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Job outlook for development specialists in the United States
Development specialist job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected development specialist job growth rate is 8% from 2018-2028.
About 28,900 new jobs for development specialists are projected over the next decade.
Development specialist salaries have increased 6% for development specialists in the last 5 years.
There are over 9,875 development specialists currently employed in the United States.
There are 97,188 active development specialist job openings in the US.
The average development specialist salary is $60,344.
Are development specialist jobs in demand?
Development specialist job and salary trends over time
Development specialist jobs over time
Development specialist job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 9,875 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 9,346 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 9,182 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 8,562 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 8,238 | 0.00% |
Average development specialist salary over time
Development specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $60,344 | $29.01 | +2.4% |
| 2025 | $58,910 | $28.32 | +0.6% |
| 2024 | $58,582 | $28.16 | +0.8% |
| 2023 | $58,092 | $27.93 | +2.3% |
| 2022 | $56,802 | $27.31 | +1.4% |
Development specialist jobs by state
Most common states for development specialists
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 240 | 35% |
| 2 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 353 | 26% |
| 3 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 197 | 26% |
| 4 | Alaska | 739,795 | 196 | 26% |
| 5 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 255 | 24% |
| 6 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 725 | 23% |
| 7 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 200 | 23% |
| 8 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,227 | 22% |
| 9 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 422 | 22% |
| 10 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,293 | 21% |
| 11 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 283 | 21% |
| 12 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 2,048 | 20% |
| 13 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 1,380 | 20% |
| 14 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 586 | 20% |
| 15 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 565 | 19% |
| 16 | Delaware | 961,939 | 184 | 19% |
| 17 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 1,026 | 18% |
| 18 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 385 | 18% |
| 19 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 1,786 | 17% |
| 20 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 1,126 | 17% |
Most common cities for development specialists
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middletown | 4 | 9% | $76,587 |
| 2 | Fort Myers | 5 | 6% | $42,674 |
| 3 | Santa Clara | 5 | 4% | $71,443 |
| 4 | Atlanta | 13 | 3% | $46,561 |
| 5 | Boston | 14 | 2% | $70,539 |
| 6 | Des Moines | 4 | 2% | $52,124 |
| 7 | Tallahassee | 4 | 2% | $43,255 |
| 8 | Detroit | 7 | 1% | $67,918 |
| 9 | Sacramento | 6 | 1% | $71,283 |
| 10 | Washington | 6 | 1% | $70,218 |
| 11 | Miami | 5 | 1% | $42,032 |
| 12 | San Francisco | 5 | 1% | $72,052 |
| 13 | Wichita | 5 | 1% | $51,782 |
| 14 | Minneapolis | 4 | 1% | $60,144 |
| 15 | New Orleans | 4 | 1% | $40,367 |
| 16 | Birmingham | 3 | 1% | $46,232 |
| 17 | Chicago | 10 | 0% | $68,069 |
| 18 | Los Angeles | 7 | 0% | $63,341 |
| 19 | Baltimore | 3 | 0% | $69,185 |
Development Specialist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of development specialist experts
Texas A&M University - Central Texas
University of Alaska Fairbanks
University of Nebraska - Omaha
Ohio University
Clemson University
Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP)
West Virginia State University
American University
The University of Texas at Arlington
University of Redlands
University of Utah
Advance CTE
Rowan University
The Ohio State University at Lima
University of the Ozarks
North Carolina Central University
ETSTech-Ops
Forsyth County, Georgia
University of Wisconsin - Madison
What general advice would you give to a Development Specialist?
Chad Miller Ph.D.: The study of economics and the practice of economic development are different. Economic developers need to understand how a local economy operates and basic macro/micro economics, but business and finance are more important skills than understanding economics. Economic developers typically work for local or state government organizations, chambers of commerce, or regional public-private partnerships marketing to attract business investment, retain and expand existing industry, or conduct small and entrepreneurial development programs in order create quality jobs, wealth, increase the tax base, and improve quality of life of a community. Economic developers need to be a 'jack of all trades' as they need to understand marketing, real estate development, public financing, business decision making, politics, as well as, other academic areas. Since so much different expertise is required, the ability to network is essential in order to utilize specific expertise needed to make the business investment happen.
What Development Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Chad Miller Ph.D.: For those entering the field having GIS mapping skills and graphic design/data visualization skills are great assets to get your foot in the door. Typically, salaries and opportunities increase dramatically with 2-3 years of economic development experience.
Allen Redmon Ph.D.
Dean, College of Arts and SciencesTexas A&M University - Central Texas
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
What general advice would you give to a Development Specialist?
Allen Redmon Ph.D.: Those who want to maximize their earning potential should consider a company’s culture as much as the job they are taking. Every company has its own culture. Those who find the right culture for them and grow into that culture will fare better than those who just accept a job without considering the culture of a company. Those who take a job without considering the culture will almost always experience a mismatch at some point, which will require them to look for a new job sooner than expected.
What Development Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Allen Redmon Ph.D.: One essential job trait that doesn’t get discussed enough is empathy, the ability to develop processes, statements, and objectives with the client, customer, or user in mind. Those employees or companies who start from a place of empathy will always outpace those who do not.
