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Organizational Development Director Salary in the United States

How much does an Organizational Development Director make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Organizational Development Director in the United States is $198,132 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $95.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $231,914
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $178,986 to $215,815
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $161,555

Key Factors That Influence Organizational Development Director Salaries

An Organizational 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 Organizational Development Director Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Organizational 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:

  • Organizational Development Supervisor (10+ years): $102,624
  • Organizational Development Manager (10+ years): $119,950
  • Organizational Development Senior Manager (10+ years): $162,180
  • Organizational Development Director (10+ years): $198,132
  • VP of Organizational Development (10+ years): $245,513
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Organizational Development Supervisor10+ years$102,624
Organizational Development Manager10+ years$119,950
Organizational Development Senior Manager10+ years$162,180
Organizational Development Director10+ years$198,132
VP of Organizational Development10+ years$245,513

Top Paying Cities for Organizational Development Director

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: $249,904
  • San Francisco: $247,168
  • Oakland: $241,959

What Skills Can Increase an Organizational Development Director's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 11.93% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Nursing Care (Mentioned in 2.98% Job Postings): Nursing Care means assistance provided for the health care needs of sick or disabled individuals, by or under the direction of licensed nursing personnel.
  • Organizational Development (Mentioned in 1.39% Job Postings): Process of developing, implementing, and evaluating organizational strategies, structures, and procedures to create overall growth and development.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 11.93%
Nursing Care 2.98%
Organizational Development 1.39%

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 Organizational Development Director's salary.

  • Healthcare Industry: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Analysis: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Insight: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Healthcare Industry $215,964
9%
Analysis $212,001
7%
Insight $208,039
5%

Organizational Development Director Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Organizational Development Director salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $221,797. While startup companies pay approximate $187,635.

Organizational Development Director Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $187,635
Growth Stage 51~500 $198,447
Established 501~5000 $214,185
Enterprise 5000+ $221,797

Organizational Development Director Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Organizational Development Director roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 55% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Organizational Development Director positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Organizational Development Director as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Organizational Development Director

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$257,572$124.030%
Financial Services$247,665$119.025%
Pharmaceuticals$237,758$114.020%
Biotechnology$227,852$110.015%
Energy & Utilities$217,945$105.010%

How Education impacts an Organizational Development Director's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Organizational Development Director 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 Organizational Development Director with a Bachelor's Degree is between $195,526 and $209,109.

Organizational Development Director Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Organizational Development Director
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.2%
High School 1.2%
Associates 0.6%
Bachelors 18.9%
Masters 61.9%
Doctorate 17.4%

Organizational Development Director Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Organizational 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 August 01, 2026
$178,986
Average $198,132/year
$215,815
$14,916
Average $16,511/month
$17,985
$3,442
Average $3,810/week
$4,150
$86
Average $95/hour
$104
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $215,815 $17,985 $4,150 $104
Average $198,132 $16,511 $3,810 $95
25th Percentile $178,986 $14,916 $3,442 $86

Organizational Development Director Salary Growth & Career Path

For an Organizational Development Director, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the VP of Organizational Development role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $245,513 - a projected growth of 24% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Organizational Development Director

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

Common company salaries for Organizational Development Director

Here are companies hiring for Organizational Development Director and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Organizational Development Director

1. Where can an Organizational Development Director earn the most?

An Organizational Development Director'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, an Organizational Development Director earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of an Organizational Development Director is $249,904.

2. What is the highest pay for Organizational Development Director?

The highest pay for Organizational Development Director is $231,914.

3. What is the lowest pay for Organizational Development Director?

The lowest pay for Organizational Development Director is $161,555.

4. What are the responsibilities of Organizational Development Director?

Directs the design, planning, and implementation of corporate organizational development programs, policies, and procedures. Approves change management initiatives and suggests enhancements to existing programs. Oversees the development of programs to build human capital and a strong employee development culture. Reviews key performance metrics to enable accurate and valid measurement of workforce performance and to identify areas for improvement. Proposes changes to organizational structure to leverage talent and provide development opportunities to key leaders in the organization. Develops systematic collection and evaluation of performance metrics. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to top management. Manages a departmental sub-function within a broader departmental function. Creates functional strategies and specific objectives for the sub-function and develops budgets/policies/procedures to support the functional infrastructure. Typically requires 5+ years of managerial experience. Deep knowledge of the managed sub-function and solid knowledge of the overall departmental function.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Organizational Development Director?

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Organizational Development Director roles, with salaries approximately 30% 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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