Research Summary. Using a combination of public government and company data as well as data gathered from thousands of job postings, the Zippia data team has created average salary estimates for jobs across the US. Using that data set, the team has identified the types of assistant directors that are the highest paid based on their average annual salaries.
Here is a summary of our findings for the highest-paying types of assistant directors:
-
Service Director is the highest-paid type of assistant director with an average salary of $114,981 and an average hourly rate of $55.28.
-
The second highest-paying type of assistant director is director, with an average salary of $113,489.
-
The average assistant director salary is $63,063 per year, and the average hourly pay is $30.32.
Table Of Contents: Background | Table | Methodology | FAQs
Background
Choosing a career path can be difficult, and while pay shouldn’t be the only thing you consider in your decision, it is a significant factor. So if you’d like to work as an assistant director, it helps to have an idea of what the highest-paid types of assistant directors are so that you can plan your career progression.
Here are the top salaries for different types of assistant directors:
-
Service Director
Average Salary: $114,981
A service director is responsible for managing and implementing customer service policies and ensuring that all staff strictly adhere to reach the highest customer satisfaction. Service directors’ duties include identifying business opportunities to improve customers’ experience, monitoring the performance of the customer service team, developing strategic procedures on service delivery, creating new promotional offers and services, and coaching the team to increase business productivity. A service director must have excellent leadership and communication skills, as well as extensive knowledge of the customer service industry to lead the team and boost company sales.
-
Director
Average Salary: $113,489
Directors work in show business, whether in a film, a television show, or a theatre production. They are responsible for bringing the material to life. They work with the writers to get a clear vision of how the production should look. They lead the production team in planning for the production, identifying filming or rehearsing schedules, casting for roles, and other aspects that need to be decided upon. Directors provide direction to the actors to ensure that the actors understand their role and will be able to effectively convey emotions to the audience. They also manage all other crew members and communicate their expectations clearly so that everyone on the set is working towards one vision.
-
Center Director
Average Salary: $106,505
A center director is responsible for ensuring and maintaining the efficiency of child care facilities. Their role is to conduct various assessments, ensure that all aspects adhere to federal requirements, develop programs and supplemental activities in collaboration with child care experts, recruit and hire an efficient workforce, and train staff for professional development. Furthermore, a center director is also responsible for managing budgets, handling issues, meeting parents or guardians to discuss the scope of programs or any other concerns, and implementing policies and regulations.
-
Co-Director
Average Salary: $99,182
-
Program Director
Average Salary: $80,664
Program directors are employees who oversee all aspects of a specific program in the company. They usually work in nonprofit organizations or are assigned to a department doing corporate social responsibility activities. Program directors ensure that the program is in line with the company’s goals. They also ensure that the resources assigned to the program are properly managed and that all finances are accounted for. They create strategies to ensure the success of the program and communicate these to everyone involved. They lead the implementation and evaluation of the program.
Below is a full table of the average pay for various assistant director that pay the most followed by a more detailed explanation of our methodology.
Highest-Paying Types Of Assistant Directors
Methodology
Zippia uses publicly published information from government sources such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Foreign Labor Certification Data Center (FLC), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to create its salary estimates.
Our data science team also checks job postings and company-published resources for additional up-to-date salary information for assistant directors.
Once they’ve gathered the data, the team calculates a weighted average for each job title they’re estimating a salary for. For more details on our salary estimates, you can read the detailed methodology.
Highest-Paying Types Of Assistant Director Jobs FAQs
-
What is the highest-paid assistant director job?
The highest-paid assistant director job is a service director. Service Directors earn an average salary of $114,981, which is $ 55.28 hourly.
A service director is responsible for managing and implementing customer service policies and ensuring that all staff strictly adhere to reach the highest customer satisfaction. Service directors’ duties include identifying business opportunities to improve customers’ experience, monitoring the performance of the customer service team, developing strategic procedures on service delivery, creating new promotional offers and services, and coaching the team to increase business productivity. A service director must have excellent leadership and communication skills, as well as extensive knowledge of the customer service industry to lead the team and boost company sales.
-
What is a good salary for an assistant director?
A good salary for an assistant director is $63,063 or more. The average assistant director salary is $63,063, so those making at least $63,063 are earning above-average paychecks.
Keep in mind, however, that the average assistant director salary does fluctuate based on location, as companies will adjust their pay scales based on the cost of living in that area. Research what the average salary is in your area for someone of your expertise and experience level to get a more accurate view on how well you’re being paid.
In addition, if you’re just starting your career as an assistant director, the average entry level salary is $0, so don’t base your opinion of your salary on the $63,063 average, as this includes all assistant directors of all skill and experience levels.
-
Do Assistant Director jobs pay well?
Yes, assistant director jobs pay well. As in any industry, some assistant director jobs pay better than others, but the average assistant director salary of $63,063 is times the average national salary of about $44,225 per year.
In addition to this, many assistant director jobs have high earning potential, with the top 10% of assistant directors earning $0 a year on average.
Assistant Directors’ salaries will fluctuate based on their experience level, industry, and location, so pay attention to these factors when you’re looking for a job as an assistant director. Do your research on the going rate for an assistant director in your area with your expertise, and don’t be afraid to negotiate your salary based on that information.
-
Where do assistant directors get paid the most?
Assistant Directors get paid the most in California. In California, assistant directors earn an average annual salary of $93,031 and an average hourly wage of $44.73.
Following CA, the states with the highest-paid assistant directors are New York, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, with average annual salaries of $86,077, $72,794, and $89,025 respectively.
The cities with the highest-paid assistant director salaries are:
-
San Francisco, CA – $98,073
-
Hartford, CT – $88,726
-
New York, NY – $86,263
-
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.
