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Job outlook for client development managers in the United States
Client development manager job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected client development manager job growth rate is 10% from 2018-2028.
About 33,700 new jobs for client development managers are projected over the next decade.
Client development manager salaries have increased 8% for client development managers in the last 5 years.
There are over 30,289 client development managers currently employed in the United States.
There are 162,599 active client development manager job openings in the US.
The average client development manager salary is $88,179.
Are client development manager jobs in demand?
Client development manager job and salary trends over time
Client development manager jobs over time
Client development manager job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 30,289 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 28,843 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 28,377 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 26,001 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 23,954 | 0.01% |
Average client development manager salary over time
Client development manager salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $88,179 | $42.39 | +3.9% |
| 2024 | $84,879 | $40.81 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | $83,292 | $40.04 | +1.6% |
| 2022 | $82,014 | $39.43 | +0.8% |
| 2021 | $81,363 | $39.12 | +1.9% |
Client development manager jobs by state
Most common states for client development managers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 572 | 82% |
| 2 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,950 | 35% |
| 3 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 364 | 35% |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 2,168 | 32% |
| 5 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 1,217 | 29% |
| 6 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 312 | 29% |
| 7 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 219 | 29% |
| 8 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,914 | 26% |
| 9 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 505 | 26% |
| 10 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 222 | 26% |
| 11 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 770 | 25% |
| 12 | Vermont | 623,657 | 153 | 25% |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 3,015 | 24% |
| 14 | Alaska | 739,795 | 175 | 24% |
| 15 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 2,968 | 23% |
| 16 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 2,384 | 23% |
| 17 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 1,604 | 23% |
| 18 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,884 | 22% |
| 19 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 654 | 22% |
| 20 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 467 | 22% |
Most common cities for client development managers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kennesaw | 1 | 3% | $70,866 |
| 2 | Jupiter | 1 | 2% | $67,400 |
| 3 | Clearwater | 1 | 1% | $67,973 |
| 4 | Costa Mesa | 1 | 1% | $102,583 |
| 5 | Elgin | 1 | 1% | $73,780 |
| 6 | Fayetteville | 1 | 1% | $86,566 |
| 7 | Chicago | 4 | 0% | $74,061 |
| 8 | Atlanta | 1 | 0% | $70,771 |
| 9 | Austin | 1 | 0% | $74,477 |
| 10 | Charlotte | 1 | 0% | $98,824 |
| 11 | Cincinnati | 1 | 0% | $95,136 |
| 12 | Cleveland | 1 | 0% | $100,038 |
| 13 | Colorado Springs | 1 | 0% | $70,231 |
| 14 | Dallas | 1 | 0% | $73,090 |
| 15 | Denver | 1 | 0% | $69,974 |
| 16 | Houston | 1 | 0% | $74,050 |
| 17 | Jacksonville | 1 | 0% | $68,701 |
| 18 | Los Angeles | 1 | 0% | $103,531 |
| 19 | Miami | 1 | 0% | $67,275 |
| 20 | Milwaukee | 1 | 0% | $91,981 |
Client Development Manager job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of client development manager experts
University of Saint Mary
The Pennsylvania State University
The University of Findlay
Fordham University Gabelli School of Business
University of Nebraska at Omaha
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
University of Dallas
Eastern Kentucky University
Central Connecticut State University
University of Wisconsin - Green Bay
Dr. Mark Harvey Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Director of Graduate and Undergraduate Programs, Coordinator of All-University Honors ProgramUniversity of Saint Mary
Division of Business and Information Technologies (DBiT)
What hard/technical skills are most important for Client Development Managers?
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.
What skills will help Client Development Managers earn the most?
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.
What skills stand out on Client Development Manager resumes?
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.
What soft skills should all Client Development Managers possess?
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.
James Wilkerson Ph.D.
Business Program Coordinator, Project and Supply Chain Management Program CoordinatorThe Pennsylvania State University
Business Department
What skills stand out on Client Development Manager resumes?
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.
What soft skills should all Client Development Managers possess?
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.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Client Development Managers?
James Wilkerson Ph.D.: Spreadsheet (Excel) skills (including graph production from data), basic statistical knowledge, and online information search skills.
What skills will help Client Development Managers earn the most?
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.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Client Development Managers to find work opportunities?
Christopher Sippel Ed.D.: A silver lining to the pandemic may be that the location of an individual in many industries no longer dictates which company or organization someone can work for. When travel restrictions begin to ease, successful candidates will be willing to go wherever they are asked to go. In these challenging times, organizations will need people that are open to working where they are needed.
What experience really stands out on Client Development Manager resumes?
