The median pay for Regulatory Affairs Managers is $141,900 a year ($68.22/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 4.9% through 2035, with about 100,900 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 11-9199
- Management
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Regulatory Affairs Manager in four numbers
- Median pay
- $141,900a year, or $68.22/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $74KTop 10% $238K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +4.9%Faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+4.9%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +4.9% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 100,9001,338,800 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 20251.3M
- Projected 20351.4M
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 1.3M Projected 2035 1.4M - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Some college4.4%
- Bachelor's73.9%
- Post-bacc certificate4.4%
- Master's13%
- Doctorate4.4%
Highest education held by regulatory affairs managers Segment Value Some college 4.4% Bachelor's 73.9% Post-bacc certificate 4.4% Master's 13% Doctorate 4.4%
Also advertised as: CMC Director (Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls Director), Compliance Director, Global RA Director (Global Regulatory Affairs Director), Global RA Manager (Global Regulatory Affairs Manager), RA Director (Regulatory Affairs Director), RA Manager (Regulatory Affairs Manager).
Pay
How much do Regulatory Affairs Managers make?
Every regulatory affairs manager in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$141,900
Middle half earn $102,880 to $186,300
- 10th
- $74,300
- 25th
- $102,880
- 75th
- $186,300
- 90th
- $238,270
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $74,300 |
| 25th | $102,880 |
| Median | $141,900 |
| 75th | $186,300 |
| 90th | $238,270 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $141,900
- Median hourly wage
- $68.22/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $153,890
- People employed
- 622,190
Versus all US occupations
At $141,900, Regulatory Affairs Managers earn 178% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $90,920 a year.
Versus management occupations
Inside the Management group, where the middle occupation pays $126,060, this is 13% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $238,270 or more while the bottom 10% earn $74,300, a gap of 3.2×. That is an unusually wide spread, which usually tracks specialisation, employer type and years of experience.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 92% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Massachusetts pays the most at $182,950, and still leads at $172,991 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Regulatory Affairs Managers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Massachusetts | $182,950 | $172,991 | 10,630 |
| 2District of Columbia | $175,720 | $159,889 | 18,570 |
| 3California | $174,560 | $157,659 | 99,580 |
| 4Colorado | $171,140 | $166,071 | 14,060 |
| 5Delaware | $168,060 | $168,383 | 1,280 |
| 6New York | $167,200 | $154,928 | 18,470 |
| 7Virginia | $166,230 | $164,415 | 21,560 |
| 8Rhode Island | $165,900 | $162,202 | 790 |
| 9Washington | $164,160 | $153,402 | 10,490 |
| 10Connecticut | $162,690 | $157,022 | 7,330 |
Job outlook
Is Regulatory Affairs Manager a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Faster than average. +4.9% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | +4.9% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Regulatory Affairs Managers to change 4.9% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 65,600 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 100,900 openings are projected each year, 7.5% of the 1,338,800 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Regulatory Affairs Manager
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
Less than 5 years
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Medium preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as regulatory affairs managers.
- Bachelor's Degree73.9%
- Master's Degree13%
- Some College Courses4.4%
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate4.4%
- Doctoral Degree4.4%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | 73.9% |
| Master's Degree | 13% |
| Some College Courses | 4.4% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 4.4% |
| Doctoral Degree | 4.4% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Regulatory Affairs Manager do?
Plan, direct, or coordinate production activities of an organization to ensure compliance with regulations and standard operating procedures.
Day-to-day tasks
- Develop regulatory strategies and implementation plans for the preparation and submission of new products.
- Review all regulatory agency submission materials to ensure timeliness, accuracy, comprehensiveness, or compliance with regulatory standards.
- Direct the preparation and submission of regulatory agency applications, reports, or correspondence.
- Provide responses to regulatory agencies regarding product information or issues.
- Represent organizations before domestic or international regulatory agencies on major policy matters or decisions regarding company products.
- Provide regulatory guidance to departments or development project teams regarding design, development, evaluation, or marketing of products.
- Communicate regulatory information to multiple departments and ensure that information is interpreted correctly.
- Maintain current knowledge of relevant regulations, including proposed and final rules.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeSeated for more than half the working day.
Standing
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Writing4.3
- Reading Comprehension4.1
- Active Listening4.0
- Speaking4.0
- Critical Thinking3.9
- Monitoring3.6
- Active Learning3.5
- Learning Strategies3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Writing | 4.3 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.1 |
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Speaking | 4.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.9 |
| Monitoring | 3.6 |
| Active Learning | 3.5 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Complex Problem Solving3.8
- Judgment and Decision Making3.8
- Systems Analysis3.8
- Systems Evaluation3.8
- Time Management3.6
- Coordination3.5
- Social Perceptiveness3.3
- Instructing3.3
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.8 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.8 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.8 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.8 |
| Time Management | 3.6 |
| Coordination | 3.5 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.3 |
| Instructing | 3.3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Business intelligence and data analysis software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Process mapping and design software · in demand
- Project management software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Regulatory Affairs Manager?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Regulatory Affairs Manager |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 2 |
| Investigative | 3 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 3 |
| Enterprising | 7 |
| Conventional | 6 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around leading, persuading, selling and making decisions, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Enterprising6.5
- Conventional5.7
- Investigative3.0
- Social2.6
- Realistic1.9
- Artistic1.3
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Regulatory Affairs Manager
O*NET related occupations
- Business and Financial Operations
- Management
- Business and Financial Operations
- Business and Financial Operations
- Computer and Mathematical
- Business and Financial Operations
More management careers
Median annual pay, with regulatory affairs managers highlighted
- IT Manager$175,140
- Marketing Manager$166,790
- Financial Manager$166,570
- Human Resources Manager$149,280
- Sales Manager$148,270
- Regulatory Affairs Manager$141,900
- Construction Manager$114,990
- Supply Chain Manager$107,230
- Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Manager$69,990
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| IT Manager | $175,140 |
| Marketing Manager | $166,790 |
| Financial Manager | $166,570 |
| Human Resources Manager | $149,280 |
| Sales Manager | $148,270 |
| Regulatory Affairs Manager | $141,900 |
| Construction Manager | $114,990 |
| Supply Chain Manager | $107,230 |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Manager | $69,990 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Regulatory Affairs Manager appears on
Questions
Regulatory Affairs Manager: frequently asked questions
How much do Regulatory Affairs Managers make?
Regulatory Affairs Managers earn a median of $141,900 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 178% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $68.22/hr. The middle half earn between $102,880 and $186,300. The top 10% earn $238,270 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Regulatory Affairs Manager?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Regulatory Affairs Managers, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation. Employers typically expect less than 5 years of related work experience first. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 73.9% hold bachelor's degree.
Is Regulatory Affairs Manager a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 4.9% over 2025–2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 100,900 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Regulatory Affairs Manager do?
Plan, direct, or coordinate production activities of an organization to ensure compliance with regulations and standard operating procedures. A core O*NET task: develop regulatory strategies and implementation plans for the preparation and submission of new products. Employers most often ask for Business intelligence and data analysis software, Data base user interface and query software, Document management software.
Which states pay Regulatory Affairs Managers the most?
The highest state medians for Regulatory Affairs Managers are Massachusetts ($182,950), District of Columbia ($175,720), California ($174,560) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Regulatory Affairs Manager?
O*NET scores Regulatory Affairs Managers highest on the Enterprising and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes leading, persuading, selling and making decisions with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ESTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.