What are the main factors that influence an Economic Development Director's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

What industry pays the highest salary for Economic Development Director?

The Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit industry offers the highest average compensation for Economic Development Director roles, with salaries approximately 10% above the market median.

How does experience change An Economic Development Director's salary?

An Economic Development Director's salary grows with experience: a Development and Fundraising Supervisor (3-5 years)earns $81,687, a Development and Fundraising Manager (5+ years)earns $100,783, a Economic Development Director (5+ years)earns $114,035, a Development and Fundraising Director (5+ years)earns $149,139, a VP of Development and Fundraising (5+ years)earns $290,961,

What are the highest paying states for an Economic Development Director?

Economic Development Director salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Economic Development Director roles are District of Columbia $126,123, California $125,645, Massachusetts $123,970. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Economic Development Director roles make?

Salaries for Economic Development Director level roles vary by specialization: Director Of Economic Development: $112,194; Economic Development Specialist: $96,281; Business /Economic Development Representative III: $93,100; Economic Development Manager: $80,864; Economic Development: $78,667.

Economic Development Director Salary in Delaware

How much does an Economic Development Director make in Delaware?

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for an Economic Development Director in Delaware is $115,359 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $55.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $149,768
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $99,784 to $133,370
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $85,605

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Economic Development Director Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$133,370	$11,114	$2,565	$64
Average	$115,359	$9,613	$2,218	$55
25th Percentile	$99,784	$8,315	$1,919	$48

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

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Key Factors That Influence Economic Development Director Salaries

An Economic 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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Economic Development Director Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Economic 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): $81,687
Early Career (1-2 years): $100,783
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $114,035
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $149,139
Expert (over 8 years): $290,961

Levels	Salary
Developme... Level Economic Development Director	$81,687
Developme... Level Economic Development Director	$100,783
Economic ... Level Economic Development Director	$114,035
Developme... Level Economic Development Director	$149,139
VP of Dev... Level Economic Development Director	$290,961

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What Am I Worth?

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

District of Columbia: $126,123.
California: $125,645.
Massachusetts: $123,970.

District of Columbia $126,123 California $125,645 Massachusetts $123,970 Washington $123,515 New Jersey $123,469 Alaska $123,310 Connecticut $121,738 New York $121,100

Hawaii $119,061 Rhode Island $118,104 Maryland $117,455 Minnesota $116,566 Colorado $116,224 Illinois $116,111 Oregon $115,678 Delaware $115,359

New Hampshire $115,158 Virginia $114,709 Pennsylvania $113,399 Nevada $112,739 North Dakota $112,522 Michigan $112,181 Wisconsin $112,055 Vermont $111,805

Texas $111,110 Maine $111,064 Arizona $110,996 Ohio $110,916 Georgia $109,868 Indiana $109,344 Wyoming $109,242 Utah $109,082

Iowa $109,014 Kansas $108,467 Louisiana $108,308 North Carolina $108,251 Missouri $108,228 Florida $107,784 Montana $107,544 Nebraska $107,316

Kentucky $107,191 South Carolina $106,736 Tennessee $106,451 Idaho $106,337 New Mexico $105,505 Oklahoma $105,323 Alabama $104,651 South Dakota $103,523

Arkansas $102,908 West Virginia $102,578 Mississippi $101,587

Top Paying Cities for Economic 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:

Lincoln: $114,839
Little Creek: $115,680
Magnolia: $115,514

Lincoln, DE $114,839 Little Creek, DE $115,680 Magnolia, DE $115,514 Milford, DE $115,131 Marydel, DE $115,320 Millsboro, DE $114,357 Millville, DE $114,534 Milton, DE $114,732

Nassau, DE $114,815 Ocean View, DE $114,515 Rehoboth Beach, DE $114,734 Seaford, DE $114,799 Selbyville, DE $114,324 Smyrna, DE $115,760 Viola, DE $115,227 Woodside, DE $115,536

Bear, DE $115,270 Newark, DE $115,227 Claymont, DE $115,462 Delaware City, DE $115,342 Hockessin, DE $115,216 Kirkwood, DE $115,320 Middletown, DE $115,364 Montchanin, DE $115,242

New Castle, DE $115,260 Odessa, DE $115,421 Port Penn, DE $115,499 Rockland, DE $115,254 Saint Georges, DE $115,328 Townsend, DE $115,506 Winterthur, DE $115,268 Lewes, DE $114,777

Wilmington, DE $115,222 Dover, DE $115,680 Dover Afb, DE $115,070 Bethany Beach, DE $114,394 Bethel, DE $114,512 Bridgeville, DE $114,782 Camden Wyoming, DE $115,354 Cheswold, DE $115,642

Clayton, DE $115,646 Dagsboro, DE $114,314 Delmar, DE $114,131 Ellendale, DE $114,477 Felton, DE $115,122 Fenwick Island, DE $114,339 Frankford, DE $114,140 Frederica, DE $115,236

Georgetown, DE $114,271 Greenwood, DE $114,801 Harbeson, DE $114,393 Harrington, DE $114,976 Hartly, DE $115,334 Houston, DE $114,812 Kenton, DE $115,651 Laurel, DE $114,202

Yorklyn, DE $115,250

Economic Development Director Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Economic Development Director roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 20% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit, offers compensation 10% above the average. Conversely, Economic Development Director positions in Business Services typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Economic Development Director as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for an Economic Development Director

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit	$126,895	$61.0	10%

Economic Development Director Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Economic 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 July 01, 2026

$99,784

Average $115,359/year

$133,370

$8,315

Average $9,613/month

$11,114

$1,919

Average $2,218/week

$2,565

$48

Average $55/hour

$64

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$133,370	$11,114	$2,565	$64
Average	$115,359	$9,613	$2,218	$55
25th Percentile	$99,784	$8,315	$1,919	$48

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