What Does a Business Development Manager Do?
A Business Development Manager identifies and pursues new business opportunities to drive company growth and revenue. They build strategic partnerships, enter new markets, and develop long-term client relationships. This role sits at the intersection of sales, marketing, and strategy.
Other Job Titles for This Work
Workers in this occupation report titles such as District Sales Manager, Fractional Sales Executive, National Sales Manager, Regional Sales Manager, Sales and Marketing VP (Sales and Marketing Vice President), Sales Director, Sales Manager, Sales Operations Manager (Sales Ops Manager).
Business Development Manager Duties and Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of a business development manager include:
- Identify and evaluate new business opportunities through market research and networking.
- Develop and execute growth strategies to expand the company's customer base and revenue streams.
- Build and maintain relationships with prospective clients, partners, and industry contacts.
- Prepare and deliver persuasive proposals, presentations, and pitches to potential clients.
- Negotiate contracts and partnership agreements that align with company objectives.
- Collaborate with marketing and sales teams to develop targeted outreach campaigns.
- Track market trends, competitor activities, and industry developments to inform strategy.
- Manage the business development pipeline using CRM tools and provide regular forecasts.
- Represent the company at conferences, trade shows, and networking events.
- Report on business development metrics and progress toward growth targets to senior leadership.
Required Skills and Qualifications
To succeed as a business development manager, you will need the following skills and qualifications:
- Strategic prospecting and lead generation
- Relationship building and networking
- Negotiation and deal closing
- Market analysis and competitive intelligence
- CRM software proficiency
- Presentation and public speaking
- Revenue forecasting and pipeline management
- Cross-functional collaboration
Education and Training
Business Development Managers typically need a bachelor's degree in business administration, marketing, or a related field. A master's degree in business administration can be advantageous for senior roles or positions in highly competitive industries. Industry-specific knowledge and professional networks are often as important as formal education. Certifications in sales methodologies, negotiation, or strategic planning can further strengthen a candidate's profile.
Salary and Job Outlook
Typical pay: $100,360 - $207,340 per year, with a median of $148,270.
The range covers the middle half of earners nationwide. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Sales Managers.
BLS projects employment of sales managers to grow about 5 percent from 2025 to 2035, with about 47,300 openings a year. Business Development Managers are essential to companies looking to grow in competitive markets. Demand for these professionals is strong across technology, healthcare, financial services, and professional services sectors. As markets become more global and digital, business development professionals who can use data analytics and digital networking tools have a significant advantage. The role offers excellent earning potential through base salary plus performance-based commissions and bonuses.
Outlook source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, Sales managers.
Business Development Manager Pay Range
| Earners | Annual pay |
|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $73,170 |
| Bottom 25% earn less than | $100,360 |
| Median (half earn more, half less) | $148,270 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $207,340 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $290,540 |
Highest-Paying States for Business Development Managers
The states with the highest median pay for this occupation are New York ($217,640), Massachusetts ($191,200), Virginia ($191,130), Colorado ($180,850), Washington ($174,000). Pay is lowest in Arkansas ($108,330), Alaska ($98,860), West Virginia ($94,830).
Median pay in all 50 states with BLS data
| State | Median annual pay |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $124,040 |
| Alaska | $98,860 |
| Arizona | $145,690 |
| Arkansas | $108,330 |
| California | $134,910 |
| Colorado | $180,850 |
| Connecticut | $162,110 |
| District of Columbia | $141,800 |
| Florida | $131,900 |
| Georgia | $159,890 |
| Hawaii | $116,340 |
| Idaho | $135,350 |
| Illinois | $155,280 |
| Indiana | $131,470 |
| Iowa | $134,010 |
| Kansas | $159,990 |
| Kentucky | $128,650 |
| Louisiana | $110,700 |
| Maine | $158,660 |
| Maryland | $137,150 |
| Massachusetts | $191,200 |
| Michigan | $136,870 |
| Minnesota | $151,670 |
| Mississippi | $108,750 |
| Missouri | $115,370 |
| Montana | $117,390 |
| Nebraska | $126,990 |
| Nevada | $109,790 |
| New Hampshire | $141,900 |
| New Jersey | $173,020 |
| New Mexico | $114,080 |
| New York | $217,640 |
| North Carolina | $150,470 |
| North Dakota | $119,990 |
| Ohio | $135,510 |
| Oklahoma | $128,920 |
| Oregon | $155,810 |
| Pennsylvania | $130,610 |
| Rhode Island | $154,970 |
| South Carolina | $131,080 |
| South Dakota | $136,360 |
| Tennessee | $128,040 |
| Texas | $136,020 |
| Utah | $136,520 |
| Vermont | $138,650 |
| Virginia | $191,130 |
| Washington | $174,000 |
| West Virginia | $94,830 |
| Wisconsin | $134,870 |
| Wyoming | $129,840 |
What the Work Is Like
O*NET surveys people who work as sales managers about their daily conditions. Of those surveyed:
- 100% are on the phone every day
- 100% use email every day
- 90% say teamwork is very or extremely important in their job
- 86% usually work more than 40 hours a week
- 81% spend more than half the workday sitting
- 65% work indoors in a climate-controlled space every day
- 40% deal with rude or angry people at least once a week
Education Workers Say the Job Needs
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree | 71% |
| Some college | 19% |
Tools and Software Business Development Managers Use
Tools and equipment
Software
Is This Job a Good Fit for You?
People who do well in this job tend to enjoy leading, persuading and making business decisions as well as organized work with data, records and clear procedures.
Skills O*NET rates most important: Active Listening, Speaking, Negotiation, Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Monitoring.
Knowledge areas used most: Sales and Marketing, Customer and Personal Service, English Language, Administration and Management, Personnel and Human Resources.
Preparation: O*NET places this occupation in Job Zone 4 of 5, which means considerable preparation.
Related Careers
These jobs use similar skills, according to O*NET's related-occupation data:
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Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035.
- O*NET 30.1 Database, occupation 11-2022.00 (Sales Managers). View on O*NET OnLine.
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.1 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. The Job Explorer has modified some of the information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these changes.