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Organizational Development Specialist III Salary in the United States

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

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Organizational Development Specialist III in the United States is $99,101 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $48.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $112,883
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $87,004 to $106,315
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $75,990

Key Factors That Influence Organizational Development Specialist III Salaries

An Organizational Development Specialist III'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 Specialist III Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Organizational Development Specialist III'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 Specialist I (0-2 years): $60,346
  • Organizational Development Specialist II (2-4 years): $71,924
  • Organizational Development Specialist III (4-7 years): $99,101
  • Organizational Development Specialist IV (7+ years): $121,505
  • Organizational Development Specialist V (7-10 years): $141,935
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Organizational Development Specialist I0-2 years$60,346
Organizational Development Specialist II2-4 years$71,924
Organizational Development Specialist III4-7 years$99,101
Organizational Development Specialist IV7+ years$121,505
Organizational Development Specialist V7-10 years$141,935

Top Paying Cities for Organizational Development Specialist IIIs

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: $124,996
  • San Francisco: $123,628
  • Oakland: $121,022

What Skills Can Increase an Organizational Development Specialist III's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 6.34% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Change Management (Mentioned in 1.37% Job Postings): Change management (sometimes abbreviated as CM) is a collective term for all approaches to prepare , support and help individuals, teams, and organizations in making organizational change. The most common change drivers include: technological evolution, process reviews, crisis, and consumer habit changes; pressure from new business entrants, acquisitions, mergers, and organizational restructuring. It includes methods that redirect or redefine the use of resources, business process, budget allocations, or other modes of operation that significantly change a company or organization. Organizational change management (OCM) considers the full organization and what needs to change, while change management may be used solely to refer to how people and teams are affected by such organizational transition. It deals with many different disciplines, from behavioral and social sciences to information technology and business solutions.
  • PowerPoint (Mentioned in 1.25% Job Postings): A computer software created by Microsoft which allows the user to create slides with recordings, narrations, transitions and other features in order to present information.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 6.34%
Change Management 1.37%
PowerPoint 1.25%

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 Specialist III's salary.

  • Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Alignment: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Consulting Management: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Consulting $107,029
8%
Alignment $107,029
8%
Consulting Management $106,038
7%

Organizational Development Specialist III Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Organizational Development Specialist III salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $110,749. While startup companies pay approximate $93,683.

Organizational Development Specialist III Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $93,683
Growth Stage 51~500 $99,079
Established 501~5000 $106,943
Enterprise 5000+ $110,749

Organizational Development Specialist III Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Organizational Development Specialist III roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 100% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Business Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Organizational Development Specialist positions in Biotechnology or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Organizational Development Specialist III as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for an Organizational Development Specialist III

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$148,652$71.050%

How Education impacts an Organizational Development Specialist III's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Organizational Development Specialist III 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 Specialist III with a Bachelor's Degree is between $97,079 and $103,487.

Organizational Development Specialist III Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Organizational Development Specialist III
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.2%
High School 1.8%
Associates 1.4%
Bachelors 23.9%
Masters 61.0%
Doctorate 11.7%

Organizational Development Specialist III Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Organizational Development Specialist III'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 September 01, 2026
$87,004
Average $99,101/year
$106,315
$7,250
Average $8,258/month
$8,860
$1,673
Average $1,906/week
$2,045
$42
Average $48/hour
$51
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $106,315 $8,860 $2,045 $51
Average $99,101 $8,258 $1,906 $48
25th Percentile $87,004 $7,250 $1,673 $42

Organizational Development Specialist III Salary Growth & Career Path

For an Organizational Development Specialist III, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Organizational Development Specialist IV role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $121,505 - a projected growth of 23% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Organizational Development Specialist III

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

Common company salaries for Organizational Development Specialist III

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

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FAQ about Organizational Development Specialist III

1. Where can an Organizational Development Specialist III earn the most?

An Organizational Development Specialist III'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 Specialist III earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of an Organizational Development Specialist III is $124,996.

2. What is the highest pay for Organizational Development Specialist III?

The highest pay for Organizational Development Specialist III is $112,883.

3. What is the lowest pay for Organizational Development Specialist III?

The lowest pay for Organizational Development Specialist III is $75,990.

4. What are the responsibilities of Organizational Development Specialist III?

Implements all aspects of organizational development. Develops training programs, facilitates change management initiatives, and reviews current development programs to ensure linkage to company goals. Builds human capital through employee development programs. Measures employee performance to gauge the success of programs and identify areas for improvement. Implements and reports on the effectiveness of leadership development, team development, and organizational communication programs and practices. Typically requires a bachelor's degree or equivalent. Typically reports to a manager or head of a unit/department. Work is generally independent and collaborative in nature. Contributes to moderately complex aspects of a project. Typically requires 4-7 years of related experience.

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

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Organizational Development Specialist III roles, with salaries approximately 50% 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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