R Programming Jobs: Salary Guide
Explore factors that influence an R programming job's salary to better understand how much you can potentially earn in the field.
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R programming skills are in demand, often leading to high-paying roles across data-focused industries. Salaries for many R programming jobs, particularly in data science and engineering, can exceed six figures. For example, data scientists—a common role requiring R programming skills—earn a median pay of $112,590, and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects faster-than-average job growth [1]. These figures represent one of many well-paying career paths where R skills can make a difference.
Explore R programming jobs' salary data to find roles that align with your goals. While pay varies by role, it often reflects the specialized nature of the work. Building R programming skills can help you qualify for well-paying, high-impact roles across a range of industries. Start learning today by enrolling in the Johns Hopinkins University Data Science: Foundations using R Specialization, where you’ll learn to use R to clean, analyze, and visualize data.
How much does an R programmer make?
Although the amount of money R programmers make varies depending on the role, industry, and data source, the median total pay for jobs requiring R programming is $86,000 annually [2]. Since R is used across a variety of positions—and not a standalone job title—salaries can vary widely. Comparing estimates from multiple sources can give you a clearer picture of your earning potential.
The table below shows the pay range reported by several reputable job listing sites.
| ZipRecruiter | Glassdoor | Payscale | Zippia | BLS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Data Analyst | $82,640 [3] | $91,000 [4] | $69,300 [5] | $74,342 [6] | Unreported |
| Data Architect | $145,556 [7] | $173,000 [8] | $132,772 [9] | $113,700 [10] | Unreported |
| Data Engineer | $129,716 [11] | $130,000 [12] | $98,663 [13] | $109,675 [14] | Unreported |
| Data Scientist | $122,738 [15] | $151,000,000 [16] | $102,204 [17] | $106,104 [18] | $112,590 [1] |
| Statistician | $86,921 [19] | $108,000 [20] | $93,210 [21] | $84,726 [22] | $103,300 [23] |
All salary data reflects the most recent reports as of July 2025 and does not include additional pay, such as commission or benefits.
Factors that may affect salary
What you can earn in a job that uses R programming can depend on more than your skill with the language. Your job title, education, experience, industry, and location all play a role—and adding complementary skills can help you qualify for higher-paying roles. Knowing how these factors affect salary can help you make informed career decisions and identify opportunities to grow your income.
Job title
Even when roles require similar technical skills, different job titles may have different salary ranges. For example, Glassdoor reports that data analysts earn a median total pay of $91,000 [4], while data scientists earn a median of $151,000 [16]. This difference reflects variations in the job requirements.
Title can also reflect seniority, which usually correlates with higher salaries. ZipRecruiter reports that data architect managers earn a median of $175,656 per year[24], compared to $145,556 for data architects [7].
Education
Higher levels of education often lead to higher salaries, and you will find this to be true of R programming jobs. According to Zippia, data architects with associate degrees average $102,453 annually, while those with bachelor's degrees earn a median of $118,898. A master's degree can increase that to $130,263 [10].
Experience
As with other fields, the years you've worked can affect how much you earn in an R programming role. Payscale reports that data analysts with less than one year of experience earn a median of $63,000 annually. If you have one to four years of experience, median pay increases to $69,000. With 20 or more years of experience, your potential median total pay is around $80,000 per year [5].
Industry
Although you can find R programming jobs in nearly any field that relies heavily on data and statistics, some industries pay more than others. You'll find these skills used by professionals in education, tech, health care, and research to manage and analyze large data sets. According to the BLS, the five highest-paying industries for data scientists include [25]:
Computer systems design and related services: $128,020
Management of companies and enterprises: $126,940
Scientific research and development services: $120,090
Management, scientific, and technical consulting services: $110,240
Insurance carriers and related activities: $108,920
Location
Where you live also influences your salary. Areas with a higher cost of living typically offer higher wages. For example, the BLS reports that statisticians in Connecticut earn between $108,720 and $140,860, while those in Missouri earn between $43,640 and $77,300 [26]. Similarly, you could earn around $82,466 as a data scientist in New Jersey and $47,031 in North Dakota [3].
Skills
Technical skills beyond R programming can increase your value in the job market. For example, data scientists with skills in cloud computing, statistical analysis, or other programming languages like Python may earn a higher salary. Job listings often highlight these preferred qualifications alongside R programming.
R programming job outlook
Jobs that require R programming capabilities are growing quickly, especially in data-driven fields. According to the BLS, data scientist roles are projected to grow by 36 percent between 2023 and 2033 [1]. Statistician roles should also see strong growth, with a 12 percent increase over the same period [27].
Getting started with R programming on Coursera
R programming jobs offer strong salary potential, with six-figure earnings common across roles like data scientist and data engineer, especially as demand rises in data-focused industries.
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Article sources
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Data Scientists, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/math/data-scientists.htm." Accessed July 15, 2025.
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