What are the main factors that influence a Software Systems Development Director's salary?

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

How does experience change A Software Systems Development Director's salary?

A Software Systems Development Director's salary grows with experience: a Software Systems Development Manager (5+ years)earns $151,958, a Software Systems Development Senior Manager (5+ years)earns $178,852, a Software Systems Development Director (5+ years)earns $203,900, a VP of Software Systems Development (5+ years)earns $253,978, an SVP of Software Systems Development (5+ years)earns $318,632,

What are the highest paying states for a Software Systems Development Director?

Software Systems Development Director salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Software Systems Development Director roles are District of Columbia $225,758, California $224,902, Massachusetts $221,904. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Software Systems Development Director roles make?

Salaries for Software Systems Development Director level roles vary by specialization: SVP of Software Systems Development: $318,632; VP of Software Systems Development: $253,978; Software Development Director: $214,173; Systems Applications Development Director: $203,900; Software Operating Systems Development Director: $203,890.

How do different companies affect a Software Systems Development Director's salary?

Company size, industry, and compensation structure create significant salary variations for Software Systems Development Director 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.

Software Systems Development Director Salary in the United States

How much does a Software Systems Development Director make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Software Systems Development Director in the United States is $203,900 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $98.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $229,160
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $189,594 to $217,122
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $176,569

10% $176,569

50% (Median) $203,900

90% $229,160

Software Systems Development Director Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$217,122	$18,094	$4,175	$104
Average	$203,900	$16,992	$3,921	$98
25th Percentile	$189,594	$15,800	$3,646	$91

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Key Factors That Influence Software Systems Development Director Salaries

A Software Systems 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 Software Systems Development Director Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Software Systems 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:

Software Systems Development Manager (5+ years): $151,958
Software Systems Development Senior Manager (5+ years): $178,852
Software Systems Development Director (5+ years): $203,900
VP of Software Systems Development (5+ years): $253,978
SVP of Software Systems Development (5+ years): $318,632

Job Role	Years of Experience	Average Salary
Software Systems Development Manager	5+ years	$151,958
Software Systems Development Senior Manager	5+ years	$178,852
Software Systems Development Director	5+ years	$203,900
VP of Software Systems Development	5+ years	$253,978
SVP of Software Systems Development	5+ years	$318,632

View as Graph

How Do Software Systems Development Directors 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 Software Systems Development Directors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $225,758.
California: $224,902.
Massachusetts: $221,904.

District of Columbia $225,758 California $224,902 Massachusetts $221,904 Washington $221,089 New Jersey $221,007 Alaska $220,722 Connecticut $217,908 New York $216,766

Hawaii $213,116 Rhode Island $211,404 Maryland $210,241 Minnesota $208,651 Colorado $208,039 Illinois $207,835 Oregon $207,060 Delaware $206,490

New Hampshire $206,131 Virginia $205,327 Pennsylvania $202,982 Nevada $201,800 North Dakota $201,412 Michigan $200,801 Wisconsin $200,576 Vermont $200,128

Texas $198,884 Maine $198,803 Arizona $198,680 Ohio $198,537 Georgia $196,662 Indiana $195,724 Wyoming $195,540 Utah $195,255

Iowa $195,132 Kansas $194,154 Louisiana $193,868 North Carolina $193,766 Missouri $193,725 Florida $192,930 Montana $192,502 Nebraska $192,094

Kentucky $191,870 South Carolina $191,054 Tennessee $190,545 Idaho $190,341 New Mexico $188,852 Oklahoma $188,526 Alabama $187,323 South Dakota $185,304

Arkansas $184,203 West Virginia $183,612 Mississippi $181,838

Top Paying Cities for Software Systems 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: $257,179
San Francisco: $254,363
Oakland: $249,003

