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The Director of Continuous Improvement is responsible for implementing strategies that enhance productivity and reduce costs within an organization. As highlighted, the average salary for this role is $122,606 annually. Factors influencing this salary include experience, education, and geographical location.
Entry-level positions typically start lower, but as professionals gain experience, salaries can rise significantly. For instance, directors with over 10 years of experience may earn upwards of $150,000.
Salary can vary widely by state. For example, directors in California and New York often report higher salaries than those in less populated areas. Understanding regional differences is crucial for job seekers aiming to maximize their earning potential.
In addition to competitive salaries, roles in continuous improvement often lead to higher management positions. Professionals can further their careers by obtaining relevant certifications or pursuing advanced degrees, making them more attractive to employers.
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| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level director of continuous improvement | $50,500 | $24.28 |
| Mid-level director of continuous improvement | $78,000 | $37.50 |
| Senior-level director of continuous improvement | $141,000 | $67.99 |
The highest-paying states for directors of continuous improvement are California, Massachusetts, and Washington. The lowest average director of continuous improvement salary states are Arkansas, West Virginia, and Iowa.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $141,513 | $68.04 |
| 2 | California | $146,924 | $70.64 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $140,984 | $67.78 |
| 4 | Washington | $133,699 | $64.28 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $129,458 | $62.24 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $127,183 | $61.15 |
| 7 | Wisconsin | $125,537 | $60.35 |
| 8 | New York | $124,445 | $59.83 |
| 9 | Texas | $122,045 | $58.68 |
| 10 | North Carolina | $117,804 | $56.64 |
| 11 | Ohio | $117,564 | $56.52 |
| 12 | Alabama | $108,555 | $52.19 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $118,911 | $57.17 |
| 14 | Virginia | $125,310 | $60.25 |
| 15 | Maryland | $132,926 | $63.91 |
| 16 | Georgia | $111,660 | $53.68 |
| 17 | Colorado | $115,784 | $55.67 |
| 18 | Delaware | $123,582 | $59.41 |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | $110,287 | $53.02 |
| 20 | Louisiana | $100,539 | $48.34 |
| 21 | Minnesota | $111,431 | $53.57 |
| 22 | Illinois | $105,816 | $50.87 |
| 23 | Nevada | $108,443 | $52.14 |
| 24 | Alaska | $111,201 | $53.46 |
| 25 | Maine | $110,452 | $53.10 |
| 26 | Florida | $109,108 | $52.46 |
| 27 | South Dakota | $105,739 | $50.84 |
| 28 | Arizona | $97,635 | $46.94 |
| 29 | Missouri | $100,317 | $48.23 |
| 30 | Oregon | $98,309 | $47.26 |
| 31 | Oklahoma | $89,703 | $43.13 |
| 32 | Indiana | $101,283 | $48.69 |
| 33 | Mississippi | $88,355 | $42.48 |
| 34 | Tennessee | $91,874 | $44.17 |
| 35 | Michigan | $92,397 | $44.42 |
| 36 | Hawaii | $102,031 | $49.05 |
| 37 | New Hampshire | $94,870 | $45.61 |
| 38 | New Mexico | $93,092 | $44.76 |
| 39 | North Dakota | $91,122 | $43.81 |
| 40 | Vermont | $90,217 | $43.37 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $85,150 | $40.94 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $90,661 | $43.59 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $84,935 | $40.83 |
| 44 | Idaho | $90,410 | $43.47 |
| 45 | Utah | $88,674 | $42.63 |
| 46 | Kansas | $86,720 | $41.69 |
| 47 | Iowa | $83,876 | $40.33 |
| 48 | West Virginia | $84,398 | $40.58 |
| 49 | Kentucky | $68,233 | $32.80 |
| 50 | Montana | $79,326 | $38.14 |
| 51 | Wyoming | $75,421 | $36.26 |
The highest-paying cities for directors of continuous improvement are Bakersfield, CA, Quincy, MA, and Washington, DC.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bakersfield, CA | $150,038 | $72.13 |
| 2 | Quincy, MA | $142,054 | $68.30 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $141,372 | $67.97 |
| 4 | Bellevue, WA | $135,405 | $65.10 |
| 5 | Virginia Beach, VA | $126,293 | $60.72 |
| 6 | Neenah, WI | $125,884 | $60.52 |
| 7 | Albany, NY | $125,051 | $60.12 |
| 8 | Austin, TX | $122,768 | $59.02 |
| 9 | Raleigh, NC | $118,814 | $57.12 |
