Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The role of an Associate Program Director is crucial in various organizations, primarily focusing on overseeing projects, managing staff, and ensuring program objectives are met efficiently. As of October 2025, the average salary stands at $83,444 annually, or about $40 per hour. This compensation reflects the expertise and leadership required to excel in this position.
Salaries for Associate Program Directors can vary significantly based on geographic location. For instance, states with higher living costs may offer increased salaries to attract top talent. Research indicates that professionals in states like California and New York often earn more due to higher demand and living expenses.
Moreover, experience plays a vital role in salary determination. Those with several years in the field or advanced degrees typically command higher salaries. By pursuing specialized training or certifications, individuals can enhance their marketability and potentially increase their earnings. Explore various sectors such as healthcare, education, and non-profit organizations to find the best fit for your skills and career goals.
Let Zippi find your next associate program director job
Let Zippi find your next associate program director job
The average associate program director salary in New York, Massachusetts, and Maryland are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average associate program director salary states are Nebraska, Utah, and Wisconsin.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $98,938 | $47.57 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $91,306 | $43.90 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $83,799 | $40.29 |
| 4 | Georgia | $91,892 | $44.18 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $78,467 | $37.72 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $96,468 | $46.38 |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $85,330 | $41.02 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $71,701 | $34.47 |
| 9 | Delaware | $74,982 | $36.05 |
| 10 | Maryland | $92,213 | $44.33 |
| 11 | Nevada | $77,038 | $37.04 |
| 12 | California | $89,356 | $42.96 |
| 13 | Colorado | $71,986 | $34.61 |
| 14 | North Carolina | $73,005 | $35.10 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $71,029 | $34.15 |
| 16 | South Dakota | $63,802 | $30.67 |
| 17 | Michigan | $70,167 | $33.73 |
| 18 | Illinois | $70,436 | $33.86 |
| 19 | Maine | $69,078 | $33.21 |
| 20 | Vermont | $77,059 | $37.05 |
| 21 | Idaho | $66,678 | $32.06 |
| 22 | Alabama | $62,699 | $30.14 |
| 23 | Ohio | $66,461 | $31.95 |
| 24 | West Virginia | $63,899 | $30.72 |
| 25 | Montana | $62,982 | $30.28 |
| 26 | New Mexico | $64,751 | $31.13 |
| 27 | Washington | $65,454 | $31.47 |
| 28 | Oklahoma | $59,704 | $28.70 |
| 29 | North Dakota | $58,775 | $28.26 |
| 30 | Virginia | $66,020 | $31.74 |
| 31 | Arizona | $61,753 | $29.69 |
| 32 | Wyoming | $64,724 | $31.12 |
| 33 | Indiana | $63,925 | $30.73 |
| 34 | Minnesota | $61,891 | $29.76 |
| 35 | Iowa | $55,720 | $26.79 |
| 36 | Mississippi | $54,497 | $26.20 |
| 37 | Florida | $61,361 | $29.50 |
| 38 | Oregon | $57,579 | $27.68 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $60,147 | $28.92 |
| 40 | Missouri | $61,611 | $29.62 |
| 41 | Alaska | $63,126 | $30.35 |
| 42 | Tennessee | $59,705 | $28.70 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $48,663 | $23.40 |
| 44 | Texas | $57,996 | $27.88 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $47,373 | $22.78 |
| 46 | Kansas | $58,774 | $28.26 |
| 47 | Utah | $52,374 | $25.18 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $53,284 | $25.62 |
| 49 | Hawaii | $47,627 | $22.90 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $54,666 | $26.28 |
| 51 | Wisconsin | $50,411 | $24.24 |
The highest-paying cities for associate program directors are New York, NY, Boston, MA, and San Francisco, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $99,069 | $47.63 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $96,470 | $46.38 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $95,219 | $45.78 |
| 4 | Baltimore, MD | $92,512 | $44.48 |
| 5 | Atlanta, GA | $92,171 | $44.31 |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $85,354 | $41.04 |
| 7 | Hartford, CT | $83,885 | $40.33 |
| 8 | Burlington, VT | $76,828 | $36.94 |
| 9 | Raleigh, NC | $73,992 | $35.57 |
| 10 | Boulder, CO | $72,015 | $34.62 |
