What are the main factors that influence a Head of Product Development's salary?

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

How does experience change A Head of Product Development's salary?

A Head of Product Development's salary grows with experience: a Product Development Specialist V (7-10 years)earns $160,698, a Manager of Technical Product Development (10+ years)earns $145,930, a Senior Manager of Product Development (10+ years)earns $180,876, a Director of Technical Product Development (10+ years)earns $221,195, a Head of Product Development (10+ years)earns $348,714,

What are the highest paying states for a Head of Product Development?

Head of Product Development salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Head of Product Development roles are District of Columbia $386,100, California $384,700, Massachusetts $379,600. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Head of Product Development roles make?

Salaries for Head of Product Development level roles vary by specialization: Head of Product: $361,278; Vice President of Product Development: $348,790; Chief Product Development Officer: $348,714; Product Head: $340,630; Head of Product Management: $338,290.

How do different companies affect a Head of Product Development's salary?

Company size, industry, and compensation structure create significant salary variations for Head of Product Development roles. Large, established industry leaders like C R Bard Inc ($128,509) and Henry Schein Canada ($124,697) offer base salaries 35-40% above the national average. In contrast, smaller firms or startups may offer closer to $82,041.

Head of Product Development Salary in the United States

How much does a Head of Product Development make in the United States?

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for a Head of Product Development in the United States is $348,800 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $168.

However, a Head of Product Development's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

Top Earners (90th percentile): $418,531
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $319,800 to $385,300
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $293,397

10% $293,397

50% (Median) $348,800

90% $418,531

Head of Product Development Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$385,300	$32,108	$7,410	$185
Average	$348,800	$29,067	$6,708	$168
25th Percentile	$319,800	$26,650	$6,150	$154

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Key Factors That Influence Head of Product Development Salaries

A Head of Product Development'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 Head of Product Development Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Head of Product Development'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:

Product Development Specialist V (7-10 years): $160,698
Manager of Technical Product Development (10+ years): $145,930
Senior Manager of Product Development (10+ years): $180,876
Director of Technical Product Development (10+ years): $221,195
Head of Product Development (10+ years): $348,714

Job Role	Years of Experience	Average Salary
Product Development Specialist V	7-10 years	$160,698
Manager of Technical Product Development	10+ years	$145,930
Senior Manager of Product Development	10+ years	$180,876
Director of Technical Product Development	10+ years	$221,195
Head of Product Development	10+ years	$348,714

View as Graph

How Do Head of Product Development 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 Head of Product Developments. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $386,100.
California: $384,700.
Massachusetts: $379,600.

District of Columbia $386,100 California $384,700 Massachusetts $379,600 Washington $378,200 New Jersey $378,000 Alaska $377,500 Connecticut $372,700 New York $370,800

Hawaii $364,500 Rhode Island $361,600 Maryland $359,600 Minnesota $356,900 Colorado $355,800 Illinois $355,500 Oregon $354,200 Delaware $353,200

New Hampshire $352,600 Virginia $351,200 Pennsylvania $347,200 Nevada $345,200 North Dakota $344,500 Michigan $343,500 Wisconsin $343,100 Vermont $342,300

Texas $340,200 Maine $340,000 Arizona $339,800 Ohio $339,600 Georgia $336,400 Indiana $334,800 Wyoming $334,500 Utah $334,000

Iowa $333,800 Kansas $332,100 Louisiana $331,600 North Carolina $331,400 Missouri $331,400 Florida $330,000 Montana $329,300 Nebraska $328,600

Kentucky $328,200 South Carolina $326,800 Tennessee $325,900 Idaho $325,600 New Mexico $323,000 Oklahoma $322,500 Alabama $320,400 South Dakota $317,000

Arkansas $315,100 West Virginia $314,100 Mississippi $311,000

Top Paying Cities for Head of Product Developments

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: $439,900
San Francisco: $435,100
Oakland: $425,900

