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Developmental specialist salary
Average developmental specialist salary
$42,829
Average Developmental Specialist Salary
The average salary for a Developmental Specialist in the United States is $42,829 annually, translating to about $21 per hour. Salaries can vary based on factors such as location, experience, and specific employment settings. For example, specialists in urban areas often earn more due to higher living costs.
Developmental Specialist Salaries by Experience Level
Entry-level positions typically start around $35,000 per year, while those with several years of experience can earn upwards of $50,000. Advanced roles, such as supervisory or managerial positions, often command higher salaries, reflecting the increased responsibilities and expertise required.
Highest Paying States for Developmental Specialists
States like California, New York, and Massachusetts consistently offer higher salaries for developmental specialists. Factors influencing these salaries include demand for services, cost of living, and state funding for developmental programs.
Finding Opportunities
For those interested in pursuing a career as a developmental specialist, platforms like Zippia provide job listings tailored to specific qualifications and locations, making it easier to find suitable positions.
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Where can a Developmental Specialist earn more?
Developmental specialist salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level developmental specialist | $29,700 | $14.29 |
| Mid-level developmental specialist | $42,200 | $20.28 |
| Senior-level developmental specialist | $48,400 | $23.28 |
Developmental specialist salary estimates from across the web
Average developmental specialist salary by state
The average developmental specialist salary in Alaska, Washington, and Nevada are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average developmental specialist salary states are Louisiana, Oklahoma, and South Dakota.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for developmental specialists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $61,061 | $29.36 |
| 2 | Nevada | $49,775 | $23.93 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $53,789 | $25.86 |
| 4 | North Dakota | $45,920 | $22.08 |
| 5 | Washington | $49,952 | $24.02 |
| 6 | Oregon | $47,876 | $23.02 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $45,489 | $21.87 |
| 8 | New Mexico | $49,123 | $23.62 |
| 9 | Illinois | $47,083 | $22.64 |
| 10 | Delaware | $43,712 | $21.02 |
| 11 | Idaho | $43,539 | $20.93 |
| 12 | Virginia | $45,896 | $22.07 |
| 13 | Wisconsin | $44,908 | $21.59 |
| 14 | Colorado | $48,543 | $23.34 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $45,607 | $21.93 |
| 16 | Iowa | $39,480 | $18.98 |
| 17 | Hawaii | $45,379 | $21.82 |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $42,473 | $20.42 |
| 19 | New Jersey | $46,434 | $22.32 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $43,962 | $21.14 |
| 21 | California | $48,465 | $23.30 |
| 22 | Ohio | $41,469 | $19.94 |
| 23 | Wyoming | $38,899 | $18.70 |
| 24 | New York | $41,119 | $19.77 |
| 25 | Arkansas | $39,128 | $18.81 |
| 26 | Missouri | $41,418 | $19.91 |
| 27 | Florida | $38,222 | $18.38 |
| 28 | Maryland | $40,309 | $19.38 |
| 29 | Mississippi | $40,439 | $19.44 |
| 30 | Minnesota | $41,848 | $20.12 |
| 31 | Arizona | $38,643 | $18.58 |
| 32 | Nebraska | $36,532 | $17.56 |
| 33 | Massachusetts | $37,692 | $18.12 |
| 34 | Montana | $36,702 | $17.65 |
| 35 | Utah | $39,476 | $18.98 |
| 36 | Texas | $39,900 | $19.18 |
| 37 | Kansas | $37,538 | $18.05 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $35,484 | $17.06 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $37,765 | $18.16 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $39,125 | $18.81 |
| 41 | Maine | $35,008 | $16.83 |
| 42 | West Virginia | $35,251 | $16.95 |
| 43 | Indiana | $36,761 | $17.67 |
| 44 | Vermont | $35,255 | $16.95 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $34,381 | $16.53 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $34,849 | $16.75 |
| 47 | Tennessee | $35,135 | $16.89 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $33,941 | $16.32 |
| 49 | Michigan | $33,808 | $16.25 |
| 50 | Georgia | $31,541 | $15.16 |
| 51 | Alabama | $33,242 | $15.98 |
Highest paying cities for developmental specialists
The highest-paying cities for developmental specialists are San Jose, CA, Las Vegas, NV, and Portland, OR.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $50,678 | $24.36 |
| 2 | Las Vegas, NV | $49,423 | $23.76 |
| 3 | Portland, OR | $47,919 | $23.04 |
| 4 | Philadelphia, PA | $45,992 | $22.11 |
| 5 | Nampa, ID | $43,967 | $21.14 |
| 6 | Canton, OH | $42,251 | $20.31 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $41,353 | $19.88 |
| 8 | Rockville, MD | $40,083 | $19.27 |
| 9 | Provo, UT | $39,361 | $18.92 |
| 10 | Phoenix, AZ | $38,718 | $18.61 |
| 11 | Fall River, MA | $38,668 | $18.59 |
| 12 | Tampa, FL | $38,570 | $18.54 |
| 13 | Indianapolis, IN | $36,568 | $17.58 |
Developmental specialist salary details
A developmental specialist's salary ranges from $31,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $58,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a developmental specialist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $58,000 | $4,833 | $28 |
| 75th Percentile | $50,000 | $4,167 | $24 |
| Average | $42,829 | $3,569 | $21 |
| 25th Percentile | $36,000 | $3,000 | $17 |
| 10th Percentile | $31,000 | $2,583 | $15 |
Highest paying developmental specialist jobs
The highest paying types of developmental specialists are specialist, child life specialist, and treatment specialist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family Support Worker | $38,207 | $3,184 | $18.37 | 159,875 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for developmental specialists, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Dr. Kate Seltzer Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Rowan University
Top companies hiring developmental specialists now:
Which companies pay developmental specialists the most?
