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Business Development Salary in the United States

How much does a Business Development make in the United States?

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for a Business Development in the United States is $190,637 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $92.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $235,210
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $169,878 to $213,968
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $150,978
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Business Development Salaries

A Business 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 Business Development Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Business 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): $115,415
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $130,422
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $171,574
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $207,804
  • Expert (over 8 years): $267,222
Levels Salary
Business ... Level Business Development$115,415
Business ... Level Business Development$130,422
Business ... Level Business Development$171,574
Business ... Level Business Development$207,804
Vice Pres... Level Business Development$267,222
View as Graph

How Do Business 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 Business Developments. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $211,073.
  • California: $210,273.
  • Massachusetts: $207,470.

Top Paying Cities for Business 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: $240,450
  • San Francisco: $237,818
  • Oakland: $232,806

What Skills Can Increase a Business Development's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Presentation (Mentioned in 4.56% Job Postings): Presentation conveys information from a speaker to an audience. Presentations are typically demonstrations, introduction, lecture, or speech meant to inform, persuade, inspire, motivate, build goodwill, or present a new idea/product.
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 1.71% Job Postings): Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
  • Salesforce (Mentioned in 1.15% Job Postings): Designing and maintaining a cloud-based software that provides customer relationship management (CRM) service for a better experience.
Skills Demand Percentage
Presentation 4.56%
Microsoft Office 1.71%
Salesforce 1.15%
See More Skills

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 Business Development's salary.

  • Insight: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Effective Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Negotiating: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Insight $203,982
7%
Effective Communication $203,982
7%
Negotiating $202,075
6%
Get Latest Data

Business Development Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Business Development roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Aerospace & Defense sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Business Development positions in Retail & Wholesale or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Business Development as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Business Development

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$228,764$110.020%

How Education impacts a Business Development's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Business Developments enter the field with a Associate'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 a Business Development with a Associate's Degree is between $173,404 and $184,256).

Business Development Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Business Development
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.8%
High School 2.6%
Associates 2.8%
Bachelors 38.8%
Masters 51.7%
Doctorate 3.3%
View as Graph

Business Development Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Business 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 October 01, 2026
$169,878
Average $190,637/year
$213,968
$14,157
Average $15,886/month
$17,831
$3,267
Average $3,666/week
$4,115
$82
Average $92/hour
$103
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $213,968 $17,831 $4,115 $103
Average $190,637 $15,886 $3,666 $92
25th Percentile $169,878 $14,157 $3,267 $82

Most common benefits for Business Development

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

Common company salaries for Business Development

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

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FAQ about Business Development

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Business Development?

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Business Development roles, with salaries approximately 20% 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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