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Development director: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$125,470median pay per year, or $60.32 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $75,130lowest 10% earn less
  2. $95,97025th percentile
  3. $125,470median
  4. $169,99075th percentile
  5. $222,350top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

Development directors, which BLS counts as fundraising managers, earned a median of $125,470 a year in May 2025[1]. Jobs are projected to grow 5.4% from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+5.4%[2]
Openings per year
3,700[6]
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree[7]

How much do development directors make?

The median wage for fundraising managers was $125,470 a year, or $60.32 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. The average was $140,020 a year, or $67.32 an hour[8]. For all occupations, the median was $50,980 a year[5].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $75,130 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $222,350[4]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS publishes percentile wages rather than a starting salary[9].

Percentile Annual wage Hourly wage
10th[4][10] $75,130 $36.12
25th[4][10] $95,970 $46.14
Median[1] $125,470 $60.32
75th[4][10] $169,990 $81.73
90th[4][10] $222,350 $106.90

These figures cover wage and salary workers, part time and full time. They leave out the self-employed, bonuses that are not tied to production, and the cost of benefits such as health insurance[11]. About 38,810 people held these jobs[12].

Pay by state and city

Among the 47 states and DC with published data, New York had the highest median at $169,510[13]. New Hampshire ($157,080) and Rhode Island ($155,970) came next[13]. Arkansas had the lowest median at $71,110[13].

The states with the most jobs were California (5,430), New York (4,080), Illinois (2,860), Texas (2,560) and Massachusetts (2,260)[14].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, the highest medians were in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ ($170,780), San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($164,330) and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH ($161,500)[15]. The metro areas with the most jobs were New York-Newark-Jersey City (3,720), Chicago-Naperville-Elgin (2,310) and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (2,080)[16].

Show median pay in 47 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
New York[13]$169,5104,080
New Hampshire$157,080270
Rhode Island$155,970220
Massachusetts$151,7402,260
Virginia$143,730880
District of Columbia$141,720800
New Jersey$140,500750
Washington$137,0101,050
California$135,8705,430
Delaware$131,750120
Maryland$130,750810
Colorado$130,010600
Vermont$129,170180
Minnesota$126,920680
North Carolina$125,8701,030
Kentucky$124,770210
Wisconsin$123,090400
Connecticut$122,540900
Louisiana$122,15050
Oklahoma$122,100220
North Dakota$121,75030
Kansas$121,210160
Arizona$116,470530
Maine$116,470220
Michigan$113,360880
Georgia$113,050680
Indiana$112,890440
Pennsylvania$111,2801,950
Missouri$111,120n/a
Tennessee$107,760300
Nevada$106,420150
Illinois$106,2902,860
Oregon$103,8701,160
South Carolina$103,240220
Alaska$103,090110
New Mexico$101,68070
Ohio$101,4701,630
Iowa$98,700370
Florida$97,2401,320
Nebraska$97,230400
Texas$96,5202,560
Utah$95,190130
Hawaii$93,910240
Idaho$87,99070
Alabama$83,700210
Mississippi$82,62070
West Virginia$74,400100
Arkansas$71,110150

How to become a development director

BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical education for entry[7]. It also lists 5 years or more of work experience in a related occupation[7]. It lists no on-the-job training as typical[7]. The training details below come from a BLS profile that covers public relations and fundraising managers together[17].

O*NET places the job in Job Zone Four, which means considerable preparation is needed[22].

What development directors do

Fundraising managers plan and coordinate work to raise and keep funds for special projects or nonprofit groups[23]. Typical tasks include:

Job titles reported by workers include advancement director, annual giving director and development director[25]. Useful traits include leadership, organization, and clear writing and speaking[26][27][28][29].

Where they work

Public relations and fundraising managers are usually based in an office and keep regular business hours. Some travel to give speeches and attend meetings and community events[30]. The work can be high stress, and managers often organize several events at once[31]. Most work full time, often with long workdays[32]. Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional and similar organizations were the largest employer group, at 36% in 2025[33].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of fundraising managers to grow 5.4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 48,800 to 51,400 jobs[2]. These counts include self-employed workers, who were 0.3% of the total in 2025[34]. For all occupations, projected growth is 3.5%[3].

About 3,700 openings are projected each year on average[6]. Openings come from new jobs and also from workers who retire or move to other occupations[6]. Each year, 2.1% of workers leave the labor force and 4.7% move to a different occupation[35].

Is it a good fit?

The pay is well above the all-occupations median, and projected growth is faster than average[1][5][2][3]. The way in is long. A bachelor's degree is typical, and so is 5 years or more of related experience[7]. The work involves events, budgets and donor relationships, and it can be stressful[24][31]. People who enjoy leading teams and working with the public may find it a match[26][36].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[37].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a development director make an hour?
The median wage for fundraising managers was $60.32 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $67.32[1][8].
What degree do you need to be a development director?
BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry education, plus 5 years or more of related work experience[7].
Is development director a growing field?
BLS projects 5.4% growth from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[2][3].
What is the highest paying state for development directors?
New York, with a median of $169,510 a year[13].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Fundraising Managers in the US was $125,470 per year and $60.32 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Fundraising Managers is projected to grow 5.4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 48,800 to 51,400 jobs (a change of +2,600). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Fundraising Managers: 10th percentile $75,130, 25th percentile $95,970, 75th percentile $169,990, 90th percentile $222,350. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 3,700 openings for Fundraising Managers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Fundraising Managers: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: 5 years or more; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Fundraising Managers was $140,020 per year and $67.32 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Fundraising Managers: 10th percentile $36.12, 25th percentile $46.14, 75th percentile $81.73, 90th percentile $106.90. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 38,810 people were employed as Fundraising Managers in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. Median annual wage for Fundraising Managers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Fundraising Managers jobs: California 5,430; New York 4,080; Illinois 2,860; Texas 2,560; Massachusetts 2,260. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Fundraising Managers (areas with at least 100 jobs): New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $170,780; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $164,330; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $161,500; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $157,750; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $151,490; Rochester, NY $147,680; Trenton-Princeton, NJ $145,540; Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $144,590. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Fundraising Managers jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 3,720 (median $170,780); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 2,310 (median $109,720); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 2,080 (median $125,620); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 1,720 (median $161,500); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 1,470 (median $141,720); San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA 1,030 (median $157,750). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Public Relations and Fundraising Managers" covers Fundraising Managers together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. O*NET 11-2033.00: Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed. A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified. O*NET OnLine
  23. O*NET description of Fundraising Managers. O*NET OnLine
  24. O*NET task list for Fundraising Managers. O*NET OnLine
  25. O*NET 11-2033.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Advancement Director, Annual Giving Director, Development Director, Donor Engagement Director, Foundation Director, Fundraising Manager, Individual Giving Director, Individual Giving Manager. O*NET OnLine
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of public relations and fundraising managers in 2025: Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations 36%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. BLS Employment Projections: 0.3% of Fundraising Managers were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  35. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Fundraising Managers: 2.1% of workers leave the labor force each year and 4.7% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  36. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  37. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.