Day Program Director Salary in the United States

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

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Day Program Director in the United States is $109,419 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $53.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $138,998
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $100,922 to $124,902
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $93,186
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Paid Annually Paid Monthly Paid Semimonthly Paid Biweekly Paid Weekly Paid Hourly
View as table View as graph 25% $100,922 10% $93,186 90% $138,998 75% $124,902 $109,419 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Day Program Director Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $124,902 $10,409 $2,402 $60
Average $109,419 $9,118 $2,104 $53
25th Percentile $100,922 $8,410 $1,941 $49
Check out Day Program Director Job Openings in the United States
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Residential Program Director

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Key Factors That Influence Day Program Director Salaries

A Day Program 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 Day Program Director Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Day Program 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): $105,170
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $105,878
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $106,823
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $108,239
  • Expert (over 8 years): $110,009
Levels Salary
Entry Level Day Program Director$105,170
Intermediate Level Day Program Director$105,878
Senior Level Day Program Director$106,823
Specialist Level Day Program Director$108,239
Expert Level Day Program Director$110,009
$105,170 0 yr
$105,878 < 2 yrs
$106,823 2-4 yrs
$108,239 5-8 yrs
$110,009 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Day Program 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 Day Program Directors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $121,149.
  • California: $120,689.
  • Massachusetts: $119,081.

Top Paying Cities for Day Program 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: $138,010
  • San Francisco: $136,653
  • Oakland: $133,622

What Skills Can Increase a Day Program Director's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 6.12% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Menu Development (Mentioned in 2.04% Job Postings): Menu Development focuses primarily on the dish selection and design of a menu. When developing custom menus for clients, we look at the brand's story, guest demographics, local ingredients, and specialties
  • Food Handling (Mentioned in 1.58% Job Postings): Food Handling means one or more operations of food production, manufacture, offering or displaying for sale, storage, preserving, wrapping, transportation, delivery, importation, exportation, or the licensing or approval for any of such activities.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 6.12%
Menu Development 2.04%
Food Handling 1.58%
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 Day Program Director's salary.
  • Expense Management: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Listening: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Initiative: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Expense Management
 $113,796
4%
Listening
 $113,796
4%
Initiative
 $113,796
4%
Merchandising
 $113,796
4%
Verbal Communication
 $113,796
4%
Commitment
 $113,796
4%
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How Education impacts a Day Program Director's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Day Program Directors enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate 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 Day Program Director with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $97,611 and $108,761).

Day Program Director Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Day Program Director
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.4%
High School 22.0%
Associates 17.3%
Bachelors 52.3%
Masters 6.9%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Day Program Director Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Day Program 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.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on January 01, 2026
$100,922
Average $109,419/year
$124,902
$8,410
Average $9,118/month
$10,409
$1,941
Average $2,104/week
$2,402
$49
Average $53/hour
$60
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $124,902 $10,409 $2,402 $60
Average $109,419 $9,118 $2,104 $53
25th Percentile $100,922 $8,410 $1,941 $49

Salaries of jobs related to Day Program Director

Salary Trends for Day Program Director

Salaries for a Day Program Director can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $80,309 in 2023 to around $76,914 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Day Program Director salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Day Program Director Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$80,309
2024
$78,151
2025
$76,914
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
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2023 $80,309
2024 $78,151
2025 $76,914
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Day Program Director

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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