Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between senior directors, product development and development directors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 8-10 years to become a senior director, product development, becoming a development director takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a senior director, product development has an average salary of $160,980, which is higher than the $107,044 average annual salary of a development director.
The top three skills for a senior director, product development include project management, product development and digital marketing. The most important skills for a development director are digital marketing, oversight, and patients.
| Senior Director, Product Development | Development Director | |
| Yearly salary | $160,980 | $107,044 |
| Hourly rate | $77.39 | $51.46 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 160,867 | 63,008 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 39 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 10 | 4 |
A senior director of product development spearheads and oversees the product development operations of a company. They have the responsibility to manage product development teams, set goals, establish guidelines and timelines, liaise with key external parties, coordinate managers, and address issues and concerns, resolving them efficiently. They also have the authority to come up with decisions and delegate responsibilities among teams and staff. Moreover, as a senior director, product development, it is essential to implement policies and regulations, developing new ones that support the company's needs, vision, and mission.
A development director is an individual who is responsible for securing funds and sponsors for non-profit organizations. Development directors must actively seek new business partners and develop relationships with volunteers and donors. They meet with members of the development team to help advertise and promote brand awareness and funding. Development directors must possess skills and experience in managing human resources, marketing, and budgeting functions. They must also obtain a bachelor's degree in business management, public relations, or related field.
Senior directors, product development and development directors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Director, Product Development | Development Director | |
| Average salary | $160,980 | $107,044 |
| Salary range | Between $107,000 And $241,000 | Between $64,000 And $177,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Jersey City, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Washington | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Genentech | Cornerstone Research |
| Best paying industry | Media | - |
There are a few differences between a senior director, product development and a development director in terms of educational background:
| Senior Director, Product Development | Development Director | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Georgia | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between senior directors, product development' and development directors' demographics:
| Senior Director, Product Development | Development Director | |
| Average age | 39 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 71.2% Female, 28.8% | Male, 50.2% Female, 49.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.0% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 8.2% White, 74.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 6.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 9.2% Asian, 5.1% White, 74.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 16% |