Research Summary. After extensive research by the Zippia data science team, we identified these details of managing director salary by state for the United States in 2026:
-
New York boasts the highest managing director salary, averaging $166,113
-
Kentucky reports the lowest managing director salary at $88,229
-
The national average salary for managing directors stands at $129,690
-
The national hourly pay for managing directors is $62.35
You can read more on the specific methodology.
Background
Salary continues to be the most pivotal factor for job seekers, as evidenced by numerous surveys across various demographics. Understanding how much managing directors earn in your area is crucial for informed career decisions.
While specific salaries can vary by city, the state averages provide a good baseline for what to expect. The state with the highest average salary for managing directors is still New York.
Here’s an updated snapshot of the top ten states for managing director salaries in 2026:
Let’s delve deeper into the data and provide a comprehensive ranking of all the states.
Highest-Paid Managing Directors By State
| Rank | State | Average Managing Director Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $166,113 | $109,000 | $252,000 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $153,104 | $97,000 | $239,000 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $147,835 | $93,000 | $233,000 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $142,536 | $88,000 | $228,000 |
| 5 | Delaware | $140,200 | $87,000 | $225,000 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $134,195 | $82,000 | $218,000 |
| 7 | California | $133,285 | $80,000 | $219,000 |
| 8 | Virginia | $132,993 | $81,000 | $216,000 |
| 9 | Louisiana | $130,354 | $78,000 | $216,000 |
| 10 | North Carolina | $129,906 | $78,000 | $214,000 |
| 11 | Maryland | $127,037 | $77,000 | $209,000 |
| 12 | South Dakota | $124,974 | $75,000 | $207,000 |
| 13 | Colorado | $123,872 | $73,000 | $207,000 |
| 14 | Wisconsin | $122,626 | $72,000 | $206,000 |
| 15 | Washington | $122,606 | $73,000 | $204,000 |
| 16 | Michigan | $122,159 | $72,000 | $204,000 |
| 17 | Ohio | $121,307 | $72,000 | $203,000 |
| 18 | Illinois | $120,339 | $71,000 | $203,000 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $118,701 | $70,000 | $200,000 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $118,631 | $70,000 | $198,000 |
| 21 | Maine | $117,967 | $69,000 | $201,000 |
| 22 | Texas | $116,464 | $68,000 | $198,000 |
| 23 | Nevada | $115,963 | $67,000 | $197,000 |
| 24 | Tennessee | $115,829 | $67,000 | $197,000 |
| 25 | Alabama | $114,257 | $66,000 | $195,000 |
| 26 | Vermont | $111,597 | $64,000 | $191,000 |
| 27 | Georgia | $109,827 | $63,000 | $189,000 |
| 28 | Oregon | $107,925 | $63,000 | $184,000 |
| 29 | Minnesota | $107,861 | $62,000 | $185,000 |
| 30 | New Mexico | $106,118 | $61,000 | $184,000 |
| 31 | South Carolina | $105,613 | $61,000 | $182,000 |
| 32 | Wyoming | $105,545 | $61,000 | $181,000 |
| 33 | Arizona | $105,242 | $60,000 | $183,000 |
| 34 | Arkansas | $105,183 | $60,000 | $183,000 |
| 35 | Nebraska | $104,632 | $60,000 | $181,000 |
| 36 | Alaska | $104,597 | $61,000 | $179,000 |
| 37 | Kansas | $103,683 | $59,000 | $180,000 |
| 38 | Hawaii | $103,486 | $60,000 | $177,000 |
| 39 | West Virginia | $103,195 | $59,000 | $178,000 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $102,858 | $58,000 | $179,000 |
| 41 | Indiana | $102,350 | $58,000 | $178,000 |
| 42 | Florida | $101,927 | $58,000 | $177,000 |
| 43 | North Dakota | $99,540 | $57,000 | $171,000 |
| 44 | Utah | $99,081 | $56,000 | $173,000 |
| 45 | Iowa | $96,246 | $54,000 | $169,000 |
| 46 | Missouri | $95,871 | $54,000 | $168,000 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $94,292 | $53,000 | $166,000 |
| 48 | Idaho | $93,206 | $53,000 | $163,000 |
| 49 | Montana | $90,784 | $52,000 | $158,000 |
| 50 | Kentucky | $88,229 | $49,000 | $157,000 |
Methodology: Managing Director Salary By State
To better understand managing director pay by state in 2026, Zippia has aggregated data from various authoritative sources, including the BLS, FLC, and OPM, while also incorporating salaries from job postings. The data science team then calculates a weighted average of these inputs to determine average pay for managing directors by state.
This methodology aims to provide a comprehensive and accurate reflection of managing director salaries across the United States.
Managing Director Salary By State FAQs
-
What is the highest-paid state for managing directors?
The highest-paid state for managing directors is New York with an average salary of $166,113 per year.
-
What city pays managing directors the most?
New York, NY pays managing directors the most with an average salary of $184,800 per year.
-
What is the worst state for managing directors?
The lowest-paying state for managing directors is Kentucky with an average salary of $88,229 per year.
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.
