As of March 01, 2025, the average annual salary for a Compensation Director in the United States is $210,644. Salary.com reports that pay typically ranges from $189,147 to $234,911, with most professionals earning between $169,575 and $257,005.
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $234,911 | $19,576 | $4,518 | $113 |
| Average | $210,644 | $17,554 | $4,051 | $101 |
| 25th Percentile | $189,147 | $15,762 | $3,637 | $91 |
An entry-level Compensation Director with less than 1 year of experience earns about $196,266. With 1-2 years of experience, the average salary increases to $198,247. For 2-4 years of experience, the pay typically rises to $200,889. Senior-level professionals with 5-8 years of experience earn around $204,851, and those with over 8 years of experience can expect an average of $209,804.
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Compensation Director | $196,266 |
| Intermediate Level Compensation Director | $198,247 |
| Senior Level Compensation Director | $200,889 |
| Specialist Level Compensation Director | $204,851 |
| Expert Level Compensation Director | $209,804 |
| Entry Level | 7% |
| Mid Level | 6% |
| Senior Level | 5% |
| Top Level | 3% |
| Experienced | 0% |
Salaries in the United States differ widely between states due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
What Am I Worth?
Salaries in the United States can vary greatly between cities due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
As of March 01, 2025, our research reveals a significant shift in Compensation Director compensation over the past six years. For example, the median salary increased from $180,189 in 2023 to approximately $179,564 in 2024. (For a detailed analysis of Compensation Director salary trends, click here.)
Key factors like location, experience, industry demand, and economic growth significantly influence salary variations, making them important to consider.
Salary.com job board provides millions of Compensation Director information for you to search for. Click on search button below to see Compensation Director job openings or enter a new job title here.
Here are companies hiring for Compensation Director and their salaries, click below for more details.
| Core Compensation | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Base Salary | $210,644 | 64.6% | ||
| Bonus | $34,526 | 10.6% | ||
| Value of Benefits | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Social Security | $14,008 | 4.3% | ||
| 401K/403B | $10,297 | 3.2% | ||
| Disability | $4,903 | 1.5% | ||
| Healthcare | $8,352 | 2.6% | ||
| Pension | $13,239 | 4.1% | ||
| Time Off | $30,175 | 9.3% | ||
| Total Compensation | $326,146 | 100% | ||
The average annual salary of Compensation Director is $210,644. In case you are finding an easy salary calculator, the average hourly pay of Compensation Director is $101; the average weekly pay of Compensation Director is $4,051; the average monthly pay of Compensation Director is $17,554.
A Compensation 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 Compensation Director earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Compensation Director is $264,359.
The highest pay for Compensation Director is $257,005.
The lowest pay for Compensation Director is $169,575.
Compensation Director directs, designs, and plans compensation policies, objectives, and initiatives. Oversees the collection of wage, salary, and incentive survey data to ensure the organization's compensation programs/objectives are competitive. Being a Compensation Director plans and administers long and short-term equity programs and executive programs that drive company performance and comply with laws and regulations . Ensures compensation programs remain within budgetary constraints. Additionally, Compensation Director oversees messaging to employees to promote clarity and reinforce the value of compensation programs. Keeps abreast of regulatory, market, and practice changes and trends. Champions timely and robust data collection and analysis processes that support research and market, pay equity, and other compensation studies. Requires a bachelor's degree. May require a Certified Compensation Professional (CCP) certification. Typically reports to top management. The Compensation Director 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. To be a Compensation Director typically requires 5+ years of managerial experience. Deep knowledge of the managed sub-function and solid knowledge of the overall departmental function.
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.
