upper level job

Labor Relations Director Salary in the United States

How much does a Labor Relations Director make in the United States?

As of May 01, 2026, the average salary for a Labor Relations Director in the United States is $153,424 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $74.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $170,593
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $143,754 to $162,411
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $134,950
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2025 Compensation Trend
Recruit with AI
AI-Powered Talent
View as table View as graph 25% $143,754 10% $134,950 90% $170,593 75% $162,411 $153,424 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Labor Relations Director Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $162,411 $13,534 $3,123 $78
Average $153,424 $12,785 $2,950 $74
25th Percentile $143,754 $11,980 $2,765 $69
Check out Labor Relations Director Job Openings in the United States
Grant Writing Associate Director of Foundation Relations

Hospice of the Western Reserve - Cleveland, OH

Director of Public Relations

CommuniCare Corporate - Berea, OH

Director of University Relations

Walsh University - North Canton, OH

Community Relations Director

Senior Lifestyle - Cincinnati, OH

Search More Labor Relations Director Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Labor Relations Director Salaries

A Labor Relations 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 Labor Relations Director Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Labor Relations 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:

  • Labor Relations Specialist III (4-7 years): $97,917
  • Labor Relations Specialist IV (7+ years): $120,251
  • Labor Relations Manager (7+ years): $135,293
  • Labor Relations Director (7+ years): $153,424
  • VP of Labor Relations (7+ years): $205,627
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Labor Relations Specialist III4-7 years$97,917
Labor Relations Specialist IV7+ years$120,251
Labor Relations Manager7+ years$135,293
Labor Relations Director7+ years$153,424
VP of Labor Relations7+ years$205,627
$97,917 Labor Rel...
$120,251 Labor Rel...
$135,293 Labor Rel...
$153,424 Labor Rel...
$205,627 VP of Lab...
View as Table
View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Labor Relations 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: $193,514
  • San Francisco: $191,395
  • Oakland: $187,361

What Skills Can Increase a Labor Relations Director's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Mediation (Mentioned in 3.09% Job Postings): Mediation is a dynamic, structured, interactive process where a neutral third party assists disputing parties in resolving conflict through the use of specialized communication and negotiation techniques. All participants in mediation are encouraged to actively participate in the process. Mediation is a "party-centered" process in that it is focused primarily upon the needs, rights, and interests of the parties. The mediator uses a wide variety of techniques to guide the process in a constructive direction and to help the parties find their optimal solution. A mediator is facilitative in that she/he manages the interaction between parties and facilitates open communication. Mediation is also evaluative in that the mediator analyzes issues and relevant norms ("reality-testing"), while refraining from providing prescriptive advice to the parties (e.g., "You should do... ."). Mediation, as used in law, is a form of alternative dispute resolution resolving disputes between two or more parties with concrete effects. Typically, a third party, the mediator, assists the parties to negotiate a settlement. Disputants may mediate disputes in a variety of domains, such as commercial, legal, diplomatic, workplace, community and family matters.
  • Support Services (Mentioned in 2.47% Job Postings): Support Services means those activities provided to or on behalf of a person in the areas of personal care and assistance and property maintenance in order to allow a person to live in the least restrictive environment.
  • Economics (Mentioned in 0.41% Job Postings): Economics is a social science that focuses on the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services, and analyzes the choices that individuals, businesses, governments, and nations make to allocate resources.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Mediation 3.09%
Support Services 2.47%
Economics 0.41%
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 Labor Relations Director's salary.
  • Cost Control: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
  • Healthcare Services: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Acute Care: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Cost Control
$171,835
12%
Healthcare Services
$167,232
9%
Acute Care
$167,232
9%
Focus Group
$165,698
8%
Consulting
$162,629
6%
Influencing
$161,095
5%
Get Latest Data

How Education impacts a Labor Relations Director's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Labor Relations 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 Labor Relations Director with a Bachelor's Degree is between $171,046 and $184,355).

Labor Relations Director Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Labor Relations Director
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 4.2%
High School 4.2%
Associates 6.9%
Bachelors 22.2%
Masters 31.9%
Doctorate 34.7%
view as graph

Labor Relations Director Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Labor Relations 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 May 01, 2026

Labor Relations Director Salary Growth & Career Path

For a Labor Relations Director, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the VP of Labor Relations role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $205,627 - a projected growth of 34% over your current level.

Salary Trends for Labor Relations Director

Salaries for a Labor Relations Director can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $167,728 in 2023 to around $159,943 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Labor Relations Director salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Labor Relations Director Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$167,728
2024
$163,132
2025
$159,943
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $167,728
2024 $163,132
2025 $159,943
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Labor Relations Director

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

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.

Compensation Planning

Common company salaries for Labor Relations Director

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

Find Your Next Labor Relations Director Job

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

United States
For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

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

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

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

Price My Industry Jobs

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

FAQ about Labor Relations Director

1. Where can a Labor Relations Director earn the most?

A Labor Relations 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 Labor Relations Director earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Labor Relations Director is $193,514.

2. What is the highest pay for Labor Relations Director?

The highest pay for Labor Relations Director is $170,593.

3. What is the lowest pay for Labor Relations Director?

The lowest pay for Labor Relations Director is $134,950.

4. What are the responsibilities of Labor Relations Director?

Directs and oversees a company's labor relations programs, policies, and procedures. Establishes and maintains satisfactory labor-management relations, interprets the collective bargaining agreements, administers grievance procedures including arbitrations, and assists all levels of management on labor matters. Requires a bachelor's degree in a related area. 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.

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