Job outlook for department directors in the United States

Department director job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:

The projected department director job growth rate is 28% from 2018-2028.
About 136,200 new jobs for department directors are projected over the next decade.
Department director salaries have increased 8% for department directors in the last 5 years.
There are over 30,697 department directors currently employed in the United States.
There are 73,424 active department director job openings in the US.
The average department director salary is $97,804.

Are department director jobs in demand?

Yes, department director jobs are in demand. Department director demand is projected to grow 28% from 2018 to 2028.

Department director job and salary trends over time

Compare the number of department director jobs and the average department director salary over time.

Department director jobs over time

Department director job growth rate over time

Year	# of jobs	% of population
2021	30,697	0.01%
2020	28,291	0.01%
2019	27,755	0.01%
2018	26,192	0.01%
2017	24,386	0.01%

Average department director salary over time

Department director salary by year

Year	Avg. salary	Hourly rate	% Change
2026	$97,804	$47.02	+3.3%
2025	$94,709	$45.53	+1.3%
2024	$93,537	$44.97	+1.4%
2023	$92,243	$44.35	+1.9%
2022	$90,545	$43.53	+2.2%

Top department director jobs near you

Department director jobs by state

The map below shows you the number of department director job openings in each state. The darker areas on the map show where department directors earn the highest salaries across all 50 states.

Average salary: Job openings:

Most common states for department directors

Rank	State	Population	# of jobs	Employment/ 1000ppl
1	District of Columbia	693,972	197	28%
2	South Dakota	869,666	239	27%
3	Iowa	3,145,711	731	23%
4	Massachusetts	6,859,819	1,516	22%
5	Arkansas	3,004,279	617	21%
6	New Jersey	9,005,644	1,546	17%
7	New Hampshire	1,342,795	211	16%
8	Louisiana	4,684,333	689	15%
9	Oklahoma	3,930,864	578	15%
10	Alabama	4,874,747	699	14%
11	Mississippi	2,984,100	425	14%
12	Maine	1,335,907	191	14%
13	Montana	1,050,493	152	14%
14	Delaware	961,939	130	14%
15	Vermont	623,657	85	14%
16	Connecticut	3,588,184	454	13%
17	Rhode Island	1,059,639	143	13%
18	Wyoming	579,315	71	12%
19	Pennsylvania	12,805,537	1,358	11%
20	Washington	7,405,743	823	11%

Most common cities for department directors

Rank	City	# of jobs	Employment/ 1000ppl	Avg. salary
1	Bullhead City	1	3%	$95,937
2	Castro Valley	1	2%	$109,555
3	Washington	4	1%	$108,742
4	Anchorage	2	1%	$83,321
5	Chattanooga	1	1%	$83,938
6	Gainesville	1	1%	$85,450
7	Detroit	2	0%	$83,741
8	Los Angeles	2	0%	$105,953
9	Atlanta	1	0%	$81,182
10	Chicago	1	0%	$84,221
11	Irvine	1	0%	$104,654
12	Irving	1	0%	$74,649
13	Kansas City	1	0%	$91,950

Department director jobs

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