Interim Executive Director Salary in the United States

How much does an Interim Executive Director make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Interim Executive Director in the United States is $164,404 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $79.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $197,976
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $144,175 to $181,977
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $125,758

Key Factors That Influence Interim Executive Director Salaries

An Interim Executive 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 Interim Executive Director Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Interim Executive 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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $86,647
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $97,165
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $123,675
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $168,619
  • Expert (over 8 years): $331,234
Levels Salary
Non-Profi... Level Interim Executive Director$86,647
Non-Profi... Level Interim Executive Director$97,165
Non-Profi... Level Interim Executive Director$123,675
Interim E... Level Interim Executive Director$168,619
CEO - Non... Level Interim Executive Director$331,234

Top Paying Cities for Interim Executive 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: $207,363
  • San Francisco: $205,092
  • Oakland: $200,770

What Skills Can Increase an Interim Executive Director's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 12.74% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Underwriting (Mentioned in 1.85% Job Postings): Underwriting services are provided by some large financial institutions, such as banks, or insurance or investment houses, whereby they guarantee payment in case of damage or financial loss and accept the financial risk for liability arising from such guarantee. An underwriting arrangement may be created in a number of situations including insurance, issue of securities in a public offering, and bank lending, among others. The person or institution that agrees to sell a minimum number of securities of the company for commission is called the underwriter. The name derives from the Lloyd's of London insurance market. Financial bankers, who would accept some of the risk on a given venture (historically a sea voyage with associated risks of shipwreck) in exchange for a premium, would literally write their names under the risk information that was written on a Lloyd's slip created for this purpose.
  • Transaction Processing (Mentioned in 1.09% Job Postings): Transaction processing is information processing in computer science that is divided into individual, indivisible operations called transactions.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 12.74%
Underwriting 1.85%
Transaction Processing 1.09%

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 Interim Executive Director's salary.

  • Product Strategy: Can increase your salary by up to 33%.
  • Product Development: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
  • Trading: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Product Strategy $218,657
33%
Product Development $190,709
16%
Trading $187,421
14%

Interim Executive Director Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Interim Executive Director roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 20% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit, offers compensation 10% above the average. Conversely, Interim Executive Director positions in Business Services typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Interim Executive Director as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for an Interim Executive Director

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit$180,844$87.010%

Interim Executive Director Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Interim Executive 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
$144,175
Average $164,404/year
$181,977
$12,015
Average $13,700/month
$15,165
$2,773
Average $3,162/week
$3,500
$69
Average $79/hour
$87
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $181,977 $15,165 $3,500 $87
Average $164,404 $13,700 $3,162 $79
25th Percentile $144,175 $12,015 $2,773 $69

Most common benefits for Interim Executive Director

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

Common company salaries for Interim Executive Director

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

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FAQ about Interim Executive Director

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Interim Executive Director?

The Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit industry offers the highest average compensation for Interim Executive Director roles, with salaries approximately 10% 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.)

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