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Business development director job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected business development director job growth rate is 10% from 2018-2028.
About 33,700 new jobs for business development directors are projected over the next decade.
Business development director salaries have increased 8% for business development directors in the last 5 years.
There are over 174,807 business development directors currently employed in the United States.
There are 153,601 active business development director job openings in the US.
The average business development director salary is $117,784.
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 174,807 | 0.05% |
| 2020 | 93,564 | 0.03% |
| 2019 | 94,053 | 0.03% |
| 2018 | 162,601 | 0.05% |
| 2017 | 154,404 | 0.05% |
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $117,784 | $56.63 | +3.9% |
| 2024 | $113,377 | $54.51 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | $111,256 | $53.49 | +1.6% |
| 2022 | $109,549 | $52.67 | +0.8% |
| 2021 | $108,679 | $52.25 | +1.9% |
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 530 | 76% |
| 2 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 2,138 | 38% |
| 3 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 1,171 | 37% |
| 4 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 1,067 | 36% |
| 5 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 364 | 35% |
| 6 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 608 | 32% |
| 7 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 266 | 31% |
| 8 | Alaska | 739,795 | 233 | 31% |
| 9 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 782 | 27% |
| 10 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,799 | 26% |
| 11 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 513 | 25% |
| 12 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 1,368 | 24% |
| 13 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 1,178 | 24% |
| 14 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 138 | 24% |
| 15 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 1,378 | 23% |
| 16 | Oklahoma | 3,930,864 | 892 | 23% |
| 17 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 168 | 22% |
| 18 | Vermont | 623,657 | 135 | 22% |
| 19 | Ohio | 11,658,609 | 2,480 | 21% |
| 20 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 1,368 | 21% |
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Annapolis | 6 | 15% | $117,722 |
| 2 | Atlanta | 30 | 6% | $114,235 |
| 3 | Huntsville | 12 | 6% | $110,068 |
| 4 | Hartford | 8 | 6% | $125,932 |
| 5 | Boston | 34 | 5% | $128,512 |
| 6 | Washington | 27 | 4% | $114,738 |
| 7 | Orlando | 8 | 3% | $85,252 |
| 8 | Des Moines | 7 | 3% | $95,114 |
| 9 | Baton Rouge | 6 | 3% | $92,455 |
| 10 | Miami | 10 | 2% | $78,370 |
| 11 | Tampa | 7 | 2% | $84,684 |
| 12 | Chicago | 26 | 1% | $113,636 |
| 13 | Los Angeles | 23 | 1% | $132,744 |
| 14 | Phoenix | 14 | 1% | $115,647 |
| 15 | San Diego | 14 | 1% | $126,098 |
| 16 | San Francisco | 13 | 1% | $141,219 |
| 17 | Denver | 10 | 1% | $113,043 |
| 18 | Indianapolis | 10 | 1% | $114,021 |
| 19 | Sacramento | 7 | 1% | $140,392 |
Georgia State University
Texas Christian University

