Director of Program Development Salary in the United States

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

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Director of Program Development in the United States is $141,075 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $68.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $173,348
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $128,813 to $157,968
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $117,649
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
AI-Powered Talent
AI Onboarding
View as table View as graph 25% $128,813 10% $117,649 90% $173,348 75% $157,968 $141,075 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Director of Program Development Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $157,968 $13,164 $3,038 $76
Average $141,075 $11,756 $2,713 $68
25th Percentile $128,813 $10,734 $2,477 $62
Check out Director of Program Development Job Openings in the United States
Program Director

ComResource - Columbus, OH

Program Director

CESO, Inc. - Columbus, OH

Director of Development

International Friendships, Inc. - Columbus, OH

Director of Development

Ohio Children's Alliance - Columbus, OH

Search More Director of Program Development Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Director of Program Development Salaries

A Director of Program Development'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 Director of Program Development Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Director of Program Development'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): $135,317
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $135,859
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $136,762
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $138,027
  • Expert (over 8 years): $139,833
Levels Salary
Entry Level Director of Program Development$135,317
Intermediate Level Director of Program Development$135,859
Senior Level Director of Program Development$136,762
Specialist Level Director of Program Development$138,027
Expert Level Director of Program Development$139,833
$135,317 0 yr
$135,859 < 2 yrs
$136,762 2-4 yrs
$138,027 5-8 yrs
$139,833 > 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

How Do Director of Program Development 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 Director of Program Developments. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $156,198.
  • California: $155,606.
  • Massachusetts: $153,532.

Top Paying Cities for Director of Program Developments

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: $177,938
  • San Francisco: $175,990
  • Oakland: $172,281

What Skills Can Increase a Director of Program Development's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 9.53% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Scrum (Mentioned in 1.25% Job Postings): Using an agile process for managing the lifecycle development of software products.
  • Continuous Improvement (Mentioned in 1.01% Job Postings): A continual improvement process, also often called a continuous improvement process (abbreviated as CIP or CI), is an ongoing effort to improve products, services, or processes. These efforts can seek "incremental" improvement over time or "breakthrough" improvement all at once. Delivery (customer valued) processes are constantly evaluated and improved in the light of their efficiency, effectiveness and flexibility. Some see CIPs as a meta-process for most management systems (such as business process management, quality management, project management, and program management). W. Edwards Deming, a pioneer of the field, saw it as part of the 'system' whereby feedback from the process and customer were evaluated against organisational goals. The fact that it can be called a management process does not mean that it needs to be executed by 'management'; but rather merely that it makes decisions about the implementation of the delivery process and the design of the delivery process itself.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 9.53%
Scrum 1.25%
Continuous Improvement 1.01%
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 Director of Program Development's salary.
  • Software Development: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Scrum: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Product Development: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Software Development
$152,361
8%
Scrum
$150,950
7%
Product Development
$150,950
7%
Computer Science
$149,540
6%
Change Management
$148,129
5%
Supply Chain
$148,129
5%
Get Latest Data

Director of Program Development Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Director of Program Development roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 68% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Director of Program Development positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Director of Program Development as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Director of Program Development

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$183,398$88.030%
Pharmaceuticals$176,344$85.025%
Financial Services$169,290$81.020%
Internet$163,647$79.016%
Biotechnology$162,236$78.015%

How Education impacts a Director of Program Development's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Director of Program Developments 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 Director of Program Development with a Bachelor's Degree is between $143,102 and $154,962).

Director of Program Development Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Director of Program Development
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.3%
High School 4.0%
Associates 3.4%
Bachelors 37.5%
Masters 51.7%
Doctorate 3.1%
view as graph

Director of Program Development Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Director of Program Development'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 Director of Program Development

Salaries for a Director of Program Development can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $117,854 in 2023 to around $116,412 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Director of Program Development salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Director of Program Development Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$117,854
2024
$117,463
2025
$116,412
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $117,854
2024 $117,463
2025 $116,412
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Director of Program Development

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

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.

Compensation Planning

Common company salaries for Director of Program Development

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

Find Your Next Director of Program Development Job

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

United States
  • Brassica in the Short North

    Columbus, OH

    Brassica in the Short North | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. Being an Owner Operator at Brassica is about Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Mentorship, Craftsmanship, and Relationships. ... more

    5 Days Ago

  • The Atchison Group Inc.

    Columbus, OH

    The Atchison Group Inc. | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. Leadership Development Program (LDP) - Hospitality & Service Industry. Relocation Required. National Corporate Housing | ... more

    5 Days Ago

  • OPOC.us

    Columbus, OH

    OPOC.us | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. Join the OPOC.us Sales Development Program, a full-time, 12-month training program designed to launch your career in sale... more

    6 Days Ago

  • Brassica at Easton

    Columbus, OH

    Brassica at Easton | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. Working at Brassica is more than just a job. Here, you’ll develop the collaboration, communication, and leadership skills... more

    6 Days Ago

  • A. Duie Pyle, Inc

    Columbus, OH

    A. Duie Pyle, Inc | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. Pyle People Deliver. That’s why A. Duie Pyle has become the Northeast’s premier transportation and logistics provider. Si... more

    9 Days Ago

  • Convergint

    Columbus, OH

    Convergint | Columbus, OH

    Convergint is looking for full-time, enthusiastic, results driven and forward-thinking sales colleagues to join our amazing culture. As part of College Dev... more

    7 Days Ago

For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Price My Industry Jobs

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

FAQ about Director of Program Development

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

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Director of Program Development 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.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst