Executive Director, Clinical Development Salary in the United States

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

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Executive Director, Clinical Development in the United States is $159,646 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $77.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $180,751
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $144,657 to $170,693
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $131,010
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View as table View as graph 25% $144,657 10% $131,010 90% $180,751 75% $170,693 $159,646 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Executive Director, Clinical Development Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $170,693 $14,224 $3,283 $82
Average $159,646 $13,304 $3,070 $77
25th Percentile $144,657 $12,055 $2,782 $70
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Key Factors That Influence Executive Director, Clinical Development Salaries

An Executive 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 Executive Director, Clinical Development Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Executive 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): $69,540
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $98,759
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $106,686
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $158,834
  • Expert (over 8 years): $244,960
Levels Salary
Clinical ... Level Executive Director, Clinical Development$69,540
Scientist... Level Executive Director, Clinical Development$98,759
Clinical ... Level Executive Director, Clinical Development$106,686
Executive... Level Executive Director, Clinical Development$158,834
VP of Cli... Level Executive Director, Clinical Development$244,960
$69,540 0 yr
$98,759 < 2 yrs
$106,686 2-4 yrs
$158,834 5-8 yrs
$244,960 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

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

  • District of Columbia: $176,760.
  • California: $176,090.
  • Massachusetts: $173,743.

Top Paying Cities for Executive 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: $201,361
  • San Francisco: $199,157
  • Oakland: $194,960

What Skills Can Increase an Executive 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 an Executive 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
$177,207
11%
Recruitment and Selection
$175,611
10%
Immunology
$170,821
7%
Oncology
$169,225
6%
Decision Making
$167,628
5%
Clinical Operations
$167,628
5%
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Executive Director, Clinical Development Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Executive Director, Clinical Development roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 20% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare, offers compensation 10% above the average. Conversely, Executive Director, Clinical Development positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Executive Director, Clinical Development as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for an Executive Director, Clinical Development

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$175,611$84.010%

How Education impacts an Executive Director, Clinical Development's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Executive 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 an Executive Director, Clinical Development with a Master's Degree or MBA is between $154,661 and $165,322).

Executive Director, Clinical Development Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Executive 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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Executive Director, Clinical Development Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Executive 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 August 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Executive Director, Clinical Development

Salaries for an Executive Director, Clinical Development can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $162,193 in 2023 to around $153,383 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Executive Director, Clinical Development salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Executive Director, Clinical Development Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$162,193
2024
$157,064
2025
$153,383
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $162,193
2024 $157,064
2025 $153,383
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Executive Director, Clinical Development

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

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

Find Your Next Executive Director, Clinical Development Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Executive Director, Clinical Development job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
  • eviCore healthcare

    Columbus, OH

    eviCore healthcare | Columbus, OH

    Provides timely expert medical review for requests to evaluate the medical necessity of services that do not meet utilization review criteria while located... more

    3 Days Ago

  • MD Staff, LLC

    Columbus, OH

    MD Staff, LLC | Columbus, OH

    Neurologist Locum Tenens Opportunity Near Columbus, OH. We are excited to offer a rewarding locum tenens opportunity for a Board Certified or Board Eligibl... more

    3 Days Ago

  • KreilKamp Trucking

    Columbus, OH

    KreilKamp Trucking | Columbus, OH

    Regional CDL A Drivers | NEW Grads Welcome | Earn $70,000+ Annually. We're proud to be a 4th generation family truck line, started in 1935, but even proude... more

    6 Days Ago

  • Maxim Healthcare

    Columbus, OH

    Maxim Healthcare | Columbus, OH

    Private duty nursing (PDN) allows medically fragile patients to receive quality, skilled nursing care in the comfort of their home: a setting preferred by ... more

    8 Days Ago

  • Schneider

    Columbus, OH

    Schneider | Columbus, OH

    CDL-A - Dedicated Reefer truck driver - Kroger. Dedicated Reefer truck driver - Kroger. Average pay. $1,200-$1,450 weekly. Home time. Daily. Experience. Al... more

    9 Days Ago

  • GO Staffing

    Columbus, OH

    GO Staffing | Columbus, OH

    Locums - A well respected group has a Trauma Surgery APP opportunity available in Columbus, Ohio. Certified Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant. 1/1/... more

    11 Days Ago

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FAQ about Executive Director, Clinical Development

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Executive Director, Clinical Development?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Executive Director, Clinical Development roles, with salaries approximately 10% 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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