Director of Program Operations Salary in the United States

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

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for a Director of Program Operations in the United States is $194,292 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $93.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $223,369
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $181,524 to $209,512
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $169,899
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View as table View as graph 25% $181,524 10% $169,899 90% $223,369 75% $209,512 $194,292 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Director of Program Operations Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $209,512 $17,459 $4,029 $101
Average $194,292 $16,191 $3,736 $93
25th Percentile $181,524 $15,127 $3,491 $87
Check out Director of Program Operations Job Openings in the United States
Director of Operations

FPC of Wake Forest - Dayton, OH

Director of Operations

LAZ Parking - Cleveland, OH

Director of Operations

Serve Freight - Cleveland, OH

Director Program Management Office

Teledyne Qioptiq - Miamisburg, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Director of Program Operations Salaries

A Director of Program Operations'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 Program Operations Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Director of Program Operations'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): $145,422
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $141,126
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $175,777
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $191,122
  • Expert (over 8 years): $248,813
Levels Salary
Program M... Level Director of Program Operations$145,422
Program M... Level Director of Program Operations$141,126
Program M... Level Director of Program Operations$175,777
Director ... Level Director of Program Operations$191,122
VP of Pro... Level Director of Program Operations$248,813
$145,422 0 yr
$141,126 < 2 yrs
$175,777 2-4 yrs
$191,122 5-8 yrs
$248,813 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Director of Program Operations 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 Program Operations. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $215,120.
  • California: $214,304.
  • Massachusetts: $211,448.

Top Paying Cities for Director of Program Operations

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: $245,060
  • San Francisco: $242,651
  • Oakland: $237,269

What Skills Can Increase a Director of Program Operations'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 of Program Operations'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
$205,950
6%
Influencing
$204,007
5%
Product Development
$202,064
4%
Commitment
$202,064
4%
Decision Making
$200,121
3%
Agile
$200,121
3%
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How Education impacts a Director of Program Operations's Salary?

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

Director of Program Operations Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Director of Program Operations
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 of Program Operations Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Director of Program Operations'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 April 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Director of Program Operations

Salaries for a Director of Program Operations can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $180,418 in 2023 to around $175,772 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Director of Program Operations salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Director of Program Operations Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$180,418
2024
$179,508
2025
$175,772
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $180,418
2024 $179,508
2025 $175,772
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Director of Program Operations

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