Estate Planning Director Salary in the United States

How much does an Estate Planning Director make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Estate Planning Director in the United States is $121,949 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $59.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $151,714
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $117,561 to $137,529
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $113,566

Key Factors That Influence Estate Planning Director Salaries

An Estate Planning 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 Estate Planning Director Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Estate Planning 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:

  • Estate Planning Consultant (7+ years): $107,609
  • Finance & Insurance Manager (7+ years): $95,131
  • Estate Planning Director (7+ years): $121,949
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Estate Planning Consultant7+ years$107,609
Finance & Insurance Manager7+ years$95,131
Estate Planning Director7+ years$121,949

Top Paying Cities for Estate Planning 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: $153,814
  • San Francisco: $152,130
  • Oakland: $148,924

What Skills Can Increase an Estate Planning Director's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Innovation (Mentioned in 7.81% Job Postings): The ability and process of implementing new ideas and initiatives to improve organizational performance.
  • Brokerage (Mentioned in 1.56% Job Postings): A brokerage provides intermediary services in various areas, e.g., investing, obtaining a loan, or purchasing real estate.
  • Consulting Management (Mentioned in 1.56% Job Postings): Management consulting is the practice of selling consulting services to organizations to improve their performance or in any way to assist in achieving any sort of organizational objectives.
Skills Demand Percentage
Innovation 7.81%
Brokerage 1.56%
Consulting Management 1.56%

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 an Estate Planning Director's salary.

  • Relationship Management: Can increase your salary by up to 33%.
  • Wealth Management: Can increase your salary by up to 24%.
  • Decision Making: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Relationship Management $162,192
33%
Wealth Management $151,217
24%
Decision Making $141,461
16%

Estate Planning Director Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Estate Planning Director salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $133,201. While startup companies pay approximate $112,537.

Estate Planning Director Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $112,537
Growth Stage 51~500 $119,091
Established 501~5000 $128,560
Enterprise 5000+ $133,201

Estate Planning Director Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Estate Planning 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, Insurance, offers compensation 10% above the average. Conversely, Estate Planning Director positions in Business Services typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Estate Planning Director as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for an Estate Planning Director

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Insurance$134,144$64.010%

How Education impacts an Estate Planning Director's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Estate Planning 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 Estate Planning Director with a Bachelor's Degree is between $126,370 and $136,876.

Estate Planning Director Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Estate Planning Director
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 46.7%
High School 20.0%
Associates 33.3%
Bachelors 46.7%
Masters 20.0%
Doctorate 33.3%

Estate Planning Director Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Estate Planning 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
$117,561
Average $121,949/year
$137,529
$9,797
Average $10,162/month
$11,461
$2,261
Average $2,345/week
$2,645
$57
Average $59/hour
$66
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $137,529 $11,461 $2,645 $66
Average $121,949 $10,162 $2,345 $59
25th Percentile $117,561 $9,797 $2,261 $57

Most common benefits for Estate Planning Director

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

Common company salaries for Estate Planning Director

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

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FAQ about Estate Planning Director

1. Where can an Estate Planning Director earn the most?

An Estate Planning 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, an Estate Planning Director earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of an Estate Planning Director is $153,814.

2. What is the highest pay for Estate Planning Director?

The highest pay for Estate Planning Director is $151,714.

3. What is the lowest pay for Estate Planning Director?

The lowest pay for Estate Planning Director is $113,566.

4. What are the responsibilities of Estate Planning Director?

Directs all aspects of the estate planning function including sales, staffing, and supervision. Participates in training and estate planning workshops. Ensures that the agency stays abreast of regulatory guidelines and new trends in the field. Researches and advises on tax, technical, and legal questions. Introduces new life products to the field and contributes to design of related software and tools. May be a speaker at insurance conferences or meetings. Requires a bachelor's degree of business, marketing, or mathematics. Typically reports to top management. May require Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU). 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. Deep knowledge of the managed sub-function and solid knowledge of the overall departmental function. Typically requires 5+ years of managerial experience.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Estate Planning Director?

The Insurance industry offers the highest average compensation for Estate Planning 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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