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Professional development director salary
Average professional development director salary
$100,545
Understanding the Salary of a Professional Development Director
A Professional Development Director plays a crucial role in fostering employee growth within organizations. As of October 2025, the average salary for this position is approximately $100,545 per year. Salaries can vary based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and industry. For instance, those in metropolitan areas often command higher salaries due to increased demand and cost of living.
Many directors work in sectors such as education, corporate training, and nonprofit organizations. The highest paying cities for this role include San Francisco, New York, and Washington D.C., where salaries can exceed $120,000 annually. Additionally, states like California and New York consistently rank among the highest for compensation in this field.
For those considering a career as a Professional Development Director, obtaining relevant qualifications and experience can enhance earning potential. Engaging in continuous professional development and networking within the industry can open doors to higher-paying opportunities.
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Where can a Professional Development Director earn more?
Average professional development director salary by state
The average professional development director salary in Oregon, Connecticut, and Massachusetts are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average professional development director salary states are Missouri, Mississippi, and South Carolina.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for professional development directors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wisconsin | $119,629 | $57.51 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $126,820 | $60.97 |
| 3 | North Dakota | $109,737 | $52.76 |
| 4 | Iowa | $108,550 | $52.19 |
| 5 | Oregon | $129,744 | $62.38 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $127,126 | $61.12 |
| 7 | Vermont | $124,249 | $59.74 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $126,172 | $60.66 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $125,225 | $60.20 |
| 10 | Maine | $114,188 | $54.90 |
| 11 | West Virginia | $103,674 | $49.84 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $114,373 | $54.99 |
| 13 | Alaska | $112,320 | $54.00 |
| 14 | California | $126,552 | $60.84 |
| 15 | Illinois | $117,380 | $56.43 |
| 16 | South Dakota | $100,614 | $48.37 |
| 17 | Arkansas | $100,128 | $48.14 |
| 18 | Ohio | $104,012 | $50.01 |
| 19 | Washington | $120,571 | $57.97 |
| 20 | New York | $123,757 | $59.50 |
| 21 | Michigan | $103,406 | $49.71 |
| 22 | Delaware | $111,508 | $53.61 |
| 23 | Pennsylvania | $100,459 | $48.30 |
| 24 | Idaho | $111,736 | $53.72 |
| 25 | New Mexico | $100,854 | $48.49 |
| 26 | Colorado | $108,290 | $52.06 |
| 27 | Maryland | $113,609 | $54.62 |
| 28 | Montana | $107,149 | $51.51 |
| 29 | Nevada | $99,962 | $48.06 |
| 30 | Indiana | $96,287 | $46.29 |
| 31 | Wyoming | $99,930 | $48.04 |
| 32 | Minnesota | $94,637 | $45.50 |
| 33 | Arizona | $98,953 | $47.57 |
| 34 | Virginia | $106,929 | $51.41 |
| 35 | Kansas | $95,379 | $45.86 |
| 36 | North Carolina | $101,805 | $48.94 |
| 37 | Utah | $101,026 | $48.57 |
| 38 | District of Columbia | $103,509 | $49.76 |
| 39 | Mississippi | $82,944 | $39.88 |
| 40 | Texas | $90,118 | $43.33 |
| 41 | Alabama | $83,620 | $40.20 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $92,982 | $44.70 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $83,402 | $40.10 |
| 44 | Tennessee | $89,361 | $42.96 |
| 45 | Georgia | $89,933 | $43.24 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $84,330 | $40.54 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $72,874 | $35.04 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $79,326 | $38.14 |
| 49 | Missouri | $82,979 | $39.89 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $82,032 | $39.44 |
| 51 | Florida | $69,093 | $33.22 |
Highest paying cities for professional development directors
The highest-paying cities for professional development directors are San Francisco, CA, Attleboro, MA, and Ridgefield, CT.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $144,469 | $69.46 |
| 2 | Attleboro, MA | $139,944 | $67.28 |