Anthony DeFrancesco: Knowledge and experience with sales technology tools and effectively navigating Omnichannel hybrid sales environments. Social selling and analytical skills are also highly important. Product and industry knowledge for the targeted verticals also stands out. Experience with specific industry vertical prospecting tools can be a major differentiator. Finally, important to complement the aforementioned ATS keywords are leadership and team collaboration.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Client Development Managers?
Anthony DeFrancesco: Yes, there will. Many businesses are changing their headquarters, operational infrastructure and buying communications protocols. Effective vertical prospecting, networking and selling skills will still be as important as ever as sales engagements will continue to become more complex. According to McKinsey sales engagements of course have moved mostly to digital and remote which is a trend that started before the pandemic. A McKinsey survey of B2B companies finds that, "Almost 90 percent of sales have moved to a videoconferencing(VC)/phone/web sales model, and while some skepticism remains, more than half believe this is equally or more effective than sales models used before COVID-19." (The B2B digital inflection point: How sales have changed during COVID-19) April 30, 2020 McKinsey Article)
What experience really stands out on Client Development Manager resumes?
Anthony DeFrancesco: Knowledge and experience with sales technology tools and effectively navigating Omnichannel hybrid sales environments. Social selling and analytical skills are also highly important. Product and industry knowledge for the targeted verticals also stands out. Experience with specific industry vertical prospecting tools can be a major differentiator. Finally, important to complement the aforementioned ATS keywords are leadership and team collaboration.
What Client Development Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Laura Sansoni: I think taking a year between high school and college or between a bachelor's and master's degree can be incredibly beneficial if the individual approaches this time with intentional purpose. If they want to gain work experience and/or save up money for school, seeking a position with ties to a career that interests them is going to help them narrow down their academic path once they begin their higher education.
If they want to use this time to travel, they should consider documenting their experiences to reflect on their personal growth and any new skills they gain such as learning a new language. If they simply wish to take a break from their studies, take the year to explore their personal interests and hobbies by trying new things and meeting with people doing work that interests them. Lifelong, fulfilling careers stem from your passions and interests. Discovering both early will help guide them in educational pursuits as well as fulfilling work throughout their life.
What general advice would you give to a Client Development Manager?
Laura Sansoni: Whenever I work with a new graduate, I see them experiencing many emotions ranging from excitement from completing their education to anxiety about starting their careers.
For the graduates that have a job, I highly encourage them to take advantage of any opportunity presented to them. Participate in workplace events, take advantage of professional development opportunities like attending conferences or trainings, and volunteer to work on projects when asked to. Taking advantage of these opportunities in your workplace will increase your skills and experiences while deepening your connections to your colleagues and growing your personal network.
For graduates that are still looking for jobs, I remind them that the worst things that can happen in the job search are an employer saying "no", "we went with another candidate", or not responding to your application at all. While that can be scary and defeating at times, think about the positives of the situation. You didn't get the interview or the job, but you didn't lose anything either. Instead, you gained more experience in the job search process that you can improve upon for the next time. I also remind new grads to let the employers decide if they are the right fit for the job instead of counting yourself out too early. If you meet 75 percent of the qualifications in the job description, apply for the job and let the recruiter decide whether to set up an interview. Don't be so afraid of the next "no" that it prevents you from finding the next possible "yes".
Jonathan Byers
Assistant DirectorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Career and Professional Development
What skills stand out on Client Development Manager resumes?
Jonathan Byers:
- Professional skills related to career development competencies such as strong oral & written communication, teamwork & collaboration, leadership, problem-solving ability & creativity, and professional integrity, but we recommend that applicants do not just list these skills. They should provide evidence of how they have used them in their work experience, volunteer experience, academic experience, etc.
-The ability to use technology effectively to solve problems or improve collaboration; this could relate to social media management, computer hardware or software skills, proficiency with general programs like Microsoft Office Suite (also being able to demonstrate the use of these skills in various experiences).
-With diversity, equity, and inclusion becoming more important in 2020, the ability to appreciate different points of view, accept and appreciate different cultural backgrounds & types of identities, and increased awareness of one's own cultural biases and assumptions can also be important to market on a resume.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Client Development Managers to find work opportunities?
Jonathan Byers: Like most Liberal Arts graduates, people with History degrees will most likely develop a number of the professional skills mentioned above that can be applicable in many different industry areas. In today's job market, college graduates are not bound to one type of job opportunity. History majors from Virginia Tech have found employment in Higher Education, Law, Politics, Public Policy, Business, Marketing, Information Technology, Information Management, International Affairs, Local & State Government, and the Federal Government. They have found opportunities in many different locations across the United Students. A person who finds a job depends on how much they are willing to network with other professionals and be strategic and intentional with their job search strategies.
