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Best states for a director of product development
Quoted expert
Davide , Ph.D. Bolchini Ph.D.
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Are you thinking of becoming a director of product development and really want to work at American Red Cross? Turns out, your chances to become a director of product development are better in some states than others.Turns out, the median salary for the highest 10% of directors of product development in America is $196,000.
We figured that the best places for director of product development jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.We found that the South is best for directors of product development, and the Northeast is the worst. San Mateo, CA is the best city in the country for director of product development jobs, where as California is the best state in the country.
10 best states for directors of product development in 2026
1. California
Total director of product development jobs: 9,318 Average annual salary: $162,355 Lowest 10 percent earn: $116,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $227,000 Location Quotient: 1.24
2. Nevada
Total director of product development jobs: 578 Average annual salary: $145,227 Lowest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $205,000 Location Quotient: 1.08
3. Texas
Total director of product development jobs: 6,250 Average annual salary: $140,773 Lowest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $197,000 Location Quotient: 1.2
4. Washington
Total director of product development jobs: 1,977 Average annual salary: $152,892 Lowest 10 percent earn: $109,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $213,000 Location Quotient: 1.06
5. New York
Total director of product development jobs: 4,015 Average annual salary: $144,542 Lowest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $200,000 Location Quotient: 1.22
6. Michigan
Total director of product development jobs: 1,922 Average annual salary: $141,681 Lowest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $197,000 Location Quotient: 0.97
7. Wisconsin
Total director of product development jobs: 1,456 Average annual salary: $135,812 Lowest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $188,000 Location Quotient: 1.03
8. New Jersey
Total director of product development jobs: 2,089 Average annual salary: $144,010 Lowest 10 percent earn: $103,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $199,000 Location Quotient: 1.03
9. Rhode Island
Total director of product development jobs: 376 Average annual salary: $133,098 Lowest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $185,000 Location Quotient: 1.21
10. Montana
Total director of product development jobs: 372 Average annual salary: $132,806 Lowest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $182,000 Location Quotient: 1.26
Director of product development jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a director of product development
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a director of product development
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $162,355 | $116,000 | 39,536,653 | 9,318 |
| 2 | Nevada | $145,227 | $102,000 | 2,998,039 | 578 |
| 3 | Texas | $140,773 | $100,000 | 28,304,596 | 6,250 |
| 4 | Washington | $152,892 | $109,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,977 |
| 5 | New York | $144,542 | $104,000 | 19,849,399 | 4,015 |
| 6 | Michigan | $141,681 | $101,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,922 |
| 7 | Wisconsin | $135,812 | $98,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,456 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $144,010 | $103,000 | 9,005,644 | 2,089 |
| 9 | Rhode Island | $133,098 | $95,000 | 1,059,639 | 376 |
| 10 | Montana | $132,806 | $96,000 | 1,050,493 | 372 |
| 11 | Arizona | $134,287 | $94,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,784 |
| 12 | Oregon | $136,892 | $96,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,231 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $131,460 | $94,000 | 12,805,537 | 3,571 |
| 14 | Massachusetts | $137,602 | $98,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,658 |
| 15 | Ohio | $132,535 | $95,000 | 11,658,609 | 2,409 |
| 16 | Idaho | $138,801 | $98,000 | 1,716,943 | 259 |
| 17 | West Virginia | $135,652 | $97,000 | 1,815,857 | 243 |
| 18 | Arkansas | $129,694 | $94,000 | 3,004,279 | 692 |
| 19 | Virginia | $141,928 | $102,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,680 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $137,565 | $98,000 | 1,342,795 | 293 |
| 21 | New Mexico | $130,552 | $92,000 | 2,088,070 | 557 |
