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Business Development Professional Salary in the United States

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

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Business Development Professional in the United States is $170,507 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $82.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $182,178
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $153,514 to $176,616
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $138,043
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Paid Annually Paid Monthly Paid Semimonthly Paid Biweekly Paid Weekly Paid Hourly
View as table View as graph 25% $153,514 10% $138,043 90% $182,178 75% $176,616 $170,507 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Business Development Professional Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $176,616 $14,718 $3,396 $85
Average $170,507 $14,209 $3,279 $82
25th Percentile $153,514 $12,793 $2,952 $74
Check out Business Development Professional Job Openings in the United States
Business Development

Hibu - Columbus, OH

Business Development

Legacy Maintenance Services, LLC - Columbus, OH

Vice President of Business Development

Confidential - Columbus, OH

Vice President Business Development

Confidential - Columbus, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Business Development Professional Salaries

A Business Development Professional'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 Professional Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Business Development Professional'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): $113,017
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $130,520
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $171,687
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $207,901
  • Expert (over 8 years): $267,325
Levels Salary
Business ... Level Business Development Professional$113,017
Business ... Level Business Development Professional$130,520
Business ... Level Business Development Professional$171,687
Business ... Level Business Development Professional$207,901
Vice Pres... Level Business Development Professional$267,325
$113,017 0 yr
$130,520 < 2 yrs
$171,687 2-4 yrs
$207,901 5-8 yrs
$267,325 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Business Development Professionals

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: $215,060
  • San Francisco: $212,706
  • Oakland: $208,223

What Skills Can Increase a Business Development Professional'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.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Presentation 4.56%
Microsoft Office 1.71%
Salesforce 1.15%
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 Professional'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
 $182,442
7%
Effective Communication
 $182,442
7%
Negotiating
 $180,737
6%
Initiative
 $179,032
5%
Demand Generation
 $179,032
5%
Account Management
 $179,032
5%
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Business Development Professional Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Business Development Professional 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 Professional positions in Retail & Wholesale or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Business Development Professional as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Business Development Professional

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$204,608$98.020%

How Education impacts a Business Development Professional's Salary?

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

Business Development Professional Salaries by Degree Level

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

Understanding how a Business Development Professional'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
$153,514
Average $170,507/year
$176,616
$12,793
Average $14,209/month
$14,718
$2,952
Average $3,279/week
$3,396
$74
Average $82/hour
$85
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $176,616 $14,718 $3,396 $85
Average $170,507 $14,209 $3,279 $82
25th Percentile $153,514 $12,793 $2,952 $74

Salaries of jobs related to Business Development Professional

Salary Trends for Business Development Professional

Salaries for a Business Development Professional can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $163,630 in 2023 to around $160,972 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Business Development Professional salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Business Development Professional Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$163,630
2024
$162,602
2025
$160,972
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $163,630
2024 $162,602
2025 $160,972
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Business Development Professional

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

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

Find Your Next Business Development Professional Job

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

United States

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Vice President of Business Development

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President of Business Development. About the Company. AI-driven computational imaging company specializing in oncology & clinical trials. Industry. Bi... more

    7 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Vice President of Business Development

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President of Business Development. About the Company. Reputable provider of market access, HEOR & medical communications services. Industry. Managemen... more

    7 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Managing Director Business Development

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Managing Director, Business Development. About the Company. Globally recognized provider of strategic advisory services for arts organizations. Industry. P... more

    7 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Managing Director Business Development

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Managing Director, Business Development. About the Company. Globally recognized provider of strategic advisory services for arts organizations. Industry. P... more

    7 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Vice President Business Development

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Business Development. About the Company. High-growth specialized consulting firm building a niche insurance advisory practice. Industry. Ma... more

    8 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Managing Director Business Development

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Managing Director, Business Development. About the Company. Unique Executive Service company unmatched in the marketplace. Industry. Management Consulting.... more

    8 Days Ago

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FAQ about Business Development Professional

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

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Business Development Professional 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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