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Economic development specialist salary
Average economic development specialist salary
$52,511
Understanding Economic Development Specialist Salaries
The average salary for an Economic Development Specialist is approximately $52,511 per year or $25 per hour. This figure can vary significantly based on experience, location, and specific job responsibilities. For instance, entry-level specialists may start around $40,000, while those with extensive experience can earn upwards of $70,000 annually.
Salary variations also occur by state. For example, Economic Development Specialists in states like California and New York often command higher salaries due to the cost of living and demand for skilled professionals. Additionally, the field offers opportunities in various sectors, including government agencies, non-profits, and private consulting firms.
To maximize earning potential, candidates should consider pursuing relevant certifications or advanced degrees, which can lead to higher-level positions and increased salaries. The demand for Economic Development Specialists continues to grow as communities focus on revitalization and sustainable growth.
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Where can an Economic Development Specialist earn more?
Economic development specialist salaries by experience level
Economic development specialist salary estimates from across the web
Average economic development specialist salary by state
The highest-paying states for economic development specialists are New Jersey, California, and Virginia. The lowest average economic development specialist salary states are Vermont, South Carolina, and Alaska.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for economic development specialists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nebraska | $61,308 | $29.48 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $80,080 | $38.50 |
| 3 | Illinois | $61,642 | $29.64 |
| 4 | Virginia | $68,322 | $32.85 |
| 5 | Kansas | $58,284 | $28.02 |
| 6 | Delaware | $63,407 | $30.48 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $74,097 | $35.62 |
| 8 | New York | $67,986 | $32.69 |
| 9 | Ohio | $58,301 | $28.03 |
| 10 | Michigan | $56,221 | $27.03 |
| 11 | Indiana | $57,536 | $27.66 |
| 12 | California | $72,259 | $34.74 |
| 13 | North Carolina | $55,537 | $26.70 |
| 14 | South Dakota | $53,384 | $25.67 |
| 15 | Washington | $63,101 | $30.34 |
| 16 | Maryland | $63,479 | $30.52 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $59,616 | $28.66 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $54,549 | $26.23 |
| 19 | Connecticut | $63,064 | $30.32 |
| 20 | Montana | $58,721 | $28.23 |
| 21 | Iowa | $54,167 | $26.04 |
| 22 | Kentucky | $53,789 | $25.86 |
| 23 | Nevada | $52,807 | $25.39 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $50,742 | $24.40 |
| 25 | Missouri | $53,078 | $25.52 |
| 26 | New Mexico | $49,585 | $23.84 |
| 27 | North Dakota | $48,145 | $23.15 |
| 28 | New Hampshire | $48,647 | $23.39 |
| 29 | Minnesota | $58,290 | $28.02 |
| 30 | Colorado | $54,505 | $26.20 |
| 31 | Wyoming | $50,434 | $24.25 |
| 32 | Georgia | $48,096 | $23.12 |
| 33 | Mississippi | $48,751 | $23.44 |
| 34 | Alaska | $40,171 | $19.31 |
| 35 | Arizona | $48,723 | $23.42 |
| 36 | Hawaii | $43,397 | $20.86 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $44,206 | $21.25 |
| 38 | Louisiana | $46,774 | $22.49 |
| 39 | Massachusetts | $52,055 | $25.03 |
| 40 | Texas | $48,926 | $23.52 |
| 41 | West Virginia | $41,214 | $19.81 |
| 42 | Alabama | $43,508 | $20.92 |
| 43 | Oregon | $50,198 | $24.13 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $33,917 | $16.31 |
| 45 | Florida | $36,792 | $17.69 |
| 46 | Utah | $46,229 | $22.23 |
| 47 | Idaho | $44,052 | $21.18 |
| 48 | Maine | $43,468 | $20.90 |
| 49 | Vermont | $40,857 | $19.64 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $36,405 | $17.50 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $40,443 | $19.44 |
Highest paying cities for economic development specialists
The highest-paying cities for economic development specialists are Washington, DC, Oakland, CA, and New Brunswick, NJ.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $80,066 | $38.49 |
| 2 | Oakland, CA | $79,246 | $38.10 |
| 3 | New Brunswick, NJ | $74,323 | $35.73 |
| 4 | Alexandria, VA | $69,312 | $33.32 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $68,887 | $33.12 |
| 6 | Severn, MD | $63,536 | $30.55 |
| 7 | Kearney, NE | $58,997 | $28.36 |
| 8 | Bozeman, MT | $58,881 | $28.31 |
| 9 | Saint Paul, MN | $58,458 | $28.10 |
| 10 | Dayton, OH | $57,356 | $27.57 |
| 11 | Saint Louis, MO | $55,272 | $26.57 |
| 12 | Commerce City, CO | $54,634 | $26.27 |
| 13 | Pittsburgh, PA | $53,649 | $25.79 |
| 14 | Quincy, MA | $51,954 | $24.98 |
| 15 | Asheville, NC | $51,460 | $24.74 |