San Jose, CA $439,900

San Francisco, CA $435,100

Oakland, CA $425,900

New York, NY $401,600

Paramus, NJ $396,700

Queens Village, NY $396,700

Passaic, NJ $396,300

Bergenfield, NJ $396,300

Stamford, CT $395,500

Huntington, NY $395,400

Newark, NJ $392,800

Bridgeport, CT $392,100

Vallejo, CA $391,400

New Brunswick, NJ $391,200

Petaluma, CA $391,000

Middlesex, NJ $390,400

Somerset, NJ $390,100

Santa Cruz, CA $389,700

Boston, MA $387,500

Monterey, CA $386,300

Seattle, WA $385,500

Santa Rosa, CA $385,400

Los Angeles, CA $385,300

Juneau, AK $384,400

Washington, DC $384,100

Orange, CA $382,800

Santa Ana, CA $381,900

Long Beach, CA $381,500

Anaheim, CA $381,500

Anchorage, AK $381,300

Santa Maria, CA $380,300

Everett, WA $380,200

Danbury, CT $379,000

Bremerton, WA $378,500

Tacoma, WA $377,200

New Suffolk, NY $377,200

Sacramento, CA $377,100

Santa Barbara, CA $376,700

Trenton, NJ $376,300

San Diego, CA $376,300

Brockton, MA $376,000

Fairbanks, AK $375,100

Lompoc, CA $374,200

Lowell, MA $373,900

Ventura, CA $373,900

Nashua, NH $373,800

Stockton, CA $373,800

Modesto, CA $371,200

Poughkeepsie, NY $370,500

Kennewick, WA $369,800

Olympia, WA $369,800

New Haven, CT $369,700

Lawrence, MA $368,400

Hartford, CT $368,000

Riverside, CA $368,000

New Bedford, MA $367,600

Richland, WA $367,600

Bakersfield, CA $367,100

Atlantic City, NJ $367,000

San Bernardino, CA $367,000

New Britain, CT $367,000

New London, CT $366,800

Norwich, CT $366,700

Portsmouth, NH $366,700

Boulder, CO $365,900

Portland, OR $365,400

Worcester, MA $365,400

Minneapolis, MN $364,300

Philadelphia, PA $363,800

Honolulu, HI $362,700

Saint Paul, MN $362,500

Vineland, NJ $362,400

Providence, RI $361,400

Chicago, IL $360,400

Bellingham, WA $360,000

Springfield, MA $359,700

Baltimore, MD $359,600

Chico, CA $358,700

Pittsfield, MA $357,800

Manchester, NH $357,100

Spokane, WA $355,600

Denver, CO $355,600

Albany, NY $353,900

Troy, NY $353,800

Nassau, NY $353,400

Schenectady, NY $353,100

Wilmington, DE $352,800

Burlington, VT $352,300

Salem, OR $352,100

Portland, ME $351,100

Yakima, WA $350,700

Rochester, MN $349,600

Reno, NV $349,500

Fresno, CA $349,500

Milwaukee, WI $349,100

Detroit, MI $348,800

Allentown, PA $348,700

Ann Arbor, MI $348,700

Colorado Springs, CO $348,100

Syracuse, NY $347,900

Carson City, NV $347,900

Houston, TX $347,400

Eugene, OR $347,300

Gary, IN $346,800

Springfield, OR $346,600

Bismarck, ND $346,500

Galveston, TX $346,300

Medford, OR $345,700

Fort Collins, CO $345,600

Concord, NH $345,400

Austin, TX $345,300

Mesa, AZ $344,600

Reading, PA $344,500

Phoenix, AZ $344,500

Dallas, TX $344,400

Saint Cloud, MN $344,100

Madison, WI $343,600

Utica, NY $342,700

Rochester, NY $342,100

Des Moines, IA $342,100

Raleigh, NC $342,000

Atlanta, GA $341,500

Battle Creek, MI $341,400

Salt Lake City, UT $341,300

Lancaster, PA $340,800

Harrisburg, PA $340,300

Champaign, IL $339,900

Kansas City, MO $339,900

Kansas City, KS $339,900

Fort Worth, TX $339,800

Columbus, OH $339,800

Boca Raton, FL $339,700

Pittsburgh, PA $339,600

Richmond, VA $339,400

Indianapolis, IN $339,300

Cleveland, OH $339,300

Cincinnati, OH $338,900

Las Vegas, NV $338,900

Petersburg, VA $338,400

Huntsville, AL $337,800

Lansing, MI $337,600

Lebanon, PA $337,600

Pueblo, CO $337,500

Appleton, WI $337,400

Buffalo, NY $337,300

Dayton, OH $337,200

Charlotte, NC $337,100

Racine, WI $337,100

Saint Louis, MO $337,000

York, PA $336,800

Elkhart, IN $336,800

