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Director of Internal Audit Salary in the United States

How much does a Director of Internal Audit make in the United States?

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for a Director of Internal Audit in the United States is $182,454 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $88.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $210,815
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $167,794 to $197,299
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $154,447
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Director of Internal Audit Salaries

A Director of 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 Director of Internal Audit Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Director of 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): $119,309
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $128,319
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $181,362
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $218,525
  • Expert (over 8 years): $240,091
Levels Salary
Auditing ... Level Director of Internal Audit$119,309
Auditing ... Level Director of Internal Audit$128,319
Director ... Level Director of Internal Audit$181,362
Auditing ... Level Director of Internal Audit$218,525
Vice Pres... Level Director of Internal Audit$240,091
View as Graph

How Do Director of 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 Director of Internal Audits. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $202,013.
  • California: $201,247.
  • Massachusetts: $198,565.

Top Paying Cities for Director of 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: $230,129
  • San Francisco: $227,610
  • Oakland: $222,813

What Skills Can Increase a Director of 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.
Skills Demand Percentage
Risk Management 4.91%
Risk Assessment 3.62%
Financial Reporting 0.79%
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 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 $198,875
9%
Operational Risk $198,875
9%
Data Analytics $195,226
7%
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Director of Internal Audit Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Director of 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, Director of Internal Audit positions in Financial Services or Internet typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Director of Internal Audit as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Director of Internal Audit

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Energy & Utilities$273,681$132.050%
Insurance$255,436$123.040%
Construction$237,190$114.030%
Retail & Wholesale$228,068$110.025%
Aerospace & Defense$218,945$105.020%

How Education impacts a Director of Internal Audit's Salary?

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

Director of Internal Audit Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Director of 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%
View as Graph

Director of Internal Audit Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Director of 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 October 01, 2026
$167,794
Average $182,454/year
$197,299
$13,983
Average $15,205/month
$16,442
$3,227
Average $3,509/week
$3,794
$81
Average $88/hour
$95
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $197,299 $16,442 $3,794 $95
Average $182,454 $15,205 $3,509 $88
25th Percentile $167,794 $13,983 $3,227 $81

Most common benefits for Director of Internal Audit

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

Common company salaries for Director of Internal Audit

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

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FAQ about Director of Internal Audit

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

The Energy & Utilities industry offers the highest average compensation for Director of 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.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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