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Research and Development (R&D) Managers

R&D managers lead teams of scientists and engineers who develop new products and ideas. They turn rough experiments into real things that companies can make and sell, keeping them ahead of competitors.

Research and Development (R&D) Managers

30

Business and Management

AI IMPACT
AI EXPOSURE TODAY30
20-YEAR SCENARIO
NOT A FORECAST
75%
THE DOOR · ENTRY DIFFICULTY TODAYB
STARTING PAY£30,000 - £40,000
MOAT NOT YET CLASSIFIEDA real score, but the moat is not yet classified. No claim either way.

THE DOOR: ENTRY DIFFICULTY TODAY, graded A (easy) to E (extremely hard). A Careermash rule-of-thumb index built from our AI exposure index and the job's moat class. It is not a forecast and not a count of job openings.

AI EXPOSURE TODAY is a Careermash index from 0 to 100 of how exposed this job's everyday tasks are to AI today. We estimate it by matching published research on how people use AI to this job, usually by keyword or subject area, and we lower it where the work is protected (for example by physical, personal or legal requirements). It is not a direct measurement of how much people in this job use AI.

AI exposure is modest for this work today
AI exposure today for this job is modest on our index (30), an estimate rather than a measurement. We have not yet classified what, if anything, structurally protects it, so we make no claim either way about a moat. Learn the tools, and build the judgement that stays human.

Career progression path

1FIRST STEPJunior R&D ManagerAssists in managing small projects and supports senior managers in research activities.£30,000 - £40,000
2GAINING EXPERIENCEMid-level R&D ManagerOversees multiple projects, manages teams, and ensures alignment with strategic goals.£45,000 - £60,000
3PEAK CAREERSenior R&D ManagerLeads large-scale projects, drives innovation strategy, and represents the organisation in industry forums.£70,000+

The degree route

Courses in this career's subject area, from the live library of 35,000; every one is AI impact assessed through its actual graduate destinations.

🎓Finance and AccountingDancebox Theatre Works · the card page · will AI take its jobs?£49,000 median
🎓Business Management With Information SystemsWest Herts College · the card page · will AI take its jobs?£32,000 median
🎓International Tourism Management (with Foundation Year)University of Bedfordshire · the card page · will AI take its jobs?£31,000 median
🎓Business ManagementTeesside University · the card page · will AI take its jobs?£30,000 median
🎓Modern Languages (German and Italian) and ManagementUniversity of St Andrews · the card page · will AI take its jobs?£30,000 median
🎓Business Management (Accelerated)Anglia Ruskin University · the card page · will AI take its jobs?£29,000 median

All Business and Management courses as cards →

There is more than one way in

You do not have to go the university route to get here. There is also a vocational route that skips a degree entirely.

Degree subjects that lead this way

Courses in this career's subject area, from the same register that priced the degree above. Subject-matched, not a guaranteed qualifying route: check each course's own entry requirements and any professional accreditation before you rely on it.