Portland State University
Washington College

Wayne State University

Purdue University Northwest
University of Saint Mary

Towson University

The Pennsylvania State University
Arizona State University

Baylor University
Auburn University-Montgomery

Creighton University
Lake Michigan College
Delta State University

Western New England University
Christopher Newport University

Northeastern University

Longwood University
Andrew Spicer: Resiliency is a particularly important skill for international business and career progression. Resiliency – the ability to recover quickly in the face of obstacles and failures – has always been a critical part of successful international assignments. The only constant of working abroad is that there will be miscommunication and mistakes. Successful international business careers depend on the ability to learn from these inevitable setbacks to improve over time. The constant change in the global business environment also leads to the demand for resiliency among international business specialists. An important role for those with a global mindset is to help companies adapt to the massive disruption to the global business environment for international trade and investment presently taking place across the world.
Salomao De Farias: An International Business Analyst/Professional performs a variety of tasks that contribute significantly to understanding and navigating global markets. On a daily basis, these may include analyzing data trends and market information to identify patterns and insights that help in making informed decisions about market entry, product development, and other strategic moves. Also, IB analysts will work in compiling findings into detailed reports and presentations that communicate insights and recommendations clearly to stakeholders, they will be capable to use data visualization to simplify the complex set of data that they may face when analyzing a country's market potential. They will assist in the development of strategic plans based on analysis to help the company maximize its international potential and opportunities. A key responsibility is working closely with various departments (such as marketing, sales, and logistics) to ensure coherent strategies are implemented effectively across all sectors of the business. It is important to keep track of international economic and trade regulations, monitoring geopolitical impacts on international markets, and understanding international legal frameworks to adjust business strategies accordingly. I would say that for someone entering the field, initial activities typically involve more focused tasks such as data collection, basic analysis under supervision, and learning the specific technologies and methods used in their organization. They may also spend considerable time gaining understanding of the specific markets their company is interested in or already operating within.
Texas Christian University
Specialized Sales, Merchandising And Marketing Operations
Ken Corbit Ph.D.: Strategic
Company Selection:
Focus on joining companies with robust sales training programs, emphasizing consultative selling. Look for organizations that invest in your development, providing live calling experiences, quota-driven sales processes, and exposure to tools like Salesforce.
Tech
Proficiency and Sales Tools Mastery:
Familiarize yourself with cutting-edge sales technologies, including CRM tools like Salesforce. Your proficiency in these tools will not only streamline your sales processes but also position you as a tech-savvy professional in the competitive sales landscape.
Hands-On
Experience:
Actively engage in live calling, take ownership of sales funnels, and work with senior hiring authorities during your training. This hands-on experience will not only build your confidence but also prepare you for the challenges of consultative selling.
Research
and Decision-Making Skills:
Develop strong research skills to evaluate companies based on fit, growth opportunities, compensation structures, and overall potential. This informed decision-making approach will set you apart and empower you to navigate the sales landscape strategically.
Mentorship
and Networking:
Seek mentorship both within and outside your organization. Building relationships with mentors who invest in your sales skills and knowledge will provide valuable insights. Additionally, actively participate in online forums to connect with practical sales
knowledge and best practices.

Portland State University
The School of Business
Becky Sanchez: Skills that are directly tied to the particular job the company is hiring for. Having a certain set of skills matters less than having the exact skills the employer needs. See below for common critical skills in business.
Becky Sanchez: -Conflict resolution
-Interpersonal relationship building
-Team player mentality
-Willingness to jump in and get the work done and focus on living into the company mission
Becky Sanchez: -Microsoft Excel & Tableau - data visualization skills
-Data analysis skills
-Presentation skills
Becky Sanchez: -The ability to concisely and effectively communicate your point
-Negotiation skills
-Understanding of data analysis and how to leverage data to do your job more effectively
-Leadership skills and an interest in managing others
Washington College
Business Department
Dr. Michael Harvey: Above all, good Business Developers must have excellent communication, interpersonal, and negotiation skills. Their work centers on meeting prospective customers and building relationships with them. Their communication skills, in particular, must include good listening skills so that they can truly understand customer needs.
Dr. Michael Harvey: Across the business, the soft skills most in demand are the "3 C's": collaboration, communication, and critical thinking. Employers are especially interested in evidence of projects, experiential learning, and internships, not simply majors and minors.
Dr. Michael Harvey: Quantitative skills and computer coding skills, plus any expertise in a specific technical area, like logistics or GIS.
Dr. Michael Harvey: Quantitative skills and computer coding skills are in the highest demand and shortest supply-and people who can combine them with strong, soft skills end up going the furthest.

Wayne State University
Mike Ilitch School of Business
Attila Yaprak Ph.D.: Portfolio of the above three with different weights depending on context.

