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The average salary for a Senior Director of Business Development is $151,656 annually, translating to about $73 per hour. This figure reflects a combination of salary data across various states and industries. Those in metropolitan areas often earn more due to higher demand and cost of living.
In addition to location, industry plays a vital role in salary variation. For instance, senior directors in technology companies may earn more than those in healthcare due to differences in revenue generation and market growth rates. Experience also significantly impacts earnings; professionals with over a decade in the field typically command higher salaries.
To find the highest-paying opportunities, focus on industries such as technology, finance, and consulting. States like California, New York, and Massachusetts often offer the most competitive salaries for this role.
By staying informed about salary trends and industry demands, aspiring senior directors can better position themselves for lucrative roles in business development.
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The average senior director of business development salary in Washington, California, and Utah are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average senior director of business development salary states are Oklahoma, Kansas, and Alabama.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan | $152,309 | $73.23 |
| 2 | Utah | $163,737 | $78.72 |
| 3 | Washington | $171,440 | $82.42 |
| 4 | Wisconsin | $147,607 | $70.96 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $149,982 | $72.11 |
| 6 | Alaska | $152,451 | $73.29 |
| 7 | Arizona | $152,156 | $73.15 |
| 8 | California | $164,300 | $78.99 |
| 9 | District of Columbia | $160,546 | $77.19 |
| 10 | Oregon | $154,761 | $74.40 |
| 11 | Nevada | $143,481 | $68.98 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $162,392 | $78.07 |
| 13 | Texas | $147,558 | $70.94 |
| 14 | Tennessee | $142,284 | $68.41 |
| 15 | Idaho | $149,380 | $71.82 |
| 16 | Virginia | $154,757 | $74.40 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | $143,238 | $68.86 |
| 18 | New Mexico | $140,001 | $67.31 |
| 19 | Maryland | $160,694 | $77.26 |
| 20 | Massachusetts | $148,490 | $71.39 |
| 21 | Montana | $137,552 | $66.13 |
| 22 | New Jersey | $149,122 | $71.69 |
| 23 | Ohio | $134,848 | $64.83 |
| 24 | South Carolina | $142,022 | $68.28 |
| 25 | Arkansas | $128,668 | $61.86 |
| 26 | South Dakota | $128,542 | $61.80 |
| 27 | Florida | $142,288 | $68.41 |
| 28 | New York | $143,569 | $69.02 |
| 29 | Minnesota | $133,343 | $64.11 |
| 30 | West Virginia | $133,417 | $64.14 |
| 31 | Maine | $139,837 | $67.23 |
| 32 | Nebraska | $128,806 | $61.93 |
| 33 | Vermont | $137,058 | $65.89 |
| 34 | Missouri | $132,359 | $63.63 |
| 35 | Colorado | $144,945 | $69.69 |
| 36 | Mississippi | $126,895 | $61.01 |
| 37 | New Hampshire | $137,962 | $66.33 |
| 38 | Iowa | $125,076 | $60.13 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $126,410 | $60.77 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $124,722 | $59.96 |
| 41 | Delaware | $139,319 | $66.98 |
| 42 | Indiana | $127,035 | $61.07 |
| 43 | Georgia | $131,612 | $63.27 |
| 44 | Kansas | $124,106 | $59.67 |
| 45 | Alabama | $122,093 | $58.70 |
| 46 | North Carolina | $129,622 | $62.32 |
| 47 | Illinois | $131,059 | $63.01 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $119,085 | $57.25 |
| 49 | Wyoming | $121,551 | $58.44 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $128,134 | $61.60 |
| 51 | North Dakota | $115,086 | $55.33 |
The highest-paying cities for senior directors of business development are Seattle, WA, San Francisco, CA, and Hartford, CT.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $174,633 | $83.96 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $172,125 | $82.75 |
| 3 | Hartford, CT | $164,365 | $79.02 |
| 4 | Baltimore, MD | $162,532 | $78.14 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $161,771 | $77.77 |
| 6 | Arlington, VA | $156,795 | $75.38 |
| 7 | Phoenix, AZ | $153,499 | $73.80 |
| 8 | Detroit, MI | $153,214 | $73.66 |
| 9 | Edison, NJ | $149,820 | $72.03 |
| 10 | Cambridge, MA | $149,151 | $71.71 |
| 11 | Austin, TX | $148,913 | $71.59 |
| 12 | Madison, WI | $147,595 | $70.96 |
| 13 | Colorado Springs, CO | $145,185 | $69.80 |
| 14 | Philadelphia, PA | $144,568 | $69.50 |
| 15 | New York, NY | $144,178 | $69.32 |
| 16 | Las Vegas, NV | $143,250 | $68.87 |
| 17 | Chattanooga, TN | $142,265 | $68.40 |
| 18 | Jacksonville, FL | $141,945 | $68.24 |
| 19 | Cleveland, OH | $136,519 | $65.63 |
