Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (occupation group), with detailed role definition from O*NET, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Long-term incentive is not shown for this role. Equity awards are only disclosed publicly for the named executive officers of public companies, so no market figure exists for most jobs. See executive pay disclosures.
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About this role
Regulatory Affairs Manager is a professional role within the function in the Management job family.
Typical experience: 7 to 12 years at the Manager level, per widely used corporate career-level norms (Radford, Mercer, and SHRM career-level frameworks). Actual expectations vary by function, industry, and company size.
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.
Investigate product complaints and prepare documentation and submissions to appropriate regulatory agencies as necessary.
Provide responses to regulatory agencies regarding product information or issues.
Top skills:WritingReading ComprehensionSpeakingActive ListeningCritical ThinkingSystems Evaluation
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Regulatory Affairs Manager pay by experience level
Entry level$77,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$106,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$147,000
Mid-career median pay
Senior$193,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$246,500
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+4.5%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
106,700
projected openings per year
Growing about as fast as average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Regulatory Affairs Manager salary by industry
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS
135,880 workers
$144,000
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
86,940 workers
$189,000
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation)
75,570 workers
$163,500
Management of Companies and Enterprises
51,180 workers
$186,500
Management of Companies and Enterprises
51,180 workers
$186,500
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
40,580 workers
$124,500
Educational Services
31,600 workers
$123,000
Administrative and Support Services
28,870 workers
$141,000
Insurance Carriers and Related Activities
24,760 workers
$173,000
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services
20,270 workers
$182,000
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
Pay trend
National median annual wage, 2021 to 2025: $124,650 to $141,900.
+13.8% over this period
Medians as published each May in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics national estimates. Nominal dollars, not adjusted for inflation. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS.
Pay by experience level
How annual pay for this occupation spreads from newcomers to the highest paid, aged to 2026.
Entry10th percentile
$77,000
Early career25th percentile
$106,500
Median50th percentile
$147,000
Experienced75th percentile
$193,000
Top earners90th percentile
$246,500
Bands are the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages for this occupation nationally. Percentiles reflect the full mix of tenure, employer, and location, so they approximate but do not equal years of experience. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS national estimates.
Where this job pays most
Top-paying states for this occupation, average annual wage aged to 2026.
State averages for this occupation from the BLS OEWS state estimates. Cost of living differs by state; a higher wage does not always mean more buying power.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, O*NET occupational database.
Typical duties and FLSA status
Core duties
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.
Investigate product complaints and prepare documentation and submissions to appropriate regulatory agencies as necessary.
Provide responses to regulatory agencies regarding product information or issues.
FLSA classification (typical)
Typically Exempt · Executive exemption
Managerial roles at this level typically qualify for the Executive exemption because they customarily direct the work of two or more full-time employees and have authority over hiring, firing, or promotion decisions. Actual classification depends on the specific job duties, salary basis, and any applicable state or local rules. The current federal salary threshold for exemption is $684 per week ($35,568 per year), per the 2020 Department of Labor rule; the 2024 rule that would have raised the threshold was struck down by federal court in November 2024.
Pay outlook
Five-year pay outlook for this title
2026$159,500
2027$165,000
2028$171,000
2029$177,000
2030$183,000
2031$189,500
Projection assumes market wages keep rising about 3.5% a year, consistent with recent wage growth measured by the BLS Employment Cost Index. It reflects market movement for the title, not individual raises or promotions, which vary.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does a Regulatory Affairs Manager make?
The median market pay for a Regulatory Affairs Manager in the United States is about $159,500 per year in 2026, based on WePayFairly's market model.
What is the salary range for a Regulatory Affairs Manager?
Most Regulatory Affairs Manager pay falls between about $106,500 (25th percentile) and $193,000 (75th percentile), with top earners above $246,500.
What does a Regulatory Affairs Manager do?
Core responsibilities include: develop regulatory strategies and implementation plans for the preparation and submission of new products; and review all regulatory agency submission materials to ensure timeliness, accuracy, comprehensiveness, or compliance with regulatory standards.
Is pay for Regulatory Affairs Manager roles growing?
Yes. The national median wage for this occupation moved from $124,650 in 2021 to $141,900 in 2025, a change of +13.8% in nominal dollars.
How this role compares
Regulatory Affairs Manager pays 11% above the average across 58 roles in the Management job family (family average $144,000).
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Regulatory Affairs Manager make?
The average base salary for a Regulatory Affairs Manager in the United States is $159,500 per year, or about $76.68 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $106,500 and $193,000 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Management roles?
The Management job family averages $144,000 across 58 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role? WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
Need Regulatory Affairs Manager pay benchmarked for your organization, or defensible compensation analysis for a dispute or valuation? Grahall builds it from primary sources, backed by an expert who testifies.