| 11 | Philadelphia, PA | $71,463 | $34.36 |
| 12 | Chicago, IL | $70,844 | $34.06 |
| 13 | Canton, OH | $67,670 | $32.53 |
| 14 | Seattle, WA | $65,945 | $31.70 |
| 15 | Richmond, VA | $65,835 | $31.65 |
| 16 | Indianapolis, IN | $63,721 | $30.64 |
| 17 | Jacksonville, FL | $61,963 | $29.79 |
| 18 | Saint Paul, MN | $61,941 | $29.78 |
| 19 | Lawrence, KS | $59,076 | $28.40 |
| 20 | Austin, TX | $58,557 | $28.15 |
An associate program director's salary ranges from $49,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $139,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $139,000 | $11,583 | $67 |
| 75th Percentile | $109,000 | $9,083 | $52 |
| Average | $83,444 | $6,954 | $40 |
| 25th Percentile | $63,000 | $5,250 | $30 |
| 10th Percentile | $49,000 | $4,083 | $24 |
The highest paying types of associate program directors are director, senior program officer, and director of senior programs.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Director Of After School Program | $49,648 | $4,137 | $23.87 | 94,858 |
| Program Manager | $96,084 | $8,007 | $46.19 | 197,556 |
| Director Of Program Development | $69,014 | $5,751 | $33.18 | 131,077 |
| Director | $113,489 | $9,457 | $54.56 | 230,711 |
| Sports Director | $61,211 | $5,101 | $29.43 | 13,106 |
| Service Program Manager | $78,256 | $6,521 | $37.62 | 116,114 |
Top companies hiring associate program directors now:
Associate program director salaries at Malaria No More and Genentech are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average associate program director salary at companies like Esperion Therapeutics and Sarepta Therapeutics are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malaria No More | $163,236 | $78.48 |
| 2 | Genentech | $161,941 | $77.86 |
| 3 | Esperion Therapeutics | $158,628 | $76.26 |
| 4 | Sarepta Therapeutics | $154,791 | $74.42 |
| 5 | VMware | $148,772 | $71.53 |
| 6 | The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research | $147,593 | $70.96 |
| 7 | First Republic Bank | $143,836 | $69.15 |
| 8 | Abbott | $140,750 | $67.67 |
| 9 | Regeneron | $138,839 | $66.75 |
| 10 | Amgen | $138,261 | $66.47 |
| 11 | AstraZeneca | $137,649 | $66.18 |
| 12 | Allergan plc | $137,581 | $66.14 |
| 13 | FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies | $137,423 | $66.07 |
| 14 | Bristol-Myers Squibb | $136,630 | $65.69 |
| 15 | Vertex Pharmaceuticals | $136,295 | $65.53 |
| 16 | PTC Therapeutics | $135,801 | $65.29 |
| 17 | Merck | $135,474 | $65.13 |
| 18 | Novartis | $132,597 | $63.75 |
| 19 | FUJIFILM Medical Systems USA | $131,121 | $63.04 |
| 20 | Gilead Sciences | $130,710 | $62.84 |
The average associate program director salary has risen by $6,269 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average associate program director earned $77,175 annually, but today, they earn $83,444 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for associate program directors over the last decade.
Compare associate program director salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare associate program director salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $83,400 | $40.12 | +2.6% |
| 2024 | $81,300 | $39.08 | +3.7% |
| 2023 | $78,300 | $37.64 | +0.1% |
| 2022 | $78,200 | $37.61 | +0.9% |
| 2021 | $77,500 | $37.26 | +3.5% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exelixis | Associate Director, Clinical Programming | Alameda, CA | 06/30/2025 | $179,500 |
| University of Illinois at Chicago | Associate Director, New Student and Family Programs | Chicago, IL | 06/28/2025 | $65,000 |
| Industrial Light & Magic | Programming Insights Associate | Glendale, CA | 06/28/2025 | $87,800 |
| Austin Community College | CE Workforce Program Associate III (Hourly) | Austin, TX | 06/28/2025 | $77,010 |
| Volunteers of America-Minnesota & Wisconsin | Program Associate II | Minneapolis, MN | 06/28/2025 | $45,914 |
| Key Human Services | Intellectual Disability-Associate Program Director | Cromwell, CT | 06/28/2025 | $44,349 |
| Bristol Myers Squibb | Associate Director, Hypercell Program | Devens, MA | 06/27/2025 | $179,250 |
| Community Link | Associate Program Director | Breese, IL | 06/27/2025 | $60,000 |
| MacAlester College | Community Engagement Program Associate | Saint Paul, MN | 06/27/2025 | $50,625 |
| Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science | Associate Program Director-Msn-Enp Program | North Chicago, IL | 06/27/2025 | $110,000 |
Search for associate program director jobs