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The General Manager of Business Development plays a pivotal role in identifying growth opportunities and shaping business strategies. As of October 2025, the average salary for this position is $116,506 per year, translating to around $56 per hour. Salaries can differ based on factors including geographic location, years of experience, and specific industry domains.
Entry-level positions may start at around $80,000, while seasoned professionals can earn upwards of $150,000, particularly in high-demand markets. The potential for bonuses and profit sharing can also influence overall compensation.
States like California and New York typically offer the highest salaries for General Managers of Business Development, often due to the concentration of industries such as technology and finance. Cities like San Francisco and New York City are known for their lucrative opportunities, making them ideal for career advancement.
Overall, pursuing a career as a General Manager of Business Development can lead to significant financial rewards and professional growth. Individuals interested in this role should assess their skills and seek opportunities that align with their career goals.
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| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level general manager of business development | $86,500 | $41.58 |
| Mid-level general manager of business development | $92,400 | $44.41 |
| Senior-level general manager of business development | $210,000 | $101.03 |
The highest-paying states for general managers of business development are California, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. The lowest average general manager of business development salary states are Alabama, Wyoming, and Kansas.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $131,605 | $63.27 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $120,309 | $57.84 |
| 3 | Nevada | $99,500 | $47.84 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $111,150 | $53.44 |
| 5 | Oregon | $110,265 | $53.01 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $128,703 | $61.88 |
| 7 | New Mexico | $97,150 | $46.71 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $109,782 | $52.78 |
| 9 | Michigan | $92,891 | $44.66 |
| 10 | West Virginia | $95,689 | $46.00 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $103,641 | $49.83 |
| 12 | Delaware | $106,156 | $51.04 |
| 13 | Washington | $105,420 | $50.68 |
| 14 | Alaska | $96,061 | $46.18 |
| 15 | New York | $102,354 | $49.21 |
| 16 | South Carolina | $96,375 | $46.33 |
| 17 | Utah | $88,976 | $42.78 |
| 18 | Arizona | $94,527 | $45.45 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $96,529 | $46.41 |
| 20 | Hawaii | $107,461 | $51.66 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $87,945 | $42.28 |
| 22 | North Carolina | $95,844 | $46.08 |
| 23 | Texas | $89,456 | $43.01 |
| 24 | Maine | $94,438 | $45.40 |
| 25 | Idaho | $91,196 | $43.84 |
| 26 | Connecticut | $96,026 | $46.17 |
| 27 | Ohio | $83,222 | $40.01 |
| 28 | Arkansas | $80,972 | $38.93 |
| 29 | Louisiana | $85,752 | $41.23 |
| 30 | Vermont | $93,035 | $44.73 |
| 31 | Mississippi | $85,051 | $40.89 |
| 32 | Tennessee | $78,019 | $37.51 |
| 33 | North Dakota | $76,626 | $36.84 |
| 34 | Illinois | $87,855 | $42.24 |
| 35 | Kentucky | $75,237 | $36.17 |
| 36 | Indiana | $77,123 | $37.08 |
| 37 | Georgia | $80,785 | $38.84 |
| 38 | Iowa | $77,472 | $37.25 |
| 39 | Maryland | $91,441 | $43.96 |
| 40 | Florida | $81,459 | $39.16 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $76,705 | $36.88 |
| 42 | Virginia | $88,299 | $42.45 |
| 43 | Alabama | $73,656 | $35.41 |
| 44 | Kansas | $68,644 | $33.00 |
| 45 | Montana | $67,068 | $32.24 |
| 46 | Missouri | $68,423 | $32.90 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $66,249 | $31.85 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $74,423 | $35.78 |
| 49 | Colorado | $78,453 | $37.72 |
| 50 | Minnesota | $75,748 | $36.42 |
| 51 | Wyoming | $71,130 | $34.20 |
The highest-paying cities for general managers of business development are San Francisco, CA, New York, NY, and Las Vegas, NV.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $142,322 | $68.42 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $102,881 | $49.46 |
| 3 | Las Vegas, NV | $99,497 | $47.84 |
| 4 | Durham, NC | $98,722 | $47.46 |
| 5 | Detroit, MI | $93,672 | $45.03 |
| 6 | Baltimore, MD | $92,053 | $44.26 |
| 7 | Houston, TX | $90,086 | $43.31 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $88,965 | $42.77 |
| 9 | Miami, FL | $83,436 | $40.11 |
| 10 | Dublin, OH | $82,071 | $39.46 |
| 11 | Englewood, CO | $78,245 | $37.62 |
| 12 | Eden Prairie, MN | $75,029 | $36.07 |
| 13 | Saint Louis, MO | $69,419 | $33.37 |
A general manager of business development's salary ranges from $70,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $193,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $193,000 | $16,083 | $93 |
| 75th Percentile | $152,000 | $12,667 | $73 |
| Average | $116,506 | $9,709 | $56 |
| 25th Percentile | $89,000 | $7,417 | $43 |
| 10th Percentile | $70,000 | $5,833 | $34 |
The highest paying types of general managers of business development are senior business manager, head of business development, and senior business development manager.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Unit Manager | $122,782 | $10,232 | $59.03 | 295,151 |
| Business Manager | $83,198 | $6,933 | $40.00 | 377,191 |
| Account Development Manager | $72,375 | $6,031 | $34.80 | 214,004 |
| Business To Business Sales Manager | $75,242 | $6,270 | $36.17 | 168,304 |
| Market Development Manager | $111,159 | $9,263 | $53.44 | 173,901 |
| Regional Business Manager | $124,644 | $10,387 | $59.92 | 148,007 |
Top companies hiring general managers of business development now:
General manager of business development salaries at Arrow Electronics and Northrop Grumman are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average general manager of business development salary at companies like DISH Network and Doctors Medical Ctr are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrow Electronics | $145,289 | $69.85 |
| 2 | Northrop Grumman | $127,375 | $61.24 |
| 3 | DISH Network | $112,139 | $53.91 |
| 4 | Doctors Medical Ctr | $103,747 | $49.88 |
| 5 | ZOLTEK | $103,251 | $49.64 |
| 6 | NextNav | $103,249 | $49.64 |
| 7 | The Parking Spot | $102,706 | $49.38 |
| 8 | Accord Healthcare | $101,973 | $49.03 |
| 9 | Pemex Procurement International | $101,964 | $49.02 |
| 10 | The Trade Desk | $101,860 | $48.97 |
| 11 | Flight Centre | $95,200 | $45.77 |
| 12 | UnitedHealth Group | $92,166 | $44.31 |
| 13 | Central Garden & Pet | $83,088 | $39.95 |
The average general manager of business development salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Finance | $142,542 | $68.53 |
| 2 | Pharmaceutical | $120,538 | $57.95 |
| 3 | Professional | $102,707 | $49.38 |
| 4 | Health Care | $101,388 | $48.74 |
| 5 | Manufacturing | $98,250 | $47.24 |
| 6 | Hospitality | $95,303 | $45.82 |
The average general manager of business development salary has risen by $21,437 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average general manager of business development earned $95,069 annually, but today, they earn $116,506 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for general managers of business development over the last decade.
Compare general manager of business development salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare general manager of business development salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $117,000 | $56.01 | +3.7% |
| 2024 | $112,000 | $53.92 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | $110,000 | $52.91 | +1.5% |
| 2022 | $108,000 | $52.10 | +0.8% |
| 2021 | $108,000 | $51.68 | +1.9% |
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