Five High-Paying Careers in Organizational Development
- Consulting
- Account Management
- Human Resources Management
- Business Analytics
- Human Resources Administration
The highest-paying careers in organizational development are fascinating and vital jobs that make it possible for businesses to be efficient and productive. Organizational development is a field that is related to human resources, and it has been around since the 1930s. OD professionals are responsible for envisioning how a company can optimize its workforce to accomplish goals in a succinct and reliable fashion. While HR personnel tend to approach their work from a conventional angle, OD professionals put more of a focus on psychological theory and research. With a degree in organizational development, you can choose from a wide range of exciting occupations.
1. Consulting
When it comes to consulting, OD professionals are in high demand. Consultants can work independently or as employees of a company, and they spend their time helping managers staff their organizations with the appropriate mix of talents and personalities. Organizational development is an academic subject that is based on psychology, and OD consultants have expertise in employee psychology, performance, and motivation. Managers and executives consult OD professionals about developing the talents of their workforce and getting a better value from the workers already employed by the company. Consultants earn a median annual salary of around $68,660, and the top-earning professionals can take home $124,000 per year or more.
2. Account Management
Account managers are responsible for handling client accounts for a company. They work directly with clients to ensure that all of their needs are met and that they are satisfied with the services they are paying for. All types of companies need account managers. From law firms to health care clinics, business accounts need to be handled by highly skilled and experienced managers. OD professionals with excellent communication skills and outgoing personalities can fill this role for companies in all types of industries. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary of an account manager is $63,147. Top earners in this field take home over $100,000 per year.
3. Human Resources Management
If human resources is the occupation most closely related to organizational development, HR management is the natural role for OD professionals looking for a high-paying job. HR management deals with recruiting, hiring and onboarding employees for a company. HR departments often have projects assigned to them by executives of a firm, and HR managers are responsible for seeing these projects through from start to finish. Several managers may supervise the operations of the HR department, and OD professionals are highly valued in this task for their deep understanding of employee and group psychology. HR managers earn a median annual salary of around $63,000.
4. Business Analytics
When it comes to interpreting business analytics, organizational developers are among the most qualified professionals in the business world. Analysts measure the health and strength of a company by evaluating the business metrics collected by accountants, HR staff, Web developers, marketing managers, and other professionals. Their insight is valuable to a company because it helps managers understand how to plan future projects and investments. The median salary of business analysts is about $59,000.
5. Human Resources Administration
A human resources generalist handles all the administrative tasks that managers and coordinators are unable to handle. From developing employee orientation packages to training new employees and creating benefit packages, administrators perform all types of duties within the HR department. The median annual salary of HR generalists is around $49,300, and the highest-earning administrators take home over $103,000 per year, according to the BLS.
Companies in all industries are in need of organizational developers, so finding a job opening is usually easy. The highest-paying careers in organizational development are perfect for anyone with excellent analytical skills and a strong work ethic.