Executive Director Salary By State: Highest-Paid Executive Directors by State [2026]
Research Summary. After thorough research by the Zippia data science team, we have compiled the latest data on executive director salaries by state across the United States:
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New York offers the highest executive director salary at $145,940
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Wyoming has the lowest executive director salary, averaging $67,978
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The national average salary for executive directors stands at $127,956
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The national hourly wage for executive directors is $61.52
For a deeper understanding, refer to our specific methodology.
Background
In surveys conducted across various demographics, salary remains the single most critical factor for job seekers. Many individuals wonder, “How much do executive directors earn where I live?”
While individual salaries can vary based on specific roles and companies, we have solid data on average executive director salaries by state, categorized by seniority levels. Although your city may differ from the state average, these figures provide a reliable estimate of what you can expect in terms of salary.
The state with the highest average salary for executive directors is New York.
Here’s a quick overview of the top ten states for executive director salaries:
Let’s delve into the data and present a comprehensive ranking of all states.
Highest-Paid Executive Directors By State
| Rank | State | Average Executive Director Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $145,940 | $94,000 | $226,000 |
| 2 | California | $129,291 | $79,000 | $209,000 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $126,816 | $79,000 | $202,000 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $126,558 | $79,000 | $202,000 |
| 5 | Hawaii | $125,620 | $80,000 | $196,000 |
| 6 | Delaware | $120,413 | $74,000 | $194,000 |
| 7 | Arizona | $117,149 | $70,000 | $193,000 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $116,692 | $72,000 | $188,000 |
| 9 | Texas | $116,508 | $69,000 | $194,000 |
| 10 | Georgia | $111,151 | $67,000 | $184,000 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $110,946 | $67,000 | $181,000 |
| 12 | Maryland | $108,396 | $66,000 | $177,000 |
| 13 | Florida | $108,310 | $64,000 | $181,000 |
| 14 | Nevada | $105,159 | $62,000 | $176,000 |
| 15 | Illinois | $105,049 | $63,000 | $173,000 |
| 16 | Massachusetts | $104,966 | $64,000 | $172,000 |
| 17 | Alabama | $103,543 | $61,000 | $173,000 |
| 18 | Ohio | $103,017 | $62,000 | $170,000 |
| 19 | Virginia | $101,956 | $61,000 | $168,000 |
| 20 | North Carolina | $100,523 | $60,000 | $167,000 |
| 21 | New Mexico | $99,779 | $58,000 | $168,000 |
| 22 | West Virginia | $98,874 | $59,000 | $164,000 |
| 23 | Vermont | $97,188 | $58,000 | $161,000 |
| 24 | Washington | $97,091 | $59,000 | $158,000 |
| 25 | Arkansas | $95,952 | $57,000 | $161,000 |
| 26 | Wisconsin | $95,587 | $57,000 | $159,000 |
| 27 | Pennsylvania | $95,032 | $57,000 | $157,000 |
| 28 | Minnesota | $94,781 | $57,000 | $156,000 |
| 29 | Tennessee | $94,067 | $55,000 | $158,000 |
| 30 | South Carolina | $93,366 | $55,000 | $157,000 |
| 31 | Kentucky | $93,152 | $55,000 | $156,000 |
| 32 | Maine | $90,594 | $54,000 | $151,000 |
| 33 | North Dakota | $90,540 | $55,000 | $146,000 |
| 34 | Michigan | $89,277 | $53,000 | $149,000 |
| 35 | Utah | $88,836 | $53,000 | $148,000 |
| 36 | Colorado | $87,792 | $52,000 | $145,000 |
| 37 | Indiana | $86,093 | $51,000 | $144,000 |
| 38 | Louisiana | $84,841 | $49,000 | $146,000 |
| 39 | Missouri | $84,002 | $50,000 | $140,000 |
| 40 | Oregon | $83,691 | $49,000 | $140,000 |
| 41 | South Dakota | $81,450 | $50,000 | $132,000 |
| 42 | Mississippi | $81,366 | $47,000 | $139,000 |
| 43 | Iowa | $80,997 | $48,000 | $134,000 |
| 44 | Montana | $79,966 | $50,000 | $127,000 |
| 45 | Kansas | $79,838 | $47,000 | $133,000 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $77,935 | $47,000 | $128,000 |
| 47 | Alaska | $77,434 | $46,000 | $127,000 |
| 48 | Idaho | $72,772 | $44,000 | $119,000 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $71,605 | $42,000 | $121,000 |
| 50 | Wyoming | $67,978 | $41,000 | $110,000 |
Methodology: Executive Director Salary By State
To analyze executive director compensation by state, Zippia has compiled data from various resources, including the BLS, FLC, and OPM. This data is further complemented by actual salary listings from job postings. Our data science team then calculates a weighted average from these inputs to determine the average salary for executive directors across each state.
The average annual salary data for executive directors was ranked, with the highest salary positioning a state at the top of the list.
Executive Director Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for executive directors?
The state with the highest average salary for executive directors is New York, offering an annual average of $145,940.
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What city pays executive directors the most?
New York, NY leads in compensation for executive directors, with an average salary of $150,937 per year.
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What is the lowest-paying state for executive directors?
The state with the lowest average salary for executive directors is Wyoming, where the average salary is $67,978 annually.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
