Director, Clinical Development Salary in the United States

How much does a Director, Clinical Development make in the United States?

As of February 01, 2026, the average salary for a Director, Clinical Development in the United States is $159,726 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $77.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $180,921
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $144,755 to $170,820
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $131,125
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View as table View as graph 25% $144,755 10% $131,125 90% $180,921 75% $170,820 $159,726 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Director, Clinical Development Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $170,820 $14,235 $3,285 $82
Average $159,726 $13,311 $3,072 $77
25th Percentile $144,755 $12,063 $2,784 $70
Check out Director, Clinical Development Job Openings in the United States
Nurse Practitioner / Clinical Director – Men’s Health Clinic

GameDay Men's Health Thornton/Northglenn - NORTHGLENN, CO

STAFF DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR - SILVER BLUFF

Liberty Health - CANTON, NC

Executive Director Clinical Innovation

Mercy - LAKE CHESTERFIELD, MO

Clinical Professional Development Educator

Northwell Health - NEW YORK, NY

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Key Factors That Influence Director, Clinical Development Salaries

A Director, Clinical Development'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 Director, Clinical Development Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Director, Clinical Development'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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $69,561
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $98,725
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $106,716
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $158,910
  • Expert (over 8 years): $244,912
Levels Salary
Clinical ... Level Director, Clinical Development$69,561
Scientist... Level Director, Clinical Development$98,725
Clinical ... Level Director, Clinical Development$106,716
Director,... Level Director, Clinical Development$158,910
VP of Cli... Level Director, Clinical Development$244,912
$69,561 0 yr
$98,725 < 2 yrs
$106,716 2-4 yrs
$158,910 5-8 yrs
$244,912 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Director, Clinical Development 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 Director, Clinical Developments. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $176,849.
  • California: $176,178.
  • Massachusetts: $173,830.

Top Paying Cities for Director, Clinical Developments

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: $201,462
  • San Francisco: $199,482
  • Oakland: $195,057

What Skills Can Increase a Director, Clinical Development's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 6.92% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Clinical Services (Mentioned in 3.14% Job Postings): The direct and/or indirect provision of medical and healthcare services at the Facility to or for the benefit of persons requesting or requiring such services;
  • Needs Assessment (Mentioned in 2.31% Job Postings): A needs assessment is a systematic process for determining and addressing needs, or "gaps" between current conditions and desired conditions or "wants". The discrepancy between the current condition and wanted condition must be measured to appropriately identify the need. The need can be a desire to improve current performance or to correct a deficiency. A needs assessment is a part of planning processes, often used for improvement in individuals, education/training, organizations, or communities. It can refine and improve a product such as a training or service a client receives. It can be an effective tool to clarify problems and identify appropriate interventions or solutions. By clearly identifying the problem, finite resources can be directed towards developing and implementing a feasible and applicable solution. Gathering appropriate and sufficient data informs the process of developing an effective product that will address the groups needs and wants. Needs assessments are only effective when they are ends-focused and provide concrete evidence that can be used to determine which of the possible means-to-the-ends are most effective and efficient for achieving the desired results.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 6.92%
Clinical Services 3.14%
Needs Assessment 2.31%
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 Director, Clinical Development's salary.
  • Infection Control: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Recruitment and Selection: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Immunology: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Infection Control
$177,296
11%
Recruitment and Selection
$175,699
10%
Immunology
$170,907
7%
Oncology
$169,310
6%
Decision Making
$167,712
5%
Clinical Operations
$167,712
5%
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How Education impacts a Director, Clinical Development's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Director, Clinical Developments enter the field with a Master's Degree or MBA degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Director, Clinical Development with a Master's Degree or MBA is between $154,661 and $165,322).

Director, Clinical Development Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Director, Clinical Development
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 4.0%
High School 4.0%
Associates 2.0%
Bachelors 32.0%
Masters 40.0%
Doctorate 22.0%
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Director, Clinical Development Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Director, Clinical Development'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 February 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Director, Clinical Development

Salaries for a Director, Clinical Development can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $162,210 in 2023 to around $153,399 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Director, Clinical Development salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Director, Clinical Development Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$162,210
2024
$157,081
2025
$153,399
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $162,210
2024 $157,081
2025 $153,399
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Director, Clinical Development

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Director, Clinical Development

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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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