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Associate Program Director Salary in the United States

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

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for an Associate Program Director in the United States is $175,402 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $84.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $201,057
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $161,960 to $188,831
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $149,722
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Associate Program Director Salaries

An Associate Program 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 Associate Program Director Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Associate Program 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): $143,672
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $107,831
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $117,015
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $159,397
  • Expert (over 8 years): $174,415
Levels Salary
CRM Progr... Level Associate Program Director$143,672
CRM Progr... Level Associate Program Director$107,831
CRM Progr... Level Associate Program Director$117,015
CRM Progr... Level Associate Program Director$159,397
Associate... Level Associate Program Director$174,415
View as Graph

How Do Associate Program Director 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 Program Directors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $194,205.
  • California: $193,468.
  • Massachusetts: $190,890.

Top Paying Cities for Associate Program 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: $221,235
  • San Francisco: $218,812
  • Oakland: $214,201

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

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Insight (Mentioned in 3.66% Job Postings): Insight is the understanding cause and effect based on the identification of relationships and behaviors within a model, context, or scenario.
  • HTML (Mentioned in 1.51% Job Postings): A computer language that used in creating, updating and maintaining text, graphics and links in a website.
  • SQL (Mentioned in 0.86% Job Postings): Structured Query Language) is a domain-specific language used in programming and designed for managing data held in a relational database management system (RDBMS), or for stream processing in a relational data stream management system (RDSMS).
Skills Demand Percentage
Insight 3.66%
HTML 1.51%
SQL 0.86%
See More Skills

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 Program Director's salary.

  • Team Building: Can increase your salary by up to 18%.
  • Decision Making: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
  • Communicates Effectively: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Team Building $206,974
18%
Decision Making $199,958
14%
Communicates Effectively $199,958
14%
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Associate Program Director Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Associate Program Director roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 57% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Energy & Utilities and Healthcare sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Associate Program Director positions in Transportation or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Associate Program Director as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Associate Program Director

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Energy & Utilities$210,482$101.020%
Healthcare$206,974$100.018%
Software & Networking$201,712$97.015%
Biotechnology$196,450$94.012%
Pharmaceuticals$196,450$94.012%

How Education impacts an Associate Program Director's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Associate Program Directors 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 Program Director with a Bachelor's Degree is between $182,066 and $190,529).

Associate Program Director Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Associate Program Director
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.2%
High School 2.4%
Associates 4.8%
Bachelors 43.4%
Masters 43.4%
Doctorate 4.8%
View as Graph

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

Understanding how an Associate Program 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 October 01, 2026
$161,960
Average $175,402/year
$188,831
$13,497
Average $14,617/month
$15,736
$3,115
Average $3,373/week
$3,631
$78
Average $84/hour
$91
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $188,831 $15,736 $3,631 $91
Average $175,402 $14,617 $3,373 $84
25th Percentile $161,960 $13,497 $3,115 $78

Most common benefits for Associate Program Director

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Associate Program Director

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

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FAQ about Associate Program Director

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

The Energy & Utilities industry offers the highest average compensation for Associate Program Director roles, with salaries approximately 20% 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.

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