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Six Sigma Quality Program Director Salary in the United States

How much does a Six Sigma Quality Program Director make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Six Sigma Quality Program Director in the United States is $180,366 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $87.

However, a Six Sigma Quality Program Director's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $203,362
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $166,788 to $192,403
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $154,426
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Six Sigma Quality Program Director Salaries

A Six Sigma Quality Program 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 Six Sigma Quality Program Director Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Six Sigma Quality Program 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:

  • Six Sigma Quality Project Administrator (3-5 years): $119,798
  • Six Sigma Quality Program Manager (5+ years): $132,784
  • Six Sigma Quality Program Director (5+ years): $180,366
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Six Sigma Quality Project Administrator3-5 years$119,798
Six Sigma Quality Program Manager5+ years$132,784
Six Sigma Quality Program Director5+ years$180,366
View as Graph

How Do Six Sigma Quality Program 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 Six Sigma Quality Program Directors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $199,701.
  • California: $198,944.
  • Massachusetts: $196,292.

Top Paying Cities for Six Sigma Quality Program 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: $227,496
  • San Francisco: $225,005
  • Oakland: $220,263

What Skills Can Increase a Six Sigma Quality Program Director's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Coaching (Mentioned in 11.11% Job Postings): Coaching is a form of development in which an experienced person, called a coach, supports a learner or client in achieving a specific personal or professional goal by providing training and guidance.
  • Continuous Improvement (Mentioned in 11.11% Job Postings): A continual improvement process, also often called a continuous improvement process (abbreviated as CIP or CI), is an ongoing effort to improve products, services, or processes. These efforts can seek "incremental" improvement over time or "breakthrough" improvement all at once. Delivery (customer valued) processes are constantly evaluated and improved in the light of their efficiency, effectiveness and flexibility. Some see CIPs as a meta-process for most management systems (such as business process management, quality management, project management, and program management). W. Edwards Deming, a pioneer of the field, saw it as part of the 'system' whereby feedback from the process and customer were evaluated against organisational goals. The fact that it can be called a management process does not mean that it needs to be executed by 'management'; but rather merely that it makes decisions about the implementation of the delivery process and the design of the delivery process itself.
  • Continuous Quality Improvement (Mentioned in 11.11% Job Postings): Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) is a deliberate, defined process which is focused on activities that are responsive to community needs and improving population health.
Skills Demand Percentage
Coaching 11.11%
Continuous Improvement 11.11%
Continuous Quality Improvement 11.11%
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 a Six Sigma Quality Program Director's salary.

  • Continuous Quality Improvement: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Scheduling: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 2%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Continuous Quality Improvement $196,599
9%
Scheduling $189,384
5%
Project Management $183,973
2%
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Six Sigma Quality Program Director Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Six Sigma Quality Program Director salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $201,567. While startup companies pay approximate $170,505.

Six Sigma Quality Program Director Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $170,505
Growth Stage 51~500 $180,326
Established 501~5000 $194,638
Enterprise 5000+ $201,567

Six Sigma Quality Program Director Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Six Sigma Quality Program Director roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 20% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Energy & Utilities and Software & Networking sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 8% above the average. In contrast, Six Sigma Quality Program Director positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Six Sigma Quality Program Director as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Six Sigma Quality Program Director

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Energy & Utilities$194,795$94.08%
Software & Networking$192,992$93.07%
Telecom$192,992$93.07%
Aerospace & Defense$191,188$92.06%
Construction$189,384$91.05%

How Education impacts a Six Sigma Quality Program Director's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Six Sigma Quality Program 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 Six Sigma Quality Program Director with a Bachelor's Degree is between $164,940 and $178,209.

Six Sigma Quality Program Director Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Six Sigma Quality Program Director
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 100.0%
High School 0.0%
Associates 0.0%
Bachelors 0.0%
Masters 100.0%
Doctorate 0.0%
View as Graph

Six Sigma Quality Program Director Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Six Sigma Quality Program 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
$166,788
Average $180,366/year
$192,403
$13,899
Average $15,031/month
$16,034
$3,207
Average $3,469/week
$3,700
$80
Average $87/hour
$93
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $192,403 $16,034 $3,700 $93
Average $180,366 $15,031 $3,469 $87
25th Percentile $166,788 $13,899 $3,207 $80

Six Sigma Quality Program Director Salary Growth & Career Path

Six Sigma Quality Program Director

Next Role

Advancement

For a Six Sigma Quality Program Director, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the VP of Total Quality role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $255,135 - a projected growth of 41% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Six Sigma Quality Program Director

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

Common company salaries for Six Sigma Quality Program Director

Here are companies hiring for Six Sigma Quality Program Director and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Six Sigma Quality Program Director

1. Where can a Six Sigma Quality Program Director earn the most?

A Six Sigma Quality Program 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 Six Sigma Quality Program Director earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Six Sigma Quality Program Director is $227,496.

2. What is the highest pay for Six Sigma Quality Program Director?

The highest pay for Six Sigma Quality Program Director is $203,362.

3. What is the lowest pay for Six Sigma Quality Program Director?

The lowest pay for Six Sigma Quality Program Director is $154,426.

4. What are the responsibilities of Six Sigma Quality Program Director?

Plans, designs, and directs Six Sigma projects. Develops strategy and policies required to accomplish measurable business process improvements. Employs Six Sigma/Lean methodology and analytics to re-engineer organizational operations. Works with other certified professionals in the planning, designing, and implementation of key projects. Coaches and trains teams in the utilization and deployment of Six Sigma tools and principles. Requires Six Sigma certification as Black Belt. May require a master's degree. 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.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Six Sigma Quality Program Director?

The Energy & Utilities industry offers the highest average compensation for Six Sigma Quality Program Director roles, with salaries approximately 8% 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.

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