State Medical Director Salary in the United States

How much does a State Medical Director make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a State Medical Director in the United States is $370,666 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $178.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $441,620
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $333,725 to $407,806
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $300,092
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View as table View as graph 25% $333,725 10% $300,092 90% $441,620 75% $407,806 $370,666 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

State Medical Director Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $407,806 $33,984 $7,842 $196
Average $370,666 $30,889 $7,128 $178
25th Percentile $333,725 $27,810 $6,418 $160
Check out State Medical Director Job Openings in the United States
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Medical Director

Humana - Columbus, OH

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Key Factors That Influence State Medical Director Salaries

A State Medical 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 Do State Medical 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 State Medical Directors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $410,401.
  • California: $408,845.
  • Massachusetts: $403,396.

Top Paying Cities for State Medical 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: $467,521
  • San Francisco: $462,402
  • Oakland: $452,657

What Skills Can Increase a State Medical Director's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 14.71% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Clinical Supervision (Mentioned in 2.87% Job Postings): Supervision is used in counselling, psychotherapy, and other mental health disciplines as well as many other professions engaged in working with people. Supervision may be applied as well to practitioners in somatic disciplines for their preparatory work for patients as well as collateral with patients. Supervision is a replacement instead of formal retrospective inspection, delivering evidence about the skills of the supervised practitioners. It consists of the practitioner meeting regularly with another professional, not necessarily more senior, but normally with training in the skills of supervision, to discuss casework and other professional issues in a structured way. This is often known as clinical or counselling supervision (consultation differs in being optional advice from someone without a supervisor's formal authority). The purpose is to assist the practitioner to learn from his or her experience and progress in expertise, as well as to ensure good service to the client or patient. Learning shall be applied to planning work as well as to diagnostic work and therapeutic work.
  • Medical Services (Mentioned in 1.72% Job Postings): A service that provides medical treatment to people within an area or country: In poorer countries without a reliable health service, 90% of care for people with Aids-related illnesses is carried out in the home. health services.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 14.71%
Clinical Supervision 2.87%
Medical Services 1.72%
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 State Medical Director's salary.
  • Utilization Management: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Clinical Trial: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Insight: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Utilization Management
$411,439
11%
Clinical Trial
$411,439
11%
Insight
$407,733
10%
Quality Management
$404,026
9%
Oncology
$396,613
7%
Flexibility
$392,906
6%
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State Medical Director Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For State Medical Director roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 100% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Aerospace & Defense sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, State Medical Director positions in Retail & Wholesale or MFG Nondurable typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view State Medical Director as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a State Medical Director

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$555,999$267.050%

How Education impacts a State Medical Director's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many State Medical Directors enter the field with a Master's Degree or MBA 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 State Medical Director with a Master's Degree or MBA is between $320,393 and $336,921).

State Medical Director Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for State Medical Director
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.1%
High School 1.1%
Associates 0.9%
Bachelors 3.7%
Masters 5.0%
Doctorate 89.2%
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State Medical Director Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a State Medical 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 August 01, 2026

Salary Trends for State Medical Director

Salaries for a State Medical Director can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $249,232 in 2023 to around $238,263 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of State Medical Director salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of State Medical Director Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$249,232
2024
$247,363
2025
$238,263
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $249,232
2024 $247,363
2025 $238,263
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for State Medical Director

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for State Medical Director

Here are companies hiring for State Medical Director and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next State Medical Director Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current State Medical Director job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
  • The Recovery Village

    Columbus, OH

    The Recovery Village | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. We are seeking a Medical Director- Psychiatrist to join our team. Be a part of our facility & make a difference in dual d... more

    9 Days Ago

  • Otsuka America Pharmaceutical Inc.

    Columbus, OH

    Otsuka America Pharmaceutical Inc. | Columbus, OH

    Company Overview:Otsuka is a global healthcare company driven by our purpose to defy limitation, so that others can too. Patients are at the center of our ... more

    10 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Executive Medical Director. About the Company. A leading international biopharmaceutical company covering the pharmaceutical value chain from R&D to market... more

    6 Days Ago

  • FSC, Inc

    Columbus, OH

    FSC, Inc | Columbus, OH

    Medical Director. Medical Director in Columbus Large not for profit community mental center. Actively recruiting for a Medical Director. Can be a full time... more

    6 Days Ago

  • FSC, Inc

    Columbus, OH

    FSC, Inc | Columbus, OH

    OH308 Psychiatric Medical Director. Columbus, OH. Medical Director needed for Child and Adolescent Acute and Residential facility. Call me today. Medical D... more

    9 Days Ago

  • Absolute Care

    Columbus, OH

    Absolute Care | Columbus, OH

    Job SummaryAbsoluteCare is seeking a dynamic, mission-driven clinical leader to put the principles of team-based collaborative care and population health i... more

    10 Days Ago

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FAQ about State Medical Director

1. What industry pays the highest salary for State Medical Director?

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for State Medical Director roles, with salaries approximately 50% 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.)

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