Behavioral Health Program Director Salary in the United States

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

As of May 01, 2026, the average salary for a Behavioral Health Program Director in the United States is $142,909 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $69.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $188,190
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $126,208 to $166,611
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $111,003
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View as table View as graph 25% $126,208 10% $111,003 90% $188,190 75% $166,611 $142,909 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Behavioral Health Program Director Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $166,611 $13,884 $3,204 $80
Average $142,909 $11,909 $2,748 $69
25th Percentile $126,208 $10,517 $2,427 $61
Check out Behavioral Health Program Director Job Openings in the United States
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Behavioral Health Program Manager LISW LPCC Sign

Community Support Services, Inc. (CSS) - Akron, OH

Director of Nursing

Engage Consulting - Cincinnati, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Behavioral Health Program Director Salaries

A Behavioral Health 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 Behavioral Health Program Director Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Behavioral Health 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): $71,462
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $91,868
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $106,383
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $141,167
  • Expert (over 8 years): $174,863
Levels Salary
Behavior ... Level Behavioral Health Program Director$71,462
Behaviora... Level Behavioral Health Program Director$91,868
Behaviora... Level Behavioral Health Program Director$106,383
Behaviora... Level Behavioral Health Program Director$141,167
VP of Beh... Level Behavioral Health Program Director$174,863
$71,462 0 yr
$91,868 < 2 yrs
$106,383 2-4 yrs
$141,167 5-8 yrs
$174,863 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Behavioral Health 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: $180,251
  • San Francisco: $178,278
  • Oakland: $174,520

What Skills Can Increase a Behavioral Health Program Director's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 18.82% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Billing (Mentioned in 2.76% Job Postings): Billing refers to the aspect of banking, whereby someone is charged accurately for what item they purchased.
  • Financial Management (Mentioned in 1.81% Job Postings): Financial management focuses on ratios, equities and debts. It is useful for portfolio management,distribution of dividend,capital raising,hedging and looking after fluctuations in foreign currency and product cycles.Financial managers are the people who will do research and based on the research, decide what sort of capital to obtain in order to fund the company's assets as well as maximizing the value of the firm for all the stakeholders. It also refers to the efficient and effective management of money (funds) in such a manner as to accomplish the objectives of the organization. It is the specialized function directly associated with the top management. The significance of this function is not seen in the 'Line' but also in the capacity of the 'Staff' in overall of a company. It has been defined differently by different experts in the field. The term typically applies to an organization or company's financial strategy, while personal finance or financial life management refers to an individual's management strategy. It includes how to raise the capital and how to allocate capital, i.e. capital budgeting. Not only for long term budgeting, but also how to allocate the short term resources like current liabilities. It also deals with the dividend policies of the share holders.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 18.82%
Billing 2.76%
Financial Management 1.81%
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 Behavioral Health Program Director's salary.
  • Utilization Management: Can increase your salary by up to 15%.
  • Quality Management: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Managed Care: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Utilization Management
$164,345
15%
Quality Management
$157,200
10%
Managed Care
$155,771
9%
Facilitation
$152,913
7%
Service Planning
$151,484
6%
Program Management
$151,484
6%
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How Education impacts a Behavioral Health Program Director's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Behavioral Health Program 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 Behavioral Health Program Director with a Master's Degree or MBA is between $136,273 and $148,023).

Behavioral Health Program Director Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Behavioral Health Program Director
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.5%
High School 2.0%
Associates 2.0%
Bachelors 12.6%
Masters 61.8%
Doctorate 21.1%
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Behavioral Health Program Director Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Behavioral Health 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.

Last Updated on May 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Behavioral Health Program Director

Salaries for a Behavioral Health Program Director can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $128,526 in 2023 to around $125,462 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Behavioral Health Program Director salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Behavioral Health Program Director Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$128,526
2024
$127,715
2025
$125,462
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $128,526
2024 $127,715
2025 $125,462
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Behavioral Health Program Director

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Behavioral Health Program Director

Here are companies hiring for Behavioral Health Program Director and their salaries, click below for more details.

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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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