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Principal Development Manager Salary in the United States

How much does a Principal Development Manager make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Principal Development Manager in the United States is $188,694 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $91.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $225,980
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $168,108 to $208,211
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $149,366
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Principal Development Manager Salaries

A Principal Development Manager'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 Principal Development Manager Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Principal Development Manager'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): $247,854
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $286,823
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $190,124
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $212,894
  • Expert (over 8 years): $245,644
Levels Salary
Attorney ... Level Principal Development Manager$247,854
Attorney ... Level Principal Development Manager$286,823
Principal... Level Principal Development Manager$190,124
Senior Ma... Level Principal Development Manager$212,894
Assistant... Level Principal Development Manager$245,644
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How Do Principal Development Manager 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 Principal Development Managers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $208,922.
  • California: $208,129.
  • Massachusetts: $205,356.

Top Paying Cities for Principal Development Managers

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: $238,000
  • San Francisco: $235,394
  • Oakland: $230,433

What Skills Can Increase a Principal Development Manager's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 14.17% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Legal Advice (Mentioned in 1.95% Job Postings): Giving a professional or formal opinion regarding the substance or procedure of the law about a particular factual situation.
  • Economics (Mentioned in 1.3% Job Postings): Economics is a social science that focuses on the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services, and analyzes the choices that individuals, businesses, governments, and nations make to allocate resources.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 14.17%
Legal Advice 1.95%
Economics 1.3%
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 Principal Development Manager's salary.

  • Product Development: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
  • Investment Banking: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Intellectual Property: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Product Development $211,337
12%
Investment Banking $209,450
11%
Intellectual Property $207,563
10%
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Principal Development Manager Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Principal Development Manager roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 20% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 10% above the average. In contrast, Principal Development Manager positions in Transportation or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Principal Development Manager as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Principal Development Manager

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$207,563$100.010%
Biotechnology$207,563$100.010%
Energy & Utilities$207,563$100.010%
Financial Services$207,563$100.010%
Healthcare$207,563$100.010%

How Education impacts a Principal Development Manager's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Principal Development Managers enter the field with a JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent 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 Principal Development Manager with a JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent is between $187,302 and $201,904).

Principal Development Manager Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Principal Development Manager
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.2%
High School 2.3%
Associates 96.5%
Bachelors 1.2%
Masters 2.3%
Doctorate 96.5%
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Principal Development Manager Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Principal Development Manager'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 September 01, 2026
$168,108
Average $188,694/year
$208,211
$14,009
Average $15,725/month
$17,351
$3,233
Average $3,629/week
$4,004
$81
Average $91/hour
$100
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $208,211 $17,351 $4,004 $100
Average $188,694 $15,725 $3,629 $91
25th Percentile $168,108 $14,009 $3,233 $81

Most common benefits for Principal Development Manager

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

Common company salaries for Principal Development Manager

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

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FAQ about Principal Development Manager

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Principal Development Manager?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Principal Development Manager roles, with salaries approximately 10% 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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