| 10 | Colorado Springs, CO | $117,893 | $56.68 |
| 11 | Columbus, OH | $117,181 | $56.34 |
| 12 | Macon, GA | $111,908 | $53.80 |
| 13 | Tampa, FL | $109,973 | $52.87 |
| 14 | Las Vegas, NV | $107,869 | $51.86 |
| 15 | Chicago, IL | $106,381 | $51.14 |
| 16 | Springfield, MO | $101,903 | $48.99 |
| 17 | Carmel, IN | $101,189 | $48.65 |
| 18 | Phoenix, AZ | $97,795 | $47.02 |
| 19 | Manchester, NH | $94,851 | $45.60 |
| 20 | Memphis, TN | $91,472 | $43.98 |
A director of continuous improvement's salary ranges from $85,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $175,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $175,000 | $14,583 | $84 |
| 75th Percentile | $147,000 | $12,250 | $71 |
| Average | $122,606 | $10,217 | $59 |
| 25th Percentile | $101,000 | $8,417 | $49 |
| 10th Percentile | $85,000 | $7,083 | $41 |
The highest paying types of directors of continuous improvement are director of quality, executive director of operations, and managing director.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manager | $58,651 | $4,888 | $28.20 | 1,236,194 |
| General Manager | $71,581 | $5,965 | $34.41 | 442,690 |
| Operations Manager | $76,894 | $6,408 | $36.97 | 343,868 |
| Store Manager | $46,950 | $3,912 | $22.57 | 446,127 |
| Managing Director | $129,690 | $10,808 | $62.35 | 81,022 |
| Division Director | $120,757 | $10,063 | $58.06 | 63,545 |
Top companies hiring directors of continuous improvement now:
Director of continuous improvement salaries at Walmart and Silicon Valley Bank are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average director of continuous improvement salary at companies like AlixPartners and Burlington are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Walmart | $145,590 | $70.00 |
| 2 | Silicon Valley Bank | $143,747 | $69.11 |
| 3 | AlixPartners | $140,105 | $67.36 |
| 4 | Burlington | $134,145 | $64.49 |
| 5 | Intuit | $131,467 | $63.21 |
| 6 | JPMorgan Chase & Co. | $131,044 | $63.00 |
| 7 | Sanofi US | $126,926 | $61.02 |
| 8 | Prime Healthcare | $125,526 | $60.35 |
| 9 | Organon | $124,810 | $60.00 |
| 10 | Abbott | $124,009 | $59.62 |
| 11 | East West Bank | $123,667 | $59.46 |
| 12 | Manet Community Health Center | $120,521 | $57.94 |
| 13 | Catalent Pharma Solutions | $119,893 | $57.64 |
| 14 | Plexus | $119,881 | $57.64 |
| 15 | United | $119,782 | $57.59 |
| 16 | CVS Health | $117,722 | $56.60 |
| 17 | Sutherland | $117,015 | $56.26 |
| 18 | Quest Diagnostics | $116,685 | $56.10 |
| 19 | L'Oréal | $116,452 | $55.99 |
| 20 | Visa | $116,379 | $55.95 |
The average director of continuous improvement salary has risen by $10,055 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average director of continuous improvement earned $112,551 annually, but today, they earn $122,606 a year. That works out to a 4% change in pay for directors of continuous improvement over the last decade.
Compare director of continuous improvement salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare director of continuous improvement salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $123,000 | $58.95 | +2.8% |
| 2024 | $119,000 | $57.31 | -0.1% |
| 2023 | $119,000 | $57.40 | +0.5% |
| 2022 | $119,000 | $57.10 | +1.1% |
| 2021 | $117,000 | $56.48 | +1.6% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCR at Home Health and Wellness | Director of Capital Planning and Improvements | Columbus, OH | 06/30/2025 | $50,000 |
| Carebridge | Process Improvement Director | Los Angeles, CA | 06/29/2025 | $151,694 |
| Paragoncommunity | Process Improvement Director | Los Angeles, CA | 06/29/2025 | $151,694 |
| Elevance Health | Process Improvement Director | Los Angeles, CA | 06/28/2025 | $151,694 |
| Georgia Highlands Medical Services | Quality Improvement Director | Cumming, GA | 06/27/2025 | $75,000 |
| Danaher | Director, Continuous Improvement (Danaher Business System) | San Jose, CA | 06/25/2025 | $155,000 |
| Southern Oregon Education Service District | Soesd-Director School Improvement | Ione, OR | 06/21/2025 | $126,010 |
| Healthfirst | Director, Performance Improvement | Fine, NY | 06/20/2025 | $150,800 |
| Oregon Public Schools | Director-Soesd-Director School Improvement | Medford, OR | 06/20/2025 | $126,010 |
| Omaha Housing Authority | Quality Improvement Director | Omaha, NE | 06/19/2025 | $67,529 |
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