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A Professional Development Manager plays a crucial role in enhancing the skills and competencies of employees within an organization. As of October 2025, the average salary for this position stands at $101,737 annually, translating to about $49 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on factors such as geographic location, level of experience, and the specific industry.
In states like California, New York, and Texas, Professional Development Managers often see higher salaries, reflecting the demand for skilled professionals in these regions. For instance, the highest paying states typically offer salaries exceeding $120,000 annually, making these locations attractive for job seekers in this field.
Moreover, opportunities for advancement within this career path are abundant, with many employers seeking leaders who can foster a culture of continuous learning and development. Understanding these trends helps candidates align their skills with market demands, ultimately shaping successful career trajectories. For those considering this career, exploring salary estimates and job openings across different regions can provide valuable insights into maximizing earning potential.
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The highest-paying states for professional development managers are Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Hampshire. The lowest average professional development manager salary states are Alaska, Minnesota, and Florida.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $119,217 | $57.32 |
| 2 | Wisconsin | $102,093 | $49.08 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $118,091 | $56.77 |
| 4 | Arkansas | $98,541 | $47.38 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $119,110 | $57.26 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $118,226 | $56.84 |
| 7 | Vermont | $115,777 | $55.66 |
| 8 | Maine | $104,817 | $50.39 |
| 9 | West Virginia | $93,770 | $45.08 |
| 10 | New Mexico | $95,552 | $45.94 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $104,451 | $50.22 |
| 12 | New York | $118,221 | $56.84 |
| 13 | California | $117,315 | $56.40 |
| 14 | Delaware | $103,275 | $49.65 |
| 15 | Oregon | $106,780 | $51.34 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $89,578 | $43.07 |
| 17 | Texas | $90,733 | $43.62 |
| 18 | Illinois | $102,644 | $49.35 |
| 19 | Ohio | $90,717 | $43.61 |
| 20 | Maryland | $105,714 | $50.82 |
| 21 | Arizona | $91,214 | $43.85 |
| 22 | Iowa | $91,964 | $44.21 |
| 23 | Virginia | $102,344 | $49.20 |
| 24 | North Carolina | $99,502 | $47.84 |
| 25 | Georgia | $89,717 | $43.13 |
| 26 | North Dakota | $83,537 | $40.16 |
| 27 | District of Columbia | $94,444 | $45.41 |
| 28 | Michigan | $86,833 | $41.75 |
| 29 | Washington | $95,145 | $45.74 |
| 30 | Nevada | $87,861 | $42.24 |
| 31 | Tennessee | $84,133 | $40.45 |
| 32 | Indiana | $82,098 | $39.47 |
| 33 | Wyoming | $80,999 | $38.94 |
| 34 | Kansas | $83,594 | $40.19 |
| 35 | Mississippi | $83,738 | $40.26 |
| 36 | South Dakota | $80,631 | $38.76 |
| 37 | Alabama | $83,544 | $40.17 |
| 38 | Kentucky | $82,132 | $39.49 |
| 39 | Montana | $80,105 | $38.51 |
| 40 | Alaska | $75,605 | $36.35 |
| 41 | Minnesota | $73,139 | $35.16 |
| 42 | Hawaii | $67,964 | $32.67 |
| 43 | Idaho | $85,909 | $41.30 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $79,346 | $38.15 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $80,194 | $38.55 |
| 46 | Utah | $81,437 | $39.15 |
| 47 | Florida | $71,748 | $34.49 |
| 48 | Missouri | $70,813 | $34.04 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $78,282 | $37.64 |
| 50 | Colorado | $79,752 | $38.34 |
| 51 | Nebraska | $69,151 | $33.25 |
The highest-paying cities for professional development managers are Daly City, CA, Boston, MA, and Stamford, CT.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daly City, CA | $126,896 | $61.01 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $120,088 | $57.73 |
| 3 | Stamford, CT | $119,495 | $57.45 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $119,034 | $57.23 |
| 5 | Bend, OR | $107,077 | $51.48 |
| 6 | Baltimore, MD | $106,366 | $51.14 |
| 7 | Newport, RI | $104,817 | $50.39 |
| 8 | Arlington, VA | $103,882 | $49.94 |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | $103,425 | $49.72 |
| 10 | Charlotte, NC | $98,086 | $47.16 |
| 11 | Seattle, WA | $95,527 | $45.93 |
| 12 | Washington, DC | $94,495 | $45.43 |
| 13 | Charleston, WV | $92,889 | $44.66 |
| 14 | Canton, OH | $92,550 | $44.50 |
| 15 | Dallas, TX | $92,167 | $44.31 |
