upper level job

Marketing Communications Director Salary in the United States

How much does a Marketing Communications Director make in the United States?

As of May 01, 2026, the average salary for a Marketing Communications Director in the United States is $173,632 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $83.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $203,129
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $153,108 to $189,072
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $134,422
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2025 Compensation Trend
Smart Recruiting
AI Onboarding
View as table View as graph 25% $153,108 10% $134,422 90% $203,129 75% $189,072 $173,632 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Marketing Communications Director Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $189,072 $15,756 $3,636 $91
Average $173,632 $14,469 $3,339 $83
25th Percentile $153,108 $12,759 $2,944 $74
Check out Marketing Communications Director Job Openings in the United States
Managing Director Communications

Confidential - Columbus, OH

Managing Director Performance Marketing

Confidential - Columbus, OH

Director of Retention Marketing

Confidential - Columbus, OH

Senior Vice President Marketing&Communications

Confidential - Columbus, OH

Search More Marketing Communications Director Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Marketing Communications Director Salaries

A Marketing Communications 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 Marketing Communications Director Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Marketing Communications 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:

  • Marketing Communications Manager (5+ years): $116,041
  • Marketing Communications Senior Manager (5+ years): $144,735
  • Marketing Communications Director (5+ years): $173,632
  • VP of Marketing Communications (5+ years): $229,716
  • SVP of Marketing Communications (5+ years): $281,295
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Marketing Communications Manager5+ years$116,041
Marketing Communications Senior Manager5+ years$144,735
Marketing Communications Director5+ years$173,632
VP of Marketing Communications5+ years$229,716
SVP of Marketing Communications5+ years$281,295
$116,041 Marketing...
$144,735 Marketing...
$173,632 Marketing...
$229,716 VP of Mar...
$281,295 SVP of Ma...
View as Table
View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Marketing Communications 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: $219,002
  • San Francisco: $216,604
  • Oakland: $212,039

What Skills Can Increase a Marketing Communications Director's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 8.43% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Credit Card (Mentioned in 3.7% Job Postings): A credit card is a type of credit facility, provided by banks that allow customers to borrow funds within a pre-approved credit limit.
  • Career Development (Mentioned in 1.96% Job Postings): Refers to the process an individual may undergo to evolve their occupational status. It is the process of making decisions for long term learning, to align personal needs of physical or psychological fulfillment with career advancement opportunities.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 8.43%
Credit Card 3.7%
Career Development 1.96%
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 Marketing Communications Director's salary.
  • Clinical Services: Can increase your salary by up to 28%.
  • Social Work: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Accounting: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Clinical Services
$222,249
28%
Social Work
$196,204
13%
Accounting
$194,468
12%
Diversity and Inclusion
$189,259
9%
Acute Care
$189,259
9%
Interviewing
$189,259
9%
Get Latest Data

How Education impacts a Marketing Communications Director's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Marketing Communications 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 Marketing Communications Director with a Bachelor's Degree is between $185,321 and $199,961).

Marketing Communications Director Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Marketing Communications Director
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.7%
High School 1.9%
Associates 2.2%
Bachelors 58.0%
Masters 36.2%
Doctorate 1.0%
view as graph

Marketing Communications Director Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Marketing Communications 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

Marketing Communications Director Salary Growth & Career Path

For a Marketing Communications Director, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the VP of Marketing Communications role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $229,716 - a projected growth of 32% over your current level.

Salary Trends for Marketing Communications Director

Salaries for a Marketing Communications Director can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $171,425 in 2023 to around $168,887 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Marketing Communications Director salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Marketing Communications Director Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$171,425
2024
$170,764
2025
$168,887
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $171,425
2024 $170,764
2025 $168,887
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Marketing Communications 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 Marketing Communications Director

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

Find Your Next Marketing Communications Director Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Marketing Communications 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 Marketing Communications Director

1. Where can a Marketing Communications Director earn the most?

A Marketing Communications 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 Marketing Communications Director earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Marketing Communications Director is $219,002.

2. What is the highest pay for Marketing Communications Director?

The highest pay for Marketing Communications Director is $203,129.

3. What is the lowest pay for Marketing Communications Director?

The lowest pay for Marketing Communications Director is $134,422.

4. What are the responsibilities of Marketing Communications Director?

Directs the implementation of an organization's marketing communications strategy and programs, including advertising, branding, product promotion, and regulatory matters. Plans and evaluates themes, messaging, and branding to ensure consistency throughout all advertising, social media, and promotional communications. Develops strategic messaging for specific advertising or promotional channels to effectively reach targeted customer segments. Promotes testing methodologies and frameworks to evaluate communications, determine effectiveness, and improve messaging to target customer segments. Evaluates new channels, methods, and platforms to optimize marketing communications and recommend changes to programs or strategies. Oversees budget adherence and implements internal and external resources required for communication program delivery. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to senior 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.

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