Salary AI Book a Demo
upper level job

HRIS Director Salary in the United States

How much does an HRIS Director make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an HRIS Director in the United States is $151,170 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $73.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $173,440
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $138,208 to $162,827
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $126,407
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence HRIS Director Salaries

An HRIS 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 HRIS Director Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an HRIS 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:

  • HRIS Supervisor (7+ years): $103,014
  • HRIS Supervisor, Senior (7+ years): $112,930
  • HRIS Manager (7+ years): $139,850
  • HRIS Director (7+ years): $151,170
  • VP of HRIS (7+ years): $216,207
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
HRIS Supervisor7+ years$103,014
HRIS Supervisor, Senior7+ years$112,930
HRIS Manager7+ years$139,850
HRIS Director7+ years$151,170
VP of HRIS7+ years$216,207
View as Graph

How Do HRIS Directors 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 HRIS Directors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $167,375.
  • California: $166,741.
  • Massachusetts: $164,518.

Top Paying Cities for HRIS Director

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: $190,671
  • San Francisco: $188,583
  • Oakland: $184,609

What Skills Can Increase an HRIS Director's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 6.95% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Data Entry (Mentioned in 3.2% Job Postings): Transcribing information into an electronic medium such as a computer or other electronic device.
  • Data Management (Mentioned in 0.42% Job Postings): Data Management comprises all disciplines related to managing data as a valuable resource. The concept of data management arose in the 1980s as technology moved from sequential processing (first cards, then tape) to random access storage. Since it was now possible to store a discreet fact and quickly access it using random access disk technology, those suggesting that data management was more important than business process management used arguments such as "a customer's home address is stored in 75 (or some other large number) places in our computer systems." However, during this period, random access processing was not competitively fast, so those suggesting "process management" was more important than "data management" used batch processing time as their primary argument. As software applications evolved into real-time, interactive usage, it became obvious that both management processes were important. If the data was not well defined, the data would be mis-used in applications. If the process wasn't well defined, it was impossible to meet user needs.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 6.95%
Data Entry 3.2%
Data Management 0.42%
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 an HRIS Director's salary.

  • Customer Focus: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Absence Management: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Process Management: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Customer Focus $170,822
13%
Absence Management $163,264
8%
Process Management $161,752
7%
Get Latest Data

HRIS Director Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

HRIS Director salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $169,226. While startup companies pay approximate $143,161.

HRIS Director Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $143,161
Growth Stage 51~500 $151,410
Established 501~5000 $163,418
Enterprise 5000+ $169,226

HRIS Director Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For HRIS Director roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Aerospace & Defense sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, HRIS Director positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view HRIS Director as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for an HRIS Director

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$181,404$87.020%

How Education impacts an HRIS Director's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many HRIS 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 HRIS Director with a Bachelor's Degree is between $159,557 and $168,165.

HRIS Director Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for HRIS Director
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.7%
High School 11.9%
Associates 6.0%
Bachelors 47.0%
Masters 33.1%
Doctorate 1.3%
View as Graph

HRIS Director Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an HRIS 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 August 01, 2026
$138,208
Average $151,170/year
$162,827
$11,517
Average $12,598/month
$13,569
$2,658
Average $2,907/week
$3,131
$66
Average $73/hour
$78
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $162,827 $13,569 $3,131 $78
Average $151,170 $12,598 $2,907 $73
25th Percentile $138,208 $11,517 $2,658 $66

HRIS Director Salary Growth & Career Path

HRIS Director

Next Role

For an HRIS Director, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the VP of HRIS role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $216,207 - a projected growth of 43% over your current level.

Most common benefits for HRIS Director

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

Common company salaries for HRIS Director

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

Find Your Next HRIS Director Job

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

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about HRIS Director

1. Where can an HRIS Director earn the most?

An HRIS 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 HRIS Director earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of an HRIS Director is $190,671.

2. What is the highest pay for HRIS Director?

The highest pay for HRIS Director is $173,440.

3. What is the lowest pay for HRIS Director?

The lowest pay for HRIS Director is $126,407.

4. What are the responsibilities of HRIS Director?

Directs the operations of an organization's human resource information systems. Analyzes business requirements and determines hardware and software requirements to meet data management needs. Ensures the integrity of internal database files, tables and reports. May develop integrated web-based HR programs. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to top management. Typically manages through subordinate managers and professionals in larger groups of moderate complexity. Provides input to strategic decisions that affect the functional area of responsibility. May give input into developing the budget. Typically requires 3+ years of managerial experience. Capable of resolving escalated issues arising from operations and requiring coordination with other departments.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for HRIS Director?

The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for HRIS Director roles, with salaries approximately 20% 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.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst
lower level job