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Career Services Director Salary in the United States

How much does a Career Services Director make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Career Services Director in the United States is $77,278 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $37.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $103,449
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $65,818 to $90,977
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $55,384
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Career Services Director Salaries

A Career Services 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 Career Services Director Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Career Services 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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $70,265
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $71,291
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $73,857
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $77,278
  • Expert (over 8 years): $81,776
Levels Salary
Entry Level Career Services Director$70,265
Intermediate Level Career Services Director$71,291
Senior Level Career Services Director$73,857
Specialist Level Career Services Director$77,278
Expert Level Career Services Director$81,776
View as Graph

How Do Career Services Director 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 Career Services Directors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $85,562.
  • California: $85,238.
  • Massachusetts: $84,102.

Top Paying Cities for Career Services Directors

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: $97,471
  • San Francisco: $96,404
  • Oakland: $94,372

What Skills Can Increase a Career Services Director's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 6.01% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Data Collection (Mentioned in 3% Job Postings): Data collection is the process of gathering and measuring information on targeted variables in an established system, which then enables one to answer relevant questions and evaluate outcomes. Data collection is a component of research in all fields of study including physical and social sciences, humanities, and business. While methods vary by discipline, the emphasis on ensuring accurate and honest collection remains the same. The goal for all data collection is to capture quality evidence that allows analysis to lead to the formulation of convincing and credible answers to the questions that have been posed.
  • Campus Recruiting (Mentioned in 2.15% Job Postings): Developing, implementing and improving recruiting plan to attract and engage talented college and graduates.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 6.01%
Data Collection 3%
Campus Recruiting 2.15%
See More Skills

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 Career Services Director's salary.

  • Call Center: Can increase your salary by up to 25%.
  • Assisted Living: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Talent Management: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Call Center $96,598
25%
Assisted Living $87,324
13%
Talent Management $87,324
13%
Get Latest Data

Career Services Director Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Career Services Director salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $79,783. While startup companies pay approximate $68,131.

Career Services Director Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $68,131
Growth Stage 51~500 $71,898
Established 501~5000 $77,218
Enterprise 5000+ $79,783

Career Services Director Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Career Services Director roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 20% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Government, offers compensation 10% above the average. Conversely, Career Services Director positions in Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Career Services Director as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Career Services Director

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Government$85,006$41.010%

How Education impacts a Career Services Director's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Career Services 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 Career Services Director with a Bachelor's Degree is between $81,646 and $92,508.

Career Services Director Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Career Services Director
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.7%
High School 6.8%
Associates 6.8%
Bachelors 30.4%
Masters 49.3%
Doctorate 6.1%
View as Graph

Career Services Director Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Career Services 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 September 01, 2026
$65,818
Average $77,278/year
$90,977
$5,485
Average $6,440/month
$7,581
$1,266
Average $1,486/week
$1,750
$32
Average $37/hour
$44
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $90,977 $7,581 $1,750 $44
Average $77,278 $6,440 $1,486 $37
25th Percentile $65,818 $5,485 $1,266 $32

Career Services Director Salary Growth & Career Path

Career Services Director

Next Role

For a Career Services Director, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Foreign Studies Director role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $62,504 - a projected growth of -19% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Career Services Director

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

Common company salaries for Career Services Director

Here are companies hiring for Career Services Director and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Career Services Director

1. Where can a Career Services Director earn the most?

A Career Services 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 Career Services Director earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Career Services Director is $97,471.

2. What is the highest pay for Career Services Director?

The highest pay for Career Services Director is $103,449.

3. What is the lowest pay for Career Services Director?

The lowest pay for Career Services Director is $55,384.

4. What are the responsibilities of Career Services Director?

Directs the career services function in a college/university. Ensures the career services office is providing high quality and current career counseling advice and services. Identifies, builds, and maintains relationships with a diverse set of employers and alumni to assist graduates in finding employment. Designs, develops, and facilitates career workshops and presentations. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to senior management. Manages subordinate staff in the day-to-day performance of their jobs. True first level manager. Ensures that project/department milestones/goals are met and adhering to approved budgets. Has full authority for personnel actions. Typically requires 5 years experience in the related area as an individual contributor. 1-3 years supervisory experience may be required. Extensive knowledge of the function and department processes.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Career Services Director?

The Government industry offers the highest average compensation for Career Services 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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