As of March 01, 2026, the average salary for an Ethics Director in the United States is $232,837 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $112.
However, an Ethics Director's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
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An Ethics 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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of an Ethics 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:
| Job Role | Years of Experience | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Ethics Specialist V | 7-10 years | $171,284 |
| Ethics Manager | 10+ years | $134,358 |
| Ethics Senior Manager | 10+ years | $185,750 |
| Ethics Director | 10+ years | $232,837 |
| VP of Ethics | 10+ years | $269,884 |
What Am I Worth?
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 Ethics Directors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Demanded Skills for the Role:
| Skills | Demand Percentage |
|---|---|
| Initiative | 11.11% |
| Internal Audit | 5.56% |
| Microsoft Office | 5.56% |
| Skill | Salary | Salary % Increase |
|---|---|---|
|
Employee Relations
|
$253,792 |
9%
|
|
Program Management
|
$251,464 |
8%
|
|
Presentation
|
$249,136 |
7%
|
|
Initiative
|
$244,479 |
5%
|
|
Written Communication
|
$242,150 |
4%
|
|
Consulting
|
$242,150 |
4%
|
Understanding how an Ethics 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 March 01, 2026For an Ethics Director, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the VP of Ethics role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $269,884 - a projected growth of 16% over your current level.
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An Ethics 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 Ethics Director earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of an Ethics Director is $293,677.
The highest pay for Ethics Director is $253,514.
The lowest pay for Ethics Director is $183,586.
Develops, directs, and promotes the organization's global ethics and compliance function. Designs and develops programs to assess and manage legal and regulatory compliance risks and to establish high ethical standards of conduct for the organization. Ensures that policies reflect domestic and international legal requirements and industry-specific codes governing ethical standards and comply with transparency reporting requirements. Communicates the organization's ethical standards with messaging and deliver employee training programs that raise awareness about ethics-related topics such as Anti-Bribery, Anti-Corruption, Antitrust, Conflicts of Interest, and others. Monitors compliance with policies and investigates and remediates any non-compliant actions. Responsible for maintaining confidential reporting systems allowing employees, customers, contractors, and other stakeholders to disclose violations of the organization's ethical standards, violations of law, or policies without fear of retaliation. Requires a bachelor's degree in area of specialty. May require the Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional (CCEP)certification. 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.
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.)
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