Purdue University Northwest
Finance Department
Pat Obi Ph.D.: Communication, negotiation, writing, and professional conduct, especially on virtual platforms.
Pat Obi Ph.D.: Data analysis and presentation skills - spreadsheet, statistical software, presentation software.
Pat Obi Ph.D.: Data analytics, accounting, risk management, and business analytical skills, especially as they relate to financial data.
University of Saint Mary
Division of Business and Information Technologies (DBiT)
Dr. Mark Harvey Ph.D.: Familiarity with software-basic windows packages, particularly MS Word and Excel. Candidates should not be afraid of quantitative data analysis. Analytics are necessary to figuring out what your business is doing and how it can grow. Also, familiarity with whatever social media platforms are used in that industry can be very important.
Dr. Mark Harvey Ph.D.: One consideration is, does the position pay commission? If so, the soft skills listed above are extremely important because the more you apply those skills, the more likely you are to grow your business.
When a manager is not on commission, there's little correlation between skills and pay while doing the job. The employer will hire you at a given salary level, and it is your job to negotiate to the best position. Once they have chosen you-that's the moment when you have the most leverage. You will never get a raise that is as substantial as what you might be able to ask for upon hire. After that, most raises are not going to be tied mechanically to performance and skills. Your next chance at a raise will be when you move or are promoted to a new position. Thus, those soft skills can affect your ability to negotiate.
I will repeat a previous theme: education and experience are probably more important than skills in terms of making more money. An employer can't really tell what your skills are from your resume. Just because you say you have a skill doesn't mean that you really do. They can reasonably guess that somebody with a degree is responsible enough to have accomplished something big. Somebody who makes it through a graduate program is probably very good at what they know. And somebody who has been in the industry and/or in a similar job is more likely to be able to walk in with little orientation and know what they are doing. Employers take risks on employees and hope that they can deliver. Thus, with more education and more experience, you are able to apply for higher-level jobs, which usually come with higher salaries.
Dr. Mark Harvey Ph.D.: Resumes are hard. It is very difficult to predict what any employer is looking for on any resume. The "skills" section of a resume is probably not the first thing most employers are looking at. The first consideration is probably education. Those with a bachelor's degree will be sorted first in fields-such as those who have business degrees, or particularly sales and marketing majors. Those with MBAs will be placed on the top. Those who have MBAs and marketing concentrations will likely be valued the most. The second consideration would probably be experience. Someone with several years of experience in business development or sales and marketing will be moved to the top. Someone with a bachelor's degree who has a lot of experience might beat out a fresh MBA. However, MBA plus experience beats almost everything. Someone with an MBA going for an entry-level position with little experience needed will likely beat out all bachelor challengers. For new graduates, getting some kind of internship in sales and marketing can differentiate them from those who do not.
Most hiring managers will probably assume that somebody who has sales and marketing education and/or experience probably has the skills necessary to do the job. An interviewer may probe on specific skills. I'll comment more specifically on other kinds of skills below, but it's also fair to say that a candidate's soft skills should shine in the interview. Simply saying that you have certain skills on a resume doesn't mean that you actually have them.
I think that the best thing a candidate can do is to research the company they hope to work for and tailor their resume to that employer. What does the business do? What kinds of things do you think that development manager is going to do in that particular industry? How do your skills as a candidate match what you guess they're looking for? The more you customize your resume, the better chances you have of resonating with the company. Employers are impressed when you already know something about the job and the industry.
Dr. Mark Harvey Ph.D.: First, critical and creative thinking. Employers value problem solvers. A Business Development Managers' problem usually is finding growth opportunities. Candidates need to learn to take the initiative to figure out how to solve problems like those.
Second, writing. The best employees know how to communicate in writing. More and more communication occurs through email and other forms of social media and apps, and as such, this skill is absolutely critical. You don't need to be a creative writing genius, but you do need to know how to write in a professional tone, present your ideas in an organized way, get to the point, and avoid errors. There is a direct line between a student's ability to write an academic essay with a clear thesis and an employee's ability to write a good email or proposal. If you can't do those things, then you risk embarrassment and possibly limited options for promotion.
Third, speaking. The American business world discriminates against introverts-sometimes at their own peril. Everyone needs to know how to give a quality speech, but more importantly, you need to sound confident and assertive in a board room during meetings. You need to be confident in front of clients. Fake it if you have to. The way you present yourself is absolutely critical.
Fourth, social skills. You need to be friendly. Get to know co-workers and clients. Find out what they like and show an interest. Find common ground. Your undergraduate degree hopefully exposed you to a wide diversity of topics you may have thought were irrelevant at some point. Now is the time to remember that stuff and use it to connect with people. Nearly everything you learned will have some application someday. It will help you connect with others. In addition, put away your cell phone when you are at work or on social occasions. To some people, a preoccupation with a cell phone communicates a lack of interest in the person you are with. It can alienate bosses, co-workers, and clients.

Towson University
Marketing Department
Erin Steffes Ph.D.: As a science and an art, marketing utilizes both soft skills and technical skills on a daily basis. While some technologies are industry-specific, having an understanding and basic mastery of data analysis, statistics, data visualization, digital marketing, marketing research, and customer relationship management will position a candidate well.

