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Program development specialist salary
Average program development specialist salary
$53,724
Understanding the Salary for Program Development Specialists
As of October 2025, the average salary for a Program Development Specialist is approximately $53,724 per year, translating to about $26 per hour. This salary can fluctuate based on several factors including geographic location, years of experience, and the specific sector in which one is employed. For instance, specialists in urban areas often report higher earnings due to the cost of living and demand for skilled professionals.
In terms of experience, entry-level positions typically start at a lower salary, while those with several years of experience can command significantly higher rates. For example, those with over 10 years in the field may earn upwards of $70,000 annually. This increase is often attributed to enhanced skills and a deeper understanding of program development processes.
Top-Paying States
Certain states offer higher salaries for Program Development Specialists. For instance, states like California, New York, and Massachusetts consistently rank among the highest-paying locations. It's beneficial for job seekers to consider these geographic factors when evaluating salary expectations.
Overall, pursuing a career as a Program Development Specialist can lead to rewarding opportunities, especially with the right mix of skills and experience.
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Where can a Program Development Specialist earn more?
Program development specialist salaries by experience level
Program development specialist salary estimates from across the web
Average program development specialist salary by state
The average program development specialist salary in Maryland, New Jersey, and California are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average program development specialist salary states are Florida, Idaho, and South Carolina.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for program development specialists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennsylvania | $66,449 | $31.95 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $58,966 | $28.35 |
| 3 | Delaware | $61,160 | $29.40 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $64,535 | $31.03 |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $79,953 | $38.44 |
| 6 | Maryland | $74,600 | $35.87 |
| 7 | New York | $66,836 | $32.13 |
| 8 | Nevada | $60,813 | $29.24 |
| 9 | Texas | $64,982 | $31.24 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $63,054 | $30.31 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $68,282 | $32.83 |
| 12 | Illinois | $63,724 | $30.64 |
| 13 | Minnesota | $55,885 | $26.87 |
| 14 | Michigan | $54,552 | $26.23 |
| 15 | Maine | $61,071 | $29.36 |
| 16 | California | $67,762 | $32.58 |
| 17 | Mississippi | $53,475 | $25.71 |
| 18 | North Carolina | $52,994 | $25.48 |
| 19 | Montana | $54,275 | $26.09 |
| 20 | Washington | $61,149 | $29.40 |
| 21 | Georgia | $50,872 | $24.46 |
| 22 | Wyoming | $48,474 | $23.30 |
| 23 | Hawaii | $52,694 | $25.33 |
| 24 | Virginia | $59,842 | $28.77 |
| 25 | South Dakota | $49,772 | $23.93 |
| 26 | Vermont | $50,256 | $24.16 |
| 27 | North Dakota | $47,663 | $22.91 |
| 28 | Ohio | $51,053 | $24.54 |
| 29 | Indiana | $51,941 | $24.97 |
| 30 | Louisiana | $52,810 | $25.39 |
| 31 | Colorado | $53,692 | $25.81 |
| 32 | New Mexico | $46,766 | $22.48 |
| 33 | Kansas | $50,450 | $24.25 |
| 34 | Massachusetts | $56,094 | $26.97 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $47,327 | $22.75 |
| 36 | Alabama | $47,239 | $22.71 |
| 37 | Arizona | $47,645 | $22.91 |
| 38 | Arkansas | $43,648 | $20.98 |
| 39 | Nebraska | $44,465 | $21.38 |
| 40 | Oregon | $50,275 | $24.17 |
| 41 | Wisconsin | $43,999 | $21.15 |
| 42 | Iowa | $44,232 | $21.27 |
| 43 | Florida | $42,881 | $20.62 |
| 44 | Missouri | $46,537 | $22.37 |
| 45 | Utah | $43,962 | $21.14 |
| 46 | Alaska | $38,586 | $18.55 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $43,396 | $20.86 |
| 48 | West Virginia | $37,222 | $17.90 |
| 49 | Idaho | $41,596 | $20.00 |
| 50 | Kentucky | $39,119 | $18.81 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $41,026 | $19.72 |
Highest paying cities for program development specialists
The highest-paying cities for program development specialists are Washington, DC, Laurel, MD, and San Francisco, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $79,919 | $38.42 |
| 2 | Laurel, MD | $74,542 | $35.84 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $73,339 | $35.26 |
| 4 | New Brunswick, NJ | $68,273 | $32.82 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $67,209 | $32.31 |
