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The differences between development directors and development managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a development director, becoming a development manager takes usually requires 8-10 years. Additionally, a development manager has an average salary of $110,678, which is higher than the $107,044 average annual salary of a development director.
The top three skills for a development director include digital marketing, oversight and patients. The most important skills for a development manager are project management, customer service, and patients.
| Development Director | Development Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $107,044 | $110,678 |
| Hourly rate | $51.46 | $53.21 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 63,008 | 111,137 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 42 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 10 |
A development director is an individual who is responsible for securing funds and sponsors for non-profit organizations. Development directors must actively seek new business partners and develop relationships with volunteers and donors. They meet with members of the development team to help advertise and promote brand awareness and funding. Development directors must possess skills and experience in managing human resources, marketing, and budgeting functions. They must also obtain a bachelor's degree in business management, public relations, or related field.
A development manager is responsible for assisting existing clients or potential clients of the services they need. A development manager serves as the initial point of contact for the clients to answer their inquiries and concerns before proceeding with a contract. Development managers usually arrange meetings with clients, analyze business opportunities, improve marketing initiatives to attract clients, research the industry's latest trends, create proposals, and assist in training new staff members. A development manager must have excellent communication and leadership skills to handle staff performance and build professional relationships with clients.
Development directors and development managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Development Director | Development Manager | |
| Average salary | $107,044 | $110,678 |
| Salary range | Between $64,000 And $177,000 | Between $76,000 And $159,000 |
| Highest paying City | Jersey City, NJ | Richmond, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | California |
| Best paying company | Cornerstone Research | Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld |
| Best paying industry | - | Technology |
There are a few differences between a development director and a development manager in terms of educational background:
| Development Director | Development Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of Georgia |
Here are the differences between development directors' and development managers' demographics:
| Development Director | Development Manager | |
| Average age | 42 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 50.2% Female, 49.8% | Male, 60.5% Female, 39.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 9.2% Asian, 5.1% White, 74.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 3.0% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 8.2% White, 74.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 10% |