Risk Director Salary in the United States

How much does a Risk Director make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Risk Director in the United States is $147,875 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $71.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $171,362
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $132,930 to $160,169
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $119,323
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2025 Compensation Trend
Smart Recruiting
AI-Powered HR
View as table View as graph 25% $132,930 10% $119,323 90% $171,362 75% $160,169 $147,875 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Risk Director Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $160,169 $13,347 $3,080 $77
Average $147,875 $12,323 $2,844 $71
25th Percentile $132,930 $11,078 $2,556 $64
Check out Risk Director Job Openings in the United States
Medical Director of Risk Management

OhioHealth - COLUMBUS, OH

Associate Director Patient Safety and Risk Management

Physician Affiliate Group of New York - BROOKLYN, NY

DIRECTOR OF NURSING

Southbrooke Manor Nursing and Rehabiliation Center - EDNA, TX

Director of Nursing

Southwest Healthcare Services - BOWMAN, ND

Search More Risk Director Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Risk Director Salaries

A Risk 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 Risk Director Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Risk 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): $109,505
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $129,766
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $150,989
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $182,482
  • Expert (over 8 years): $228,009
Levels Salary
Risk Mana... Level Risk Director$109,505
Risk Mana... Level Risk Director$129,766
Risk Dire... Level Risk Director$150,989
Risk Mana... Level Risk Director$182,482
Vice Pres... Level Risk Director$228,009
$109,505 0 yr
$129,766 < 2 yrs
$150,989 2-4 yrs
$182,482 5-8 yrs
$228,009 > 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Risk 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: $186,515
  • San Francisco: $184,681
  • Oakland: $180,585

What Skills Can Increase a Risk Director's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Risk Management (Mentioned in 28.68% Job Postings): Risk management is the identification, evaluation, and prioritization of risks (defined in ISO 31000 as the effect of uncertainty on objectives) followed by coordinated and economical application of resources to minimize, monitor, and control the probability or impact of unfortunate events or to maximize the realization of opportunities. Risks can come from various sources including uncertainty in financial markets, threats from project failures (at any phase in design, development, production, or sustainment life-cycles), legal liabilities, credit risk, accidents, natural causes and disasters, deliberate attack from an adversary, or events of uncertain or unpredictable root-cause. There are two types of events i.e. negative events can be classified as risks while positive events are classified as opportunities. Several risk management standards have been developed including the Project Management Institute, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, actuarial societies, and ISO standards. Methods, definitions and goals vary widely according to whether the risk management method is in the context of project management, security, engineering, industrial processes, financial portfolios, actuarial assessments, or public health and safety.
  • Claim Handling (Mentioned in 1.47% Job Postings): involved in managing a claim from the start through to settlement, making decisions on the extent and validity of a claim, and checking for any potential fraudulent activity.
  • Business Administration (Mentioned in 0.74% Job Postings): It is the management of all aspects of a business's performance, decisions, and organization. It includes the day to day operations, aspects including finances and human resources, and ensures the company stays aligned to the goal or mission.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Risk Management 28.68%
Claim Handling 1.47%
Business Administration 0.74%
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 Risk Director's salary.
  • Litigation Management: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Bidding: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Business Administration: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Litigation Management
$161,184
9%
Bidding
$159,705
8%
Business Administration
$156,748
6%
Strategic Thinking
$155,269
5%
Subrogation
$155,269
5%
Alignment
$153,790
4%
Get Latest Data

How Education impacts a Risk Director's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Risk Directors enter the field with a Associate'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 Risk Director with a Associate's Degree is between $156,706 and $167,071).

Risk Director Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Risk Director
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.4%
High School 4.6%
Associates 3.0%
Bachelors 38.1%
Masters 41.0%
Doctorate 11.9%
view as graph

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

Understanding how a Risk 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 January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Risk Director

Salaries for a Risk Director can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $143,686 in 2023 to around $138,225 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Risk Director salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Risk Director Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$143,686
2024
$141,016
2025
$138,225
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $143,686
2024 $141,016
2025 $138,225
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Risk 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 Risk Director

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

Find Your Next Risk Director Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Risk 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.

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