Economic Development Manager

Career Guide

An Economic Development Manager helps a city, region, or organization grow jobs and investment. They build relationships with businesses, promote the area to new employers, coordinate projects with public and private partners, and manage programs such as business retention, incentives, and redevelopment.

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Key Responsibilities

Develop and execute economic development strategies
Recruit new businesses to locate or expand in the area
Support existing businesses through retention and expansion programs
Build partnerships with government, employers, utilities, and community groups
Manage site selection inquiries and prepare proposal responses
Coordinate incentive discussions and ensure compliance with program rules
Lead redevelopment projects and corridor revitalization efforts
Secure grants and manage grant reporting requirements
Present updates to leadership, boards, and community stakeholders
Track outcomes such as jobs created, investment secured, and tax base growth

Top Skills for Success

Stakeholder Management

Relationship Building

Negotiation

Project Management

Public Speaking

Grant Writing

Grant Management

Business Recruitment

Business Retention

Incentive Program Design

Incentive Compliance

Market Research

Real Estate Fundamentals

Workforce Development Coordination

Budget Management

Career Progression

Can Lead To

Economic Development Manager Business Development Manager

Main Street Manager

Downtown Development Manager

Grant Manager Community Development Specialist

Planning Manager

Transition Opportunities

Director of Economic Development

Vice President of Economic Development

City Manager

Port Director

Redevelopment Director

Real Estate Development Manager Public Affairs Director Workforce Development Director

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills

Incentive ComplianceProposal WritingReal Estate FundamentalsFinancial ModelingData AnalysisContract ReviewGrant Management

Development SuggestionsBuild a small portfolio of projects that shows outcomes such as deals supported, grants secured, and partnerships formed. Practice writing a one page business recruitment pitch. Learn basic financial modeling to compare project scenarios. Strengthen data analysis by tracking a few clear metrics over time and presenting them in simple dashboards.

Market Intelligence Report

Economic Development Manager is part of the Sales & Business Development Roles - Other category.Explore our market intelligence report to see how AI and hiring demand are shifting for these roles.

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Salary & Demand

Median Salary Range

Entry LevelUSD 55,000 to 75,000

Mid LevelUSD 75,000 to 105,000

Senior LevelUSD 105,000 to 150,000

Growth Trend

Steady demand. Hiring is strongest in fast growing metros, regions pursuing downtown redevelopment, and areas investing in advanced manufacturing, logistics, clean energy, and housing. Competition can be high for roles tied to high profile projects.

Companies Hiring

Major Employers

City governmentsCounty governmentsRegional economic development organizationsState commerce agenciesChambers of commercePort authoritiesRedevelopment authoritiesUniversitiesUtilitiesNonprofit community development organizationsPrivate site selection firmsBusiness improvement districts

Industry Sectors

Public sectorNonprofitHigher educationUtilitiesConsultingReal estate development

Recommended Next Steps

Interview local employers and document top expansion barriers and needs

Create a target industry list based on local strengths and workforce availability

Develop a standardized site selection response template

Build a simple incentive tracking spreadsheet and reporting cadence

Volunteer for a cross agency redevelopment project to strengthen project leadership

Take a grant writing course and complete one sample application

Join a regional economic development association and attend one networking event per month

Publish a quarterly economic update for stakeholders using clear, simple metrics