What is the salary and career path for a regulatory affairs specialist?
Regulatory affairs specialist maps most closely to Compliance Officers (SOC 13-1041), the code BLS uses for professionals who ensure compliance with laws and regulations, so the OEWS May 2025 median is $80,730 a year ($38.81 an hour), from $48,220 at the 10th percentile to $133,720 at the 90th. Life-science regulatory specialists cluster in the upper half as they take on complex FDA and international submissions. BLS projects 3% growth over 2024–2034, about average, with roughly 33,300 openings a year across the compliance code. No license is required, but knowledge of FDA regulations and the RAC credential from RAPS define advancement.
- Regulatory Affairs Specialists earn a national median $80,730/yr ($38.81/hr) (BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 13-1041); the top 10% clear $133,720.
- No license is required, but knowledge of FDA regulations and the RAC credential from RAPS define advancement.
- BLS projects 3% growth for 2024–34 across the compliance-officer code, about average, with roughly 33,300 openings a year.
- The ladder runs from regulatory affairs associate through senior specialist to regulatory affairs manager near $133,720.
Career Path
How do you become a regulatory affairs specialist?
Regulatory Affairs Associate
Compiles submission documents and tracks changes; pay near the BLS 10th percentile.
Regulatory Affairs Specialist
Owns submissions and authority correspondence for products — around the $80,730 median.
Senior RA Specialist
Leads complex or global filings and strategy; earnings near the 75th percentile.
Regulatory Affairs Manager
Directs regulatory strategy for a portfolio; top-decile pay near the 90th percentile.
BLS Salary Data
Which state pays regulatory affairs specialists the most in 2026?
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 13-1041. National median: $80,730. Full salary guide →
Pay Comparison
How does regulatory affairs specialist pay compare to related roles?
Head-to-head against the roles regulatory affairs specialists most often weigh against. BLS OEWS May 2025 medians.
Takeaway: regulatory affairs specialists rank 3 of 4 on median pay among the comparable roles above, with a projected +3% employment change 2024–34 (BLS Employment Projections). Pay position and projected demand together are what determine how quickly regulatory affairs specialists clear offers across the GlobalCybers placement network.
Methodology & Sources
How this guide is sourced and reviewed
Wages (BLS): All median and percentile figures are BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 13-1041 (regulatory affairs specialists) and the matching SOC codes for each comparison role. OEWS is sampled on a rolling 3-year basis and published ~10 months after collection, so treat it as a firm anchor rather than a spot rate.
Job growth: Projected 2024–34 employment change, and the average annual openings figure, are from the BLS Employment Projections program, by occupation. Openings are a per-year average over the projection decade, not a decade total.
Licensing & credentials:Requirements are drawn from the issuing state licensing boards and the certifying body behind each credential — not from third-party aggregators.
Demand signal:Any statement about how quickly this role clears offers reflects GlobalCybers placement request volume across the trailing 12 months — our own network data, offered as a directional real-world indicator alongside BLS, not a market-wide survey.
Credentials
What licences and certifications do regulatory affairs specialists need?
The RAPS credential recognized as the standard for regulatory affairs professionals. See all state licences →
A bachelor's or advanced degree in a relevant field is the standard educational base.
Formal training in 21 CFR, submission types and ICH guidelines used across the role.
Tools & Software
What tools and software do regulatory affairs specialists use on the job?
⚙️ Core Tools & Equipment
📊 BLS Employment Data, SOC 13-1041
Salary Levers
How do regulatory affairs specialists earn above the $80,730 BLS median?
Submission complexity and product type
Owning INDs, NDAs and BLAs moves pay from the $48,220 entry tier toward the $80,730 median and above.
Global and multi-region filings
Managing EU, FDA and other authority submissions lifts earnings toward the $109,010 upper-quartile mark.
RAC credential and manager track
Certification and portfolio strategy roles reach toward the $133,720 top decile.
This Route vs. College
Is becoming a regulatory affairs specialist worth it vs. a 4-year degree?
The entry route into this role, set against a four-year degree. Same starting line, side by side.
Entry-level (10th percentile) and all-level median wages: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 13-1041. Student-debt figure: median federal borrower balance for bachelor's-degree completers. Starting-salary comparison is illustrative and varies by field and region.
FAQ
Regulatory Affairs Specialist Career, Frequently Asked Questions
Regulatory Affairs Specialist career research journey
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