| 20 | Minneapolis, MN | $133,372 | $64.12 |
A senior director of business development's salary ranges from $106,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $215,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $215,000 | $17,917 | $103 |
| 75th Percentile | $182,000 | $15,167 | $88 |
| Average | $151,656 | $12,638 | $73 |
| 25th Percentile | $126,000 | $10,500 | $61 |
| 10th Percentile | $106,000 | $8,833 | $51 |
The highest paying types of senior directors of business development are vice president, business development, senior director of marketing, and global director.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Global Director | $157,749 | $13,146 | $75.84 | 81,120 |
| Planning Director | $131,978 | $10,998 | $63.45 | 51,861 |
| Business Director | $124,563 | $10,380 | $59.89 | 137,880 |
| Director Of Strategy | $145,870 | $12,156 | $70.13 | 65,254 |
| Director Of Sales | $111,068 | $9,256 | $53.40 | 91,891 |
| Business Development Account Manager | $99,209 | $8,267 | $47.70 | 222,573 |
Top companies hiring senior directors of business development now:
Senior director of business development salaries at VMware and Exelixis are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average senior director of business development salary at companies like The Walt Disney Company and Sutro Biopharma are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | VMware | $203,043 | $97.62 |
| 2 | Exelixis | $194,210 | $93.37 |
| 3 | The Walt Disney Company | $190,441 | $91.56 |
| 4 | Sutro Biopharma | $189,676 | $91.19 |
| 5 | Penske Media | $188,800 | $90.77 |
| 6 | Getty Images | $185,339 | $89.11 |
| 7 | Branded Entertainment Network | $183,833 | $88.38 |
| 8 | Brightstar | $183,643 | $88.29 |
| 9 | Palo Alto Networks | $182,334 | $87.66 |
| 10 | Walmart | $180,743 | $86.90 |
| 11 | Outbrain | $178,979 | $86.05 |
| 12 | Microsoft | $177,033 | $85.11 |
| 13 | Codexis | $176,957 | $85.08 |
| 14 | Boingo Wireless | $172,264 | $82.82 |
| 15 | ICF | $170,834 | $82.13 |
| 16 | Avanade | $167,614 | $80.58 |
| 17 | ResMed | $167,572 | $80.56 |
| 18 | RTI International Metals | $165,575 | $79.60 |
| 19 | Solectron Corp | $165,089 | $79.37 |
| 20 | St Luke's Hospital & Health Network Inc | $163,263 | $78.49 |
The average senior director of business development salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Professional | $146,738 | $70.55 |
| 2 | Telecommunication | $146,510 | $70.44 |
| 3 | Manufacturing | $145,077 | $69.75 |
| 4 | Real Estate | $143,541 | $69.01 |
| 5 | Hospitality | $143,463 | $68.97 |
| 6 | Technology | $143,112 | $68.80 |
| 7 | Media | $141,607 | $68.08 |
| 8 | Health Care | $115,120 | $55.35 |
The average senior director of business development salary has risen by $27,905 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average senior director of business development earned $123,751 annually, but today, they earn $151,656 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for senior directors of business development over the last decade.
Compare senior director of business development salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare senior director of business development salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $152,000 | $72.91 | +3.7% |
| 2024 | $146,000 | $70.18 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | $143,000 | $68.87 | +1.5% |
| 2022 | $141,000 | $67.81 | +0.8% |
| 2021 | $140,000 | $67.28 | +1.9% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Trade Desk | SR. Director, Business Development-Advertiser-Cpg | New York, NY | 06/29/2025 | $176,700 |
| Perspecta | Senior Director, Business Development-MPO | Annapolis, MD | 06/29/2025 | $176,000 |
| Perspecta | Senior Director, Business Development (Homeland & Diplomacy) | Reston, VA | 06/29/2025 | $176,000 |
| Geocomply | Senior Director of Business Development-New Verticals (Remote) | New York, NY | 06/29/2025 | $252,000 |
| Ingenovis Health, Inc. | Senior Director, Business Development | Cincinnati, OH | 06/29/2025 | $121,840 |
| KLA Corporation | Senior Director, Regional Business Development Lead | Milpitas, CA | 06/28/2025 | $226,900 |
| Sierra Nevada | SR Director Business Development Indo Pacific Region | Urban Honolulu, HI | 06/28/2025 | $221,506 |
| X-Energy | SR. Director, Triso-X Business Development | Oak Ridge, TN | 06/28/2025 | $180,900 |
| Danaher | Senior Director, Ccia Portfolio Strategy & Business Development (Remote-USA) | New York, NY | 06/27/2025 | $215,000 |
| Danaher | Senior Director, Ccia Portfolio Strategy & Business Development (Remote-USA) | Chaska, MN | 06/27/2025 | $215,000 |
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