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Director of Quality Salary in the United States

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

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for a Director of Quality in the United States is $201,912 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $97.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $232,080
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $185,169 to $217,703
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $169,925
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Director of Quality Salaries

A Director of Quality'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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Director of Quality Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Director of Quality'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): $154,340
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $130,041
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $164,661
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $200,751
  • Expert (over 8 years): $247,692
Levels Salary
Quality A... Level Director of Quality$154,340
Quality A... Level Director of Quality$130,041
Quality A... Level Director of Quality$164,661
Director ... Level Director of Quality$200,751
VP of Qua... Level Director of Quality$247,692
View as Graph

How Do Director of Quality 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 Qualities. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $223,557.
  • California: $222,709.
  • Massachusetts: $219,741.

Top Paying Cities for Director of Qualities

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: $254,672
  • San Francisco: $251,883
  • Oakland: $246,575

What Skills Can Increase a Director of Quality's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 16.26% 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 1.38% 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.
  • Sustainability (Mentioned in 1.05% Job Postings): Sustainability is a societal goal that broadly aims for humans to safely co-exist on planet Earth over a long time. Specific definitions of sustainability are difficult to agree on and therefore vary in the literature and over time.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 16.26%
Microsoft Office 1.38%
Sustainability 1.05%
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 Quality's salary.

  • Innovation: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Agile: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Innovation $212,008
5%
Agile $212,008
5%
Collaboration $209,988
4%
Get Latest Data

Director of Quality Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Director of Quality roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 50% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Director of Quality positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Director of Quality as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Director of Quality

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$252,390$121.025%
Financial Services$242,294$116.020%
Software & Networking$232,199$112.015%
Aerospace & Defense$226,141$109.012%
Energy & Utilities$222,103$107.010%

Director of Quality Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Director of Quality'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
$185,169
Average $201,912/year
$217,703
$15,431
Average $16,826/month
$18,142
$3,561
Average $3,883/week
$4,187
$89
Average $97/hour
$105
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $217,703 $18,142 $4,187 $105
Average $201,912 $16,826 $3,883 $97
25th Percentile $185,169 $15,431 $3,561 $89

Most common benefits for Director of Quality

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

Common company salaries for Director of Quality

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

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FAQ about Director of Quality

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

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Director of Quality roles, with salaries approximately 25% 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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