Group Inc, Corporate Executive Board (CEB) and GlaxoSmithKline. Reported salaries are highest at GlaxoSmithKline where the average pay is $171,685. Corporate Executive Board (CEB) pays the lowest at around $110,011.

Skills in People Management are correlated to pay that is above average. Skills that pay less than market rate include Market Research, Data Analysis, Project Management and Research Analysis.

An entry-level Research Director with less than 1 year experience can expect to earn an average total compensation (includes tips, bonus, and overtime pay) of $55,076 based on 6 salaries. An early career Research Director with 1-4 years of experience earns an average total compensation of $78,779 based on 112 salaries. A mid-career Research Director with 5-9 years of experience earns an average total compensation of $97,464 based on 269 salaries. An experienced Research Director with 10-19 years of experience earns an average total compensation of $110,880 based on 455 salaries. In their late career (20 years and higher), employees earn an average total compensation of $123,406.

Employees with Research Director in their job title in Cambridge, Massachusetts earn an average of 58.2% more than the national average. These job titles also find higher than average salaries in Seattle, Washington (20.9% more) and Boston, Massachusetts (20.6% more). The lowest salaries can be found in Washington, District of Columbia (6.5% less) and Chicago, Illinois (1.6% less).