San Jose, CA $257,179

San Francisco, CA $254,363

Oakland, CA $249,003

New York, NY $234,768

Paramus, NJ $231,914

Queens Village, NY $231,904

Passaic, NJ $231,710

Bergenfield, NJ $231,692

Stamford, CT $231,243

Huntington, NY $231,159

Newark, NJ $229,653

Bridgeport, CT $229,222

Vallejo, CA $228,817

New Brunswick, NJ $228,735

Petaluma, CA $228,613

Middlesex, NJ $228,225

Somerset, NJ $228,083

Santa Cruz, CA $227,817

Boston, MA $226,574

Monterey, CA $225,858

Seattle, WA $225,391

Santa Rosa, CA $225,350

Los Angeles, CA $225,289

Juneau, AK $224,759

Washington, DC $224,535

Orange, CA $223,809

Santa Ana, CA $223,271

Long Beach, CA $223,067

Anaheim, CA $223,026

Anchorage, AK $222,924

Santa Maria, CA $222,312

Everett, WA $222,271

Danbury, CT $221,554

Bremerton, WA $221,272

Tacoma, WA $220,538

New Suffolk, NY $220,534

Sacramento, CA $220,477

Santa Barbara, CA $220,253

Trenton, NJ $220,028

San Diego, CA $220,028

Brockton, MA $219,804

Fairbanks, AK $219,305

Lompoc, CA $218,785

Lowell, MA $218,620

Ventura, CA $218,581

Nashua, NH $218,540

Stockton, CA $218,520

Modesto, CA $217,031

Poughkeepsie, NY $216,583

Olympia, WA $216,195

Kennewick, WA $216,195

New Haven, CT $216,114

Lawrence, MA $215,380

Hartford, CT $215,176

Riverside, CA $215,135

New Bedford, MA $214,931

Richland, WA $214,931

Bakersfield, CA $214,646

San Bernardino, CA $214,564

New Britain, CT $214,544

Atlantic City, NJ $214,544

New London, CT $214,462

Norwich, CT $214,401

Portsmouth, NH $214,360

Boulder, CO $213,928

Portland, OR $213,646

Worcester, MA $213,626

Minneapolis, MN $212,994

Philadelphia, PA $212,708

Honolulu, HI $212,036

Saint Paul, MN $211,938

Vineland, NJ $211,893

Providence, RI $211,302

Chicago, IL $210,710

Bellingham, WA $210,466

Springfield, MA $210,302

Baltimore, MD $210,241

Chico, CA $209,732

Pittsfield, MA $209,181

Manchester, NH $208,794

Spokane, WA $207,896

Denver, CO $207,876

Albany, NY $206,918

Troy, NY $206,836

Nassau, NY $206,618

Schenectady, NY $206,408

Wilmington, DE $206,245

Burlington, VT $205,959

Salem, OR $205,878

Portland, ME $205,246

Yakima, WA $205,042

Rochester, MN $204,410

Reno, NV $204,308

Fresno, CA $204,308

Milwaukee, WI $204,124

Detroit, MI $203,920

Ann Arbor, MI $203,886

Allentown, PA $203,859

Colorado Springs, CO $203,513

Syracuse, NY $203,411

Carson City, NV $203,411

Houston, TX $203,125

Eugene, OR $203,023

Gary, IN $202,779

Springfield, OR $202,615

Bismarck, ND $202,575

Galveston, TX $202,432

Medford, OR $202,126

Fort Collins, CO $202,045

Concord, NH $201,943

Austin, TX $201,881

Mesa, AZ $201,453

Reading, PA $201,433

Phoenix, AZ $201,412

Dallas, TX $201,351

Saint Cloud, MN $201,156

Madison, WI $200,882

Utica, NY $200,332

Rochester, NY $200,006

Des Moines, IA $199,985

Raleigh, NC $199,965

Atlanta, GA $199,659

Battle Creek, MI $199,598

Salt Lake City, UT $199,537

Lancaster, PA $199,231

Harrisburg, PA $198,945

Kansas City, MO $198,741

Champaign, IL $198,701

Kansas City, KS $198,701

Fort Worth, TX $198,680

Columbus, OH $198,645

Boca Raton, FL $198,599

Pittsburgh, PA $198,517

Richmond, VA $198,435

Indianapolis, IN $198,395

Cleveland, OH $198,374

Las Vegas, NV $198,130

Cincinnati, OH $198,130

Petersburg, VA $197,824

Huntsville, AL $197,518

Lansing, MI $197,381

Lebanon, PA $197,355

Pueblo, CO $197,334

Appleton, WI $197,273

Buffalo, NY $197,192

Dayton, OH $197,131

Racine, WI $197,090

Charlotte, NC $197,069

Saint Louis, MO $197,008

York, PA $196,886

Elkhart, IN $196,886

Gastonia, NC $196,847

Billings, MT $196,798

Beaumont, TX $196,743

Lorain, OH $196,702

Benton Harbor, MI $196,662

Toledo, OH $196,621

Binghamton, NY $196,519

Rock Hill, SC $196,498

Rockford, IL $196,396

Springfield, IL $196,315

Elyria, OH $196,295

Fargo, ND $196,295

Flagstaff, AZ $196,152

Fort Lauderdale, FL $196,029

