Regulatory Affairs Salary Benchmarking in Medtech
We’re pleased to share our Regulatory Affairs Medtech Salary Benchmarking Report, featuring 2026/27 industry data on compensation trends & salary benchmarks from Senior Consultant, Hayley Shayestehroo.
The Regulatory Affairs market has entered a more mature phase. The significant salary inflation seen during 2021 and 2022 has stabilised, hiring decisions are becoming more measured, and benefits have largely aligned around established market expectations.
For employers, this creates a clear strategic challenge. When salary and benefits packages are increasingly similar across the market, attracting and retaining the strongest talent requires a more considered approach. Differentiation is less about increasing spend and more about designing an offer that reflects what candidates genuinely value.
US Regulatory Affairs
Salary Benchmark
A practical compensation guide for hiring Regulatory Affairs professionals across US medical-device, diagnostics and medtech companies.
Indicative base salary benchmarks for permanent hires. Figures are recruiter market estimates informed by current public compensation data and live US hiring activity.
- Base salary
- Typical annual bonus
- Regional pay pressure
- Skill premiums
- Equity valuation
- Sign-on awards
- Long-term incentives
- Highly bespoke executive packages
| Level | Estimated Base Salary | Range | Typical Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regulatory Affairs Specialist | $80,000 – $105,000 | $80k – $105k |
0–10% |
| Senior Regulatory Affairs Specialist | $100,000 – $125,000 | $100k – $125k |
5–12% |
| Regulatory Affairs Manager | $120,000 – $150,000 | $120k – $150k |
10–15% |
| Senior Regulatory Affairs Manager | $145,000 – $175,000 | $145k – $175k |
12–20% |
| Associate Director, Regulatory Affairs | $165,000 – $200,000 | $165k – $200k |
15–25% |
| Director, Regulatory Affairs | $190,000 – $230,000 | $190k – $230k |
20–30% |
| Senior Director / Head of Regulatory | $215,000 – $260,000 | $215k – $260k |
25–35% |
| Executive Director, Regulatory | $245,000 – $300,000 | $245k – $300k |
30–40% |
| VP, Regulatory Affairs | $280,000 – $340,000+ | $280k – $340k+ |
30–45%+ |
These ranges intentionally overlap. In life sciences, role scope often matters more than title alone — particularly from Senior Manager through Director level.
Strong medtech and diagnostics market, with competition from biotech and pharma for adjacent regulatory/quality skill sets.
Large healthcare and device employer base; senior and corporate roles can price close to Northeast biotech benchmarks.
Broad device, diagnostics and healthcare manufacturing footprint with moderate-to-strong senior-level demand.
Often lower-cost than coastal hubs, but onsite manufacturing and niche technical requirements can narrow the discount.
California is a major device, digital health and diagnostics market. Bay Area and Southern California can both attract a premium.
PMA strategy and approval experience
De Novo submissions
Complex or novel 510(k) strategy
Class III / implantable devices
Combination products
SaMD and digital health
AI / ML-enabled medical devices
IVD and companion diagnostics
FDA Q-Submission leadership
EU MDR plus US FDA / global strategy
Regulatory leadership through product launch
- Direct FDA ownership
- Scarce specialist expertise
- Commercialisation or approval track record
- Function-building or broad leadership scope
- High-cost location / onsite requirement
- Multiple competing offers
- Development opportunity within role
- Narrower product or team scope
- Strong equity or bonus trade-off
- Remote flexibility
- Candidate stepping into first role at that level
- Lower-cost regional market
Need a role-specific benchmark?
Carrot can provide a tailored benchmark against the exact location, company stage, reporting line, technical requirements and live candidate availability for your upcoming hire.
