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Residential Program Director Salary in the United States

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

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Residential Program Director in the United States is $126,499 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $61.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $156,711
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $114,312 to $142,313
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $103,216
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Residential Program Director Salaries

A Residential 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 Residential Program Director Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Residential 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): $117,926
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $119,010
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $120,818
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $122,625
  • Expert (over 8 years): $125,801
Levels Salary
Entry Level Residential Program Director$117,926
Intermediate Level Residential Program Director$119,010
Senior Level Residential Program Director$120,818
Specialist Level Residential Program Director$122,625
Expert Level Residential Program Director$125,801
View as Graph

How Do Residential 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 Residential Program Directors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $140,060.
  • California: $139,528.
  • Massachusetts: $137,669.

Top Paying Cities for Residential 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: $159,553
  • San Francisco: $157,806
  • Oakland: $154,481

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

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 11.58% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • CPR (Mentioned in 2.35% Job Postings): Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) combines rescue breathing (mouth-to-mouth) and chest compressions to temporarily pump enough blood to the brain until specialized treatment is available.
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 1.58% Job Postings): Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 11.58%
CPR 2.35%
Microsoft Office 1.58%
See More Skills

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 Residential Program Director's salary.

  • Safety Training: Can increase your salary by up to 18%.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
  • Service Quality: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Safety Training $149,269
18%
Regulatory Compliance $144,209
14%
Service Quality $141,679
12%
Get Latest Data

Residential Program Director Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Residential Program Director roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit, offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely, Residential Program Director positions in Healthcare typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Residential Program Director as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Residential Program Director

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit$151,799$73.020%

How Education impacts a Residential Program Director's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Residential Program 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 Residential Program Director with a Bachelor's Degree is between $111,994 and $119,218).

Residential Program Director Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Residential Program Director
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 8.7%
High School 8.7%
Associates 5.8%
Bachelors 44.9%
Masters 37.7%
Doctorate 2.9%
View as Graph

Residential Program Director Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Residential 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 September 01, 2026
$114,312
Average $126,499/year
$142,313
$9,526
Average $10,542/month
$11,859
$2,198
Average $2,433/week
$2,737
$55
Average $61/hour
$68
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $142,313 $11,859 $2,737 $68
Average $126,499 $10,542 $2,433 $61
25th Percentile $114,312 $9,526 $2,198 $55

Most common benefits for Residential Program Director

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Residential Program Director

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

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FAQ about Residential Program Director

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Residential Program Director?

The Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit industry offers the highest average compensation for Residential Program Director roles, with salaries approximately 20% 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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