Development Director Fundraiser Salary in the United States

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

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Development Director Fundraiser in the United States is $145,653 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $70.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $190,086
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $127,889 to $168,911
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $111,716
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View as table View as graph 25% $127,889 10% $111,716 90% $190,086 75% $168,911 $145,653 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Development Director Fundraiser Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $168,911 $14,076 $3,248 $81
Average $145,653 $12,138 $2,801 $70
25th Percentile $127,889 $10,657 $2,459 $61
Check out Development Director Fundraiser Job Openings in the United States
Director Organizational Development

Rutland Regional Medical Center - RUTLAND, VT

Director Senior Director of Development Athletics

University of Massachusetts Amherst Foundation - AMHERST, MA

Director Organizational Development

Rutland Regional Medical Center - RUTLAND, VT

Director of Technical Business Development

Strohwig Industries Inc - RICHFIELD, WI

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Key Factors That Influence Development Director Fundraiser Salaries

A Development Director Fundraiser'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 Development Director Fundraiser Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Development Director Fundraiser'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): $137,363
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $138,153
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $139,469
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $141,311
  • Expert (over 8 years): $143,943
Levels Salary
Entry Level Development Director Fundraiser$137,363
Intermediate Level Development Director Fundraiser$138,153
Senior Level Development Director Fundraiser$139,469
Specialist Level Development Director Fundraiser$141,311
Expert Level Development Director Fundraiser$143,943
$137,363 0 yr
$138,153 < 2 yrs
$139,469 2-4 yrs
$141,311 5-8 yrs
$143,943 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

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

  • District of Columbia: $161,267.
  • California: $160,655.
  • Massachusetts: $158,514.

Top Paying Cities for Development Director Fundraisers

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: $183,712
  • San Francisco: $181,906
  • Oakland: $177,871

What Skills Can Increase a Development Director Fundraiser's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 5.09% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Community Engagement (Mentioned in 1.27% Job Postings): Community engagement seeks to engage community to achieve sustainable outcomes, equitable decision-making processes, and deepen relationships and trust between government organisations and communities.
  • Event Planning (Mentioned in 0.76% Job Postings): Event planning is the process of managing a project such as a meeting, convention, tradeshow, ceremony, team building activity, party, or convention.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 5.09%
Community Engagement 1.27%
Event Planning 0.76%
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 Development Director Fundraiser's salary.
  • Strategic Thinking: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Team Management: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Empowerment: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Strategic Thinking
 $152,936
5%
Team Management
 $151,479
4%
Empowerment
 $151,479
4%
Continuous Improvement
 $150,023
3%
Flexibility
 $148,566
2%
Economics
 $148,566
2%
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How Education impacts a Development Director Fundraiser's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Development Director Fundraisers 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 a Development Director Fundraiser with a Bachelor's Degree is between $140,834 and $158,509).

Development Director Fundraiser Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Development Director Fundraiser
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.6%
High School 4.0%
Associates 6.0%
Bachelors 52.1%
Masters 35.8%
Doctorate 1.4%
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Development Director Fundraiser Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Development Director Fundraiser'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 January 01, 2026
$127,889
Average $145,653/year
$168,911
$10,657
Average $12,138/month
$14,076
$2,459
Average $2,801/week
$3,248
$61
Average $70/hour
$81
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $168,911 $14,076 $3,248 $81
Average $145,653 $12,138 $2,801 $70
25th Percentile $127,889 $10,657 $2,459 $61

Salaries of jobs related to Development Director Fundraiser

Salary Trends for Development Director Fundraiser

Salaries for a Development Director Fundraiser can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $129,276 in 2023 to around $126,399 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Development Director Fundraiser salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Development Director Fundraiser Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$129,276
2024
$127,766
2025
$126,399
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $129,276
2024 $127,766
2025 $126,399
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Development Director Fundraiser

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