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The position of Community Development Director is integral to the success of local initiatives and community engagement projects. According to the latest data, the average annual salary for this role is $109,396, with a typical hourly wage of $53. Salaries can vary significantly based on factors such as location, years of experience, and the specific sector of employment.
For instance, greater compensation is often found in urban areas where the demand for community development services is higher. States like California and New York consistently offer some of the highest salaries for Community Development Directors. Additionally, those with advanced degrees or extensive experience may command higher pay.
Job opportunities in this field include roles in government agencies, non-profits, and private organizations focused on community enhancement. To explore current openings and salary trends, visit job boards like Zippia, where you can find tailored job listings and salary insights that meet your career interests.
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The average community development director salary in California, Nevada, and New York are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average community development director salary states are Alaska, Florida, and Wyoming.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Mexico | $120,427 | $57.90 |
| 2 | Nevada | $127,704 | $61.40 |
| 3 | Arizona | $113,682 | $54.65 |
| 4 | Louisiana | $108,916 | $52.36 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $120,355 | $57.86 |
| 6 | South Dakota | $105,691 | $50.81 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $114,051 | $54.83 |
| 8 | California | $133,052 | $63.97 |
| 9 | Delaware | $124,254 | $59.74 |
| 10 | New York | $124,559 | $59.88 |
| 11 | Iowa | $111,083 | $53.41 |
| 12 | Ohio | $108,035 | $51.94 |
| 13 | North Dakota | $104,456 | $50.22 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $122,638 | $58.96 |
| 15 | Arkansas | $100,005 | $48.08 |
| 16 | Kansas | $100,819 | $48.47 |
| 17 | West Virginia | $91,459 | $43.97 |
| 18 | Wisconsin | $98,954 | $47.57 |
| 19 | Illinois | $107,385 | $51.63 |
| 20 | Washington | $109,467 | $52.63 |
| 21 | Vermont | $108,273 | $52.05 |
| 22 | Minnesota | $95,785 | $46.05 |
| 23 | Missouri | $99,471 | $47.82 |
| 24 | Texas | $102,205 | $49.14 |
| 25 | Maryland | $95,775 | $46.05 |
| 26 | Rhode Island | $101,998 | $49.04 |
| 27 | Connecticut | $101,310 | $48.71 |
| 28 | Kentucky | $94,028 | $45.21 |
| 29 | Georgia | $91,245 | $43.87 |
| 30 | Indiana | $92,958 | $44.69 |
| 31 | North Carolina | $88,393 | $42.50 |
| 32 | District of Columbia | $91,711 | $44.09 |
| 33 | Michigan | $88,681 | $42.64 |
| 34 | Oklahoma | $82,801 | $39.81 |
| 35 | Oregon | $95,660 | $45.99 |
| 36 | Alabama | $81,812 | $39.33 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $88,039 | $42.33 |
| 38 | Maine | $83,927 | $40.35 |
| 39 | Virginia | $95,985 | $46.15 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $81,300 | $39.09 |
| 41 | Montana | $82,522 | $39.67 |
| 42 | Massachusetts | $90,149 | $43.34 |
| 43 | Alaska | $80,756 | $38.83 |
| 44 | Mississippi | $75,670 | $36.38 |
| 45 | Idaho | $87,575 | $42.10 |
| 46 | Hawaii | $71,478 | $34.36 |
| 47 | Colorado | $87,091 | $41.87 |
| 48 | Florida | $78,959 | $37.96 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $76,777 | $36.91 |
| 50 | Utah | $82,760 | $39.79 |
| 51 | Wyoming | $77,235 | $37.13 |
The highest-paying cities for community development directors are San Jose, CA, Las Vegas, NV, and New York, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $139,469 | $67.05 |
| 2 | Las Vegas, NV | $130,482 | $62.73 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $125,583 | $60.38 |
| 4 | Phoenix, AZ | $114,983 | $55.28 |
| 5 | Baton Rouge, LA | $110,641 | $53.19 |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $110,142 | $52.95 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $107,848 | $51.85 |