Dr. Tammy Leonard
Chair & Associate Professor, Co-Director Community Assistance ResearchUniversity of Dallas
Economics Department
What experience really stands out on Client Development Manager resumes?
Dr. Tammy Leonard: I always tell my students that the experience that stands out is the one they own. It's been tough for students to get the same "traditional" internship experience during the pandemic. However, there are still plenty of opportunities to contribute to those willing to own those responsibilities. At UD, my Community Assistance Research (CARE) group leads an academic-community partnership with local nonprofits. We have had students creating internships out of volunteer opportunities with these organizations serving the many households adversely affected by the pandemic. Even if it's a tiny part of a project or an unpaid role, students who take ownership of something ultimately exemplify leadership, responsibility, and impact. When students go off for internships, I often encourage them to check in a month or so into the engagement, and we talk about what they can own and what they are going to do with it.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Client Development Managers?
Dr. Tammy Leonard: "Some students have flourished in the online learning environment, and others have not. I fear employers may interpret these differences as indicators of something more than they are. Indeed, some students are more capable of managing their time than others, which is one factor that employers care about. Still, students also really learn in many different ways -and the sudden change in learning formats affected some learners more than others.
Also, Covid impacted the external situation of some students much more than others. The pandemic could further amplify disparities between different types of learners and students from diverse socio-economic backgrounds. One way to remedy this is for employers to be very forthright in asking students how they adjusted to the changing learning environment. It's unlikely the learning environment will ever go 100% back to what it used to be, so this change (and asking about this change) is here for the next several years. Employers need to be aware of the vast heterogeneity in pandemic impacts; those differences are large and likely will endure for some time.
Employers that care about equal opportunity and diversity need to be even more aware that the landscape has changed and disparities are potentially more extensive than ever before. For example, I have one student who has moved from a solid A student to an A/B student during the pandemic. That same student is managing more than one job and relying on an old computer. Another student has moved from an A/B student to more of an A student. That student is still good, but they benefit from the fact that many exams are an open book because of the online format, and there are fewer social distractions. Employers need to seek out this information when making comparisons-now more than ever."
What type of skills will young Client Development Managers need?
Dr. Tammy Leonard: The acceleration of remote working has amplified the need for strong technical communication skills. Face-to-face communication is a rarer commodity than it was before the pandemic, and I believe some of that will endure. Graduates need to understand that communication is not one step of the process but is incorporated into everything they do. The way an Excel workbook is structured, how they organize their boss's requests, and the way they phrase questions-these are all necessary forms of technical communication that occur before the point at which most graduates think that the "communication part" of a project begins. Students are getting a chance to understand this if they critically examine how course content is being taught throughout the pandemic. What styles work well? When something doesn't work...where did it start going off track?
What Client Development Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. LIsa Gardner Ph.D.: Interviewing skills - if you don't interview well, it's hard to find a job. Coaching about these skills can be gained through university career placement offices, friends who work in HR, and role-playing with someone who will give you feedback. Be clear about your strengths and how they relate to any position you may apply for. Self-knowledge, input from those who know you best, and a tool like Clifton Strengthfinders can be helpful here. Expand your network of contacts by reaching out to friends and family members, as well as classmates. Use LinkedIn. Attend virtual job fairs and professional conferences, if possible, and network there. Ask people for their perspectives about job skills and how your match-up. Let people know that you are looking for work.
If it suits your interests, developing additional computer programming skills in Python, SQL, and R will help you open opportunities.
What Client Development Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Kaustav Misra Ph.D.: This pandemic taught us many things and one important thing that we have an efficiency gap.
The way of doing business will be much more technology orientated. Hence graduates should be ready to unskill and upskill their credentials. This time it is necessary to forget the old way of doing business and learn new skills to get a job or stay in a current job. Soft skills have become much more important than before, but a different soft skill set would be essential to interact with future market participants. Thus, a gap year should be utilized to unskill-upskill and enhance relevant credentials by getting into short-long term programs, training, and workshops would be highly recommended.
Dr. Vallari Chandna
Chair and Associate ProfessorUniversity of Wisconsin - Green Bay
Marketing and Management Department
What type of skills will young Client Development Managers need?
Dr. Vallari Chandna: Critically, for all graduates, expertise or interests, in sustainability will be important. The reason behind this is the shift in looking at sustainability holistically and not just as something one-person does. This would also give an edge to those with degrees, specifically in sustainability. Graduates with degrees related to sustainability will often be asked to oversee or manage these across-the-board sustainability endeavors. Also, soft skills are highly desired. The ability to be better at time management, work in teams, and have a strong work ethic, will be more desirable. These are all interconnected with remote work as well. Employees who "thrived" in the pandemic were those able to manage their work-life balance, work remotely in teams, all the while performing well. The skills are thus "transferable" to both modalities of work in this way.