What are the main factors that influence an Application Design and Development Director's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

What industry pays the highest salary for Application Design and Development Director?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Application Design and Development Director roles, with salaries approximately 25% above the market median.

How does experience change An Application Design and Development Director's salary?

An Application Design and Development Director's salary grows with experience: an Application Programmer Analyst V (7-10 years)earns $184,783, an Applications Programming Project Supervisor (10+ years)earns $148,501, an Applications Programming Project Manager (10+ years)earns $168,072, an Application Design and Development Senior Manager (10+ years)earns $195,774, an Application Design and Development Director (10+ years)earns $218,125,

What are the highest paying states for an Application Design and Development Director?

Application Design and Development Director salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Application Design and Development Director roles are District of Columbia $218,200, California $217,300, Massachusetts $214,500. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Application Design and Development Director roles make?

Salaries for Application Design and Development Director level roles vary by specialization: Executive Director of Software Engineering/Application Development: $241,500; Product Development Design Director: $223,270; Director Of Application Development: $197,372; Application Systems Analysis & Development Director: $197,010; Business Application Development Director: $195,200.

Application Design and Development Director Salary in District of Columbia

How much does an Application Design and Development Director make in District of Columbia?

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for an Application Design and Development Director in District of Columbia is $218,200 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $105.

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): $245,710
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $200,100 to $232,600
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $183,621

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Application Design and Development Director Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$232,600	$19,383	$4,473	$112
Average	$218,200	$18,183	$4,196	$105
25th Percentile	$200,100	$16,675	$3,848	$96

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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, 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): $184,783
Applications Programming Project Supervisor (10+ years): $148,501
Applications Programming Project Manager (10+ years): $168,072
Application Design and Development Senior Manager (10+ years): $195,774
Application Design and Development Director (10+ years): $218,125

Job Role	Years of Experience	Average Salary
Application Programmer Analyst V	7-10 years	$184,783
Applications Programming Project Supervisor	10+ years	$148,501
Applications Programming Project Manager	10+ years	$168,072
Application Design and Development Senior Manager	10+ years	$195,774
Application Design and Development Director	10+ years	$218,125

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How Do Application Design and Development Director Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Application Design and Development Directors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $218,200.
California: $217,300.
Massachusetts: $214,500.

District of Columbia $218,200 California $217,300 Massachusetts $214,500 Washington $213,700 New Jersey $213,600 Alaska $213,300 Connecticut $210,600 New York $209,500

Hawaii $206,000 Rhode Island $204,300 Maryland $203,200 Minnesota $201,600 Colorado $201,100 Illinois $200,900 Oregon $200,100 Delaware $199,600

New Hampshire $199,200 Virginia $198,400 Pennsylvania $196,200 Nevada $195,000 North Dakota $194,700 Michigan $194,100 Wisconsin $193,800 Vermont $193,400

Texas $192,200 Maine $192,100 Arizona $192,000 Ohio $191,900 Georgia $190,100 Indiana $189,200 Wyoming $189,000 Utah $188,700

Iowa $188,600 Kansas $187,600 Louisiana $187,400 North Carolina $187,300 Missouri $187,200 Florida $186,500 Montana $186,000 Nebraska $185,600

Kentucky $185,400 South Carolina $184,600 Tennessee $184,200 Idaho $184,000 New Mexico $182,500 Oklahoma $182,200 Alabama $181,000 South Dakota $179,100

Arkansas $178,000 West Virginia $177,500 Mississippi $175,700

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:

Parcel Return Service: $217,000
Washington: $217,000
Naval Anacost Annex: $217,000

Parcel Return Service, DC $217,000 Washington, DC $217,000 Naval Anacost Annex, DC $217,000 Washington Navy Yard, DC $217,000

Application Design and Development Director Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Application Design and Development Director salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $244,055. While startup companies pay approximate $206,398.

Application Design and Development Director Salary by Company Size

Company Size	Employees	Average Salary
Startup	1~50	$206,398
Growth Stage	51~500	$218,298
Established	501~5000	$235,682
Enterprise	5000+	$244,055

Application Design and Development Director Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Application Design and Development Director roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 50% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Application Design and Development Director positions in Transportation or Telecom typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Application Design and Development Director as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Application Design and Development Director

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense	$272,750	$131.0	25%
Biotechnology	$272,750	$131.0	25%
Business Services	$272,750	$131.0	25%
Chemicals	$272,750	$131.0	25%
Construction	$272,750	$131.0	25%

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.

Last Updated on July 01, 2026

$200,100

Average $218,200/year

$232,600

$16,675

Average $18,183/month

$19,383

$3,848

Average $4,196/week

$4,473

$96

Average $105/hour

$112

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$232,600	$19,383	$4,473	$112
Average	$218,200	$18,183	$4,196	$105
25th Percentile	$200,100	$16,675	$3,848	$96

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 $290,400 - a projected growth of 33% over your current level.

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