Economic Development Officer Salary in the United States

How much does an Economic Development Officer make in the United States?

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for an Economic Development Officer in the United States is $61,708 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $30.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $74,925
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $54,257 to $68,626
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $47,474

Key Factors That Influence Economic Development Officer Salaries

An Economic Development Officer's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Do Economic Development Officer 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 Economic Development Officers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $68,323.
  • California: $68,063.
  • Massachusetts: $67,156.

Top Paying Cities for Economic Development Officers

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: $77,832
  • San Francisco: $76,979
  • Oakland: $75,357

What Skills Can Increase an Economic Development Officer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Troubleshooting (Mentioned in 9.64% Job Postings): Troubleshooting is a form of problem solving, often applied to repair failed products or processes on a machine or a system. It is a logical, systematic search for the source of a problem in order to solve it, and make the product or process operational again. Troubleshooting is needed to identify the symptoms. Determining the most likely cause is a process of elimination—eliminating potential causes of a problem. Finally, troubleshooting requires confirmation that the solution restores the product or process to its working state. In general, troubleshooting is the identification or diagnosis of "trouble" in the management flow of a system caused by a failure of some kind. The problem is initially described as symptoms of malfunction, and troubleshooting is the process of determining and remedying the causes of these symptoms. A system can be described in terms of its expected, desired or intended behavior (usually, for artificial systems, its purpose). Events or inputs to the system are expected to generate specific results or outputs. (For example, selecting the "print" option from various computer applications is intended to result in a hardcopy emerging from some specific device). Any unexpected or undesirable behavior is a symptom. Troubleshooting is the process of isolating the specific cause or causes of the symptom. Frequently the symptom is a failure of the product or process to produce any results. (Nothing was printed, for example). Corrective action can then be taken to prevent further failures of a similar kind.
  • Hydraulics (Mentioned in 2.72% Job Postings): Hydraulics is a technology and applied science using engineering, chemistry, and other sciences involving the mechanical properties and use of liquids.
  • Preventive Maintenance (Mentioned in 2.08% Job Postings): Preventive maintenance is the act of performing regularly scheduled maintenance activities to help prevent unexpected failures in the future. Put simply, it's about fixing things before they break.
Skills Demand Percentage
Troubleshooting 9.64%
Hydraulics 2.72%
Preventive Maintenance 2.08%

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 Economic Development Officer's salary.

  • Empathy: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Initiative: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Building Relationships: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Empathy $65,410
6%
Initiative $64,176
4%
Building Relationships $64,176
4%

Economic Development Officer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Economic Development Officer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 117% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 60% above the average. In contrast, Economic Development Officer positions in Transportation or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Economic Development Officer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Economic Development Officer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$98,732$47.060%
Pharmaceuticals$92,561$45.050%
Software & Networking$86,390$42.040%
Financial Services$80,220$39.030%
Internet$77,134$37.025%

How Education impacts an Economic Development Officer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Economic Development Officers enter the field with a No Diploma 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 Economic Development Officer with a No Diploma is between $52,256 and $57,214).

Economic Development Officer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Economic Development Officer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.3%
High School 30.9%
Associates 55.0%
Bachelors 13.1%
Masters 0.6%
Doctorate 0.0%

Economic Development Officer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Economic Development Officer'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 October 01, 2026
$54,257
Average $61,708/year
$68,626
$4,521
Average $5,142/month
$5,719
$1,043
Average $1,187/week
$1,320
$26
Average $30/hour
$33
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $68,626 $5,719 $1,320 $33
Average $61,708 $5,142 $1,187 $30
25th Percentile $54,257 $4,521 $1,043 $26

Most common benefits for Economic Development Officer

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

Common company salaries for Economic Development Officer

Here are companies hiring for Economic Development Officer and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Economic Development Officer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Economic Development Officer?

The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for Economic Development Officer roles, with salaries approximately 60% 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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