Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
What is a director of economic development and how to become one
The director of economic development leads and oversees the economic development programs in the city. Ultimately, their goal is to improve and stabilize the local economy, and they do this by ensuring that all economic development programs are developed and implemented properly.
The specific duties of a director of economic development generally include developing economic programs, conducting research and market analysis, managing subordinate staff, communicating with government officials, and maintaining good relationships with both the public and private sector. In terms of the working environment, a director of economic development usually works in a private office and receives support from administrative staff.
The most ideal educational background for this role is an advanced degree in economics. Apart from that, a director of economic development must have years--if not decades--of experience to ensure that they have the skills and knowledge needed to make the best decisions for the local economy. For their critical role in the city, a director of economic development earns an average of $90,000 per year. The highest-earning directors are, of course, in the bigger cities with the most high-performing economies.
Avg. Salary $107,578
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 8%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.42%
Asian 5.12%
Black or African American 5.97%
Hispanic or Latino 9.12%
Unknown 4.66%
White 74.70%
Genderfemale 35.87%
male 64.13%
Age - 41American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 41Stress level is very high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is advanced
7 - challenging
Work life balance is poor
6.4 - fair
Director of economic development career paths
Key steps to become a director of economic development
Explore director of economic development education requirements
Start to develop specific director of economic development skills
Skills Percentages Business Development 12.42% Project Management 12.24% Real Estate 7.55% Global Health 6.58% Community Development 6.53% Complete relevant director of economic development training and internships
Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New directors of economic development learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a director of economic development based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real director of economic development resumes.Research director of economic development duties and responsibilities
- Lead and manage the implementation of the Medicaid network contract optimization initiatives.
- Manage domestic and international travel arrangements including transportation, lodging, and logistics for individuals and groups utilizing travel management systems.
- Serve as interim Texas Medicaid CFO for several months until a replacement CFO are hired.
- Manage domestic and international travel arrangements including transportation, lodging, and logistics for individuals and groups utilizing travel management systems.
Get director of economic development experience
Generally, it takes 2-4 years to become a director of economic development. The most common roles before becoming a director of economic development include executive director, director team lead and manager.Prepare your director of economic development resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your director of economic development resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a director of economic development resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable director of economic development resume templates
Build a professional director of economic development resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your director of economic development resume.
Apply for director of economic development jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a director of economic development job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first director of economic development job
Are you a director of economic development?
Share your story for a free salary report.
Average director of economic development salary
The average director of economic development salary in the United States is $107,578 per year or $52 per hour. Director of economic development salaries range between $64,000 and $180,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do directors of economic development rate their job?
Updated January 8, 2025
