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IT Program Management Director Salary in the United States

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

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for an IT Program Management Director in the United States is $188,005 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $90.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $214,895
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $175,264 to $202,080
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $163,664
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence IT Program Management Director Salaries

An IT Program Management 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 IT Program Management Director Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an IT Program Management 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): $142,156
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $138,063
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $172,052
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $186,970
  • Expert (over 8 years): $243,510
Levels Salary
Program M... Level IT Program Management Director$142,156
Program M... Level IT Program Management Director$138,063
Program M... Level IT Program Management Director$172,052
IT Progra... Level IT Program Management Director$186,970
VP of Pro... Level IT Program Management Director$243,510
View as Graph

How Do IT Program Management 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 IT Program Management Directors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $208,159.
  • California: $207,370.
  • Massachusetts: $204,606.

Top Paying Cities for IT Program Management 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: $237,131
  • San Francisco: $234,534
  • Oakland: $229,592

What Skills Can Increase an IT Program Management Director'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.
Skills Demand Percentage
Program Management 16.23%
PowerPoint 1.24%
Risk Mitigation 0.75%
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 IT Program Management Director'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 $199,285
6%
Influencing $197,405
5%
Product Development $195,525
4%
Get Latest Data

IT Program Management Director Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For IT Program Management Director roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 60% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, IT Program Management Director positions in Transportation or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view IT Program Management Director as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an IT Program Management Director

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$244,406$118.030%
Biotechnology$244,406$118.030%
Financial Services$244,406$118.030%
Pharmaceuticals$244,406$118.030%

How Education impacts an IT Program Management Director's Salary?

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

IT Program Management Director Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for IT Program Management Director
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%
View as Graph

IT Program Management Director Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an IT Program Management 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
$175,264
Average $188,005/year
$202,080
$14,605
Average $15,667/month
$16,840
$3,370
Average $3,615/week
$3,886
$84
Average $90/hour
$97
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $202,080 $16,840 $3,886 $97
Average $188,005 $15,667 $3,615 $90
25th Percentile $175,264 $14,605 $3,370 $84

Most common benefits for IT Program Management Director

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

Common company salaries for IT Program Management Director

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

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FAQ about IT Program Management Director

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

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for IT Program Management Director roles, with salaries approximately 30% 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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