| 16 | Phoenix, AZ | $48,963 | $23.54 |
| 17 | Fargo, ND | $48,488 | $23.31 |
| 18 | Houston, TX | $48,437 | $23.29 |
| 19 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $43,536 | $20.93 |
| 20 | Largo, FL | $37,251 | $17.91 |
Economic development specialist salary details
An economic development specialist's salary ranges from $33,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $82,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an economic development specialist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $82,000 | $6,833 | $39 |
| 75th Percentile | $66,000 | $5,500 | $32 |
| Average | $52,511 | $4,376 | $25 |
| 25th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
| 10th Percentile | $33,000 | $2,750 | $16 |
Highest paying economic development specialist jobs
The highest paying types of economic development specialists are senior technician specialist, development officer, and training specialist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certified Trainer | $54,770 | $4,564 | $26.33 | 54,839 |
| Team Trainer | $31,576 | $2,631 | $15.18 | 54,150 |
| Trainer | $47,574 | $3,964 | $22.87 | 40,650 |
| Training Coordinator | $46,698 | $3,891 | $22.45 | 54,796 |
| Corporate Trainer | $58,803 | $4,900 | $28.27 | 52,090 |
| Trainer Lead | $72,175 | $6,015 | $34.70 | 43,216 |
Top companies hiring economic development specialists now:
Which companies pay economic development specialists the most?
Economic development specialist salaries at Morgan Stanley and International Center for Research on Women are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average economic development specialist salary at companies like International Rescue Committee and U.S. Bank are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Morgan Stanley | $102,457 | $49.26 |
| 2 | International Center for Research on Women | $99,974 | $48.06 |
| 3 | International Rescue Committee | $93,580 | $44.99 |
| 4 | U.S. Bank | $89,606 | $43.08 |
| 5 | Nebraska Public Power District | $83,598 | $40.19 |
| 6 | City of San Antonio | $76,422 | $36.74 |
| 7 | Womankind Worldwide | $72,292 | $34.76 |
| 8 | DEXIS | $66,753 | $32.09 |
| 9 | Small Business Administration | $58,073 | $27.92 |
| 10 | Advanced Services Inc | $55,879 | $26.86 |
| 11 | New York State Restaurant Association | $55,383 | $26.63 |
| 12 | JLL | $54,723 | $26.31 |
| 13 | Minnesota State Fair | $54,362 | $26.14 |
| 14 | City of Lakewood | $53,868 | $25.90 |
| 15 | City of University City, Missouri | $52,411 | $25.20 |
| 16 | Americorps | $51,123 | $24.58 |
| 17 | City of Brenham | $49,738 | $23.91 |
| 18 | City of Bozeman | $49,514 | $23.80 |
| 19 | Middlesex County College | $47,522 | $22.85 |
| 20 | Reno, NV | $47,253 | $22.72 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Economic development specialist salary trends
The average economic development specialist salary has risen by $6,323 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average economic development specialist earned $46,188 annually, but today, they earn $52,511 a year. That works out to a 6% change in pay for economic development specialists over the last decade.
Compare economic development specialist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average economic development specialist salary over time
Compare economic development specialist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Economic development specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $52,500 | $25.25 | +2.4% |
| 2025 | $51,300 | $24.65 | +0.6% |
| 2024 | $51,000 | $24.51 | +0.8% |
| 2023 | $50,600 | $24.30 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | $49,400 | $23.76 | +1.4% |
Recently added economic development specialist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Town of Johnstown | Economic Development Specialist | Johnstown, CO | 06/21/2025 | $54,349 |
| City of Montpelier, Vt | Community & Economic Development Specialist | Montpelier, VT | 06/14/2025 | $59,400 |
| Downtown San Diego Partnership | Economic Development Specialist | San Diego, CA | 06/08/2025 | $70,000 |
| Cornell University | Agriculture Economic Development Specialist | Fine, NY | 06/07/2025 | $43,500 |
| The City of Elkhart | Economic Development Specialist | Elkhart, IN | 06/03/2025 | $69,100 |
| Empire State | Economic Development Specialist 1 (NY Helps) | Albany, NY | 04/28/2025 | $65,001 |
| Empire State | Economic Development Specialist 1 (NY Helps) | Albany, NY | 03/28/2025 | $65,001 |
| University of Wisconsin Madison | Rural Community Economic Development Specialist | Lancaster, WI | 03/27/2025 | $72,000 |
| Experience Champaign Urbana | Economic Development Specialist | Champaign, IL | 02/18/2025 | $55,000 |
| Hapeville | Economic Development Specialist | Hapeville, GA | 02/16/2025 | $43,827 |
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