Gastonia, NC $336,700

Billings, MT $336,600

Beaumont, TX $336,500

Lorain, OH $336,500

Benton Harbor, MI $336,400

Toledo, OH $336,300

Rock Hill, SC $336,100

Binghamton, NY $336,100

Rockford, IL $335,900

Springfield, IL $335,800

Elyria, OH $335,800

Fargo, ND $335,800

Flagstaff, AZ $335,500

Fort Lauderdale, FL $335,300

Duluth, MN $335,100

Miami, FL $335,100

Cheyenne, WY $334,900

Grand Forks, ND $334,900

Bangor, ME $334,100

Cedar Rapids, IA $333,700

Durham, NC $333,600

Louisville, KY $333,500

Grand Rapids, MI $333,500

Hialeah, FL $333,400

Casper, WY $332,900

Scranton, PA $332,500

Virginia Beach, VA $332,400

New Orleans, LA $332,400

Akron, OH $332,200

Peoria, IL $331,700

Sarasota, FL $331,700

Nashville, TN $331,400

Omaha, NE $331,400

Green Bay, WI $331,400

Baton Rouge, LA $331,300

Charleston, SC $331,200

Jamestown, NY $331,000

Davenport, IA $331,000

Tucson, AZ $330,800

Saint Petersburg, FL $330,600

Tampa, FL $330,600

Evansville, IN $330,400

Port Arthur, TX $330,400

Bradenton, FL $330,200

Santa Fe, NM $329,600

Orlando, FL $329,000

Clearwater, FL $328,900

La Crosse, WI $328,100

Canton, OH $328,100

Albuquerque, NM $327,900

Newport News, VA $327,900

High Point, NC $327,800

Ogden, UT $327,600

Corpus Christi, TX $327,400

Norfolk, VA $327,100

Laramie, WY $327,100

Saginaw, MI $326,900

Rock Island, IL $326,900

Jacksonville, FL $326,800

Salisbury, NC $326,800

Boise, ID $326,700

Moline, IL $326,500

Fort Myers, FL $326,400

Memphis, TN $326,300

Tulsa, OK $326,200

Waterloo, IA $326,000

Spartanburg, SC $325,600

Lincoln, NE $325,400

Fort Wayne, IN $325,400

Provo, UT $325,300

Cedar Falls, IA $324,900

San Antonio, TX $324,800

Greensboro, NC $324,600

South Bend, IN $324,600

Savannah, GA $324,200

Muskegon, MI $324,100

Birmingham, AL $324,000

Winston Salem, NC $323,900

Lake Charles, LA $323,000

Anderson, IN $323,000

Lexington, KY $322,900

Augusta, GA $322,700

Greenville, SC $322,700

Lima, OH $322,500

Wichita, KS $322,400

Tuscaloosa, AL $322,400

Springfield, OH $322,100

Columbia, SC $322,100

Asheville, NC $321,500

Bloomington, IN $321,300

Knoxville, TN $320,000

Shreveport, LA $320,000

Wilmington, NC $319,500

Roanoke, VA $319,500

Topeka, KS $318,900

Frankfort, KY $318,800

Oklahoma City, OK $318,600

Chillicothe, OH $318,500

Longview, TX $318,400

Melbourne, FL $318,400

Sioux Falls, SD $317,800

Mobile, AL $317,800

Terre Haute, IN $317,700

Altoona, PA $317,400

Amarillo, TX $317,200

Killeen, TX $317,100

Fayetteville, AR $316,800

Chattanooga, TN $316,700

Sioux City, IA $316,400

Idaho Falls, ID $316,300

Lynchburg, VA $316,100

Gainesville, FL $315,600

Portsmouth, OH $315,400

Little Rock, AR $315,400

Lafayette, LA $315,200

Youngstown, OH $315,200

Clarksville, TN $315,000

Daytona Beach, FL $315,000

Pensacola, FL $314,900

Temple, TX $314,900

Hopkinsville, KY $313,900

Erie, PA $313,800

Florence, SC $313,700

Charleston, WV $313,100

Great Falls, MT $313,000

Macon, GA $312,500

Fayetteville, NC $312,400

Tallahassee, FL $312,400

Waco, TX $312,300

Helena, MT $312,000

Pine Bluff, AR $311,900

Vincennes, IN $311,500

Lubbock, TX $311,300

Alamogordo, NM $311,100

Twin Falls, ID $310,800

Rapid City, SD $310,700

Greenville, MS $310,100

Jackson, MS $310,100

Huntington, WV $310,100

Parkersburg, WV $309,700

Montgomery, AL $309,600

Wichita Falls, TX $309,300

Springfield, MO $309,300

Biloxi, MS $309,100

Monroe, LA $308,800

Johnstown, PA $308,500

Sumter, SC $308,400

Columbus, GA $308,300

Pascagoula, MS $307,700

