Director Of External Relations Salary in the United States

How much does a Director Of External Relations make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Director Of External Relations in the United States is $258,209 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $124.

However, a Director Of External Relations's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $286,782
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $232,186 to $273,165
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $208,493
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View as table View as graph 25% $232,186 10% $208,493 90% $286,782 75% $273,165 $258,209 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Director Of External Relations Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $273,165 $22,764 $5,253 $131
Average $258,209 $21,517 $4,966 $124
25th Percentile $232,186 $19,349 $4,465 $112
Check out Director Of External Relations Job Openings in the United States
Vice President External Relations

Confidential - Columbus, OH

Director Trade Relations

KabaFusion - Columbus, OH

Executive Director Payer Relations

Confidential - Columbus, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Director Of External Relations Salaries

A Director Of External Relations'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 External Relations Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Director Of External Relations'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): $97,388
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $121,386
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $137,056
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $165,513
  • Expert (over 8 years): $260,016
Levels Salary
Public Re... Level Director Of External Relations$97,388
Public Re... Level Director Of External Relations$121,386
Public Re... Level Director Of External Relations$137,056
Public Re... Level Director Of External Relations$165,513
Director ... Level Director Of External Relations$260,016
$97,388 0 yr
$121,386 < 2 yrs
$137,056 2-4 yrs
$165,513 5-8 yrs
$260,016 > 8 yrs
View as Table
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Director Of External Relations 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 External Relations. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $285,889.
  • California: $284,805.
  • Massachusetts: $281,009.

Top Paying Cities for Director Of External Relations

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: $325,679
  • San Francisco: $322,113
  • Oakland: $315,325

What Skills Can Increase a Director Of External Relations's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Insight (Mentioned in 7.32% Job Postings): Insight is the understanding cause and effect based on the identification of relationships and behaviors within a model, context, or scenario.
  • Advertising (Mentioned in 4.88% Job Postings): Advertising is a marketing communication that employs an openly sponsored, non-personal message to promote or sell a product, service or idea.:465 Sponsors of advertising are typically businesses wishing to promote their products or services. Advertising is differentiated from public relations in that an advertiser pays for and has control over the message. It differs from personal selling in that the message is non-personal, i.e., not directed to a particular individual.:661,672 Advertising is communicated through various mass media, including traditional media such as newspapers, magazines, television, radio, outdoor advertising or direct mail; and new media such as search results, blogs, social media, websites or text messages. The actual presentation of the message in a medium is referred to as an advertisement, or "ad" or advert for short. Commercial ads often seek to generate increased consumption of their products or services through "branding", which associates a product name or image with certain qualities in the minds of consumers. On the other hand, ads that intend to elicit an immediate sale are known as direct-response advertising. Non-commercial entities that advertise more than consumer products or services include political parties, interest groups, religious organizations and governmental agencies. Non-profit organizations may use free modes of persuasion, such as a public service announcement. Advertising may also help to reassure employees or shareholders that a company is viable or successful.
  • Business Requirements (Mentioned in 4.88% Job Postings): Also known as stakeholder requirements specifications , describe the characteristics of a proposed system from the viewpoint of the system's end user. Often discussed in the context of developing or procuring software or other systems.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Insight 7.32%
Advertising 4.88%
Business Requirements 4.88%
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 External Relations's salary.
  • Business Requirements: Can increase your salary by up to 35%.
  • Lean: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
  • Storytelling: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Business Requirements
$348,582
35%
Lean
$299,522
16%
Storytelling
$278,866
8%
Corporate Communications
$273,702
6%
Problem Solving
$273,702
6%
Insight
$271,119
5%
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Director Of External Relations Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Director Of External Relations 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, Director Of External Relations positions in Transportation or Telecom typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Director Of External Relations as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Director Of External Relations

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$284,030$137.010%
Biotechnology$284,030$137.010%
Business Services$284,030$137.010%
Chemicals$284,030$137.010%
Construction$284,030$137.010%

How Education impacts a Director Of External Relations's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Director Of External Relations 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 External Relations with a Bachelor's Degree is between $233,946 and $255,788).

Director Of External Relations Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Director Of External Relations
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 4.0%
High School 4.0%
Associates 0.9%
Bachelors 54.9%
Masters 37.9%
Doctorate 2.2%
view as graph

Director Of External Relations Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Director Of External Relations'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 Director Of External Relations

Salaries for a Director Of External Relations can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $215,332 in 2023 to around $214,444 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Director Of External Relations salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Director Of External Relations Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$215,332
2024
$216,610
2025
$214,444
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $215,332
2024 $216,610
2025 $214,444
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Director Of External Relations

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Director Of External Relations

Here are companies hiring for Director Of External Relations and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Director Of External Relations Job

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

United States
  • eviCore healthcare

    Columbus, OH

    eviCore healthcare | Columbus, OH

    Provides timely expert medical review for requests to evaluate the medical necessity of services that do not meet utilization review criteria while located... more

    3 Days Ago

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    Columbus, OH

    Continuum Medical Staffing | Columbus, OH

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    4 Days Ago

  • MD Staff, LLC

    Columbus, OH

    MD Staff, LLC | Columbus, OH

    Neurologist Locum Tenens Opportunity Near Columbus, OH. We are excited to offer a rewarding locum tenens opportunity for a Board Certified or Board Eligibl... more

    4 Days Ago

  • C.R. England

    Columbus, OH

    C.R. England | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. C.R. England is Now Urgently Hiring Local Dedicated CDL-A Truck Drivers. \n. Dedicated Local Fleet - Home Daily - Competitive Pay* - Full ... more

    16 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Credit Risk Strategy & Data Science. About the Company. High-growth SMB lender building the next generation of credit decisioning. Industry... more

    16 Days Ago

  • KreilKamp Trucking

    Columbus, OH

    KreilKamp Trucking | Columbus, OH

    Regional CDL A Drivers | NEW Grads Welcome | Earn $70,000+ Annually. We're proud to be a 4th generation family truck line, started in 1935, but even proude... more

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FAQ about Director Of External Relations

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Director Of External Relations?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Director Of External Relations 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.

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