Developmental specialist salaries at UMass Memorial Health and New York State Restaurant Association are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average developmental specialist salary at companies like Horace Mann and South Bay Mental Health Center are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | UMass Memorial Health | $55,282 | $26.58 |
| 2 | New York State Restaurant Association | $53,850 | $25.89 |
| 3 | Horace Mann | $44,407 | $21.35 |
| 4 | South Bay Mental Health Center | $43,687 | $21.00 |
| 5 | Yukon Kuskokwim Health | $43,494 | $20.91 |
| 6 | State of Nevada Employees' Association Inc | $43,398 | $20.86 |
| 7 | Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities | $42,309 | $20.34 |
| 8 | Criterion Child Enrichment | $41,901 | $20.14 |
| 9 | Provider Solutions & Development | $41,626 | $20.01 |
| 10 | North Suffolk Mental Health | $41,239 | $19.83 |
| 11 | People Inc of Va | $41,136 | $19.78 |
| 12 | Peoples Services | $41,023 | $19.72 |
| 13 | Liberty Healthcare | $40,908 | $19.67 |
| 14 | Vinfen | $40,591 | $19.51 |
| 15 | Rady Children's Hospital And Health Center | $40,412 | $19.43 |
| 16 | Children's Hospital of Philadelphia | $39,988 | $19.23 |
| 17 | Enable | $39,949 | $19.21 |
| 18 | HOPE Services Hawaii | $39,762 | $19.12 |
| 19 | CommunityHealthlink | $39,708 | $19.09 |
| 20 | AHRC New York City Foundation | $39,606 | $19.04 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Developmental Specialist salary by industry
The average developmental specialist salary varies across industries:
- The average developmental specialist salary in the professional industry is $41,855, the highest of any industry.
- The average developmental specialist salary in the finance industry is $38,860.
- Developmental specialists in the government industry earn an average salary of $35,760, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for developmental specialists
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Professional | $41,855 | $20.12 |
| 2 | Health Care | $38,860 | $18.68 |
| 3 | Non Profits | $38,132 | $18.33 |
| 4 | Government | $35,760 | $17.19 |
High paying developmental specialist jobs
Developmental specialist salary trends
The average developmental specialist salary has risen by $8,599 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average developmental specialist earned $34,230 annually, but today, they earn $42,829 a year. That works out to a 13% change in pay for developmental specialists over the last decade.
Compare developmental specialist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average developmental specialist salary over time
Compare developmental specialist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Developmental specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $42,800 | $20.59 | +2.5% |
| 2025 | $41,800 | $20.08 | +3.7% |
| 2024 | $40,200 | $19.33 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | $39,400 | $18.96 | +4.0% |
| 2022 | $37,900 | $18.21 | +3.1% |
Recently added developmental specialist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Licking County, Oh | Developmental Specialist | Newark, NJ | 06/24/2025 | $46,081 |
| Venture Community Services | 320P-01 Developmental Specialist | Sturbridge, MA | 06/21/2025 | $39,653 |
| Utah State University | Training/Developmental Specialist II | Taylorsville, UT | 06/20/2025 | $62,000 |
| Wedgwood Christian Services | 3Rd Shift Developmental Care Specialist | Grand Rapids, MI | 06/20/2025 | $45,914 |
| Licking County Board of Development Disabilities | Developmental Specialist | Newark, OH | 06/19/2025 | $46,081 |
| Miami County | Developmental Specialist | Troy, OH | 06/17/2025 | $52,363 |
| Educational Service District 123 | Developmental Specialist | Walla Walla, WA | 06/17/2025 | $60,803 |
| Peopleorporated | Developmental Specialist | Fall River, MA | 06/14/2025 | $36,001 |
| People Incorporated | Developmental Specialist | Fall River, MA | 06/03/2025 | $37,566 |
| Venture Community Services | 320P-01 Developmental Specialist | Sturbridge, MA | 05/25/2025 | $39,653 |
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