| 6 | San Antonio, TX | $66,131 | $31.79 |
| 7 | Skokie, IL | $64,437 | $30.98 |
| 8 | Vancouver, WA | $61,926 | $29.77 |
| 9 | Las Vegas, NV | $60,766 | $29.21 |
| 10 | Saint Paul, MN | $55,957 | $26.90 |
| 11 | Waltham, MA | $55,805 | $26.83 |
| 12 | Kalamazoo, MI | $53,678 | $25.81 |
| 13 | Denver, CO | $53,546 | $25.74 |
| 14 | Salem, OR | $50,321 | $24.19 |
| 15 | Clearwater, FL | $43,299 | $20.82 |
| 16 | Huntington, WV | $35,807 | $17.21 |
Program development specialist salary details
A program development specialist's salary ranges from $34,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $83,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a program development specialist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $83,000 | $6,917 | $40 |
| 75th Percentile | $67,000 | $5,583 | $32 |
| Average | $53,724 | $4,477 | $26 |
| 25th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
| 10th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
Highest paying program development specialist jobs
The highest paying types of program development specialists are senior technician specialist, development officer, and training specialist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trainer | $47,574 | $3,964 | $22.87 | 40,650 |
| Certified Trainer | $54,770 | $4,564 | $26.33 | 54,839 |
| Team Trainer | $31,576 | $2,631 | $15.18 | 54,150 |
| Training Coordinator | $46,698 | $3,891 | $22.45 | 54,796 |
| Corporate Trainer | $58,803 | $4,900 | $28.27 | 52,090 |
| Facilitator | $44,851 | $3,738 | $21.56 | 30,474 |
Top companies hiring program development specialists now:
Which companies pay program development specialists the most?
Program development specialist salaries at RingCentral and Los Alamos National Laboratory are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average program development specialist salary at companies like Amazon and The Squires Group are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RingCentral | $89,773 | $43.16 |
| 2 | Los Alamos National Laboratory | $84,892 | $40.81 |
| 3 | Amazon | $74,981 | $36.05 |
| 4 | The Squires Group | $66,267 | $31.86 |
| 5 | Heritage Care | $64,922 | $31.21 |
| 6 | Montclair State University | $64,889 | $31.20 |
| 7 | Eastern Washington University | $64,690 | $31.10 |
| 8 | Rutgers University | $64,423 | $30.97 |
| 9 | Cal Poly PomonaCollege of Business Administration | $63,242 | $30.40 |
| 10 | CareOregon | $62,834 | $30.21 |
| 11 | ChildFund International | $61,271 | $29.46 |
| 12 | Cal Poly | $59,540 | $28.63 |
| 13 | Goshen Health | $58,828 | $28.28 |
| 14 | City of Tacoma | $58,019 | $27.89 |
| 15 | HIMSS Media | $57,862 | $27.82 |
| 16 | Gordon Food Service | $57,831 | $27.80 |
| 17 | Indiana Farm Bureau | $57,385 | $27.59 |
| 18 | The Independent Traveler | $56,814 | $27.31 |
| 19 | AIDS Foundation of Chicago | $56,761 | $27.29 |
| 20 | Minnesota State Fair | $56,328 | $27.08 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Program Development Specialist salary by industry
The average program development specialist salary varies across industries:
- The average program development specialist salary in the education industry is $55,829, the highest of any industry.
- The average program development specialist salary in the finance industry is $55,644.
- Program development specialists in the non profits industry earn an average salary of $45,519, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for program development specialists
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Education | $55,829 | $26.84 |
| 2 | Government | $55,644 | $26.75 |
| 3 | Health Care | $53,387 | $25.67 |
| 4 | Professional | $50,951 | $24.50 |
| 5 | Non Profits | $45,519 | $21.88 |
High paying program development specialist jobs
Program development specialist salary trends
The average program development specialist salary has risen by $6,469 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average program development specialist earned $47,255 annually, but today, they earn $53,724 a year. That works out to a 6% change in pay for program development specialists over the last decade.
Compare program development specialist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average program development specialist salary over time
Compare program development specialist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Program development specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $53,700 | $25.83 | +2.4% |
| 2024 | $52,400 | $25.22 | +0.6% |
| 2023 | $52,200 | $25.08 | +0.8% |
| 2022 | $51,700 | $24.87 | +2.2% |
| 2021 | $50,600 | $24.31 | +1.4% |
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