Associate Director Category Salary in the United States

How much does an Associate Director Category make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for an Associate Director Category in the United States is $281,308 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $135.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $334,621
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $264,724 to $309,214
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $249,625
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View as table View as graph 25% $264,724 10% $249,625 90% $334,621 75% $309,214 $281,308 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Associate Director Category Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $309,214 $25,768 $5,946 $149
Average $281,308 $23,442 $5,410 $135
25th Percentile $264,724 $22,060 $5,091 $127
Check out Associate Director Category Job Openings in the United States
Associate Statewide Medical Director

VitalCore Health Strategies - HOPKINTON, MA

Associate Statewide Medical Director

VitalCore Health Strategies Careers - HOPKINTON, MA

Associate Director, Philanthropy Engagement & Communications

Institute of International Education - NEW YORK, NY

Associate Director / Director, Medical Science Liaison, Respiratory

BESTMSLs - LOS ANGELES, CA

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Key Factors That Influence Associate Director Category Salaries

An Associate Director Category'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 Associate Director Category Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Associate Director Category'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): $269,489
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $270,918
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $272,824
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $275,206
  • Expert (over 8 years): $277,589
Levels Salary
Entry Level Associate Director Category$269,489
Intermediate Level Associate Director Category$270,918
Senior Level Associate Director Category$272,824
Specialist Level Associate Director Category$275,206
Expert Level Associate Director Category$277,589
$269,489 0 yr
$270,918 < 2 yrs
$272,824 2-4 yrs
$275,206 5-8 yrs
$277,589 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Associate Director Category 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 Associate Director Categories. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $311,464.
  • California: $310,283.
  • Massachusetts: $306,147.

Top Paying Cities for Associate Director Categories

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: $354,814
  • San Francisco: $351,326
  • Oakland: $343,533

What Skills Can Increase an Associate Director Category's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 7.64% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • E- Commerce (Mentioned in 1.91% Job Postings): E-commerce is the activity of buying or selling of products on online services or over the Internet. Electronic commerce draws on technologies such as mobile commerce, electronic funds transfer, supply chain management, Internet marketing, online transaction processing, electronic data interchange (EDI), inventory management systems, and automated data collection systems. Modern electronic commerce typically uses the World Wide Web for at least one part of the transaction's life cycle although it may also use other technologies such as e-mail. Typical e-commerce transactions include the purchase of online books (such as Amazon) and music purchases (music download in the form of digital distribution such as iTunes Store), and to a less extent, customized/personalized online liquor store inventory services. There are three areas of e-commerce: online retailing, electronic markets, and online auctions. E-commerce is supported by electronic business.
  • Cost Management (Mentioned in 1.27% Job Postings): Planning and controlling the cost or budget of a business to generate savings and maximize long-term profits.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 7.64%
E- Commerce 1.91%
Cost Management 1.27%
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 Associate Director Category's salary.
  • Product Design: Can increase your salary by up to 17%.
  • Lateral Thinking: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
  • Results Oriented: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Product Design
 $329,130
17%
Lateral Thinking
 $326,317
16%
Results Oriented
 $315,065
12%
Consulting
 $309,439
10%
Inventory Management
 $309,439
10%
Foodservice
 $306,626
9%
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Associate Director Category Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Associate Director Category'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.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on January 01, 2026
$264,724
Average $281,308/year
$309,214
$22,060
Average $23,442/month
$25,768
$5,091
Average $5,410/week
$5,946
$127
Average $135/hour
$149
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $309,214 $25,768 $5,946 $149
Average $281,308 $23,442 $5,410 $135
25th Percentile $264,724 $22,060 $5,091 $127

Salaries of jobs related to Associate Director Category

Salary Trends for Associate Director Category

Salaries for an Associate Director Category can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $180,088 in 2023 to around $177,271 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Associate Director Category salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Associate Director Category Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$180,088
2024
$179,641
2025
$177,271
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $180,088
2024 $179,641
2025 $177,271
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Associate Director Category

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Associate Director Category

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

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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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