| 8 | Cincinnati, OH | $106,570 | $51.24 |
| 9 | Houston, TX | $102,451 | $49.26 |
| 10 | Kansas City, KS | $102,270 | $49.17 |
| 11 | Eugene, OR | $97,107 | $46.69 |
| 12 | Kansas City, MO | $96,696 | $46.49 |
| 13 | Alexandria, VA | $96,523 | $46.41 |
| 14 | Baltimore, MD | $95,861 | $46.09 |
| 15 | Minneapolis, MN | $95,838 | $46.08 |
| 16 | Raleigh, NC | $90,151 | $43.34 |
| 17 | Denver, CO | $86,906 | $41.78 |
| 18 | Enid, OK | $82,690 | $39.75 |
| 19 | Port Charlotte, FL | $80,617 | $38.76 |
| 20 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $71,641 | $34.44 |
A community development director's salary ranges from $70,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $169,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $169,000 | $14,083 | $81 |
| 75th Percentile | $137,000 | $11,417 | $66 |
| Average | $109,396 | $9,116 | $53 |
| 25th Percentile | $86,000 | $7,167 | $41 |
| 10th Percentile | $70,000 | $5,833 | $34 |
The highest paying types of community development directors are vice president of communication, development vice president, and director, customer relations.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Publications Manager | $94,155 | $7,846 | $45.27 | 18,211 |
| Director, Customer Relations | $134,672 | $11,223 | $64.75 | 26,470 |
| Director Of Public Affairs | $114,639 | $9,553 | $55.11 | 26,290 |
| Public Relations Manager | $91,426 | $7,619 | $43.95 | 35,273 |
| Manager Of Corporate Communications | $84,161 | $7,013 | $40.46 | 34,908 |
| Director Of Outreach | $69,369 | $5,781 | $33.35 | 17,318 |
Top companies hiring community development directors now:
Community development director salaries at Bazaarvoice and APA Services are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average community development director salary at companies like U.S. Bank and Icma-rc are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bazaarvoice | $156,902 | $75.43 |
| 2 | APA Services | $118,761 | $57.10 |
| 3 | U.S. Bank | $115,700 | $55.63 |
| 4 | Icma-rc | $108,832 | $52.32 |
| 5 | Harris Health System | $104,556 | $50.27 |
| 6 | Jewish Fed of Tulsa | $104,433 | $50.21 |
| 7 | Fifth Third Bank | $101,859 | $48.97 |
| 8 | Community Health Choice | $101,069 | $48.59 |
| 9 | Piper Jaffray | $97,342 | $46.80 |
| 10 | Circle International Inc | $96,725 | $46.50 |
| 11 | Bon Secours Community Hospital | $96,204 | $46.25 |
| 12 | Kansas City Kansas Community College | $95,891 | $46.10 |
| 13 | City of Largo | $88,253 | $42.43 |
| 14 | Colonial Heights Public Schools | $86,491 | $41.58 |
| 15 | Minnesota Limited | $82,021 | $39.43 |
| 16 | The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society | $77,014 | $37.03 |
| 17 | City of Reno | $76,924 | $36.98 |
| 18 | Valley of the Sun United Way | $76,019 | $36.55 |
| 19 | City Of Ceres | $74,164 | $35.66 |
| 20 | City of Tacoma | $73,852 | $35.51 |
The average community development director salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manufacturing | $92,043 | $44.25 |
| 2 | Health Care | $87,346 | $41.99 |
| 3 | Hospitality | $86,873 | $41.77 |
| 4 | Non Profits | $82,843 | $39.83 |
| 5 | Education | $78,050 | $37.52 |
| 6 | Government | $73,541 | $35.36 |
The average community development director salary has risen by $25,696 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average community development director earned $83,700 annually, but today, they earn $109,396 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for community development directors over the last decade.
Compare community development director salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare community development director salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $109,000 | $52.59 | +3.9% |
| 2024 | $105,000 | $50.54 | +2.0% |
| 2023 | $103,000 | $49.51 | +3.1% |
| 2022 | $99,800 | $47.99 | +3.6% |
| 2021 | $96,300 | $46.28 | +3.0% |
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