Qualifications

• Most employers require a bachelor's degree, but a master's degree in business administration or a related discipline is preferred. Most importantly, a strong track record in motivating sales staff, increasing organizational revenue and previous success in business development is required. These professionals should be able to motivate employees, be persuasive and have excellent verbal and written communication skills. The highest wages were reported by those who obtained a master's degree in business administration, earning average salaries ranging from $80,713 to $152,605 per year.
  
  

Average Salary

• Employers offer a base salary for this occupation. Because a director of business development has a direct impact on an organization's overall profitability, employers also offer bonuses, commissions and profit sharing. Average base salaries range from $78,960 to $140,860 per year. Bonuses and profit sharing average from $14,813 to $32,474 per year, and average commissions range from $14,888 to $50,619 per year. The total average pay ranges from $88,802 to $165,057 per year.
  
  

Company Sales

• A director of business development oversees the entire sales operation for an organization. Because of this, an organization's annual sales directly affect the salary of a director of business development. Those working for organizations with less than $500,000 in annual sales earn average salaries ranging from $34,392 to $84,441 per year. Those who work for organizations with over $10 million in annual sales earn average salaries ranging from $90,342 to $151,688 per year.
  
  

Industries

• The highest levels of employment were reported in industries such as information technology, health care, aerospace and defense and Internet and new media organizations. The highest salaries were reported in aerospace and defense, where these professionals earn average salaries up to $136,486 per year. Internet and new media organizations pay average salaries ranging from $86,217 to $136,286 per year, and the health care industry pays average salaries ranging from $77,412 to $126,231 per year.