Director, Program Management Salary in the United States

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

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Director, Program Management in the United States is $185,383 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $89.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $211,887
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $172,817 to $199,256
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $161,376
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View as table View as graph 25% $172,817 10% $161,376 90% $211,887 75% $199,256 $185,383 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Director, Program Management Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $199,256 $16,605 $3,832 $96
Average $185,383 $15,449 $3,565 $89
25th Percentile $172,817 $14,401 $3,323 $83
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Key Factors That Influence Director, Program Management Salaries

A 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 Director, Program Management Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a 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): $176,603
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $177,738
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $179,253
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $181,145
  • Expert (over 8 years): $183,038
Levels Salary
Entry Level Director, Program Management$176,603
Intermediate Level Director, Program Management$177,738
Senior Level Director, Program Management$179,253
Specialist Level Director, Program Management$181,145
Expert Level Director, Program Management$183,038
$176,603 0 yr
$177,738 < 2 yrs
$179,253 2-4 yrs
$181,145 5-8 yrs
$183,038 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for 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: $233,824
  • San Francisco: $231,525
  • Oakland: $226,390

What Skills Can Increase a 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 a 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
$196,506
6%
Influencing
$194,652
5%
Product Development
$192,798
4%
Commitment
$192,798
4%
Decision Making
$190,944
3%
Agile
$190,944
3%
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How Education impacts a Director, Program Management's Salary?

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

Director, Program Management Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for 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%
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Director, Program Management Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a 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 January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Director, Program Management

Salaries for a Director, Program Management can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $174,058 in 2023 to around $169,576 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Director, Program Management salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Director, Program Management Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$174,058
2024
$173,180
2025
$169,576
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $174,058
2024 $173,180
2025 $169,576
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Director, Program Management

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Director, Program Management

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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.)

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