The Pennsylvania State University
Business Department
James Wilkerson Ph.D.: Skills, experience, knowledge, and abilities that matter especially strongly include target market analysis (including market research skills and knowledge), product/service positioning within competitive field, project work or coordination with sales staff, major client relationship management, and enough general business and industry knowledge to be able to relate business development to operational/production realities.
James Wilkerson Ph.D.: Verbal skills (both speaking and writing), negotiation skills, unfailing honesty, ability to empathize with clients' wants, and teamwork skills suitable for working collaboratively with sales and operations staff.
James Wilkerson Ph.D.: Spreadsheet (Excel) skills (including graph production from data), basic statistical knowledge, and online information search skills.
James Wilkerson Ph.D.: Skill at rapidly learning market trends, relating business development to product development, and persuading major prospective clients when brought in to help with closing sales. Bottom line: the business development manager must be on the cutting edge of new market conditions and new business opportunities to help the firm organically grow its sales, especially in new markets or product/service lines.
Arizona State University
W. P. Carey Supply Chain Management
Adegoke Oke Ph.D.: Effective communication, leadership, critical thinking skills. Can you be entrepreneurial in the face of adversity? Demonstrating situations where the candidate has been able to persevere and solve problems in the face of diversity would be very attractive to employers.
Adegoke Oke Ph.D.: In general, people skills: leadership, effective communication and negotiation skills, the ability to work effectively with people in different cultures and in a team environment.
Adegoke Oke Ph.D.: Data analytics skills are currently in high demand, so is understanding the impact of emerging technologies and digitization on business
Adegoke Oke Ph.D.: Imagine the perfect candidate that possesses the combination of all the skills mentioned above. But in truth, some combination of good people skills and appreciation of the digital environment and its impacts will help.

Baylor University
Hankamer School of Business
Andrea Dixon Ph.D.: People who can recognize patterns (in data, in people), build connections with and across others, create a focus on high-performance behaviors, and lead with a confident humility are those who will win today and in the future business environment.
Jeff Bates: The same thing will help people in any field continue to increase their earning potential as in the past. If an employee can find a way to differentiate themselves in a positive manner and make themselves valuable or even invaluable to their company, they should see increased earnings potential. Learning a foreign language, computer skills such as Excel, good math skills, and the ability to communicate will prove to be extremely important in advancing one's career.

Creighton University
Department of Business Intelligence & Analytics
Natalie Gerhart Ph.D.: For BIA students, like all students, having the ability to be adaptable and grow your skills is important. Technology is rapidly changing and will continue to change over the course of most student's careers. It is important for students to demonstrate their adaptability through multiple tools, as well as their inquisitive nature that drives life-long learning. A machine learning course is a must as well as exposure to open source tools such as Python or R. Also we are seeing an uptick in demand for visualization skills (i.e. Tableau). While I haven't seen an overwhelming benefit of certifications for our students, there are certainly several available that never hurt. Google and AWS certifications are popular.
Currently, all business students need to have a basic understanding of analytics. That no longer means simply statistics, but how to use statistics to derive understanding and business insights. Further, all business students need to have an understanding of the strategic nature of technology in a business. Simply having technology is not enough.
Natalie Gerhart Ph.D.: Technology is not going away and is becoming increasingly relevant in the strategy of businesses. As a result, salaries in these fields have been trending up, and will, overall, continue to do so, I think. We have been seeing an increasing in IT spend, which doesn't always correlate with salaries, but does show an uptick in the value being placed on technology. As technology continues to evolve and become more ubiquitous, the value placed on advanced technology skills will continue to rise.
Lake Michigan College
Department of Business, Hospitality, and CIS
Bradley Byerle, JD: For the majority of criminal justice positions, there are specific educational requirements or certifications needed to obtain employment. To become a corrections officer, candidates will generally need to graduate from an approved local or state corrections academy. The same is true if candidates want to become a police officer -- they will have to graduate from an approved local or state police academy. Often times there are specific educational requirements that must be met prior to entering into one of these academies. The majority of remaining criminal justice positions, such as probation and parole officer positions, will require candidates to earn a minimum of a bachelor's degree to be eligible for employment.
Bradley Byerle, JD: In the criminal justice field, salaries and hourly wages can vary greatly from position-to-position and location-to-location. Salaries and hourly wages tend to be smaller than that of many other careers, however they are also trending upward.
Lisa Cooley: Obviously, we are seeing a lot more flexibility in terms of virtual work. A lot of the jobs I have seen allow for their employees to work remotely (at least a portion of the time).

