Salary AI Book a Demo

Employee Benefits Programs Director Salary in the United States

How much does an Employee Benefits Programs Director make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Employee Benefits Programs Director in the United States is $167,303 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $80.

However, an Employee Benefits Programs Director's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $199,018
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $151,489 to $183,904
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $137,091
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Employee Benefits Programs Director Salaries

An Employee Benefits Programs 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 Employee Benefits Programs Director Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Employee Benefits Programs 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): $103,302
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $124,416
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $166,082
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $186,557
  • Expert (over 8 years): $226,853
Levels Salary
Benefits ... Level Employee Benefits Programs Director$103,302
Benefits ... Level Employee Benefits Programs Director$124,416
Employee ... Level Employee Benefits Programs Director$166,082
Benefits ... Level Employee Benefits Programs Director$186,557
VP of Ben... Level Employee Benefits Programs Director$226,853
View as Graph

How Do Employee Benefits Programs 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 Employee Benefits Programs Directors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $185,238.
  • California: $184,535.
  • Massachusetts: $182,076.

Top Paying Cities for Employee Benefits Programs 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: $211,019
  • San Francisco: $208,709
  • Oakland: $204,310

What Skills Can Increase an Employee Benefits Programs Director's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 8.08% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Due Diligence (Mentioned in 2.42% Job Postings): Due diligence is the investigation or exercise of care that a reasonable business or person is expected to take before entering into an agreement or contract with another party, or an act with a certain standard of care. It can be a legal obligation, but the term will more commonly apply to voluntary investigations. A common example of due diligence in various industries is the process through which a potential acquirer evaluates a target company or its assets for an acquisition. The theory behind due diligence holds that performing this type of investigation contributes significantly to informed decision making by enhancing the amount and quality of information available to decision makers and by ensuring that this information is systematically used to deliberate in a reflexive manner on the decision at hand and all its costs, benefits, and risks.
  • Billing (Mentioned in 1.82% Job Postings): Billing refers to the aspect of banking, whereby someone is charged accurately for what item they purchased.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 8.08%
Due Diligence 2.42%
Billing 1.82%
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 Employee Benefits Programs Director's salary.

  • Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Due Diligence: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Critical Thinking: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Consulting $182,360
9%
Due Diligence $182,360
9%
Critical Thinking $182,360
9%
Get Latest Data

Employee Benefits Programs Director Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Employee Benefits Programs Director roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 20% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 10% above the average. In contrast, Employee Benefits Programs Director positions in Transportation or Telecom typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Employee Benefits Programs Director as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Employee Benefits Programs Director

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$184,033$88.010%
Biotechnology$184,033$88.010%
Business Services$184,033$88.010%
Chemicals$184,033$88.010%
Construction$184,033$88.010%

How Education impacts an Employee Benefits Programs Director's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Employee Benefits Programs 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 Employee Benefits Programs Director with a Bachelor's Degree is between $161,360 and $171,372).

Employee Benefits Programs Director Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Employee Benefits Programs Director
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.8%
High School 5.3%
Associates 3.3%
Bachelors 50.4%
Masters 38.6%
Doctorate 1.6%
View as Graph

Employee Benefits Programs Director Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Employee Benefits Programs 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 September 01, 2026
$151,489
Average $167,303/year
$183,904
$12,624
Average $13,942/month
$15,325
$2,913
Average $3,217/week
$3,537
$73
Average $80/hour
$88
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $183,904 $15,325 $3,537 $88
Average $167,303 $13,942 $3,217 $80
25th Percentile $151,489 $12,624 $2,913 $73

Most common benefits for Employee Benefits Programs Director

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

Common company salaries for Employee Benefits Programs Director

Here are companies hiring for Employee Benefits Programs Director and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Employee Benefits Programs Director Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Employee Benefits Programs Director 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 Employee Benefits Programs Director

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Employee Benefits Programs Director?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Employee Benefits Programs Director roles, with salaries approximately 10% 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