What general advice would you give to a Development Specialist?
Jaunelle Celaire: Never stop learning! This may consist of going back to school, earning new certifications in your field of study, attending conferences and seminars, and making sure that your time management is always at its finest level of excellence.
What Development Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Jaunelle Celaire: Leadership - the world needs more of these; the ability to lead, craft and grow. Digital literacy - this world is definitely turning digital and virtual is the new trend. Emotional intelligence - there is a vast number of personalities in our world today; individuals grow and it is our job to stay emotionally connected, so we can operate more effectively.
What will help Development Specialists increase their earning potential?
Jaunelle Celaire: Learn from everything. Remember every moment is a learning opportunity from everyone around you, no matter their title. Pay attention when things go well and clue in and pay extra attention when they do not; watch how people react to it. Build relationships and network with the people who face problems by being their solution.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Development Specialist job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Dustin White Ph.D.: I think that the biggest trend that we should expect to see in the job market (both during the pandemic and after) is an acknowledgement that remote work can be effective in many kinds of jobs. This should lead to increased flexibility in location for job seekers. Previously, most companies were very reluctant to hire remote workers. The pandemic should have changed that opinion for many firms. If companies are reluctant to accept remote work and can't give a good reason why, they are likely to lose a competitive edge to more flexible workplaces.
Brian Collins Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Chair & Drs. Ram and Sushila Gawande Chair in Indian Religion and PhilosophyOhio University
College of Arts and Sciences
What soft skills should all Development Specialists possess?
Brian Collins Ph.D.: Intercultural competency and critical thinking are absolutely essential to dealing with our increasingly diverse and fragmented society.
What skills will help Development Specialists earn the most?
Brian Collins Ph.D.: The ability to deal with change, the only constant in life, is the product of a humanities education and is also what puts people in the running for promotion within an organization or allows them to get hired into new and often largely undefined positions that require someone who can navigate the shifting sands.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Development Specialist job market given the pandemic?
Curtis Simon: I think it is hard to gauge the impact of the pandemic. We know that downturns in economic activity have a negative impact on cohorts entering the labor market, and historically, that negative impact persists in the form of depressed earnings for many years. So that's a guess.
Dr. Tammy Manko Ed.D.
DirectorIndiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP)
Career and Professional Development Center, Academic Affairs
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Development Specialist job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Tammy Manko Ed.D.: We'll see an increased need for change management and agile responses. We'll also see an increase in the number of interviews being conducted virtually. More workplaces will conduct onboarding virtually and use flexible and hybrid work schedules, more specifically those including work-from-home or virtual work, at least temporarily, if not more permanently. We will see continued hiring and organizational growth, despite concerns from many regarding the job market. All industries will experience an increased need for upskilling and reskilling of employees. Technological skills will be in high demand and so will human skills, such as emotional intelligence, negotiation, nonverbal communication, collaboration, and change agility.
Dr. Mark Wilson
Associate Professor of EconomicsWest Virginia State University
Economics Department
What skills stand out on Development Specialist resumes?
Dr. Mark Wilson: Job skills that stand out: two skills that every job seeker should now cultivate are: proficiency with spreadsheets and proficiency with online conferencing (e.g., Zoom, Skype). Most graduates have low skills in spreadsheets and will be trying to learn these skills on-the-fly. Proficient spreadsheet users are able to take their skills to the next level. As for teleconferencing, we are just scratching the surface of what COVID has taught us about online meetings. Newbies in the job market should be skilled enough in teleconferencing that they can share screens, do hosting, and know etiquette of conference calling.
What skills stand out on Development Specialist resumes?
Evan Kraft Ph.D.: In general, employers are usually looking for people who can take initiative and responsibility. Specific skills such as computer programming, knowledge of useful software are great, but a job candidate's ability to express themselves, their confidence and ability to communicate, and their interpersonal skills are still very important. The AU degree and specific knowledge students gathered at AU can be a big plus, along with these other qualities.
What skills stand out on Development Specialist resumes?
Michael Ward: Doing well in coursework is great, but what sells a job candidate is the initiative in an activity that shows that you have synthesized and applied what you have learned across multiple courses. This is a big ask but, there are plenty of ways to do this. You can join an extra-curricular club, but better is providing the leadership to enhance the club experience. You can take a part-time job, but better is founding a small entrepreneurial business that fills an unmet need. You can write term papers for classes, but better is helping draft and implement action plans for, say, a non-profit. If you have an interest in a hobby, a sport, or an industry, show that you have developed it into an expertise. All resumes include coursework, but activities that demonstrate initiative will stand out.
Johannes Moenius Ph.D.
William R. and S. Sue Johnson Endowed Chair of Spatial Economic Analysis and Regional Planning and Director of the Institute for Spatial Economic Analysis (ISEA) at the University of Redlands School of BusinessUniversity of Redlands
School of Business
What type of skills will young Development Specialists need?
