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Professional Development Director Salary in the United States

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

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Professional Development Director in the United States is $150,451 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $72.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $196,995
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $132,285 to $174,814
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $115,746
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Paid Annually Paid Monthly Paid Semimonthly Paid Biweekly Paid Weekly Paid Hourly
View as table View as graph 25% $132,285 10% $115,746 90% $196,995 75% $174,814 $150,451 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Professional Development Director Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $174,814 $14,568 $3,362 $84
Average $150,451 $12,538 $2,893 $72
25th Percentile $132,285 $11,024 $2,544 $64
Check out Professional Development Director Job Openings in the United States
Director of Development

International Friendships, Inc. - Columbus, OH

Managing Director of Development

Confidential - Columbus, OH

Regional Director of Business Development

American Medical Associates - Columbus, OH

Executive Director Board Development

Confidential - Columbus, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Professional Development Director Salaries

A Professional Development Director'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 Professional Development Director Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Professional Development Director'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): $81,392
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $100,449
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $113,666
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $148,660
  • Expert (over 8 years): $290,178
Levels Salary
Developme... Level Professional Development Director$81,392
Developme... Level Professional Development Director$100,449
Developme... Level Professional Development Director$113,666
Professio... Level Professional Development Director$148,660
VP of Dev... Level Professional Development Director$290,178
$81,392 0 yr
$100,449 < 2 yrs
$113,666 2-4 yrs
$148,660 5-8 yrs
$290,178 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

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

  • District of Columbia: $166,579.
  • California: $165,947.
  • Massachusetts: $163,736.

Top Paying Cities for Professional Development Directors

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: $189,764
  • San Francisco: $187,686
  • Oakland: $183,731

What Skills Can Increase a Professional Development Director'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 Professional Development Director'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
 $157,974
5%
Team Management
 $156,469
4%
Empowerment
 $156,469
4%
Continuous Improvement
 $154,965
3%
Flexibility
 $153,460
2%
Economics
 $153,460
2%
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Professional Development Director Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Professional Development Director roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 60% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare, offers compensation 30% above the average. Conversely, Professional Development Director positions in Business Services typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Professional Development Director as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Professional Development Director

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$195,586$94.030%

How Education impacts a Professional Development Director's Salary?

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

Professional Development Director Salaries by Degree Level

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

Understanding how a Professional Development Director'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 September 01, 2026
$132,285
Average $150,451/year
$174,814
$11,024
Average $12,538/month
$14,568
$2,544
Average $2,893/week
$3,362
$64
Average $72/hour
$84
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $174,814 $14,568 $3,362 $84
Average $150,451 $12,538 $2,893 $72
25th Percentile $132,285 $11,024 $2,544 $64

Salaries of jobs related to Professional Development Director

Salary Trends for Professional Development Director

Salaries for a Professional Development Director can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $133,345 in 2023 to around $130,377 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Professional Development Director salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Professional Development Director Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$133,345
2024
$131,787
2025
$130,377
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $133,345
2024 $131,787
2025 $130,377
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Professional Development Director

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

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

Find Your Next Professional Development Director Job

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

United States

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Senior Director Business Development

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Senior Director, Business Development. About the Company. Premier Fortune Global 500 company offering global supply chain, warehousing and specialized logi... more

    7 Days Ago

  • Ohio State University

    Columbus, OH

    Director of Development College of Dentistry

    Ohio State University | Columbus, OH

    Director Of Development, College Of DentistryThe Director of Development will understand the mission, needs and value proposition of the university and the... more

    7 Days Ago

  • Network Connex

    Columbus, OH

    Market Development Director

    Network Connex | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. If being a part of a world-class organization that operates in some of the most advanced technology environments around t... more

    7 Days Ago

  • 4M Building Solutions

    Columbus, OH

    Director of Business Development

    4M Building Solutions | Columbus, OH

    Director of Business Development (Full-Time). We are seeking a driven and results-oriented Director of Business Development to join our team in the Tampa/O... more

    7 Days Ago

  • Network Connex

    Columbus, OH

    Director Of Business Development

    Network Connex | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. I. f being a part of a world-class organization that operates in some of the most advanced technological environments aro... more

    7 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Senior Medical Director Clinical Development

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Senior Medical Director, Clinical Development (Medical Monitoring). About the Company. Rapidly growing organization in the oncology & hematology industry. ... more

    7 Days Ago

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FAQ about Professional Development Director

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

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Professional Development Director roles, with salaries approximately 30% 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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