Duluth, MN $195,907

Miami, FL $195,907

Cheyenne, WY $195,764

Grand Forks, ND $195,764

Bangor, ME $195,316

Cedar Rapids, IA $195,092

Durham, NC $195,006

Louisville, KY $194,990

Grand Rapids, MI $194,949

Hialeah, FL $194,928

Casper, WY $194,643

Scranton, PA $194,398

New Orleans, LA $194,337

Virginia Beach, VA $194,317

Akron, OH $194,215

Peoria, IL $193,950

Sarasota, FL $193,909

Nashville, TN $193,766

Omaha, NE $193,766

Green Bay, WI $193,766

Baton Rouge, LA $193,664

Charleston, SC $193,623

Jamestown, NY $193,521

Davenport, IA $193,521

Tucson, AZ $193,420

Saint Petersburg, FL $193,297

Tampa, FL $193,256

Evansville, IN $193,134

Port Arthur, TX $193,134

Bradenton, FL $193,053

Santa Fe, NM $192,686

Orlando, FL $192,318

Clearwater, FL $192,257

Canton, OH $191,829

La Crosse, WI $191,829

Albuquerque, NM $191,707

Newport News, VA $191,686

High Point, NC $191,625

Ogden, UT $191,544

Corpus Christi, TX $191,381

Norfolk, VA $191,258

Laramie, WY $191,258

Rock Island, IL $191,136

Saginaw, MI $191,095

Jacksonville, FL $191,075

Salisbury, NC $191,034

Boise, ID $190,993

Moline, IL $190,891

Fort Myers, FL $190,830

Memphis, TN $190,789

Tulsa, OK $190,687

Waterloo, IA $190,565

Spartanburg, SC $190,361

Lincoln, NE $190,259

Fort Wayne, IN $190,218

Provo, UT $190,198

Cedar Falls, IA $189,953

San Antonio, TX $189,872

Greensboro, NC $189,790

South Bend, IN $189,770

Savannah, GA $189,545

Muskegon, MI $189,464

Birmingham, AL $189,443

Winston Salem, NC $189,344

Lake Charles, LA $188,852

Anderson, IN $188,811

Lexington, KY $188,750

Augusta, GA $188,689

Greenville, SC $188,689

Lima, OH $188,526

Wichita, KS $188,506

Tuscaloosa, AL $188,506

Columbia, SC $188,322

Springfield, OH $188,281

Asheville, NC $187,955

Bloomington, IN $187,812

Knoxville, TN $187,078

Shreveport, LA $187,058

Wilmington, NC $186,793

Roanoke, VA $186,793

Topeka, KS $186,426

Frankfort, KY $186,403

Oklahoma City, OK $186,263

Chillicothe, OH $186,181

Longview, TX $186,161

Melbourne, FL $186,140

Sioux Falls, SD $185,814

Mobile, AL $185,794

Terre Haute, IN $185,712

Altoona, PA $185,590

Amarillo, TX $185,447

Killeen, TX $185,386

Fayetteville, AR $185,223

Chattanooga, TN $185,162

Sioux City, IA $184,978

Idaho Falls, ID $184,937

Lynchburg, VA $184,774

Gainesville, FL $184,509

Portsmouth, OH $184,407

Little Rock, AR $184,366

Lafayette, LA $184,285

Youngstown, OH $184,285

Daytona Beach, FL $184,162

Clarksville, TN $184,142

Pensacola, FL $184,122

Temple, TX $184,107

Hopkinsville, KY $183,510

Erie, PA $183,469

Florence, SC $183,388

Charleston, WV $183,061

Great Falls, MT $182,959

Macon, GA $182,674

Tallahassee, FL $182,654

Fayetteville, NC $182,613

Waco, TX $182,572

Helena, MT $182,429

Pine Bluff, AR $182,352

Vincennes, IN $182,103

Lubbock, TX $182,022

Alamogordo, NM $181,899

Twin Falls, ID $181,716

Rapid City, SD $181,655

Jackson, MS $181,287

Huntington, WV $181,273

Greenville, MS $181,267

Parkersburg, WV $181,059

Montgomery, AL $181,022

Wichita Falls, TX $180,819

Springfield, MO $180,819

Biloxi, MS $180,717

Monroe, LA $180,513

Johnstown, PA $180,370

Sumter, SC $180,288

Columbus, GA $180,268

Pascagoula, MS $179,881

Abilene, TX $179,881

Kingsport, TN $179,350

Albany, GA $179,350

Gulfport, MS $179,289

Alexandria, LA $178,616

Fort Smith, AR $178,107

El Paso, TX $177,556

Las Cruces, NM $176,639

Harlingen, TX $176,121

Pocatello, ID $176,088

Florence, AL $175,823

Brownsville, TX $175,782

Mcallen, TX $175,354

Dothan, AL $175,069

Columbus, MS $173,857

Altus, OK $172,907

Lawton, OK $172,520

Pierre, SD $171,786

Software Systems Development Director Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Software Systems Development Director salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $228,254. While startup companies pay approximate $193,098.

