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Head of Development Salary in the United States

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

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Head of Development in the United States is $78,583 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $38.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $89,661
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $69,861 to $84,382
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $61,921
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Head of Development Salaries

A Head of 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 Head of Development Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Head of 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): $72,987
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $78,157
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $96,456
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $109,148
  • Expert (over 8 years): $142,751
Levels Salary
Developme... Level Head of Development$72,987
Head of D... Level Head of Development$78,157
Developme... Level Head of Development$96,456
Developme... Level Head of Development$109,148
Developme... Level Head of Development$142,751
View as Graph

How Do Head of 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 Head of Developments. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $87,007.
  • California: $86,677.
  • Massachusetts: $85,522.

Top Paying Cities for Head of 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: $99,117
  • San Francisco: $98,032
  • Oakland: $95,966

What Skills Can Increase a Head of Development's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 7.91% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Business Development (Mentioned in 2.19% Job Postings): Business development entails tasks and processes to develop and implement growth opportunities within and between organizations. It is a subset of the fields of business, commerce and organizational theory. Business development is the creation of long-term value for an organization from customers, markets, and relationships. Business development can be taken to mean any activity by either a small or large organization, non-profit or for-profit enterprise which serves the purpose of ‘developing’ the business in some way. In addition, business development activities can be done internally or externally by a business development consultant. External business development can be facilitated through Planning Systems, which are put in place by governments to help small businesses. In addition, reputation building has also proven to help facilitate business development.
  • Due Diligence (Mentioned in 1.34% Job Postings): Due diligence is the investigation or exercise of care that a reasonable business or person is expected to take before entering into an agreement or contract with another party, or an act with a certain standard of care. It can be a legal obligation, but the term will more commonly apply to voluntary investigations. A common example of due diligence in various industries is the process through which a potential acquirer evaluates a target company or its assets for an acquisition. The theory behind due diligence holds that performing this type of investigation contributes significantly to informed decision making by enhancing the amount and quality of information available to decision makers and by ensuring that this information is systematically used to deliberate in a reflexive manner on the decision at hand and all its costs, benefits, and risks.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 7.91%
Business Development 2.19%
Due Diligence 1.34%
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 Head of Development's salary.

  • Account Management: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Market Development: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Sales Development: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Account Management $85,656
9%
Market Development $84,870
8%
Sales Development $84,870
8%
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Head of Development Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Head of Development roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 25% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare, offers compensation 10% above the average. Conversely, Head of Development positions in Business Services typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Head of Development as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Head of Development

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$86,441$42.010%
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit$82,512$40.05%

How Education impacts a Head of Development's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Head of 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 Head of Development with a Bachelor's Degree is between $87,121 and $91,875).

Head of Development Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Head of Development
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.4%
High School 3.0%
Associates 2.0%
Bachelors 53.5%
Masters 38.8%
Doctorate 2.4%
View as Graph

Head of Development Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Head of 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 September 01, 2026
$69,861
Average $78,583/year
$84,382
$5,822
Average $6,549/month
$7,032
$1,343
Average $1,511/week
$1,623
$34
Average $38/hour
$41
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $84,382 $7,032 $1,623 $41
Average $78,583 $6,549 $1,511 $38
25th Percentile $69,861 $5,822 $1,343 $34

Most common benefits for Head of Development

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

Common company salaries for Head of Development

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

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FAQ about Head of Development

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

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Head of Development 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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