| 3 | Ridgefield, CT | $139,374 | $67.01 |
| 4 | Portland, OR | $134,990 | $64.90 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $134,584 | $64.70 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $128,663 | $61.86 |
| 7 | Portland, ME | $123,804 | $59.52 |
| 8 | Columbia, MD | $121,959 | $58.63 |
| 9 | Arlington, VA | $119,192 | $57.30 |
| 10 | Anchorage, AK | $114,355 | $54.98 |
| 11 | Denver, CO | $112,813 | $54.24 |
| 12 | Durham, NC | $109,443 | $52.62 |
| 13 | Washington, DC | $108,405 | $52.12 |
| 14 | Columbus, OH | $108,024 | $51.93 |
| 15 | Detroit, MI | $107,485 | $51.68 |
| 16 | Bentonville, AR | $107,189 | $51.53 |
| 17 | Billings, MT | $104,351 | $50.17 |
| 18 | Philadelphia, PA | $104,170 | $50.08 |
| 19 | Atlanta, GA | $93,011 | $44.72 |
| 20 | Brentwood, TN | $92,845 | $44.64 |
Professional development director salary details
A professional development director's salary ranges from $46,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $216,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a professional development director's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $216,000 | $18,000 | $104 |
| 75th Percentile | $150,000 | $12,500 | $72 |
| Average | $100,545 | $8,379 | $48 |
| 25th Percentile | $67,000 | $5,583 | $32 |
| 10th Percentile | $46,000 | $3,833 | $22 |
Highest paying professional development director jobs
The highest paying types of professional development directors are development vice president, senior development manager, and director.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HSE Manager | $85,844 | $7,154 | $41.27 | 22,562 |
| Training Administrator | $44,622 | $3,718 | $21.45 | 77,966 |
| Training Manager | $73,453 | $6,121 | $35.31 | 121,521 |
| Director Of Training | $78,115 | $6,510 | $37.56 | 35,497 |
| Educational Manager | $76,368 | $6,364 | $36.72 | 16,924 |
| Regional Training Manager | $56,726 | $4,727 | $27.27 | 131,719 |
Top companies hiring professional development directors now:
Which companies pay professional development directors the most?
Professional development director salaries at Baker McKenzie and NVIDIA are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average professional development director salary at companies like Kaiser Permanente and Perkins Coie are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baker McKenzie | $235,218 | $113.09 |
| 2 | NVIDIA | $199,737 | $96.03 |
| 3 | Kaiser Permanente | $198,526 | $95.45 |
| 4 | Perkins Coie | $175,496 | $84.37 |
| 5 | Tufts Medical Center | $174,966 | $84.12 |
| 6 | NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital | $167,031 | $80.30 |
| 7 | Maine Behavioral Healthcare | $161,237 | $77.52 |
| 8 | Southern California Hospitals | $158,568 | $76.23 |
| 9 | Medstar Health | $157,262 | $75.61 |
| 10 | Kent Daniels & Associates | $155,755 | $74.88 |
| 11 | Humana | $148,487 | $71.39 |
| 12 | Samsung Electronics Device Solutions (Semiconductor & Display) | $141,417 | $67.99 |
| 13 | Houston Methodist | $140,287 | $67.45 |
| 14 | Long Island Cares | $128,162 | $61.62 |
| 15 | Edmond Public Schools | $127,821 | $61.45 |
| 16 | AVITA Medical | $126,941 | $61.03 |
| 17 | Stanford University | $125,004 | $60.10 |
| 18 | Chapman University | $124,389 | $59.80 |
| 19 | Sensata | $120,193 | $57.79 |
| 20 | City of Philadelphia | $120,136 | $57.76 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Professional development director salary trends
The average professional development director salary has risen by $20,780 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average professional development director earned $79,765 annually, but today, they earn $100,545 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for professional development directors over the last decade.
Compare professional development director salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average professional development director salary over time
Compare professional development director salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Professional development director salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $101,000 | $48.34 | +2.0% |
| 2025 | $98,600 | $47.38 | +1.8% |
| 2024 | $96,800 | $46.54 | +2.8% |
| 2023 | $94,100 | $45.25 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | $92,000 | $44.24 | +3.0% |
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