Software Systems Development Director Salary by Company Size

Company Size	Employees	Average Salary
Startup	1~50	$193,098
Growth Stage	51~500	$204,224
Established	501~5000	$220,420
Enterprise	5000+	$228,254

Software Systems Development Director Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Software Systems Development Director roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 80% (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, Software Systems Development Director positions in Transportation or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Software Systems Development Director as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Software Systems Development Director

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking	$265,070	$127.0	30%
Financial Services	$254,875	$123.0	25%
Pharmaceuticals	$244,680	$118.0	20%
Energy & Utilities	$234,485	$113.0	15%
Aerospace & Defense	$224,290	$108.0	10%

Software Systems Development Director Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Software Systems 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.

$189,594

Average $203,900/year

$217,122

$15,800

Average $16,992/month

$18,094

$3,646

Average $3,921/week

$4,175

$91

Average $98/hour

$104

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$217,122	$18,094	$4,175	$104
Average	$203,900	$16,992	$3,921	$98
25th Percentile	$189,594	$15,800	$3,646	$91

Software Systems Development Director Salary Growth & Career Path

Software Systems Development Director

Next Role

Advancement

VP of Software Systems Development SVP of Software Systems Development

For a Software Systems Development Director, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the VP of Software Systems Development role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $253,978 - a projected growth of 25% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Software Systems Development Director

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

Common company salaries for Software Systems Development Director

Here are companies hiring for Software Systems Development Director 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 Software Systems Development Director

1. Where can a Software Systems Development Director earn the most?

A Software Systems 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, a Software Systems Development Director earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Software Systems Development Director is $257,179.

2. What is the highest pay for Software Systems Development Director?

The highest pay for Software Systems Development Director is $229,160.

3. What is the lowest pay for Software Systems Development Director?

The lowest pay for Software Systems Development Director is $176,569.

4. What are the responsibilities of Software Systems Development Director?

Directs and leads the team responsible for designing, testing, and maintaining software systems. Provides guidance on how to identify users' needs and gives recommendations on how to implement them successfully. Oversees the analysis, troubleshooting, and resolution of problems. Ensures programming errors are fixed, and system enhancements are coded correctly. Stays current on emerging trends and software systems development best practices. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to senior 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 Software Systems Development Director?

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Software Systems 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.)

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Software Systems Development Director Salary in the United States

How much does a Software Systems Development Director make in the United States?

Key Factors That Influence Software Systems Development Director Salaries

How Experience Level Affects Software Systems Development Director Salaries?

How Do Software Systems Development Directors Salaries Vary from State to State?

Top Paying Cities for Software Systems Development Director

Software Systems Development Director Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Software Systems Development Director Salary by Company Size

Software Systems Development Director Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

The top paying industries for a Software Systems Development Director

Software Systems Development Director Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Software Systems Development Director Salary Growth & Career Path

Most common benefits for Software Systems Development Director

Common company salaries for Software Systems Development Director

Find Your Next Software Systems Development Director Job

For Employees

For Employers

FAQ about Software Systems Development Director

1. Where can a Software Systems Development Director earn the most?

2. What is the highest pay for Software Systems Development Director?

3. What is the lowest pay for Software Systems Development Director?

4. What are the responsibilities of Software Systems Development Director?

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

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Software Systems Development Director Salary in the United States

How much does a Software Systems Development Director make in the United States?

Key Factors That Influence Software Systems Development Director Salaries

How Experience Level Affects Software Systems Development Director Salaries?

How Do Software Systems Development Directors Salaries Vary from State to State?

Top Paying Cities for Software Systems Development Director

Software Systems Development Director Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Software Systems Development Director Salary by Company Size

Software Systems Development Director Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

The top paying industries for a Software Systems Development Director

Software Systems Development Director Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Software Systems Development Director Salary Growth & Career Path

Salaries of Jobs related to Software Systems Development Directors

Most common benefits for Software Systems Development Director

Common company salaries for Software Systems Development Director

Find Your Next Software Systems Development Director Job

For Employees

For Employers

FAQ about Software Systems Development Director

1. Where can a Software Systems Development Director earn the most?

2. What is the highest pay for Software Systems Development Director?

3. What is the lowest pay for Software Systems Development Director?

4. What are the responsibilities of Software Systems Development Director?

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

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?