RD Director Salary in the United States

How much does a RD Director make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a RD Director in the United States is $147,790 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $71.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $178,376
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $127,896 to $163,800
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $109,784
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View as table View as graph 25% $127,896 10% $109,784 90% $178,376 75% $163,800 $147,790 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

RD Director Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $163,800 $13,650 $3,150 $79
Average $147,790 $12,316 $2,842 $71
25th Percentile $127,896 $10,658 $2,460 $61
Check out RD Director Job Openings in the United States
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Director of Nursing

MAPLE RIDGE MEMORY CARE - ESSEX JUNCTION, VT

Director of Nursing

Southwest Healthcare Services - BOWMAN, ND

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Key Factors That Influence RD Director Salaries

A RD 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 RD Director Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a RD 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): $134,033
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $135,874
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $138,328
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $142,010
  • Expert (over 8 years): $146,613
Levels Salary
Entry Level RD Director$134,033
Intermediate Level RD Director$135,874
Senior Level RD Director$138,328
Specialist Level RD Director$142,010
Expert Level RD Director$146,613
$134,033 0 yr
$135,874 < 2 yrs
$138,328 2-4 yrs
$142,010 5-8 yrs
$146,613 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

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

  • District of Columbia: $163,633.
  • California: $163,012.
  • Massachusetts: $160,840.

Top Paying Cities for RD 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: $186,408
  • San Francisco: $184,575
  • Oakland: $180,481

What Skills Can Increase a RD Director's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 7.48% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Assisted Living (Mentioned in 2.63% Job Postings): Assisted living exemplifies the shift from "care as service" to "care as business" in the broader health care arena predicted more than three decades ago. A consumer-driven industry, assisted living offers a wide range of options, levels of care, and diversity of services (Lockhart, 2009) and is subject to state rather than federal regulatory oversight. "Assisted living" means depends on both the state and provider in question: variations in state regulatory definitions are significant and provider variables include everything from philosophy, geographic location and auspice, to organizational size and structure.
  • Quality Improvement (Mentioned in 1.35% Job Postings): Applying a set of tools, methods, and practices in analyzing the performance and efforts to successfully improve the overall process.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 7.48%
Assisted Living 2.63%
Quality Improvement 1.35%
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 RD Director's salary.
  • Marketing Support: Can increase your salary by up to 20%.
  • Employee Communications: Can increase your salary by up to 18%.
  • Agility: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Marketing Support
 $177,348
20%
Employee Communications
 $174,392
18%
Agility
 $165,525
12%
Collaborating
 $165,525
12%
Clinical Supervision
 $164,047
11%
Pediatric
 $164,047
11%
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How Education impacts a RD Director's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many RD 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 a RD Director with a Bachelor's Degree is between $114,950 and $124,279).

RD Director Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for RD Director
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.7%
High School 1.7%
Associates 37.3%
Bachelors 50.8%
Masters 10.2%
Doctorate 0.0%
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RD Director Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a RD 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
$127,896
Average $147,790/year
$163,800
$10,658
Average $12,316/month
$13,650
$2,460
Average $2,842/week
$3,150
$61
Average $71/hour
$79
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $163,800 $13,650 $3,150 $79
Average $147,790 $12,316 $2,842 $71
25th Percentile $127,896 $10,658 $2,460 $61

Salaries of jobs related to RD Director

Salary Trends for RD Director

Salaries for a RD Director can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $102,030 in 2023 to around $98,422 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of RD Director salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of RD Director Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$102,030
2024
$101,301
2025
$98,422
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $102,030
2024 $101,301
2025 $98,422
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for RD Director

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

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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.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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