Abilene, TX $307,700

Kingsport, TN $306,800

Albany, GA $306,800

Gulfport, MS $306,700

Alexandria, LA $305,500

Fort Smith, AR $304,700

El Paso, TX $303,700

Las Cruces, NM $302,100

Harlingen, TX $301,300

Pocatello, ID $301,200

Florence, AL $300,700

Brownsville, TX $300,700

Mcallen, TX $299,900

Dothan, AL $299,500

Columbus, MS $297,400

Altus, OK $295,800

Lawton, OK $295,100

Pierre, SD $293,800

What Skills Can Increase a Head of Product Development's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

Innovation (Mentioned in 6.37% Job Postings): The ability and process of implementing new ideas and initiatives to improve organizational performance.
Diversity and Inclusion (Mentioned in 1.91% Job Postings): Developing and promoting acquaintance, empowerment, and integration of each unique individual to create a productive and safe working environment.
Food Service (Mentioned in 1.27% Job Postings): The foodservice or catering industry includes the businesses, institutions, and companies which prepare meals outside the home.

Skills	Demand Percentage
Innovation	6.37%
Diversity and Inclusion	1.91%
Food Service	1.27%

See More Skills

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 a Head of Product Development's salary.

Employee Selection: Can increase your salary by up to 17%.
Goal Oriented: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
Continuous Improvement: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.

Skill	Salary	Salary % Increase
Employee Selection	$408,096	17%
Goal Oriented	$387,168	11%
Continuous Improvement	$376,704	8%

Get Latest Data

Head of Product Development Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Head of Product Development salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $389,399. While startup companies pay approximate $329,722.

Head of Product Development Salary by Company Size

Company Size	Employees	Average Salary
Startup	1~50	$329,722
Growth Stage	51~500	$348,639
Established	501~5000	$375,995
Enterprise	5000+	$389,399

Head of Product Development Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Head of Product Development roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 42% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Internet sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 22% above the average. In contrast, Head of Product Development positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Head of Product Development as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Head of Product Development

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals	$425,536	$205.0	22%
Internet	$418,560	$201.0	20%
Energy & Utilities	$390,656	$188.0	12%
Financial Services	$383,680	$184.0	10%
Insurance	$383,680	$184.0	10%

How Education impacts a Head of Product Development's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Head of Product Developments 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 a Head of Product Development with a Bachelor's Degree is between $300,954 and $327,149).

Head of Product Development Salaries by Degree Level

$336,300
$331,300
$326,300
$321,200
$316,200
$311,100
$306,100
$301,000

Typical Education for Head of Product Development
Degree Level	% of user with this level of education
No Diploma	0.3%
High School	1.2%
Associates	1.5%
Bachelors	45.4%
Masters	42.1%
Doctorate	9.6%

View as Graph

Head of Product Development Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Head of Product Development'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.