Harlan Spotts Ph.D.: In marketing, developing digital capabilities is extremely important. Marketing was on the forefront of the digital transition in business. With the amount of commerce that has shifted to the web marketers have to be comfortable with living in the digital space. This will demand new and different strategies. Marketers have always needed to be effective communicators, but now it is not just being a great closer. Marketers need to be effective communicators in writing (text, email, etc.) and verbal (person to person live, as well as person to person online)
Students need to start in college developing skills to be successful. It was interesting, we, in the College of Business, were talking about developing student competency in remote work before the pandemic hit last year. The pandemic accelerated our work, and we are in the process now of approving a certificate in remote work that any undergraduate business student can earn. It is designed to develop those competencies that will be critical for success in the "new normal."
Christopher Newport University
Department of Communication
Todd Lee Goen: Technical skills are often industry and/or position specific. Applicants should highlight any technical skills related to the position advertisement and those that add value to the position/organization. Most importantly, requirements for technical skills change with time and technological advances. This means employers value workers capable of adapting to change and continually improving and acquiring new technical skills. Thus, it's usually more important to demonstrate you are capable of learning and developing technical skills than it is to have a specific skill set upon hire (although this is not true for some positions/industries).
That said, technical skills related to online presentations, virtual meetings, virtual networking, remote working and the like are hot commodities right now. While most organizations were in the process of adopting many of these technologies and ways of doing business pre-pandemic, the pandemic accelerated the process. Organizations are making it work, but they often don't know best practices or the most efficient means of working in the largely virtual, pandemic environment. Post-pandemic, many of the remote/virtual changes the pandemic brought will stay in some form. Technical skills that support this type of workplace will make applicants stand out to many employers because they need/want to do virtual/remote business better.
Todd Lee Goen: Pandemic or no pandemic, the best job out of college is one that sets you on the path to achieve your ultimate career goal(s). Reflect on where you want to be in five or ten years or even twenty-five years. Then consider positions that will set you on the path to achieve that goal. Very few people land their dream job upon graduation - dream jobs are typically those we're not qualified to do without some additional work experience and training. A good job is one that will help you achieve your goal(s) - just don't frame it that way in the interview.
Good jobs pay a livable salary for the location, offer benefits (health insurance and retirement at minimum), and provide professional development opportunities (these can take a variety of forms). Too often, college grads overlook professional development. If an employer isn't willing to invest in you, there's no guarantee you will succeed in the job. Good employers understand they need qualified employees who continually develop their skills and abilities, and good employers will make sure employees have the resources they need to succeed.

Ravi Sarathy Ph.D.: Around 75% of the global market lies outside the US, so firms that want to grow sales need to understand and market to foreign customers. Similarly, with the restructuring of supply chains formerly concentrated in China, firms need to analyze alternative sources of supply in other counties such as India, Brazil, Mexico, Kenya, Morocco and elsewhere, find and qualify suppliers, and negotiate supply contracts with them, taking into account transportation and logistics, customs duties, economic and political stability, and so forth. Students who graduate with an understanding of how IB affects a business based in the US will be able to offer additional analytical and decision-making skills which will be helpful to their potential employers. In a complex technological world, firms will often seek overseas alliance and joint venture partners, and new recruits who have an understanding of and can help manage economic, political and cultural differences will be invaluable.
Ravi Sarathy Ph.D.: Positions involving IB are multi-faceted, requiring the integration of skills from different disciplines, and bringing to bear not only business thinking, but an understanding of politics, ideologies, Governmental regulations, history, languages, in sum, a multidisciplinary approach beyond just business. This can be exciting, rewarding, and one can always continue learning, by being exposed to new situations, countries, people and problems. The downside is that IB requires an open minds, a willingness to accept greater uncertainty and volatility, and readiness to work with foreign firms, as equal partners, sharing decision making, and trusting them. IB has more uncontrollable factors, and a firm and the team and an individual’s performance will all be affected by such unpredictability. Someone well trained in IB and with growing IB experience can help reduce this unpredictability, make it more manageable.

Dr. David Lehr: Most job growth will continue to be in urban centers and the surrounding suburbs. Rural areas will continue to struggle (remote work notwithstanding).