Application Design and Development Director Salary in the United States

How much does an Application Design and Development Director make in the United States?

As of May 01, 2026, the average salary for an Application Design and Development Director in the United States is $197,100 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $95.

However, an Application Design and Development Director's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $222,127
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $180,800 to $210,200
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $165,960
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View as table View as graph 25% $180,800 10% $165,960 90% $222,127 75% $210,200 $197,100 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Application Design and Development Director Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $210,200 $17,517 $4,042 $101
Average $197,100 $16,425 $3,790 $95
25th Percentile $180,800 $15,067 $3,477 $87
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Key Factors That Influence Application Design and Development Director Salaries

An Application Design and Development Director's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Application Design and Development Director Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Application Design and Development Director's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Application Programmer Analyst V (7-10 years): $166,866
  • Applications Programming Project Supervisor (10+ years): $134,131
  • Applications Programming Project Manager (10+ years): $151,798
  • Application Design and Development Senior Manager (10+ years): $176,819
  • Application Design and Development Director (10+ years): $197,014
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Application Programmer Analyst V7-10 years$166,866
Applications Programming Project Supervisor10+ years$134,131
Applications Programming Project Manager10+ years$151,798
Application Design and Development Senior Manager10+ years$176,819
Application Design and Development Director10+ years$197,014
$166,866 Applicati...
$134,131 Applicati...
$151,798 Applicati...
$176,819 Applicati...
$197,014 Applicati...
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Application Design and Development Directors

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $248,500
  • San Francisco: $245,800
  • Oakland: $240,600

What Skills Can Increase an Application Design and Development Director's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 16.09% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 1.31% Job Postings): Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
  • Product Management (Mentioned in 1.01% Job Postings): Product management is an organisational lifecycle function within a company dealing with the planning, forecasting, and production, or marketing of a product or products at all stages of the product lifecycle. Similarly, product lifecycle management (PLM) integrates people, data, processes and business systems. It provides product information for companies and their extended supply chain enterprise. The role may consist of product development and product marketing, which are different (yet complementary) efforts, with the objective of maximizing sales revenues, market share, and profit margins. Product management also involves elimination decisions. Product elimination begins with the identification of elimination candidates, proceeds with the consideration of remedial actions, continues with a projection of the impact on the business as a whole if a candidate product is eventually eliminated, and concludes with the implementation stage, where management determines the elimination strategy for an item. The product manager is often responsible for analyzing market conditions and defining features or functions of a product and for overseeing the production of the product. The role of product management spans many activities from strategic to tactical and varies based on the organizational structure of the company. To maximize the impact and benefits to an organization, Product management must be an independent function separate on its own.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 16.09%
Microsoft Office 1.31%
Product Management 1.01%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Application Design and Development Director's salary.
  • Diversity and Inclusion: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Sustainability: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Financial Services: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Diversity and Inclusion
 $210,897
7%
Sustainability
 $208,926
6%
Financial Services
 $206,955
5%
Procurement
 $206,955
5%
Team Management
 $206,955
5%
Product Management
 $206,955
5%
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How Education impacts an Application Design and Development Director's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Application Design and Development Directors enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Application Design and Development Director with a Bachelor's Degree is between $199,037 and $210,948).

Application Design and Development Director Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Application Design and Development Director
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.1%
High School 3.7%
Associates 7.4%
Bachelors 50.8%
Masters 35.4%
Doctorate 1.6%
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Application Design and Development Director Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Application Design and Development Director's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on May 01, 2026
$180,800
Average $197,100/year
$210,200
$15,067
Average $16,425/month
$17,517
$3,477
Average $3,790/week
$4,042
$87
Average $95/hour
$101
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $210,200 $17,517 $4,042 $101
Average $197,100 $16,425 $3,790 $95
25th Percentile $180,800 $15,067 $3,477 $87

Application Design and Development Director Salary Growth & Career Path

Application Design and Development Director
VP of Software Research and Design Architecture

For an Application Design and Development Director, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the VP of Software Research and Design Architecture role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $262,200 - a projected growth of 33% over your current level.

Salaries of jobs related to Application Design and Development Director

Salary Trends for Application Design and Development Director

Salaries for an Application Design and Development Director can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $184,019 in 2023 to around $182,747 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Application Design and Development Director salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Application Design and Development Director Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$184,019
2024
$183,511
2025
$182,747
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $184,019
2024 $183,511
2025 $182,747
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Application Design and Development Director

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Application Design and Development Director

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FAQ about Application Design and Development Director

1. What level is a program director?

A program director typically holds a senior-level position, often requiring a bachelor's or master's degree in a relevant field, along with significant industry experience. Salaries for this role range from $188,400 to $233,000, with a mid-point of $209,900, reflecting the expertise and leadership responsibilities involved. Professional certifications may also enhance qualifications.

2. How much do application designers make?

Application Designers earn varying salaries based on experience and role. For an Application Design and Development Director, the salary ranges from a minimum of $188,400 to a maximum of $233,000, with a mid-salary of $209,900. This reflects the higher level of responsibility and expertise required for this position compared to general application designers.

3. What is the highest paying software job in USA?

The highest paying software job in the USA is the Application Design and Development Director, with a salary range from $188,400 to $233,000. This role surpasses many others in the tech industry, reflecting the demand for skilled professionals who can lead application development and design initiatives effectively.

4. How much does application design cost?

The cost of application design varies significantly based on complexity. A basic app design typically ranges from $5,000 to $10,000. More advanced designs can range from $15,000 to $20,000. For highly complex apps with extensive features, the design cost can exceed $20,000. Additionally, the salary for an Application Design and Development Director ranges from $188,400 to $233,000.

5. What is head of applications development?

The head of applications development oversees the creation of application architecture and roadmaps for key applications. This role involves advising IT Services on development priorities based on the technical state and value of applications. The salary for this position ranges from $188,400 to $233,000, with a midpoint of $209,900.

6. How much do application supervisors make?

How much does an Applications Supervisor make? The estimated total pay for an Applications Supervisor is around $141,462 per year. However, salaries can vary significantly, with a range from a minimum of $188,400 to a maximum of $233,000, depending on experience and specific responsibilities in application design and development.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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