Career Development Officer Salary in the United States

How much does a Career Development Officer make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Career Development Officer in the United States is $49,337 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $24.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $56,571
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $45,044 to $53,123
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $41,136
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View as table View as graph 25% $45,044 10% $41,136 90% $56,571 75% $53,123 $49,337 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Career Development Officer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $53,123 $4,427 $1,022 $26
Average $49,337 $4,111 $949 $24
25th Percentile $45,044 $3,754 $866 $22
Check out Career Development Officer Job Openings in the United States
Chief Development Officer

Confidential - Columbus, OH

Chief Development Officer

Confidential - Columbus, OH

Chief Development Officer

Confidential - Columbus, OH

SBL Business Development Officer

First Merchants Bank - Columbus, OH

Search More Career Development Officer Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Career Development Officer Salaries

A Career Development Officer'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 Career Development Officer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Career Development Officer'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): $48,621
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $49,936
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $52,401
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $52,762
  • Expert (over 8 years): $52,943
Levels Salary
Entry Level Career Development Officer$48,621
Intermediate Level Career Development Officer$49,936
Senior Level Career Development Officer$52,401
Specialist Level Career Development Officer$52,762
Expert Level Career Development Officer$52,943
$48,621 0 yr
$49,936 < 2 yrs
$52,401 2-4 yrs
$52,762 5-8 yrs
$52,943 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Career Development Officer 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 Career Development Officers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $54,626.
  • California: $54,418.
  • Massachusetts: $53,693.

Top Paying Cities for Career Development Officers

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: $62,228
  • San Francisco: $61,547
  • Oakland: $60,250

What Skills Can Increase a Career Development Officer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 20% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Financial Counseling (Mentioned in 20% Job Postings): Financial counseling represents the provision of regular, one-on-one client sessions to guide clients toward making financial performance improvements that meet the individualized goals set mutually between client and counselor.
  • Mechanical Aptitude (Mentioned in 20% Job Postings): Mechanical aptitude is a measure of a technical or engineering candidate's mechanical reasoning and mechanical comprehension to succeed in their domain.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 20%
Financial Counseling 20%
Mechanical Aptitude 20%

Career Development Officer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Career Development Officer roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Financial Services, offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely, Career Development Officer positions in Insurance typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Career Development Officer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Career Development Officer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$59,204$28.020%

How Education impacts a Career Development Officer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Career Development Officers enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate 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 Career Development Officer with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $51,280 and $53,936).

Career Development Officer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Career Development Officer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 90.9%
High School 9.1%
Associates 0.0%
Bachelors 90.9%
Masters 9.1%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Career Development Officer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Career Development Officer'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 August 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Career Development Officer

Salaries for a Career Development Officer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $46,000 in 2023 to around $45,813 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Career Development Officer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Career Development Officer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$46,000
2024
$46,582
2025
$45,813
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $46,000
2024 $46,582
2025 $45,813
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Career Development Officer

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

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

Find Your Next Career Development Officer Job

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

United States
  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Chief Development Officer. About the Company. A rapidly growing restaurant platform focused on acquisitions and strategic development. Industry. Restaurant... more

    9 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Chief Development Officer (CDO). About the Company. Reputable charity organization supporting veterans with post-deployment decompression programs. Industr... more

    10 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Chief Business Development Officer (CBDO). About the Company. Impact-investing platform that generates economic opportunities. Industry. International Trad... more

    9 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Chief Development Officer (CDO), Franchising. About the Company. A rapidly growing home health care franchisor. Industry. Hospital & Health Care. Type. Pri... more

    11 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Chief Strategy & Corporate Development Officer. About the Company. Dynamic healthcare technology (HealthTech) company. Industry. Internet. Type. Privately ... more

    11 Days Ago

  • MD Staff, LLC

    Columbus, OH

    MD Staff, LLC | Columbus, OH

    Emergency Medicine Physician Needed near Columbus, Ohio. An excellent opportunity for a full-time EM Physician to join an Emergency Department team near Co... more

    7 Days Ago

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FAQ about Career Development Officer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Career Development Officer?

The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Career Development Officer 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.)

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