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Careers›Roles›Research Development Specialist
Mid-Level

Research Development Specialist

Great research still needs funding to happen, and you help it get there: finding opportunities, shaping proposals, navigating the grant machinery. Where good science still has to win the money.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
I
R
C
A
E
S
Investigativeanalytical, curious
Realistichands-on, practical
Based on Holland Code framework
Industries that often hire Research Development Specialists
ConstructionProfessional Services · 44%Manufacturing · 36%Education · 7%Wholesale & Distribution · 5%Administrative Services · 1%
Job markets for Research Development Specialists
Employment concentration · ~42 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
Science
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
Jump to:What it's likeCareer pathsBy the numbers
What it's like

What it's like to be a Research Development Specialist

The work blends scouting funding and coaching proposals, and managing the logistics of submissions and deadlines. You make others' research more fundable, and a proposal is part science, part storytelling. Deadlines tie to funding cycles.

What surprises people is how much is deadlines, logistics, and rejection: most proposals don't get funded. The work is behind-the-scenes and often unsung, deadlines cluster brutally, and you depend on faculty who are busy and stressed. Universities and institutes differ in support.

Organized, persuasive, and content behind the scenes: that's who fits. If you want credit or to do the science yourself, the support role may not satisfy. But if helping good research actually get funded is rewarding, the work tends to be quietly essential.

What people in this role value
AchievementAbove avg
RecognitionAbove avg
IndependenceAbove avg
Working ConditionsAbove avg
SupportModerate
RelationshipsLower
O*NET Work Values survey
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.

Earning potential across this track
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
Professional Services$92K+15%
Technology & Information$91K+13%
Energy & Utilities$82K+2%
Financial Services$81K+2%
Wholesale & Distribution$79K-1%
Compared to Science average across all industries
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Research Development Specialists (SOC 19-2032.00), not just this title · BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Related rolesExplore Science →
Research Development SpecialistResearch EngineerProcess Development EngineerMaterials Research EngineerCeramic Research EngineerMaterials Development EngineerResearch ScientistMetallurgical EngineerMaterials ScientistMetal Alloy ScientistApplications ScientistMaterial Science EngineerR and D Scientist (Research and Development Scientist)
Exploring the Research Development Specialist career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit — and plan your path forward.
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✦ Editorial — career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$61K–$169K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
8K
U.S. Employment
+4.9%
10yr Growth
600
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$77K$74K$71K$68K$65K201920202021202220232024$65K$77K
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

Complex Problem SolvingScienceCritical ThinkingReading ComprehensionActive ListeningWritingActive LearningSpeakingJudgment and Decision MakingMathematics
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
Mapped SOC Codes
19-2032.00

Explore related roles

Roles with similar work and overlapping career paths

midResearch Engineer$114KmidProcess Development Engineer$113KmidMaterials Research Engineer$106KmidCeramic Research Engineer$108KmidMaterials Development Engineer$108KmidResearch Scientist$95K
View all Science roles →

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) · BLS Employment Projections · O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.