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Executive Director, Development Salary in the United States

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

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Executive Director, Development in the United States is $108,479 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $52.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $140,874
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $93,838 to $125,436
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $80,509
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Paid Annually Paid Monthly Paid Semimonthly Paid Biweekly Paid Weekly Paid Hourly
View as table View as graph 25% $93,838 10% $80,509 90% $140,874 75% $125,436 $108,479 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Executive Director, Development Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $125,436 $10,453 $2,412 $60
Average $108,479 $9,040 $2,086 $52
25th Percentile $93,838 $7,820 $1,805 $45
Check out Executive Director, Development Job Openings in the United States
Executive Director, Business Development, Aerospace & Defense Manufacturing

Confidential - Columbus, OH

Executive Director, Business Development, Aerospace & Defense Manufacturing

Confidential - Columbus, OH

Director of Development

Ohio Children's Alliance - Columbus, OH

Director of Development

International Friendships, Inc. - Columbus, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Executive Director, Development Salaries

An Executive Director, 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, Development Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Executive Director, 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): $76,799
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $94,767
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $107,232
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $140,244
  • Expert (over 8 years): $273,677
Levels Salary
Developme... Level Executive Director, Development$76,799
Developme... Level Executive Director, Development$94,767
Executive... Level Executive Director, Development$107,232
Developme... Level Executive Director, Development$140,244
VP of Dev... Level Executive Director, Development$273,677
$76,799 0 yr
$94,767 < 2 yrs
$107,232 2-4 yrs
$140,244 5-8 yrs
$273,677 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

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

  • District of Columbia: $120,108.
  • California: $119,652.
  • Massachusetts: $118,058.

Top Paying Cities for Executive Director, 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: $136,825
  • San Francisco: $135,326
  • Oakland: $132,475

What Skills Can Increase an Executive Director, Development's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 8.09% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Fund Development (Mentioned in 1.77% Job Postings): Fund development is the ongoing strategic positioning of an organization to sustain and grow its resources by building relationships with those who understand and care about the organization's relevance to the community.
  • Economics (Mentioned in 0.99% Job Postings): Economics is a social science that focuses on the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services, and analyzes the choices that individuals, businesses, governments, and nations make to allocate resources.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 8.09%
Fund Development 1.77%
Economics 0.99%
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, Development's salary.
  • Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
  • Analysis: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
  • Business Development: Can increase your salary by up to 2%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Project Management
 $111,733
3%
Analysis
 $111,733
3%
Business Development
 $110,649
2%
Commitment
 $110,649
2%
Salesforce
 $110,649
2%
Presentation
 $110,649
2%
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Executive Director, Development Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Executive Director, 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, Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit, offers compensation 10% above the average. Conversely, Executive Director, Development positions in Business Services typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Executive Director, Development as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for an Executive Director, Development

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit$119,327$57.010%

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

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Executive Director, Developments enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree 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, Development with a Bachelor's Degree is between $124,811 and $142,592).

Executive Director, Development Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Executive Director, Development
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.2%
High School 3.1%
Associates 2.7%
Bachelors 49.7%
Masters 39.8%
Doctorate 4.6%
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Executive Director, Development Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Executive Director, 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.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$93,838
Average $108,479/year
$125,436
$7,820
Average $9,040/month
$10,453
$1,805
Average $2,086/week
$2,412
$45
Average $52/hour
$60
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $125,436 $10,453 $2,412 $60
Average $108,479 $9,040 $2,086 $52
25th Percentile $93,838 $7,820 $1,805 $45

Salaries of jobs related to Executive Director, Development

Salary Trends for Executive Director, Development

Salaries for an Executive Director, Development can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $99,390 in 2023 to around $99,271 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Executive Director, Development salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Executive Director, Development Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$99,390
2024
$99,738
2025
$99,271
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $99,390
2024 $99,738
2025 $99,271
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Executive Director, Development

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

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

Find Your Next Executive Director, Development Job

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

United States

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Executive Director

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Executive Director. About the Company. Mission-driven charity providing sustainable development programs to local communities. Industry. Non-Profit Organiz... more

    6 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Executive Director

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Executive Director. About the Company. Mission-driven organization providing support services to the local Armenian community. Industry. Non-Profit Organiz... more

    6 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Executive Director

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Executive Director. About the Company. Pioneering foundation advancing biology, automation & machine learning in life sciences. Industry. Biotechnology. Ty... more

    6 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Executive Director

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Executive Director. About the Company. A national philanthropic initiative dedicated to improving care, support, research, and education. Industry. Non-Pro... more

    6 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Executive Director

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Executive Director. About the Company. Large trade organization for professional archaeologists. Industry. Non-Profit Organization Management. Type. Non Pr... more

    6 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Executive Director

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Executive Director. About the Company. Globally recognized association empowering grandmothers to drive social change. Industry. Civic & Social Organizatio... more

    7 Days Ago

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FAQ about Executive Director, Development

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

The Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit industry offers the highest average compensation for Executive Director, 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.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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