In the pursuit of equity and diversity, many argue that salary transparency can play a crucial role. Within global development, multilateral organizations like the United Nations and several renowned international NGOs have public salary scales for their staff positions that are often accessible online. However, when it comes to for-profit companies in the development sector, transparency regarding compensation is usually more difficult to come by.
Over the past few years, Devex has actively encouraged employers to disclose the salary ranges for the positions they advertise on the largest global development job board. Although some for-profit consultancies have taken steps in this direction, consistency remains a challenge.
While many organizations disclose salary information for their United States-based vacancies — likely influenced by certain U.S. states making it compulsory to publicize salary ranges — there is noticeably less transparency when it comes to field positions or project-based roles.
But we do have enough data at our disposal to shed some light on which for-profit development organizations — all of which are consultancy agencies — have been more transparent regarding salaries than others, with the aim of providing a reference point for job seekers striving to make more informed decisions when exploring career opportunities in the industry.
Development organizations face calls for more salary transparency
Publicly disclosing what an available position pays is not any more of a common practice in global development than it is in other industries, career experts and sector professionals tell Devex.
Based on our salary data analysis we are able to rank the top 10 for-profit development employers based on the number of job postings on Devex that have included salary data over the past 12 months — May 16, 2022 through May 16, 2023. We’re also highlighting some recent and current job opportunities with these organizations, including the salary ranges that were or are being publicly advertised for these roles.
Editor’s note: Job postings by organizations who shared salary information with Devex but did not agree to share this information publicly were not included in this analysis.
1. Chemonics International Inc.
Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States
Founded: 1975
Staff size: 5,001 - 10,000
Jobs with salary information: 524
The international consulting firm has several current jobs on Devex which include the salary, mainly roles based in the U.S. Chemonics is currently seeking a senior contracts specialist focused on the global supply chain with an annual salary between $84,320 and $105,400 and a senior advisor on water and sustainable cities practice paying between $128,560 and $160,700. Both are full-time, remote positions based in the U.S.
View all current job postings from Chemonics on Devex.
2. NIRAS International Consulting
Headquarters: Denmark
Founded: 1956
Staff size: 1,000 - 5,000
Jobs with salary information: 45
Earlier this year, the multidisciplinary development consultancy advertised a position based in the United Kingdom for a principal monitoring, evaluation, and learning consultant at a salary between £46,285 and £57,857. It had also recently sought a GIS developer in the U.K. at an annual salary between £30,000 and £50,000.
View all current job postings from NIRAS on Devex.
3. JSI
Headquarters: Massachusetts, United States
Founded: 1978
Staff size: 1,001 - 5,000
Jobs with salary information: 42
The global public health consulting organization currently has several U.S.-based openings, including a technical director for maternal and newborn health at an annual salary between $150,000 and $180,000 and a communications specialist who is both fluent in English and French and would earn between $70,000 and $90,000.
View all current job postings from JSI on Devex.
4. Resonance
Headquarters: Vermont, United States
Founded: 2005
Staff size: 101 - 250
Jobs with salary information: 20
The development consultancy is currently seeking a deputy chief of party for the USAID- and PepsiCo-funded Global Development Alliance, which focuses on strengthening the business case for women’s economic empowerment in agricultural supply chains. It’s a remote position based in Washington, D.C., with a salary between $120,000 and $145,000.
View all current job postings from Resonance on Devex.
5. Abt Associates Inc.
Headquarters: Maryland, United States
Founded: 1965
Staff size: 1,001 - 5,000
Jobs with salary information: 19
The global consulting and research firm recently sought a strategic partnerships lead for the Healthcare Electrification and Telecommunications Alliance, a remote position based in the U.S. offering between $140,000 and $195,000 annually. Abt Associates — Australia has a current opening for a monitoring, evaluation and learning advisor for the Partnership for Human Development program based in Timor-Leste with a monthly salary between AU$8,000 - AU$10,136.
View all current job postings from Abt Associates on Devex.
6. ITAD Ltd.
Headquarters: United Kingdom
Founded: 1984
Staff size: 101 - 250
Jobs with salary information: 17
The development consultancy is currently seeking a senior consultant in human development based in the U.K. at an annual salary between £45,000 - £50,000. The selected candidate would join its 11-person human development practice and focus on supporting the learning and evaluation agenda of its SRHR projects.
View all current job postings from ITAD on Devex.
7. DAI
Headquarters: Maryland, United States
Founded: 1970
Staff size: 1,001 - 5,000
Jobs with salary information: 15
DAI is a global development consultancy with corporate offices in the U.S., U.K., European Union, Nigeria, Pakistan, and the Palestinian territories, with project operations worldwide. It is currently seeking a program specialist for the USAID-funded Critical Infrastructure Digitalization and Resilience program, a position based in Washington, D.C. with a salary between $59,000 and $74,000 annually.
View all current job postings from DAI on Devex.
8. Arabella Advisors
Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States
Founded: 2005
Staff size: 251 - 500
Jobs with salary information: 14
Arabella Advisor is a philanthropic advisory firm that earlier this year merged with Redstone Strategy, another advisory firm focused on foundations, nonprofits, governments, and impact investors in areas such as climate and energy and economic equity. It’s currently advertising for a senior director of consulting services to lead a team of financial engineers. The role is remote and based in the U.S. with an annual salary between $110,000 and $165,000.
View all current job postings from Arabella Advisors on Devex.
9. Social Development Direct
Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
Founded: 1999
Staff size: 51 - 100
Jobs with salary information: 11
A leading U.K. firm of social development assistance and research experts, Social Development Direct recently sought a technical specialist in monitoring, evaluation, learning and research. The position was remote and based in London with an annual salary between £35,000 and £42,000.
View all current job postings from Social Development Direct on Devex.
10. The Palladium Group
Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
Founded: 1965
Staff size: 1,001 - 5,000
Jobs with salary information: 9
The development consultancy and service provider recently posted U.K.-based jobs within its Early Warning, Analysis and Reporting team, one for a senior analyst with an annual salary between £50,000 and £52,000, and another for a humanitarian response lead offering between £62,000 and £65,000 per year.
View all current job postings from the Palladium Group on Devex.
Janelle Cruz contributed to the research for this article.
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About the authors
Justin Sablich
Justin is a contributing writer and editor who previously led Devex’s careers content strategy. Before joining Devex, Justin served as the managing editor of Springwise, covering sustainable and climate-tech innovation across all business sectors. He also spent over 13 years as an editor and writer for the New York Times, specializing in digital content production and strategy while producing written and multimedia content on a range of topics, including travel, sports, and technology.
Raquel Alcega
Raquel Alcega leads the data research and analysis at Devex, providing advice to organizations on the latest funding and programmatic trends that shape the global development space. She also heads up the news business content strategy and designs internal knowledge management processes. Prior to joining Devex’s Barcelona office, she worked in business development in Washington, D.C., and as a researcher in Russia and Mexico.
