Associate Director, Program Management Salary in the United States

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

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Associate Director, Program Management in the United States is $187,100 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $90.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $213,860
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $174,467 to $201,107
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $162,965
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
AI-Powered HR
AI Onboarding
View as table View as graph 25% $174,467 10% $162,965 90% $213,860 75% $201,107 $187,100 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Associate Director, Program Management Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $201,107 $16,759 $3,867 $97
Average $187,100 $15,592 $3,598 $90
25th Percentile $174,467 $14,539 $3,355 $84
Check out Associate Director, Program Management Job Openings in the United States
Search More Associate Director, Program Management Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Associate Director, Program Management Salaries

An Associate Director, Program Management'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, Program Management Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Associate Director, Program Management'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): $141,507
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $137,398
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $171,193
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $186,070
  • Expert (over 8 years): $242,305
Levels Salary
Program M... Level Associate Director, Program Management$141,507
Program M... Level Associate Director, Program Management$137,398
Program M... Level Associate Director, Program Management$171,193
Associate... Level Associate Director, Program Management$186,070
VP of Pro... Level Associate Director, Program Management$242,305
$141,507 0 yr
$137,398 < 2 yrs
$171,193 2-4 yrs
$186,070 5-8 yrs
$242,305 > 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

How Do Associate Director, Program Management 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, Program Managements. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $207,157.
  • California: $206,371.
  • Massachusetts: $203,621.

Top Paying Cities for Associate Director, Program Managements

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: $235,989
  • San Francisco: $233,405
  • Oakland: $228,487

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

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Program Management (Mentioned in 16.23% Job Postings): Program management or programme management is the process of managing several related projects, often with the intention of improving an organization's performance. In practice and in its aims, program management is often closely related to systems engineering, industrial engineering, change management, and business transformation. In the defense sector, it is the dominant approach to managing very large projects. Because major defense programs entail working with contractors, it is often called acquisition management, indicating that the government buyer acquires goods and services by means of contractors. The program manager has oversight of the purpose and status of the projects in a program and can use this oversight to support project-level activity to ensure the program goals are met by providing a decision-making capacity that cannot be achieved at project level or by providing the project manager with a program perspective when required, or as a sounding board for ideas and approaches to solving project issues that have program impacts. The program manager may be well placed to provide this insight by actively seeking out such information from the project managers although in large and/or complex projects, a specific role may be required. However this insight arises, the program manager needs this in order to be comfortable that the overall program goals are achievable.
  • PowerPoint (Mentioned in 1.24% Job Postings): A computer software created by Microsoft which allows the user to create slides with recordings, narrations, transitions and other features in order to present information.
  • Risk Mitigation (Mentioned in 0.75% Job Postings): Assessing, monitoring, and controlling risk and its probabilities using automation controls to minimize the potential financial risks and improve the organization's processes.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Program Management 16.23%
PowerPoint 1.24%
Risk Mitigation 0.75%
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, Program Management's salary.
  • Biotechnology: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Influencing: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Product Development: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Biotechnology
$198,326
6%
Influencing
$196,455
5%
Product Development
$194,584
4%
Commitment
$194,584
4%
Decision Making
$192,713
3%
Agile
$192,713
3%
Get Latest Data

Associate Director, Program Management Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Associate Director, Program Management roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 60% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Associate Director, Program Management positions in Transportation or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Associate Director, Program Management as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Associate Director, Program Management

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$243,230$117.030%
Biotechnology$243,230$117.030%
Financial Services$243,230$117.030%
Pharmaceuticals$243,230$117.030%

How Education impacts an Associate Director, Program Management's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Associate Director, Program Managements 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, Program Management with a Bachelor's Degree is between $187,381 and $196,582).

Associate Director, Program Management Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Associate Director, Program Management
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.2%
High School 0.6%
Associates 3.1%
Bachelors 39.3%
Masters 52.8%
Doctorate 3.1%
view as graph

Associate Director, Program Management Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Associate Director, Program Management'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, Program Management

Salaries for an Associate Director, Program Management can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $175,621 in 2023 to around $171,099 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Associate Director, Program Management salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Associate Director, Program Management Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$175,621
2024
$174,736
2025
$171,099
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $175,621
2024 $174,736
2025 $171,099
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Associate Director, Program Management

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 Associate Director, Program Management

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

Find Your Next Associate Director, Program Management Job

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

United States
  • eviCore healthcare

    Columbus, OH

    eviCore healthcare | Columbus, OH

    Provides timely expert medical review for requests to evaluate the medical necessity of services that do not meet utilization review criteria while located... more

    5 Days Ago

  • MD Staff, LLC

    Columbus, OH

    MD Staff, LLC | Columbus, OH

    Neurologist Locum Tenens Opportunity Near Columbus, OH. We are excited to offer a rewarding locum tenens opportunity for a Board Certified or Board Eligibl... more

    5 Days Ago

  • C.R. England

    Columbus, OH

    C.R. England | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. C.R. England is Now Urgently Hiring Local Dedicated CDL-A Truck Drivers. Dedicated Local Fleet - Home Daily - Competitive Pay* - Full Bene... more

    11 Days Ago

  • Maxim Healthcare

    Columbus, OH

    Maxim Healthcare | Columbus, OH

    Private duty nursing (PDN) allows medically fragile patients to receive quality, skilled nursing care in the comfort of their home: a setting preferred by ... more

    13 Days Ago

  • Schneider

    Columbus, OH

    Schneider | Columbus, OH

    CDL-A - Dedicated Reefer truck driver - Kroger. Dedicated Reefer truck driver - Kroger. Average pay. $1,200-$1,450 weekly. Home time. Daily. Experience. Al... more

    14 Days Ago

  • Family Dollar

    Columbus, OH

    Family Dollar | Columbus, OH

    Customer Service Associate. We're seeking a Customer Service Associate to join our team and deliver a great shopping experience for every customer. Duties ... more

    16 Days Ago

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.

FAQ about Associate Director, Program Management

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Associate Director, Program Management?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Associate Director, Program Management roles, with salaries approximately 30% 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.)

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