Johannes Moenius Ph.D.: Everyone talks about STEM, soft skills, high levels of expertise, and management. Our own analysis shows that this is likely not going to be correct across the board. Street math (i.e., addition, subtracting, etc.) is already done by calculators everywhere. Not all jobs require higher levels of math. Our research has especially shown that there is substantial regional variation in skill requirements, so there is no one size fits all. However, there are some sets of skills that ranked first in our research almost across the board, specifically, fundamental skills like reading comprehension and writing. Combined with communication skills and entrepreneurial attitudes, these are workforce skills and traits that will be almost universal.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Development Specialists to find work opportunities?
Sarah Kovalesky: This is kind of like the common, "what do I do with this degree" question I get as a Career Coach. I wish I had a magical folder to pull out with all of the answers in one place. Location and its place in the job search are based on the individual. It will be a non-negotiable, while for others, it might just be another factor to consider. As I mentioned, with the pandemic's impact, there is so much that a graduate could do with a psychology degree that could take them all over the country.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Development Specialists?
Kimberly Green: Career Technical Education (CTE) instructors are the backbone of high-quality and equitable delivery of CTE. Today's educational landscape brings new challenges to the delivery of CTE but in that challenge is the opportunity for CTE instructors to be creative in developing and delivering high-quality CTE programs in virtual or socially distanced environments. Designing with equity and quality in mind, especially for learners who face multiple barriers to engaged virtual learning, is vital. Facing the dual challenge of being a new educator and doing so in a remote and/or hybrid environments, we encourage new instructors to look to their state CTE agencies as their partners and sources of best practices, support and information. For more information on your state CTE agency, visit https://careertech.org/cte-your-state.
Dr. Kate Seltzer Ph.D.
Assistant ProfessorRowan University
Department of Language, Literacy and Sociocultural education
How would you rate the starting salaries for Development Specialists, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Dr. Kate Seltzer Ph.D.: Educators are not paid nearly enough. However, working in a state with strong teachers' unions helps to ensure a starting salary that recent graduates can live off of and growth opportunities, albeit modest, over their careers.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Development Specialists to find work opportunities?
Leah Herner-Patnode: Usually, urban areas of bigger cities and southern states, such as North Carolina, have many openings. Maine, Florida, California, Hawaii, Washington, and Texas are the most open positions.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Development Specialists to find work opportunities?
Ruth Walton: There are tons of employment opportunities across this country. During the past few months, there have been more and more remote jobs too! Yet, there must be a realization that the job market is very different for each geographic region. According to Bloomberg.com, in August 2020, there was an increase in the Performing Arts, Motion Pictures, and Electronics, and a decline in Facilities Support Services, Lodging, and Travel. According to the Bureau of Labor, if we research the fastest-growing occupations, we find 57% of the growth is in Healthcare, split pretty much in half by jobs requiring less than a bachelor's degree, and half requiring at least a master's degree.
Salary.com lists the seven best careers for the future as:
Healthcare
Information Technology
Alternative Energy
International Law
Marketing
Financial Analyst
Content Creator
If we narrow down our top growth sectors and jobs per Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma, we can see other industries.
Each of these three states shares top growth in Healthcare and Professional & Business Services. In Texas, we add Education and Engineering, and in Oklahoma, we add Education.
It is not to say that there are not Education jobs in Arkansas; it means that Texas and Oklahoma will have much more growth. Arkansas will still need teachers.
bloomberg
Bls
Salary
Elisha Blankson
Program Director NCCU, Assistant ProfessorNorth Carolina Central University
Communication Disorders Department
What type of skills will young Development Specialists need?
Elisha Blankson: Graduates will need a skill set about the field in which they received training and additional skills useful to the job market. For example, with the changing demographics in the United States, extra skills in information technology and foreign languages will be a plus when entering the job market.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Development Specialists to find work opportunities?
Nola Pearce: Depending on your chosen career scope, there are opportunities across the United States - urban, suburban, rural. If you have a wide range of interests and career experience, geographic possibilities are endless. If you are very specific within an industry, material, or application, there are pockets of locations that might be better than another. I recommend that you reach out to professionals within the industry or profession that you have interest in.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Development Specialists to find work opportunities?
Donna Kukarola: This one, not so sure of, the southeast continues to see options as well as mid-western states.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Development Specialists?
Donna Kukarola: The procurement field is an opportunity; each day will have its own set of challenges and opportunities. Obtaining the right item/service at the right time, at the right price, is not all that procurement does. They are strategic members, sourcing, timing, keeping up with trends, laws, best practices, and advising that the resource desired is already available!
This year, entering the workforce will be different for many interviews to be held electronically - even, perhaps, teleworking when they get the job. Training is a bit more of a challenge then, and it can be hard to get a real feel of the "attitude." Keeping an open mind and being flexible is a must; during this pandemic, we have all had to learn how to do our jobs differently and navigate our careers.
How do you envision technology impacting Development Specialists in the next 5 years?
Greg Reed: Real estate has been slow and reluctant to adapt to technological advances and find ways to harness data. Many industry disruptors have successfully demonstrated the ability to use technology and data to improve property performance through higher energy efficiency, analyzing performance metrics, and integrated systems that combine multiple operational property components. Being open to technological change and performing the cost benefit analyses required to gauge the value of technical implementation will be a required skill set.