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Business Development Manager, Sr. Salary in the United States

How much does a Business Development Manager, Sr. make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Business Development Manager, Sr. in the United States is $174,054 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $84.

However, a Business Development Manager, Sr.'s salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $185,081
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $158,023 to $179,826
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $143,428

Key Factors That Influence Business Development Manager, Sr. Salaries

A Business Development Manager, Sr.'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 Business Development Manager, Sr. Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Business Development Manager, Sr.'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:

  • Business Development Supervisor (10+ years): $114,575
  • Business Development Manager (10+ years): $132,320
  • Business Development Manager, Sr. (10+ years): $174,054
  • Business Development Director (10+ years): $210,767
  • Vice President of Business Development (10+ years): $271,011
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Business Development Supervisor10+ years$114,575
Business Development Manager10+ years$132,320
Business Development Manager, Sr.10+ years$174,054
Business Development Director10+ years$210,767
Vice President of Business Development10+ years$271,011

Top Paying Cities for Business Development Manager, Sr.

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: $219,534
  • San Francisco: $217,131
  • Oakland: $212,555

What Skills Can Increase a Business Development Manager, Sr.'s Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Presentation (Mentioned in 4.56% Job Postings): Presentation conveys information from a speaker to an audience. Presentations are typically demonstrations, introduction, lecture, or speech meant to inform, persuade, inspire, motivate, build goodwill, or present a new idea/product.
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 1.71% 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.
  • Salesforce (Mentioned in 1.15% Job Postings): Designing and maintaining a cloud-based software that provides customer relationship management (CRM) service for a better experience.
Skills Demand Percentage
Presentation 4.56%
Microsoft Office 1.71%
Salesforce 1.15%

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 Business Development Manager, Sr.'s salary.

  • Insight: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Effective Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Negotiating: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Insight $186,238
7%
Effective Communication $186,238
7%
Negotiating $184,497
6%

Business Development Manager, Sr. Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Business Development Manager, Sr. salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $194,843. While startup companies pay approximate $164,833.

Business Development Manager, Sr. Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $164,833
Growth Stage 51~500 $174,330
Established 501~5000 $188,156
Enterprise 5000+ $194,843

Business Development Manager, Sr. Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Business Development Manager, Sr. roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Aerospace & Defense sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Business Development Manager, Sr. positions in Retail & Wholesale or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Business Development Manager, Sr. as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Business Development Manager, Sr.

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$208,865$100.020%

How Education impacts an Business Development Manager, Sr.'s Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Business Development Manager, Sr. enter the field with a Bachelor's 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 Business Development Manager, Sr. with a Bachelor's Degree is between $174,256 and $185,257.

Business Development Manager, Sr. Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Business Development Manager, Sr.
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.8%
High School 2.6%
Associates 2.8%
Bachelors 38.8%
Masters 51.7%
Doctorate 3.3%

Business Development Manager, Sr. Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Business Development Manager, Sr.'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 August 01, 2026
$158,023
Average $174,054/year
$179,826
$13,169
Average $14,505/month
$14,986
$3,039
Average $3,347/week
$3,458
$76
Average $84/hour
$86
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $179,826 $14,986 $3,458 $86
Average $174,054 $14,505 $3,347 $84
25th Percentile $158,023 $13,169 $3,039 $76

Business Development Manager, Sr. Salary Growth & Career Path

For a Business Development Manager, Sr., the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Business Development Director role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $210,767 - a projected growth of 21% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Business Development Manager, Sr.

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

Common company salaries for Business Development Manager, Sr.

Here are companies hiring for Business Development Manager, Sr. and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Business Development Manager, Sr.

1. Where can a Business Development Manager, Sr. earn the most?

A Business Development Manager, Sr.'s earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Business Development Manager, Sr. earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Business Development Manager, Sr. is $219,534.

2. What is the highest pay for Business Development Manager, Sr.?

The highest pay for Business Development Manager, Sr. is $185,081.

3. What is the lowest pay for Business Development Manager, Sr.?

The lowest pay for Business Development Manager, Sr. is $143,428.

4. What are the responsibilities of Business Development Manager, Sr.?

Manages the daily execution of the business development strategy, plans, and processes to drive sales, increase revenue, expand markets, and accomplish financial objectives. Coaches teams in best practices and effective tactics for prospecting new markets, partners, channels, and customers. Establishes team targets and metrics to measure the achievement of objectives. Develops and uses contacts and relationships within the industry, business environment, and customer base to understand and respond to competition, pricing, and product demand changes. Makes suggestions for new product offerings or improvements to sales or marketing efforts. May administer or negotiate new business proposals and prepare contracts. Typically requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a director. Typically manages through subordinate managers and professionals in larger groups of moderate complexity. Provides input to strategic decisions that affect the functional area of responsibility. May give input into developing the budget. Typically requires 3+ years of managerial experience. Capable of resolving escalated issues arising from operations and requiring coordination with other departments.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Business Development Manager, Sr.?

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Business Development Manager, Sr. roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

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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