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A Medical Safety Director plays a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of healthcare practices. As of October 2025, the average salary for this position is approximately $148,525 per year, translating to about $71 per hour. This figure varies by location, experience, and the specific healthcare sector.
Different states offer varying compensation levels. For instance, states with higher living costs, such as California and New York, tend to provide higher salaries for Medical Safety Directors. In contrast, states with lower costs may offer competitive but lower salaries.
As healthcare regulations evolve, the demand for skilled Medical Safety Directors increases. These professionals not only ensure compliance but also lead initiatives to improve patient safety. With ongoing training and experience, one can advance to senior leadership roles within healthcare organizations.
To maximize earning potential, consider exploring job boards like Zippia. Here, you can find various openings tailored to your experience and location, helping you take the next step in your career.
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The average medical safety director salary in Alaska, California, and Nevada are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average medical safety director salary states are Texas, Kentucky, and Georgia.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Virginia | $150,668 | $72.44 |
| 2 | Mississippi | $152,445 | $73.29 |
| 3 | Nevada | $157,993 | $75.96 |
| 4 | Idaho | $154,644 | $74.35 |
| 5 | Alaska | $172,730 | $83.04 |
| 6 | Utah | $148,721 | $71.50 |
| 7 | South Dakota | $146,370 | $70.37 |
| 8 | New Mexico | $156,493 | $75.24 |
| 9 | California | $159,959 | $76.90 |
| 10 | Oregon | $153,112 | $73.61 |
| 11 | North Carolina | $147,466 | $70.90 |
| 12 | Oklahoma | $140,535 | $67.56 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $150,735 | $72.47 |
| 14 | Connecticut | $151,457 | $72.82 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $147,881 | $71.10 |
| 16 | Washington | $151,620 | $72.89 |
| 17 | New York | $146,651 | $70.51 |
| 18 | Montana | $145,853 | $70.12 |
| 19 | Vermont | $140,964 | $67.77 |
| 20 | District of Columbia | $152,154 | $73.15 |
| 21 | Arizona | $145,751 | $70.07 |
| 22 | North Dakota | $144,645 | $69.54 |
| 23 | Delaware | $145,752 | $70.07 |
| 24 | Louisiana | $135,740 | $65.26 |
| 25 | Alabama | $132,037 | $63.48 |
| 26 | Virginia | $147,013 | $70.68 |
| 27 | Wyoming | $133,226 | $64.05 |
| 28 | Tennessee | $132,517 | $63.71 |
| 29 | Michigan | $140,112 | $67.36 |
| 30 | Pennsylvania | $132,761 | $63.83 |
| 31 | Colorado | $145,633 | $70.02 |
| 32 | Massachusetts | $144,682 | $69.56 |
| 33 | South Carolina | $131,536 | $63.24 |
| 34 | Ohio | $130,875 | $62.92 |
| 35 | Maine | $137,609 | $66.16 |
| 36 | Maryland | $141,231 | $67.90 |
| 37 | Minnesota | $136,849 | $65.79 |
| 38 | Nebraska | $131,463 | $63.20 |
| 39 | Arkansas | $129,794 | $62.40 |
| 40 | Iowa | $133,976 | $64.41 |
| 41 | Illinois | $135,384 | $65.09 |
| 42 | Missouri | $132,236 | $63.58 |
| 43 | Indiana | $132,529 | $63.72 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $128,185 | $61.63 |
| 45 | Wisconsin | $133,125 | $64.00 |
| 46 | Hawaii | $76,684 | $36.87 |
| 47 | Georgia | $126,910 | $61.01 |
| 48 | New Jersey | $130,235 | $62.61 |
| 49 | Texas | $128,282 | $61.67 |
| 50 | Florida | $118,939 | $57.18 |
| 51 | Kansas | $119,045 | $57.23 |
The highest-paying cities for medical safety directors are San Francisco, CA, Bothell, WA, and Washington, DC.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $184,902 | $88.90 |
| 2 | Bothell, WA | $163,153 | $78.44 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $161,981 | $77.88 |
| 4 | Boulder, CO | $159,750 | $76.80 |
| 5 | Ridgefield, CT | $159,573 | $76.72 |
| 6 | Durham, NC | $157,203 | $75.58 |
| 7 | Wilmington, DE | $152,725 | $73.43 |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $151,121 | $72.65 |
| 9 | Rockville, MD | $147,036 | $70.69 |
| 10 | Chicago, IL | $142,285 | $68.41 |
| 11 | Philadelphia, PA | $136,669 | $65.71 |
| 12 | Columbus, OH | $136,018 | $65.39 |
A medical safety director's salary ranges from $77,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $286,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $286,000 | $23,833 | $138 |
| 75th Percentile | $209,000 | $17,417 | $100 |
| Average | $148,525 | $12,377 | $71 |
| 25th Percentile | $105,000 | $8,750 | $50 |
| 10th Percentile | $77,000 | $6,417 | $37 |
The highest paying types of medical safety directors are medical director, safety director, and radiation safety officer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Health Internship | $37,987 | $3,166 | $18.26 | 102,178 |
| Safety Manager | $74,754 | $6,229 | $35.94 | 16,155 |
| Safety And Training Coordinator | $43,367 | $3,614 | $20.85 | 43,362 |
| Safety Representative | $50,717 | $4,226 | $24.38 | 15,531 |
| Plant Safety Leader | $75,374 | $6,281 | $36.24 | 36,957 |
| Safety Officer | $46,336 | $3,861 | $22.28 | 68,487 |
Top companies hiring medical safety directors now:
Medical safety director salaries at Covance and Genentech are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average medical safety director salary at companies like Seagen and Hoffmann-LA Roche Inc are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Covance | $191,450 | $92.04 |
| 2 | Genentech | $186,196 | $89.52 |
| 3 | Seagen | $179,198 | $86.15 |
| 4 | Hoffmann-LA Roche Inc | $174,717 | $84.00 |
| 5 | Adaptimmune | $171,791 | $82.59 |
| 6 | Incyte | $171,435 | $82.42 |
| 7 | Alexion Pharmaceuticals | $167,848 | $80.70 |
| 8 | AstraZeneca | $162,524 | $78.14 |
| 9 | Boehringer Ingelheim | $160,058 | $76.95 |
| 10 | Alkermes | $159,799 | $76.83 |
| 11 | Cytokinetics | $159,204 | $76.54 |
| 12 | Amgen | $153,691 | $73.89 |
| 13 | Supernus Pharmaceuticals | $151,149 | $72.67 |
| 14 | Gilead Sciences | $150,160 | $72.19 |
| 15 | BioMarin | $141,228 | $67.90 |
| 16 | Highmark | $133,811 | $64.33 |
| 17 | Glaxosmithkline | $132,725 | $63.81 |
| 18 | Lundbeck | $132,031 | $63.48 |
| 19 | EQRx | $125,778 | $60.47 |
| 20 | Alpine Immune Sciences | $122,612 | $58.95 |
The average medical safety director salary has fallen by $-14,662 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average medical safety director earned $163,187 annually, but today, they earn $148,525 a year. That works out to a -15% change in pay for medical safety directors over the last decade.
Compare medical safety director salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare medical safety director salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $149,000 | $71.41 | +3.5% |
| 2024 | $143,000 | $68.93 | -25.4% |
| 2023 | $180,000 | $86.45 | +1.7% |
| 2022 | $177,000 | $84.98 | +1.2% |
| 2021 | $175,000 | $83.96 | +1.0% |
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