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Communications Director Salary in the United States

How much does a Communications Director make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Communications Director in the United States is $180,799 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $87.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $214,992
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $163,614 to $198,697
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $147,968
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View as table View as graph 25% $163,614 10% $147,968 90% $214,992 75% $198,697 $180,799 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Communications Director Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $198,697 $16,558 $3,821 $96
Average $180,799 $15,067 $3,477 $87
25th Percentile $163,614 $13,635 $3,146 $79
Check out Communications Director Job Openings in the United States
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Associate Director Philanthropy Engagement&amp Communications

Institute of International Education - CHURCH STREET, NY

Account Director Health Communications

ICF - WASHINGTON, DC

Director Network&amp Unified Communications

L3Harris Technologies - MELBOURNE, FL

Search More Communications Director Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Communications Director Salaries

A Communications 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 Communications Director Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Communications 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:

  • Communications Representative IV (7+ years): $117,769
  • Communications Representative V (7-10 years): $153,633
  • Communications Manager (10+ years): $122,338
  • Communications Director (10+ years): $180,799
  • VP of Communications (10+ years): $243,023
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Communications Representative IV7+ years$117,769
Communications Representative V7-10 years$153,633
Communications Manager10+ years$122,338
Communications Director10+ years$180,799
VP of Communications10+ years$243,023
$117,769 Communica...
$153,633 Communica...
$122,338 Communica...
$180,799 Communica...
$243,023 VP of Com...
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Communications 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: $228,042
  • San Francisco: $225,800
  • Oakland: $220,792

What Skills Can Increase a Communications Director's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 9.86% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Corporate Communications (Mentioned in 3.77% Job Postings): Corporate communication is a set of activities involved in managing and orchestrating all internal and external communications aimed at creating favourable point of view among stakeholders on which the company depends. It is the messages issued by a corporate organization, body, or institute to its audiences, such as employees, media, channel partners and the general public. Organizations aim to communicate the same message to all its stakeholders, to transmit coherence, credibility and ethics. Corporate communication helps organizations explain their mission, combine its many visions and values into a cohesive message to stakeholders. The concept of corporate communication could be seen as an integrative communication structure linking stakeholders to the organisation.
  • Digital Marketing (Mentioned in 1.64% Job Postings): Digital marketing is the marketing of products or services using digital technologies, mainly on the Internet, but also including mobile phones, display advertising, and any other digital medium. Digital marketing's development since the 1990s and 2000s has changed the way brands and businesses use technology for marketing. As digital platforms are increasingly incorporated into marketing plans and everyday life, and as people use digital devices instead of visiting physical shops, digital marketing campaigns are becoming more prevalent and efficient. Digital marketing methods such as search engine optimization (SEO), search engine marketing (SEM), content marketing, influencer marketing, content automation, campaign marketing, data-driven marketing, e-commerce marketing, social media marketing, social media optimization, e-mail direct marketing, Display advertising, e–books, and optical disks and games are becoming more common in our advancing technology. In fact, digital marketing now extends to non-Internet channels that provide digital media, such as mobile phones (SMS and MMS), callback, and on-hold mobile ring tones. In essence, this extension to non-Internet channels helps to differentiate digital marketing from online marketing, another catch-all term for the marketing methods mentioned above, which strictly occur online.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 9.86%
Corporate Communications 3.77%
Digital Marketing 1.64%
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 Communications Director's salary.
  • Open Source: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Corporate Communications: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Innovation: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Open Source
$197,071
9%
Corporate Communications
$193,455
7%
Innovation
$191,647
6%
Insight
$191,647
6%
Alignment
$189,839
5%
Professional Communication
$188,031
4%
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How Education impacts a Communications Director's Salary?

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

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Communications Director with a Bachelor's Degree is between $179,639 and $191,835).

Communications Director Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Communications Director
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.2%
High School 2.7%
Associates 2.4%
Bachelors 56.0%
Masters 36.6%
Doctorate 2.2%
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Communications Director Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Communications 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 January 01, 2026

Communications Director Salary Growth & Career Path

For a Communications Director, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the VP of Communications role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $243,023 - a projected growth of 34% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Communications Director

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Communications Director

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

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Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Communications Director job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

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FAQ about Communications Director

1. Where can a Communications Director earn the most?

A Communications 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 Communications Director earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Communications Director is $228,042.

2. What is the highest pay for Communications Director?

The highest pay for Communications Director is $214,992.

3. What is the lowest pay for Communications Director?

The lowest pay for Communications Director is $147,968.

4. What are the responsibilities of Communications Director?

Directs an organization's internal and external communications strategies and programs. Directs and oversees communications programs that effectively describe and promote the organization and its products. May conduct market or public opinion research to assess program outcomes. Suggests promotional campaign ideas in various types of media, as well as counsels top management on effective communication strategies. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to senior 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.

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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