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Hourly Wage for Safety Director Salary in the United States

What is the highest and lowest hourly pay for Safety Director?

As of September 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Safety Director in the United States is $79, which translates to an annual salary of about $165,017.

However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $94 per hour
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $73 to $87 per hour
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $67 per hour
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Safety Director Salaries

A Safety 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.

How Experience Level Affects Safety Director Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Safety 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:

  • Safety Supervisor (10+ years): $90,949
  • Safety Manager (10+ years): $100,049
  • Safety Senior Manager (10+ years): $147,214
  • Safety Director (10+ years): $165,017
  • VP of Safety (10+ years): $197,807
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Safety Supervisor10+ years$90,949
Safety Manager10+ years$100,049
Safety Senior Manager10+ years$147,214
Safety Director10+ years$165,017
VP of Safety10+ years$197,807
View as Graph

How Do Safety Director 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 Safety Directors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $182,707.
  • California: $182,014.
  • Massachusetts: $179,588.

Top Paying Cities for Safety 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: $208,136
  • San Francisco: $205,857
  • Oakland: $201,519

Safety Director Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Safety Director salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $184,413. While startup companies pay approximate $155,995.

Safety Director Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $155,995
Growth Stage 51~500 $164,980
Established 501~5000 $178,075
Enterprise 5000+ $184,413

Safety Director Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Safety Director roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 35% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Healthcare and Software & Networking sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 15% above the average. In contrast, Safety Director positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Safety Director as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Safety Director

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$189,770$91.015%
Software & Networking$189,770$91.015%
Biotechnology$181,519$87.010%
Energy & Utilities$181,519$87.010%
Insurance$181,519$87.010%

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

Understanding how a Safety 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
$151,695
Average $165,017/year
$181,029
$12,641
Average $13,751/month
$15,086
$2,917
Average $3,173/week
$3,481
$73
Average $79/hour
$87
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $181,029 $15,086 $3,481 $87
Average $165,017 $13,751 $3,173 $79
25th Percentile $151,695 $12,641 $2,917 $73

Most common benefits for Safety Director

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

Common company salaries for Safety Director

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

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FAQ about Safety Director

1. What are the responsibilities of Safety Director?

Directs an organization's safety programs, policies, and procedures to promote occupational safety and prevent workplace accidents. Reviews safety reports and metrics to evaluate program performance, identify trends, and ensure operational alignment with safety objectives. Monitors daily operations to provide regulatory oversight and ensure safety controls, processes, and policies are being utilized effectively. Develops auditing frameworks and standards to assess safety risks and maintain compliance with organizational and regulatory standards and requirements. Oversees incident investigations to determine root causes, develop preventative measures, and prepare safety reports for senior management. 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 salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

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