What Is a Business Development Associate? + How to Become One

Key takeaways

Business development associates assist companies with sales, marketing, and customer journeys. Explore key facts:

• Business and financial positions have a projected growth rate of faster than average from 2024 to 2034 [1].

• Business development associates maintain client relationships, set goals, and develop new growth strategies.

• You can use market research, project management, critical thinking, and leadership skills to excel in this career.

Learn more about what a business development associate does and how to pursue this lucrative career path. Then, if you’re ready to develop important skills for this role, consider enrolling in the IBM Business Analyst Professional Certificate, where you'll have the opportunity to learn how to deliver data-driven insights and ensure all solutions you produce meet business goals.

What does a business development associate do?

As a business development associate, your role is to help a company grow through new opportunities, such as attracting new customers and improving customer retention. More often than not, your work will entail supporting (and likely improving) a range of sales, marketing, and even product development initiatives.

Business development associate: Duties and responsibilities

The specific duties and responsibilities of a business development associate will depend largely on the industry, company size, and even the type of company you end up working for. However, in general, business development associates are often responsible for the following:

• Analyzing the current market and processes for growth opportunities

• Researching new markets and customers 

• Developing and implementing growth strategies

• Setting goals for the business to achieve and monitoring input and development

• Building and maintaining client relationships

• Assisting with marketing and brand awareness

• Attending networking events and industry events

Read more: Is a Business Degree Worth It? Your Guide

Business development associate skills

Business development associates have a specific skill set that draws on both technical and workplace abilities. These include:

Technical skills

• Market research 

• Lead generation

• Data analysis 

• Business development 

• Business intelligence

• Project management

• Customer relationship management (CRM) 

• Sales prospecting

Workplace skills

• Communication

• Collaboration

• Strategic thinking

• Negotiation

• Leadership

• Critical thinking 

• Problem-solving

• Time management

Where do business development associates work?

Business development associates work across industries, including health care, construction, IT, cybersecurity, e-commerce, and engineering. Essentially, they are in demand where businesses need to grow.

Business development associates usually work across multi-functional teams, so you may find yourself collaborating with various departments throughout an organization or giving presentations to staff members. However, you'll also spend a portion of your time working independently.

Generally, this role is office-based, though you may find some remote opportunities. And, depending on the company, you may be expected to travel.

Is business development associate entry-level?

Yes, a business development associate role typically falls into the category of being “entry-level”. As you grow in this career, you may choose to pursue more senior or managerial roles, though beginning as a business development associate can help you gain experience and develop your skills.

Business development associate salary and career outlook

The career outlook for a business development associate is good, with faster-than-average projected job growth between 2024 and 2034 [1]. It is a popular career choice for those with business, marketing, or sales experience and offers career progression opportunities.

According to Glassdoor, the median total business development associate salary for one to three years of experience is $107,000 per year, which includes additional pay, such as bonuses and revenue sharing [2]. The same experience range earns an annual total pay between $83,000 and $143,000 [2].

Business development: Career advancement

After working as a business development associate, many options are available for advancement, including being promoted into (or pursuing) more senior positions in business development, such as business development manager and then senior business development manager [3]. 

Another option is to use your business development knowledge to explore other relevant roles, such as marketing manager or account manager. Another option is to work as a consultant, specializing in a certain sector. 

Some possible career advancement options and their median total salaries* are as follows:

*​​All salary information represents the median total pay from Glassdoor as of November 2025. These figures include base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.

• Business development manager: $151,000 [4]

• Senior business development manager: $248,000 [5]

• Business development strategist: $176,000 [6]

• Business development consultant: $159,000 [7]

• Director of business development: $239,000 [8]

How to become a business development associate

If a business development associate role fits your career well, your credentials and experience can help you find a job. Business development associates generally need a degree, previous experience, and sometimes additional certifications.

1. Earn a degree.

The minimum requirement for a business development associate role is typically a bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, or a similar major. According to Zippia, 78 percent of business development associate employees have at least a bachelor’s degree, and 12 percent have a master’s degree [9].

2. Gain experience.

To become a business development associate, you may need to gain some relevant experience in marketing, sales, or customer relations. While previous experience isn't always necessary, many businesses prefer that you have between two and five years.

Working as an intern as part of your college studies is an excellent way to gain experience, as is gaining experience in customer service, sales, and marketing positions. Similarly, gaining an entry-level role in business development, such as a market research analyst, business development representative, or sales development representative, is an excellent way to gain experience.

3. Develop your business and data skills.

Having the relevant skills to become a business development associate is important. These are generally developed through education and experience. For example, working as a sales development representative can help you develop your sales and communication skills, while working as a marketing coordinator can help you develop your market research skills.

4. Consider a certification.

To put yourself ahead of the competition when applying for a business development associate job, you can study for a certification to add to your resume. Examples you might consider include:

• The Certified Professional Sales Person (CPSP)

• Certified Business Development Manager (CBDM)

• Certified Sales and Marketing Professional (CSMP)

Build important business development skills

Grow in your business development role by subscribing to Career Chat, our weekly LinkedIn newsletter. Then, explore free, digital resources:

• Watch on YouTube: How AI is Transforming Business (And Your Morning Coffee)

• Take a quiz: Which Management Course Should You Take? Find Out in 1 Minute

• Learn from experts: Future-Proofing Your Business Strategy with GenAI

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