Salary AI Book a Demo

Director of Incident Response Salary in the United States

How much does a Director of Incident Response make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Director of Incident Response in the United States is $153,812 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $74.

However, a Director of Incident Response's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $188,282
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $136,836 to $171,855
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $121,380
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Director of Incident Response Salaries

A Director of Incident Response'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 Director of Incident Response Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Director of Incident Response'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): $141,967
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $143,506
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $145,558
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $148,124
  • Expert (over 8 years): $150,689
Levels Salary
Entry Level Director of Incident Response$141,967
Intermediate Level Director of Incident Response$143,506
Senior Level Director of Incident Response$145,558
Specialist Level Director of Incident Response$148,124
Expert Level Director of Incident Response$150,689
View as Graph

How Do Director of Incident Response 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 Director of Incident Responses. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $170,301.
  • California: $169,655.
  • Massachusetts: $167,394.

Top Paying Cities for Director of Incident Responses

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: $194,003
  • San Francisco: $191,879
  • Oakland: $187,835

What Skills Can Increase a Director of Incident Response's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 10.4% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 1.98% Job Postings): Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
  • Illustration (Mentioned in 1.49% Job Postings): Using creative artwork to explain or depict a particular meaning to come across the viewer's mind.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 10.4%
Microsoft Office 1.98%
Illustration 1.49%
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 a Director of Incident Response's salary.

  • Influencing: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Organizational Communications: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Innovation: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Influencing $173,808
13%
Organizational Communications $167,655
9%
Innovation $166,117
8%
Get Latest Data

Director of Incident Response Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Director of Incident Response roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare, offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely, Director of Incident Response positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Director of Incident Response as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Director of Incident Response

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$184,574$89.020%

How Education impacts a Director of Incident Response's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Director of Incident Responses 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 a Director of Incident Response with a Bachelor's Degree is between $155,926 and $166,837).

Director of Incident Response Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Director of Incident Response
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.7%
High School 6.0%
Associates 11.2%
Bachelors 32.1%
Masters 43.3%
Doctorate 6.7%
View as Graph

Director of Incident Response Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Director of Incident Response'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 September 01, 2026
$136,836
Average $153,812/year
$171,855
$11,403
Average $12,818/month
$14,321
$2,631
Average $2,958/week
$3,305
$66
Average $74/hour
$83
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $171,855 $14,321 $3,305 $83
Average $153,812 $12,818 $2,958 $74
25th Percentile $136,836 $11,403 $2,631 $66

Most common benefits for Director of Incident Response

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

Common company salaries for Director of Incident Response

Here are companies hiring for Director of Incident Response and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Director of Incident Response Job

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

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Director of Incident Response

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Director of Incident Response?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Director of Incident Response 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.

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