Although research and development centres continue to recruit far more cautiously than they did a few years ago, this does not necessarily indicate a lasting weakening of the sector. New sources of funding, multibillion-zloty investments in energy, infrastructure and defence, and the development of advanced technologies could once again increase demand for specialists in the coming years.
The greatest demand is expected to focus on engineering, design, electronics, automation and software skills — competencies that companies already value highly in their salary structures. Average pay in R&D centres increased by 4% year on year, the second-highest growth rate among the industrial sectors analysed.
New investment is reshaping the direction of R&D
Although Poland continues to spend less on research and development than Europe’s most innovative economies, the coming years could bring a clear acceleration in the sector’s growth.
This outlook is supported by funding available through the European Funds for a Modern Economy programme, known as FENG, multibillion-zloty investments in energy, infrastructure and defence, and initiatives such as Innovate Poland, which are intended to make it easier for companies to obtain capital for development and the commercialisation of new technologies.
Businesses remain the main source of R&D funding, accounting for almost two-thirds of total domestic expenditure in this area.
“Poland now has an opportunity to strengthen its research and development sector substantially. Success will depend not only on access to funding, but above all on whether companies use this period to develop technologies and build lasting R&D capabilities,” says Karolina Damas, Manager at Grafton Recruitment.
“It will be up to companies to ensure that the knowledge and experience acquired during these projects remain in Poland and continue to generate value in future ventures.”
Industrial R&D activities now cover an increasingly broad range of technologies. Companies are developing solutions related to manufacturing automation and robotisation, artificial intelligence, process digitalisation, new materials, and technologies supporting the energy transition and improving industrial efficiency.
Security considerations are also having a growing influence on research and development. Rising geopolitical tensions are increasing the importance of projects connected with defence, cybersecurity, critical infrastructure protection and autonomous systems.
Many of the technologies currently being developed are dual-use solutions. They may initially be designed for defence and security purposes before later finding applications in industry, energy, transport and logistics.
“Poland currently spends approximately 1.5% of its GDP on research and development, which remains below the EU average. At the same time, thanks to its strong engineering talent base, Poland is increasingly aspiring to become not only a recipient of technology, but also a potential exporter and an important manufacturing centre,” says Danuta Protasewicz, Regional Manager at Grafton Recruitment.
“This applies both to advanced manufacturing and to areas related to R&D and the development of new technologies.”
Companies nevertheless continue to identify a number of barriers that make research and development projects more difficult. The most frequently mentioned challenges include the limited participation of small and medium-sized enterprises in innovation, cost pressure and a shortage of qualified specialists.
Another obstacle is the lack of clarity surrounding the rules governing tax relief for research and development activities.
What talent does the R&D sector need?
Demand for employees in R&D and engineering centres remains low. According to Grafton Recruitment’s Industrial Sector Salary Report, the demand index stood at just 0.37 in March 2026 — the lowest figure among all the industrial job categories analysed.
This confirms the continued slowdown in recruitment that has been visible since 2024 in a sector that only a few years ago was one of the strongest magnets for research and development investment in Central and Eastern Europe.
“The slowdown currently observed in research and development does not mean that the sector has lost its potential. It is more likely that investment decisions have been postponed,” says Protasewicz.
“It is worth remembering that many solutions originally developed for defence — a sector that currently has access to substantial funding — may eventually be applied in other industries, strengthening their innovation and competitiveness.”
She adds that the defence sector could provide a significant stimulus for increased investment and faster R&D development in Poland.
“Large-scale projects planned for the coming years may also support knowledge transfer, particularly those requiring advanced engineering capabilities in areas such as nuclear energy.”
Companies continue to seek specialists whose expertise is essential to technology projects, including engineers, design engineers, product designers, electronics specialists, automation engineers and software developers.
There is also a clear increase in demand for roles connected with cybersecurity, industrial automation, data analysis, artificial intelligence, the resilience of critical infrastructure, and projects related to defence and national security.
R&D directors can earn up to PLN 57,000 gross a month
R&D directors receive the highest salaries in research and development and engineering centres. Monthly gross pay for these positions ranges from PLN 30,000 to PLN 57,000.
Management and team leadership roles also command high salaries. Heads of design departments can earn between PLN 24,000 and PLN 35,000 gross per month. The upper end of this salary range increased by 17% compared with the previous year.
Design team leaders earn between PLN 18,000 and PLN 26,000, while mechanical engineers receive between PLN 12,000 and PLN 18,000 gross per month, according to Grafton Recruitment’s Industrial Sector Salary Report.
In electronics, team leaders earn between PLN 19,000 and PLN 25,000, while electronics engineers can expect salaries of between PLN 13,000 and PLN 19,000.
In testing, the highest salaries are offered to test team leaders, who earn between PLN 19,000 and PLN 26,000. Software testers receive between PLN 13,000 and PLN 19,000, while embedded software testers earn between PLN 13,000 and PLN 18,000.
In software development, the highest salary range applies to embedded software team leaders, who earn between PLN 19,000 and PLN 28,000 gross per month.
Software team leaders earn between PLN 19,000 and PLN 27,000. Embedded C/C++ developers receive between PLN 14,000 and PLN 24,000, while software developers earn between PLN 15,000 and PLN 22,000.
Implementation engineers can expect gross monthly salaries ranging from PLN 15,000 to PLN 20,000.
The second-highest salary growth rate in industry
Despite more cautious recruitment, average salaries in research and development and engineering centres increased by 4% year on year.
This was the second-highest result among the industrial sectors analysed. Only distribution centres recorded stronger growth, with salaries rising by an average of 5% year on year. Pay in other industrial segments increased by approximately 3%.
“Salary growth in the research and development sector is uneven. The largest increases apply to roles involving greater project or technological responsibility,” says Damas.
“These competencies are important not only within R&D departments. They are also essential for projects involving automation, the digitalisation of manufacturing, the development of devices, control systems, industrial electronics, solution testing and the implementation of technologies in production environments.”
The largest salary increase, at 13% year on year, was recorded for R&D managers, including heads of design departments.
Other notable increases included a 9% rise for embedded software team leaders, 7% for design team leaders and electronics engineers, and 6% for embedded C/C++ developers and software developers.
Salary ranges remained unchanged year on year in several positions, including mechanical engineers, test team leaders, embedded software testers and implementation engineers.
The future of R&D: local expertise and stable partnerships
In the coming years, the development of the research and development sector will increasingly depend on companies’ ability to combine industrial, digital and engineering expertise.
Projects related to defence, cybersecurity, critical infrastructure, energy and automation require cooperation between teams that understand both technology and the practical realities of manufacturing and implementation.
As a result, local R&D capabilities are becoming increasingly important. These include in-house teams, proprietary know-how, access to engineers and the ability to develop new solutions quickly and close to the target market.
This does not mean that companies will seek complete technological self-sufficiency. The development of R&D will instead rely on a combination of domestic investment and international cooperation, particularly with partners operating within the European Union.
Such a model can help companies reduce risk, diversify their sources of technology and strengthen their resilience to changing geopolitical and economic conditions.
About the report
The Industrial Sector Salary Report 2026 is the tenth edition of a recurring study prepared by Grafton Recruitment experts.
It includes salary data for employees at all levels — from manual workers and specialists to senior managers — across a range of industrial sectors, including pharmaceuticals and chemicals, automotive manufacturing and machinery production, fast-moving consumer goods, research and development, engineering and distribution centres, construction and defence.
The salary survey was conducted between March and April 2026 and covered 9,345 candidates working in the industrial sector and 178 companies.
The publication also includes expert commentary outlining the sector’s current challenges and development prospects.