| 22 | North Carolina | $134,845 | $97,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,668 |
| 23 | Delaware | $140,266 | $101,000 | 961,939 | 159 |
| 24 | Kansas | $130,522 | $95,000 | 2,913,123 | 713 |
| 25 | Kentucky | $130,665 | $94,000 | 4,454,189 | 747 |
| 26 | Alabama | $127,238 | $92,000 | 4,874,747 | 1,062 |
| 27 | District of Columbia | $129,504 | $93,000 | 693,972 | 564 |
| 28 | Maryland | $139,266 | $100,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,051 |
| 29 | Illinois | $131,419 | $95,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,631 |
| 30 | Minnesota | $123,981 | $90,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,976 |
| 31 | Connecticut | $132,253 | $95,000 | 3,588,184 | 625 |
| 32 | Indiana | $124,810 | $90,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,364 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $122,779 | $89,000 | 6,715,984 | 1,244 |
| 34 | Maine | $127,277 | $90,000 | 1,335,907 | 184 |
| 35 | Mississippi | $116,330 | $84,000 | 2,984,100 | 566 |
| 36 | Missouri | $123,102 | $89,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,226 |
| 37 | Florida | $120,440 | $85,000 | 20,984,400 | 3,937 |
| 38 | Iowa | $121,602 | $88,000 | 3,145,711 | 670 |
| 39 | North Dakota | $116,014 | $85,000 | 755,393 | 240 |
| 40 | Georgia | $116,190 | $84,000 | 10,429,379 | 2,919 |
| 41 | South Dakota | $116,008 | $85,000 | 869,666 | 246 |
| 42 | Utah | $117,041 | $83,000 | 3,101,833 | 834 |
| 43 | Vermont | $118,309 | $84,000 | 623,657 | 184 |
| 44 | Alaska | $111,691 | $85,000 | 739,795 | 221 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $110,342 | $79,000 | 4,684,333 | 860 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $107,915 | $78,000 | 3,930,864 | 822 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $107,048 | $78,000 | 1,920,076 | 594 |
| 48 | Colorado | $117,567 | $85,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,154 |
| 49 | Hawaii | $115,596 | $82,000 | 1,427,538 | 193 |
| 50 | Wyoming | $115,232 | $84,000 | 579,315 | 88 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $111,671 | $81,000 | 5,024,369 | 803 |
Highest paying states for directors of product development
| Rank | State | Avg. Director Of Product Development Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $162,355 |
| 2 | Nevada | $145,227 |
| 3 | Texas | $140,773 |
| 4 | Washington | $152,892 |
| 5 | New York | $144,542 |
| 6 | Michigan | $141,681 |
| 7 | Wisconsin | $135,812 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $144,010 |
| 9 | Rhode Island | $133,098 |
| 10 | Montana | $132,806 |
| 11 | Arizona | $134,287 |
| 12 | Oregon | $136,892 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $131,460 |
| 14 | Massachusetts | $137,602 |
| 15 | Ohio | $132,535 |
| 16 | Idaho | $138,801 |
| 17 | West Virginia | $135,652 |
| 18 | Arkansas | $129,694 |
| 19 | Virginia | $141,928 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $137,565 |
| 21 | New Mexico | $130,552 |
| 22 | North Carolina | $134,845 |
| 23 | Delaware | $140,266 |
| 24 | Kansas | $130,522 |
| 25 | Kentucky | $130,665 |
| 26 | Alabama | $127,238 |
| 27 | District of Columbia | $129,504 |
| 28 | Maryland | $139,266 |
| 29 | Illinois | $131,419 |
| 30 | Minnesota | $123,981 |
| 31 | Connecticut | $132,253 |
| 32 | Indiana | $124,810 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $122,779 |
| 34 | Maine | $127,277 |
| 35 | Mississippi | $116,330 |
| 36 | Missouri | $123,102 |
| 37 | Florida | $120,440 |
| 38 | Iowa | $121,602 |
| 39 | North Dakota | $116,014 |
| 40 | Georgia | $116,190 |
| 41 | South Dakota | $116,008 |
| 42 | Utah | $117,041 |
| 43 | Vermont | $118,309 |
| 44 | Alaska | $111,691 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $110,342 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $107,915 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $107,048 |
| 48 | Colorado | $117,567 |
| 49 | Hawaii | $115,596 |
| 50 | Wyoming | $115,232 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $111,671 |
Expert opinions on the best states for directors of product development
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Directors of product development to find work opportunities?
Davide , Ph.D. Bolchini Ph.D.
Professor and Chair, Director, Human-Computer Interaction Program, Indiana University
With the many remote work opportunities for our MS HCI graduates, physical location is less relevant than before, and flexibility becomes key. UX job opportunities are plenty in the Midwest, as well as on the East and West Coast, and the roles and competitiveness of these positions vary greatly based on the nature of the organization and the industry ecosystem.
Director of product development best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025