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Behavioral Health Director Salary in the United States

How much does a Behavioral Health Director make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Behavioral Health Director in the United States is $139,627 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $67.

However, a Behavioral Health Director's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $183,693
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $123,425 to $162,693
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $108,674
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Behavioral Health Director Salaries

A Behavioral Health Director's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Behavioral Health Director Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Behavioral Health Director's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Behavior Analyst (4-7 years): $70,632
  • Behavioral Health Supervisor (7+ years): $90,823
  • Behavioral Health Manager (7+ years): $105,202
  • Behavioral Health Director (7+ years): $139,627
  • VP of Behavioral Health (7+ years): $172,813
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Behavior Analyst4-7 years$70,632
Behavioral Health Supervisor7+ years$90,823
Behavioral Health Manager7+ years$105,202
Behavioral Health Director7+ years$139,627
VP of Behavioral Health7+ years$172,813
View as Graph

How Do Behavioral Health Directors Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Behavioral Health Directors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $154,595.
  • California: $154,009.
  • Massachusetts: $151,956.

Top Paying Cities for Behavioral Health Director

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $176,112
  • San Francisco: $174,183
  • Oakland: $170,512

What Skills Can Increase a Behavioral Health Director's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 18.82% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Billing (Mentioned in 2.76% Job Postings): Billing refers to the aspect of banking, whereby someone is charged accurately for what item they purchased.
  • Financial Management (Mentioned in 1.81% Job Postings): Financial management focuses on ratios, equities and debts. It is useful for portfolio management,distribution of dividend,capital raising,hedging and looking after fluctuations in foreign currency and product cycles.Financial managers are the people who will do research and based on the research, decide what sort of capital to obtain in order to fund the company's assets as well as maximizing the value of the firm for all the stakeholders. It also refers to the efficient and effective management of money (funds) in such a manner as to accomplish the objectives of the organization. It is the specialized function directly associated with the top management. The significance of this function is not seen in the 'Line' but also in the capacity of the 'Staff' in overall of a company. It has been defined differently by different experts in the field. The term typically applies to an organization or company's financial strategy, while personal finance or financial life management refers to an individual's management strategy. It includes how to raise the capital and how to allocate capital, i.e. capital budgeting. Not only for long term budgeting, but also how to allocate the short term resources like current liabilities. It also deals with the dividend policies of the share holders.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 18.82%
Billing 2.76%
Financial Management 1.81%
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What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Behavioral Health Director's salary.

  • Utilization Management: Can increase your salary by up to 15%.
  • Quality Management: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Managed Care: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Utilization Management $160,571
15%
Quality Management $153,590
10%
Managed Care $152,193
9%
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Behavioral Health Director Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Behavioral Health Director salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $150,416. While startup companies pay approximate $127,695.

Behavioral Health Director Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $127,695
Growth Stage 51~500 $134,946
Established 501~5000 $145,348
Enterprise 5000+ $150,416

Behavioral Health Director Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Behavioral Health Director roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 25% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Insurance, offers compensation 10% above the average. Conversely, Behavioral Health Director positions in Edu., Government & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Behavioral Health Director as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Behavioral Health Director

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Insurance$153,590$74.010%
Healthcare$146,608$70.05%

How Education impacts an Behavioral Health Director's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Behavioral Health Director enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Behavioral Health Director with a Bachelor's Degree is between $0 and $0.

Behavioral Health Director Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Behavioral Health Director
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.5%
High School 2.0%
Associates 2.0%
Bachelors 12.6%
Masters 61.8%
Doctorate 21.1%
View as Graph

Behavioral Health Director Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Behavioral Health Director's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$123,425
Average $139,627/year
$162,693
$10,285
Average $11,636/month
$13,558
$2,374
Average $2,685/week
$3,129
$59
Average $67/hour
$78
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $162,693 $13,558 $3,129 $78
Average $139,627 $11,636 $2,685 $67
25th Percentile $123,425 $10,285 $2,374 $59

Behavioral Health Director Salary Growth & Career Path

Behavioral Health Director

Next Role

For a Behavioral Health Director, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the VP of Behavioral Health role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $172,813 - a projected growth of 24% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Behavioral Health Director

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Behavioral Health Director

Here are companies hiring for Behavioral Health Director and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Behavioral Health Director

1. Where can a Behavioral Health Director earn the most?

A Behavioral Health Director's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Behavioral Health Director earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Behavioral Health Director is $176,112.

2. What is the highest pay for Behavioral Health Director?

The highest pay for Behavioral Health Director is $183,693.

3. What is the lowest pay for Behavioral Health Director?

The lowest pay for Behavioral Health Director is $108,674.

4. What are the responsibilities of Behavioral Health Director?

Oversees the study and treatment of patients with emotional, mental, or psychological disorders. Develops, implements, and updates strategic initiatives, programs, and services. Manages and directs the operations of behavioral health services. Uses knowledge of behavioral health research and trends to ensure the department's practices are up-to-date and effective. Establishes training programs and supports and supervises staff. Ensures all behavioral health operations comply with clinical guidelines and regulations. Requires an advanced degree in psychology or related field. Typically reports to top management. Manages a departmental sub-function within a broader departmental function. Creates functional strategies and specific objectives for the sub-function and develops budgets/policies/procedures to support the functional infrastructure. Typically requires 5+ years of managerial experience. Deep knowledge of the managed sub-function and solid knowledge of the overall departmental function.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Behavioral Health Director?

The Insurance industry offers the highest average compensation for Behavioral Health Director roles, with salaries approximately 10% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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