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Entry Level Business Development Jobs in Illinois

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Entry Level Business Development information

See Illinois salary details

$18.9K

$53.3K

$88.7K

How much do entry level business development jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for entry level business development in Illinois is $53,296.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $40,200.00 and $61,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How to start an entry level business development career?

To start an entry level business development career, gain relevant skills such as communication, sales, and market research, often through a bachelor's degree in business or related fields. Internships or entry-level sales roles can provide practical experience, and familiarity with CRM tools like Salesforce can be beneficial. Building a professional network and continuously developing interpersonal skills are also important for growth in this field.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an entry level business development professional?

To thrive as an Entry Level Business Development professional, you need strong communication, analytical, and organizational skills, often supported by a bachelor’s degree in business or a related field. Familiarity with CRM software like Salesforce, lead generation tools, and basic data analysis platforms is typically required. Proactive networking, resilience, and the ability to build rapport quickly are standout soft skills in this role. These competencies enable you to identify new business opportunities, nurture client relationships, and support company growth objectives.

What is the difference between Entry Level Business Development vs Sales Associate?

AspectEntry Level Business DevelopmentSales Associate
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree often preferred, relevant internshipsHigh school diploma or equivalent, some roles prefer college coursework
Work EnvironmentOffice setting, client meetings, networking eventsRetail, tele sales, or direct customer interaction
Employer & Industry UsageUsed across tech, finance, and service industriesCommon in retail, wholesale, and consumer goods sectors
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding entry-level roles in business growthEntry-level sales roles for direct customer engagement

Entry Level Business Development focuses on building client relationships and identifying growth opportunities, often requiring strategic thinking and networking skills. Sales Associate roles are more customer-facing, emphasizing direct sales and product knowledge. Both roles serve different functions but are essential for business growth and customer engagement at the entry level.

How does an entry level business development professional typically collaborate with sales and marketing teams?

Entry Level Business Development professionals often work closely with both sales and marketing teams to identify potential clients, qualify leads, and support the outreach process. They frequently participate in strategy meetings, share market research insights, and help coordinate campaigns or presentations. This collaboration not only strengthens client acquisition efforts but also provides valuable exposure to cross-functional teamwork, which is essential for career growth in business development.

What is an entry level business development role?

An Entry Level Business Development role is a starting position focused on helping a company grow by identifying new business opportunities, building relationships with potential clients, and supporting sales or marketing efforts. Individuals in this role often conduct research, reach out to prospects, and assist with lead generation activities. This position is ideal for those new to the field who are looking to gain experience and develop skills in sales, communication, and strategic planning. Entry-level business development professionals typically work closely with senior team members to learn the business and contribute to the company’s growth strategy.
What are the most commonly searched types of Business Development jobs in Illinois? The most popular types of Business Development jobs in Illinois are:
What are popular job titles related to Entry Level Business Development jobs in Illinois? For Entry Level Business Development jobs in Illinois, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What cities in Illinois are hiring for Entry Level Business Development jobs? Cities in Illinois with the most Entry Level Business Development job openings:
Infographic showing various Entry Level Business Development job openings in Illinois as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 92% Full Time, and 8% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $53,296 per year, or $25.6 per hour.

