Salary AI Book a Demo

Program Officer Salary in the United States

How much does a Program Officer make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Program Officer in the United States is $68,659 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $33.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $86,330
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $61,393 to $77,909
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $54,778
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Program Officer Salaries

A Program Officer'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 Program Officer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Program Officer'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): $49,637
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $67,979
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $80,605
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $86,090
  • Expert (over 8 years): $96,541
Levels Salary
Non-Profi... Level Program Officer$49,637
Program O... Level Program Officer$67,979
Non-Profi... Level Program Officer$80,605
Non-Profi... Level Program Officer$86,090
Non-Profi... Level Program Officer$96,541
View as Graph

How Do Program Officer 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 Program Officers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $76,019.
  • California: $75,731.
  • Massachusetts: $74,722.

Top Paying Cities for Program Officers

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: $86,600
  • San Francisco: $85,652
  • Oakland: $83,846

What Skills Can Increase a Program Officer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Coordination (Mentioned in 7.12% Job Postings): Ability to plan, execute, and adjust job duties to achieve business goals.
  • Administrative Support (Mentioned in 2.12% Job Postings): Administrative support means technical assistance, studies, surveys, or securing volunteers to assist the department in fulfilling its administrative responsibilities.
  • PowerPoint (Mentioned in 1.66% 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.
Skills Demand Percentage
Coordination 7.12%
Administrative Support 2.12%
PowerPoint 1.66%
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 Program Officer's salary.

  • Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Program Management: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Project Management $73,465
7%
Program Management $72,779
6%
Collaboration $71,405
4%
Get Latest Data

Program Officer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Program Officer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 80% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Financial Services and Insurance sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Program Officer positions in MFG Nondurable or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Program Officer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Program Officer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$96,123$46.040%
Insurance$89,257$43.030%
Energy & Utilities$82,391$40.020%
Business Services$75,525$36.010%

Program Officer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Program Officer'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
$61,393
Average $68,659/year
$77,909
$5,116
Average $5,722/month
$6,492
$1,181
Average $1,320/week
$1,498
$30
Average $33/hour
$37
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $77,909 $6,492 $1,498 $37
Average $68,659 $5,722 $1,320 $33
25th Percentile $61,393 $5,116 $1,181 $30

Most common benefits for Program Officer

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

Common company salaries for Program Officer

Here are companies hiring for Program Officer and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Program Officer Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Program Officer 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 Program Officer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Program Officer?

The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Program Officer roles, with salaries approximately 40% 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