Community Development Director Salary in the United States

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

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for a Community Development Director in the United States is $163,880 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $79.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $216,085
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $135,892 to $191,206
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $110,410
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View as table View as graph 25% $135,892 10% $110,410 90% $216,085 75% $191,206 $163,880 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Community Development Director Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $191,206 $15,934 $3,677 $92
Average $163,880 $13,657 $3,152 $79
25th Percentile $135,892 $11,324 $2,613 $65
Check out Community Development Director Job Openings in the United States
Managing Director of Development

Confidential - Columbus, OH

Managing Director of Business Development

Confidential - Columbus, OH

Executive Director of Clinical Development

Confidential - Columbus, OH

Development Director Fundraising

Confidential - Columbus, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Community Development Director Salaries

A Community 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 Community Development Director Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Community 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): $107,800
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $129,048
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $125,547
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $161,871
  • Expert (over 8 years): $175,484
Levels Salary
Community... Level Community Development Director$107,800
Community... Level Community Development Director$129,048
Community... Level Community Development Director$125,547
Community... Level Community Development Director$161,871
VP of Com... Level Community Development Director$175,484
$107,800 0 yr
$129,048 < 2 yrs
$125,547 2-4 yrs
$161,871 5-8 yrs
$175,484 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

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

  • District of Columbia: $181,448.
  • California: $180,760.
  • Massachusetts: $178,351.

Top Paying Cities for Community 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: $206,702
  • San Francisco: $204,670
  • Oakland: $200,130

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

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 12.21% 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.
  • Accounting (Mentioned in 2.36% Job Postings): Creating financial statements and reports based on the summary of financial and business transactions.
  • Marketing Plans (Mentioned in 1.61% Job Postings): A marketing plan is the advertising strategy that a business will implement to sell its product or service. The marketing plan will help determine who the target market is, how to reach them, at what price point the product or service should be sold.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 12.21%
Accounting 2.36%
Marketing Plans 1.61%
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 Community Development Director's salary.
  • Pricing: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Initiative: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Pricing
$172,074
5%
Initiative
$170,435
4%
Collaboration
$170,435
4%
Commitment
$168,796
3%
Community Development
$168,796
3%
Coordination
$168,796
3%
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How Education impacts a Community Development Director's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Community 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 Community Development Director with a Bachelor's Degree is between $160,604 and $170,868).

Community Development Director Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Community Development Director
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 5.7%
High School 5.7%
Associates 5.7%
Bachelors 34.0%
Masters 52.8%
Doctorate 1.9%
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Community Development Director Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Community 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.

Last Updated on April 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Community Development Director

Salaries for a Community Development Director can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $125,111 in 2023 to around $122,372 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Community Development Director salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Community Development Director Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$125,111
2024
$125,297
2025
$122,372
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $125,111
2024 $125,297
2025 $122,372
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Community Development Director

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

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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.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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