Business Development Coordinator

Integrated Project Management Company

Burr Ridge, IL • On-site, Remote

Full-time

Medical, PTO

Posted 13 days ago


Job description

Description
For more than three decades, premier organizations have trusted IPM to lead the successful execution of their strategic portfolios and critically important initiatives. Headquartered in Chicago with offices in Boston, Parsippany, Minneapolis, St. Louis, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, IPM has led more than 5,000 projects for over 500 clients. Our clients range from Fortune 100 companies to start-ups.
We are a certified "Great Place to Work" company and have been named to the Great Place to Work list of "Best Workplaces in Consulting and Professional Services."
The Business Development Coordinator a role internal to IPM and serves as a central support resource for IPM's Industry Teams and Strategic Growth function, helping drive business development effectiveness through CRM administration, proposal support, market research, partnership coordination, reporting, and AI-enabled business intelligence. This role contributes to both industry-specific and corporate business development initiatives by supporting client pursuit activities, maintaining business development systems and processes, and enabling informed decision-making through research and analytics.
This entry-level role is responsible for maintaining Salesforce data quality, supporting proposal and contract administration, preparing client and market research, and ensuring key business development activities are executed efficiently and consistently across the organization.
The ideal candidate is highly organized, detail-oriented, technology-savvy, and eager to build a long-term career in business development
Primary Responsibilities and Duties
  • Enter, maintain, and update pipeline information, sales activities, and account engagement data within Salesforce and other approved business development systems.
  • Ensure data integrity and consistency across business development platforms.
  • Develop and distribute recurring pipeline reports, dashboards, and business development metrics.
  • Support Industry Directors and Strategic Growth leaders with account and opportunity tracking.
  • Assist with forecasting activities and business development planning efforts.
  • Maintain and organize proposal content, case studies, credentials, and other business development resources.
  • Assist in the development, coordination, and review of proposals, statements of work, and related client-facing materials.
  • Support contract administration and pursuit-related activities.
  • Coordinate internal business development meetings and follow-up action items.
  • Support initiatives that strengthen IPM's market visibility, brand recognition, and thought leadership.
  • Utilize Microsoft Copilot and other approved AI tools to accelerate research and business development workflows.
  • Create pre-meeting briefing packages and account intelligence reports.
  • Support target account planning and strategic pursuit development.
  • Conduct market, competitor, and industry research to identify trends and opportunities.
  • Prepare analyses and reports that support business development decision-making.
  • Track referral opportunities, alliance activities, and partnership engagement efforts.
  • Schedule and coordinate partnership meetings, quarterly business reviews, and follow-up activities.
  • Participate in internal business development and operations meetings as required.
  • Support network and opportunity pipeline growth through research, outreach coordination, and business development initiatives.
  • Assist with buyer-enablement activities and content development efforts.
Required Skills and Experience
  • Bachelor's degree in marketing, business administration, communications, management or a related field.
  • 2+ years of professional experience.
  • Internship or previous experience in sales support, marketing, customer success, or administrative support roles preferred.
  • Computer literacy in all MS Office applications.
  • Strong aptitude for learning business systems and technology platforms.
  • Interest and exposure to utilizing AI as a tool to enhance and accelerate work efforts.
  • Experience with Salesforce, HubSpot, Microsoft Copilot, Power BI, or similar tools is preferred but not required.
  • Professional communications skills (verbal and written).
  • Strong organization, prioritization, and interpersonal skills.
  • Proven initiative and follow through, with a high attention to detail.
  • Demonstrated work ethic, integrity, and professional conduct.
  • Curiosity and willingness to continuously learn and grow knowledge and skillset through earning relevant certifications, attending training courses, and/or seeking out additional resources.
WHY IPM
  • Engaging culture: IPM has a caring, nurturing culture with a transparent communication approach and culture-building and team-building events, both regional and company-wide.
  • Professional development: This role is intentionally designed as a development opportunity. IPM invests heavily in training, mentorship, and experiential learning to help employees build long-term careers. You are IPM's future - we only promote from within.
  • Comprehensive compensation and benefits program: including 100% employer-paid health for employees and 80% paid health for dependents; 401(k)matching, performance bonus, relocation assistance, tuition reimbursement, paid vacation, holiday, personal and sick time, among many others; salary range is $50,000 to $85,000 dependent on experience.
  • Philanthropy: We are devoted to the communities we serve and actively promote employee involvement in community improvement projects. We have created "Project Mercy" to channel our philanthropic efforts every quarter.

Disclaimer: Where a specific pay range is noted, it is a good faith estimate at the time of this posting. The actual salary offered will be based on experience, skills, qualifications, and market / business considerations.
IPM is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants for employment.
IPM's hybrid work environment requires a minimum of three in-office days each week, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Additional in-office days may be required based on business needs and meetings.