Associate Director, Engineering Salary in the United States

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

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for an Associate Director, Engineering in the United States is $196,372 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $94.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $221,198
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $184,163 to $209,367
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $173,047
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View as table View as graph 25% $184,163 10% $173,047 90% $221,198 75% $209,367 $196,372 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Associate Director, Engineering Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $209,367 $17,447 $4,026 $101
Average $196,372 $16,364 $3,776 $94
25th Percentile $184,163 $15,347 $3,542 $89
Check out Associate Director, Engineering Job Openings in the United States
Senior Associate, Quality Engineering

L3Harris Technologies - Terrace Park, OH

Senior Associate, Quality Engineering

L3Harris Technologies - Cincinnati, OH

Associate Engineering Director - Manufacturing and Pharma

SoftServe - New Bremen, OH

Engineering Director

Melia Hotels International S.A.(Meliá) - New Bremen, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Associate Director, Engineering Salaries

An Associate Director, Engineering'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 Associate Director, Engineering Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Associate Director, Engineering'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): $151,926
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $174,912
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $195,416
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $228,830
  • Expert (over 8 years): $287,227
Levels Salary
Engineeri... Level Associate Director, Engineering$151,926
Engineeri... Level Associate Director, Engineering$174,912
Associate... Level Associate Director, Engineering$195,416
VP of Eng... Level Associate Director, Engineering$228,830
SVP of En... Level Associate Director, Engineering$287,227
$151,926 0 yr
$174,912 < 2 yrs
$195,416 2-4 yrs
$228,830 5-8 yrs
$287,227 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Associate Director, Engineerings

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: $247,684
  • San Francisco: $245,249
  • Oakland: $239,809

What Skills Can Increase an Associate Director, Engineering's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 10.97% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Software Engineering (Mentioned in 2.44% Job Postings): Software engineering is the application of engineering to the development of software in a systematic method. Notable definitions of software engineering include: "the systematic application of scientific and technological knowledge, methods, and experience to the design, implementation, testing, and documentation of software"—The Bureau of Labor Statistics—IEEE Systems and software engineering - Vocabulary "The application of a systematic, disciplined, quantifiable approach to the development, operation, and maintenance of software"—IEEE Standard Glossary of Software Engineering Terminology "an engineering discipline that is concerned with all aspects of software production"—Ian Sommerville "the establishment and use of sound engineering principles in order to economically obtain software that is reliable and works efficiently on real machines"—Fritz Bauer
  • Plumbing (Mentioned in 1.88% Job Postings): Plumbing is any system that conveys fluids for a wide range of applications. Plumbing uses pipes, valves, plumbing fixtures, tanks, and other apparatuses to convey fluids. Heating and cooling (HVAC), waste removal, and potable water delivery are among the most common uses for plumbing, but it is not limited to these applications. The word derives from the Latin for lead, plumbum, as the first effective pipes used in the Roman era were lead pipes. In the developed world, plumbing infrastructure is critical to public health and sanitation. Boilermakers and pipefitters are not plumbers although they work with piping as part of their trade and their work can include some plumbing.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 10.97%
Software Engineering 2.44%
Plumbing 1.88%
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, Engineering's salary.
  • Machine Learning: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Product Management: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Open Source: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Machine Learning
 $208,154
6%
Product Management
 $206,191
5%
Open Source
 $206,191
5%
Product Engineering
 $206,191
5%
Software Engineering
 $206,191
5%
Computer Science
 $206,191
5%
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How Education impacts an Associate Director, Engineering's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Associate Director, Engineerings enter the field with a Bachelor'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 an Associate Director, Engineering with a Bachelor's Degree is between $193,964 and $204,362).

Associate Director, Engineering Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Associate Director, Engineering
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.2%
High School 2.5%
Associates 1.8%
Bachelors 37.5%
Masters 46.2%
Doctorate 11.8%
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Associate Director, Engineering Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Associate Director, Engineering'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 April 01, 2026
$184,163
Average $196,372/year
$209,367
$15,347
Average $16,364/month
$17,447
$3,542
Average $3,776/week
$4,026
$89
Average $94/hour
$101
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $209,367 $17,447 $4,026 $101
Average $196,372 $16,364 $3,776 $94
25th Percentile $184,163 $15,347 $3,542 $89

Salaries of jobs related to Associate Director, Engineering

Salary Trends for Associate Director, Engineering

Salaries for an Associate Director, Engineering can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $188,099 in 2023 to around $188,640 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Associate Director, Engineering salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Associate Director, Engineering Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$188,099
2024
$191,286
2025
$188,640
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $188,099
2024 $191,286
2025 $188,640
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Associate Director, Engineering

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

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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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