$319,800

Average $348,800/year

$385,300

$26,650

Average $29,067/month

$32,108

$6,150

Average $6,708/week

$7,410

$154

Average $168/hour

$185

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$385,300	$32,108	$7,410	$185
Average	$348,800	$29,067	$6,708	$168
25th Percentile	$319,800	$26,650	$6,150	$154

Salary Trends for Head of Product Development

Salaries for a Head of Product Development can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $252,332 in 2023 to around $245,798 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Head of Product Development salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Head of Product Development Over Time

$???
$252,332
$250,482
$245,798
$???
$???

2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$252,332
2024	$250,482
2025	$245,798
2026	View More
2027	View More

Most common benefits for Head of Product Development

Social Security
401 (k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Head of Product Development

Here are companies hiring for Head of Product Development and their salaries, click below for more details.

C $128,509/per year

C R Bard Inc Biotechnology the United States

H $124,697/per year

Henry Schein Canada Biotechnology the United States

N $123,899/per year

Nordex Inc Biotechnology the United States

N $120,416/per year

Nipro Corp Biotechnology the United States

E $115,870/per year

Enovis Biotechnology the United States

A $114,553/per year

Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy Biotechnology the United States

M $112,110/per year

MiniMed Inc Biotechnology the United States

L $111,500/per year

Labcorp Drug Development Biotechnology the United States

L $110,229/per year

Life Technologies Corp Biotechnology the United States

Z $106,224/per year

Zimmer Biomet Biotechnology the United States

P $103,077/per year

Promontory Therapeutics Biotechnology the United States

S $102,181/per year

Steris PLC Biotechnology the United States

G $97,274/per year

Gavin Conferences Pty Ltd Biotechnology the United States

E $94,764/per year

Endeavor BioMedicines Biotechnology the United States

R $94,402/per year

Replay Holdings LLC Biotechnology the United States

P $94,235/per year

Pleno Inc Biotechnology the United States

S $93,666/per year

Simulaids Inc Biotechnology the United States

N $88,880/per year

NOIRLab/CAS Biotechnology the United States

O $86,468/per year

Onward Technology Biotechnology the United States

L $84,895/per year

LED Medical Diagnostics Inc Biotechnology the United States

E $84,682/per year

Eyeco Ltd Biotechnology the United States

P $84,523/per year

Paerosol Biotechnology the United States

I $83,525/per year

IONIQ Sciences Inc Biotechnology the United States

S $82,815/per year

Stateside PPE Biotechnology the United States

D $82,041/per year

Digi Bio Biotechnology the United States

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FAQ about Head of Product Development

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Head of Product Development?

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Head of Product Development roles, with salaries approximately 22% above the market median.

2. What is the highest salary in R&D?

The highest salary for a Head of Product Development is ₹38.41 Lakhs per year (₹3.20 Lakhs per month).

3. How much do CDM project managers make?

The salary range for a Head of Product Development is between $279,200 and $384,100 per year, with a mid-salary of $322,000. This reflects the competitive compensation for this role, which encompasses both base salary and potential additional pay.

4. What is a high salary in the US?

A high salary in the US varies by role and industry. For instance, the Head of Product Development can expect a salary ranging from $279,200 to $384,100, with a midpoint of $322,000. This positions it among the higher-paying jobs, reflecting the significant responsibilities and expertise required in this role.

5. Is head of product the same as VP of product?

The Head of Product typically reports to the VP of Product, concentrating on aligning the product team with the company's strategy. In some organizations, these roles may not coexist, and the title reflects the company's structure. The salary for a Head of Product Development ranges from $279,200 to $384,100, with a midpoint of $322,000.

6. How much does the head of R&D make in the US?

As of now, the salary for a Head of Product Development in the United States ranges from $279,200 to $384,100 annually, with a median salary of $322,000. This reflects the competitive compensation for this role in the industry.

7. What is the highest salary of manager?

The highest salary for the Head of Product Development is $384,100 per year. The salary range for this position starts at a minimum of $279,200, with a mid-level salary of $322,000. This reflects the competitive compensation for leadership roles in product 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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