| 16 | Alpharetta, GA | $89,656 | $43.10 |
| 17 | Detroit, MI | $87,300 | $41.97 |
| 18 | Fargo, ND | $84,762 | $40.75 |
| 19 | Olathe, KS | $83,639 | $40.21 |
| 20 | Birmingham, AL | $83,116 | $39.96 |
A professional development manager's salary ranges from $66,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $156,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $156,000 | $13,000 | $75 |
| 75th Percentile | $127,000 | $10,583 | $61 |
| Average | $101,737 | $8,478 | $49 |
| 25th Percentile | $81,000 | $6,750 | $39 |
| 10th Percentile | $66,000 | $5,500 | $32 |
The highest paying types of professional development managers are development vice president, senior development manager, and development manager.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Training Administrator | $44,622 | $3,718 | $21.45 | 77,966 |
| Director Of Training | $78,115 | $6,510 | $37.56 | 35,497 |
| Manager | $58,651 | $4,888 | $28.20 | 1,236,194 |
| HSE Manager | $85,844 | $7,154 | $41.27 | 22,562 |
| Manager, Learning & Development | $88,297 | $7,358 | $42.45 | 75,189 |
| Development Vice President | $156,085 | $13,007 | $75.04 | 94,188 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for professional development managers, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Gregory Zobel Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Educational Technology, Education & Leadership, Western Oregon University
Top companies hiring professional development managers now:
Professional development manager salaries at Shearman & Sterling and Sidley Austin are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average professional development manager salary at companies like McKinsey & Company Inc and JPMorgan Chase & Co. are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shearman & Sterling | $207,268 | $99.65 |
| 2 | Sidley Austin | $194,921 | $93.71 |
| 3 | McKinsey & Company Inc | $180,936 | $86.99 |
| 4 | JPMorgan Chase & Co. | $149,213 | $71.74 |
| 5 | Fox Rothschild | $141,304 | $67.93 |
| 6 | BMO Capital Markets | $137,153 | $65.94 |
| 7 | Cooley | $130,838 | $62.90 |
| 8 | Stanley Black & Decker | $126,499 | $60.82 |
| 9 | Gartner | $124,611 | $59.91 |
| 10 | Brigham and Women's Hospital | $123,338 | $59.30 |
| 11 | Weyerhaeuser International, Inc | $121,283 | $58.31 |
| 12 | UPMC | $119,584 | $57.49 |
| 13 | UMass Memorial Health | $116,237 | $55.88 |
| 14 | Baylor Scott & White Health | $110,147 | $52.96 |
| 15 | South Georgia Medical Center | $109,455 | $52.62 |
| 16 | Houston Methodist | $108,244 | $52.04 |
| 17 | St Anthony's Hospital Inc | $105,160 | $50.56 |
| 18 | REV Holdings LLC | $102,775 | $49.41 |
| 19 | American Pharmacists Association | $102,264 | $49.17 |
| 20 | Humana | $100,802 | $48.46 |
The average professional development manager salary has risen by $21,027 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average professional development manager earned $80,710 annually, but today, they earn $101,737 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for professional development managers over the last decade.
Compare professional development manager salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare professional development manager salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $102,000 | $48.91 | +2.0% |
| 2024 | $99,700 | $47.94 | +1.8% |
| 2023 | $98,000 | $47.09 | +2.8% |
| 2022 | $95,200 | $45.79 | +2.2% |
| 2021 | $93,100 | $44.76 | +3.0% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Per Scholas | Professional Development Manager | New York, NY | 06/25/2025 | $65,000 |
| Start Early | Professional Development Manager | Chicago, IL | 06/24/2025 | $89,000 |
| Gateway Foundation | Professional Relations Manager | Springfield, MO | 06/23/2025 | $60,664 |
| Foley & Lardner LLP | Attorney Professional Development Manager | Dallas, TX | 06/21/2025 | $136,200 |
| Trademark Paralegal (Intellectual Property) In Chicago, Illinois | Attorney Professional Development Manager | Dallas, TX | 06/21/2025 | $136,200 |
| Brightspring Health Services | Qualified Intellectual Disabilities Professional Manager-2Nd | Granite Falls, NC | 06/17/2025 | $48,168 |
| Northbay Solutions | Manager, Professional Coding | Fairfield, CA | 06/11/2025 | $140,000 |
| UMS Group | Mesonet Manager Professional | Orono, ME | 06/10/2025 | $65,000 |
| University of Maine | Mesonet Manager Professional | Orono, ME | 06/07/2025 | $65,000 |
| Res-Care, Inc. | Qualified Intellectual Disabilities Professional Manager-2Nd | Lenoir, NC | 06/06/2025 | $48,168 |
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