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 executive 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 executive directors:
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President/Chief Executive Officer is the highest-paid type of executive director with an average salary of $240,732 and an average hourly rate of $115.74.
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The second highest-paying type of executive director is executive vice president, with an average salary of $216,285.
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The average executive director salary is $127,956 per year, and the average hourly pay is $61.52.
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 executive director, it helps to have an idea of what the highest-paid types of executive directors are so that you can plan your career progression.
Here are the top salaries for different types of executive directors:
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President/Chief Executive Officer
Average Salary: $240,732
Considered as the highest authority in a company, a president/chief executive officer is in charge of leading the company by implementing corporate decisions and shaping the organization to its fullest extent. They must craft strategic plans and guidelines, enforce policies and standards, direct the vision and mission, and address the public as the head of the company. Furthermore, a president/chief executive officer must maintain an active line of communication at all times as they must report to a board of directors and coordinate with other company employees.
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Executive Vice President
Average Salary: $216,285
An executive vice president is responsible for monitoring departmental operations, managing customer relationships, developing the company’s strategic goals, and identifying business opportunities that would maximize the company’s performance, drive revenues, and achieve the business’s profitability goals. Executive vice presidents contribute to sales innovations, negotiate business contracts, analyze financial reports, and minimize the company’s expenses without compromising high-quality operations and customer satisfaction. An executive vice president must have excellent leadership and communication skills to support its daily operations to achieve its long-term goals and objectives.
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Chief Executive Officer
Average Salary: $192,260
A chief executive officer is the overall head of the company’s operations. Chief executive officers are responsible for making corporate decisions that would define the company’s performance in the market. A chief executive officer must display exceptional leadership and decision-making skills to create business growth and development strategies. The chief executive officers also provide a regular business update to the board regarding the company’s status. They should also be able to identify business opportunities and create long-lasting, professional relationships with business partners and other organizations.
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Vice President Of Programming
Average Salary: $142,967
A vice president of programming is responsible for organizing schedules and negotiating contracts with media producers of networks to release advertisements and other related campaigns for business operations. Vice presidents of programming handle the technical aspect of the creative operations and ensure the stability and efficient performance of network systems to deliver high-quality functions. They also manage the budget and resource allocation, review project management procedures, coordinate with clients, and assist the team in achieving operational goals.
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Chief Operating Officer
Average Salary: $136,604
A chief operating officer, also known as a COO, is a high-ranking official who oversees a company or organization’s daily administrative and overall operations. They are typically the second in the chain of command, reporting directly to the company’s chief executive officer, also known as a CEO. Among their duties include developing strategies and guidelines, reviewing reports, performing assessments, and implementing the company’s policies, standards, and regulations. Additionally, they lead and empower staff to reach goals, helping solve issues and concerns when any arise.
Below is a full table of the average pay for various executive director that pay the most followed by a more detailed explanation of our methodology.
Highest-Paying Types Of Executive 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 executive 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 Executive Director Jobs FAQs
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What is the highest-paid executive director job?
The highest-paid executive director job is a president/chief executive officer. President/Chief Executive Officers earn an average salary of $240,732, which is $ 115.74 hourly.
Considered as the highest authority in a company, a president/chief executive officer is in charge of leading the company by implementing corporate decisions and shaping the organization to its fullest extent. They must craft strategic plans and guidelines, enforce policies and standards, direct the vision and mission, and address the public as the head of the company. Furthermore, a president/chief executive officer must maintain an active line of communication at all times as they must report to a board of directors and coordinate with other company employees.
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What is a good salary for an executive director?
A good salary for an executive director is $127,956 or more. The average executive director salary is $127,956, so those making at least $127,956 are earning above-average paychecks.
Keep in mind, however, that the average executive 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 executive director, the average entry level salary is $0, so don’t base your opinion of your salary on the $127,956 average, as this includes all executive directors of all skill and experience levels.
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Do Executive Director jobs pay well?
Yes, executive director jobs pay well. As in any industry, some executive director jobs pay better than others, but the average executive director salary of $127,956 is times the average national salary of about $44,225 per year.
In addition to this, many executive director jobs have high earning potential, with the top 10% of executive directors earning $0 a year on average.
Executive 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 executive director. Do your research on the going rate for an executive director in your area with your expertise, and don’t be afraid to negotiate your salary based on that information.
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Where do executive directors get paid the most?
Executive Directors get paid the most in Connecticut. In Connecticut, executive directors earn an average annual salary of $126,816 and an average hourly wage of $60.97.
Following CT, the states with the highest-paid executive directors are New Jersey, Delaware, and Texas, with average annual salaries of $126,558, $120,413, and $116,508 respectively.
The cities with the highest-paid executive director salaries are:
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New York, NY – $150,937
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Palo Alto, CA – $133,268
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Hartford, CT – $128,485
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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.
