Associate Director, Internal Audit Salary in the United States

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

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Associate Director, Internal Audit in the United States is $174,115 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $84.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $201,148
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $160,120 to $188,265
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $147,378
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View as table View as graph 25% $160,120 10% $147,378 90% $201,148 75% $188,265 $174,115 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Associate Director, Internal Audit Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $188,265 $15,689 $3,620 $91
Average $174,115 $14,510 $3,348 $84
25th Percentile $160,120 $13,343 $3,079 $77
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Key Factors That Influence Associate Director, Internal Audit Salaries

An Associate Director, Internal Audit'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, Internal Audit Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Associate Director, Internal Audit'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): $111,798
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $122,497
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $173,074
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $208,545
  • Expert (over 8 years): $229,154
Levels Salary
Auditing ... Level Associate Director, Internal Audit$111,798
Auditing ... Level Associate Director, Internal Audit$122,497
Associate... Level Associate Director, Internal Audit$173,074
Auditing ... Level Associate Director, Internal Audit$208,545
Vice Pres... Level Associate Director, Internal Audit$229,154
$111,798 0 yr
$122,497 < 2 yrs
$173,074 2-4 yrs
$208,545 5-8 yrs
$229,154 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Associate Director, Internal Audit 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, Internal Audits. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $192,780.
  • California: $192,049.
  • Massachusetts: $189,489.

Top Paying Cities for Associate Director, Internal Audits

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: $219,611
  • San Francisco: $217,207
  • Oakland: $212,629

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

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Risk Management (Mentioned in 4.91% 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.
  • Risk Assessment (Mentioned in 3.62% Job Postings): Broadly speaking, a risk assessment is the combined effort of: identifying and analyzing potential (future) events that may negatively impact individuals, assets, and/or the environment (i.e. risk analysis); and making judgments "on the tolerability of the risk on the basis of a risk analysis" while considering influencing factors (i.e. risk evaluation).Put in simpler terms, a risk assessment analyzes what can go wrong, how likely it is to happen, what the potential consequences are, and how tolerable the identified risk is. As part of this process, the resulting determination of risk may be expressed in a quantitative or qualitative fashion. The risk assessment is an inherent part of an overall risk management strategy, which attempts to, after a risk assessment, "introduce control measures to eliminate or reduce" any potential risk-related consequences.
  • Financial Reporting (Mentioned in 0.79% Job Postings): Reporting all activities and transactions to track and assess the financial health of the business.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Risk Management 4.91%
Risk Assessment 3.62%
Financial Reporting 0.79%
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, Internal Audit's salary.
  • Asset Management: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Operational Risk: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Data Analytics: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Asset Management
$189,785
9%
Operational Risk
$189,785
9%
Data Analytics
$186,303
7%
Innovation
$186,303
7%
Process Improvement
$182,821
5%
Risk Management
$181,080
4%
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Associate Director, Internal Audit Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Associate Director, Internal Audit roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 100% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Energy & Utilities and Insurance sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Associate Director, Internal Audit positions in Financial Services or Internet typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Associate Director, Internal Audit as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Associate Director, Internal Audit

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Energy & Utilities$261,172$126.050%
Insurance$243,761$117.040%
Construction$226,350$109.030%
Retail & Wholesale$217,644$105.025%
Aerospace & Defense$208,938$100.020%

How Education impacts an Associate Director, Internal Audit's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Associate Director, Internal Audits 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 an Associate Director, Internal Audit with a Associate's Degree is between $169,026 and $179,084).

Associate Director, Internal Audit Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Associate Director, Internal Audit
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.5%
High School 2.8%
Associates 2.0%
Bachelors 45.5%
Masters 48.6%
Doctorate 0.5%
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Associate Director, Internal Audit Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Associate Director, Internal Audit'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 August 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Associate Director, Internal Audit

Salaries for an Associate Director, Internal Audit can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $144,649 in 2023 to around $141,706 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Associate Director, Internal Audit salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Associate Director, Internal Audit Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$144,649
2024
$144,067
2025
$141,706
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $144,649
2024 $144,067
2025 $141,706
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Associate Director, Internal Audit

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

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

Find Your Next Associate Director, Internal Audit Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Associate Director, Internal Audit job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
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    Columbus, OH

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    Columbus, OH

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    Columbus, OH

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FAQ about Associate Director, Internal Audit

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Associate Director, Internal Audit?

The Energy & Utilities industry offers the highest average compensation for Associate Director, Internal Audit roles, with salaries approximately 50% 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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