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Job outlook for job development specialists in the United States
Job development specialist job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected job development specialist job growth rate is 8% from 2018-2028.
About 28,900 new jobs for job development specialists are projected over the next decade.
Job development specialist salaries have increased 6% for job development specialists in the last 5 years.
There are over 21,504 job development specialists currently employed in the United States.
There are 89,944 active job development specialist job openings in the US.
The average job development specialist salary is $38,626.
Are job development specialist jobs in demand?
Job development specialist job and salary trends over time
Job development specialist jobs over time
Job development specialist job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 21,504 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 19,177 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 18,852 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 17,754 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 16,628 | 0.01% |
Average job development specialist salary over time
Job development specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $38,626 | $18.57 | +2.4% |
| 2024 | $37,708 | $18.13 | +0.6% |
| 2023 | $37,499 | $18.03 | +0.8% |
| 2022 | $37,185 | $17.88 | +2.3% |
| 2021 | $36,359 | $17.48 | +1.4% |
Job development specialist jobs by state
Most common states for job development specialists
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 184 | 27% |
| 2 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 188 | 25% |
| 3 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 250 | 24% |
| 4 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 404 | 21% |
| 5 | Alaska | 739,795 | 154 | 21% |
| 6 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 178 | 20% |
| 7 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 525 | 17% |
| 8 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 485 | 17% |
| 9 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 358 | 17% |
| 10 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 1,630 | 16% |
| 11 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 1,113 | 16% |
| 12 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 463 | 15% |
| 13 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 925 | 14% |
| 14 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 852 | 14% |
| 15 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 833 | 14% |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 1,671 | 13% |
| 17 | Texas | 28,304,596 | 3,447 | 12% |
| 18 | Florida | 20,984,400 | 2,598 | 12% |
| 19 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 1,241 | 12% |
| 20 | Tennessee | 6,715,984 | 781 | 12% |
Job Development Specialist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of job development specialist experts
Texas A&M University - Central Texas
Saint Xavier University
University of Maryland Global Campus
University of California, Los Angeles
Michigan State University
ETSTech-Ops
The University of Tennessee - Knoxville
University of Wisconsin - Madison
Susquehanna University
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 Job 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.
David Parker LL.M. Human Rights Law, LL.M. National Security Law, JD, MBA, CFE
Associate ProfessorSaint Xavier University
Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services
What will help Job Development Specialists increase their earning potential?
David Parker LL.M. Human Rights Law, LL.M. National Security Law, JD, MBA, CFE: Build a proven record of experience and success (internships and volunteer work are excellent ways to achieve this).
Skills. Refer back to #2.
Negotiate. Know your market value and emphasize your value to the organization. Too many people 'leave money on the table' because they do not effectively negotiate their salary/compensation package. Many studies show this is particularly true of women.
Dr. Francine Blume Ph.D.
Assistant Vice PresidentUniversity of Maryland Global Campus
Career Development Office
What skills stand out on Job Development Specialist resumes?
Dr. Francine Blume Ph.D.: Skills that stand out depend on the field, but you always want to point out your tech skills, language skills and especially "soft" skills, such as communication and initiative.
For tech skills, you can demonstrate proficiency by citing certifications. For language skills, be as accurate as you can regarding proficiency in reading, writing, and speaking. For soft skills, make sure they are evident in the descriptions of your accomplishments and duties. Don't just say, "I have strong problem-solving skills and I learn fast." Anyone can say that, but you should quantify your experience and skills to demonstrate those soft skills.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Job Development Specialists to find work opportunities?
Hassan Akmal: Due to remote opportunities, the playing field has widely opened up. You can essentially work for almost any organization from where you are at the moment, at least for the time being. This actually increases the number of opportunities for you, as before, if you were out of state, you may have not been considered. That being said, there are still hot spots. They include: Top Metro Areas for Sociologists Source: 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Job Development Specialists in the next 3-5 years?
Dr. Phil Gardner Ph.D.: Technology - Data Science - the ability to interpret trends of data tracked in livestock production and then to prescribe changes in management. This is also huge in crop production.
Automation - in animal care and food processing to lower demand for human labor because there are shortages.
Will there be an increase or decrease in demand for Job Development Specialists in the next 5 years?
Dr. Phil Gardner Ph.D.: During the quarantine, we had strong demand for both interns and graduates - there were many programs at MSU that had many internships canceled due to covid. Americans now realize the importance of our food industry and supply chain as we all saw shortages in the stores - food production is essential. Areas such as poultry, swine, dairy and meat industry are winning the student recruitment battle because of competitive salaries. The demand for talent in production ag has been strong. We also have a few contract research organizations recruiting for study technicians. I predict that the trend of more animal science jobs than interested students will continue in the future.
Employers are offering jobs if students are doing a great job in their internship. MSU also had two-year programs offered through our Institute of Ag Technology, last fall. We had a first-year student get offered an internship in the fall with Kalmbach in Ohio, halfway through his summer internship, and he was offered a job. Because his courses are now online this semester, he is staying in Ohio, starting his new job, and finishing up his classes online.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Job 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.
Brad Morgan
Director of Career ServicesThe University of Tennessee - Knoxville
College of Law
What type of skills will young Job Development Specialists need?
Brad Morgan: With increased frequency, employers with whom we work emphasize the importance of new hires being able to demonstrate adaptability, effective communication, and efficiency. As the demands of not only consumers but regulatory bodies evolve, it is essential for those entering the workforce-and those who are already in the force-to acknowledge that just because we successfully employed one strategy years ago (or even last week) does not mean that we can use the same strategy with the same success in the future. Adaptability. Likewise, it is essential to communicate complex ideas and concepts in ways that simplify and add clarity to a discussion. Both of these skills contribute to workers being efficient in deed and word.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Job Development Specialists to find work opportunities?
Brad Morgan: In our team's experience, there are certain areas of the country where specific jobs are more prevalent. So a job seeker needs to think intentionally about what type of work they are interested in. For example, if a graduate is seeking employment in the financial sector, it may be essential to look for opportunities in areas with existing extensive economic infrastructure. Similarly, if a graduate is looking for work in a government setting, areas with significant government offices (whether local, state, or federal) should be considered.
What type of skills will young Job Development Specialists need?
Greg Reed: Young graduates will need to communicate effectively through their presentation and writing skills and their ability to interact with others in social/professional settings. Strong technical and analytical skills, including having a working knowledge of Excel and Argus, will be essential differentiators. Finally, evaluating a project and ascertaining how to tackle the issues and problems in its parts will be critical.
How do you envision technology impacting Job 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.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Job Development Specialists to find work opportunities?
Allie Grill: This pandemic state has disrupted the concept of physical location for organizations and their workforces. I expect that this trend will continue as an enduring statement of our pandemic. That said, job candidates need to truly consider the importance a physical community plays in the job search strategy. At this stage, I think it's essential for job seekers to clarify the significance that their support system will contribute to their post-graduate lives and make decisions that prioritize their answers. For example, maybe it's essential to be near an aging family member or a sibling rather than to move somewhere new for a job without an existing support structure.
The answer to the question, "Where are the jobs located?" is a complicated one because it entirely depends on the industry and employer. While the significant fin-tech hubs of Silicon Valley, New York City, and Boston are well known, emerging locations of Los Angeles, San Francisco, and internationally in Dublin, Singapore, and Hong Kong are becoming apparent (according to FinTech Magazine).
Healthcare is an occupational field with the most growth projected until 2029. According to Becker's Hospital Review, most digital health start-ups are located in California, New York, Massachusetts, and Texas.