Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
As of October 2025, the average salary for a Center Director stands at $106,505 annually. This figure can vary based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and the specific sector in which the director operates. For instance, those in educational or healthcare settings may see different compensation packages.
Center Directors in certain states tend to earn more due to demand and cost of living adjustments. States such as California and New York often report higher average salaries. It's essential to consider local market conditions when evaluating salary expectations.
Over the years, salaries for Center Directors have shown a progressive increase. As organizations recognize the importance of effective leadership, investment in these roles is likely to grow. For those aspiring to enter this field, understanding the landscape of salaries across different states and industries will be beneficial in making informed career decisions.
Let Zippia find your next center director job
Let Zippia find your next center director job
The average center director salary in Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Delaware are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average center director salary states are Washington, Florida, and Colorado.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $126,089 | $60.62 |
| 2 | Indiana | $119,056 | $57.24 |
| 3 | Delaware | $124,505 | $59.86 |
| 4 | Michigan | $121,037 | $58.19 |
| 5 | New Mexico | $117,712 | $56.59 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $124,440 | $59.83 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $125,684 | $60.42 |
| 8 | District of Columbia | $123,722 | $59.48 |
| 9 | Mississippi | $108,038 | $51.94 |
| 10 | Nevada | $117,985 | $56.72 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | $110,704 | $53.22 |
| 12 | Kentucky | $106,227 | $51.07 |
| 13 | Nebraska | $105,573 | $50.76 |
| 14 | Maine | $121,012 | $58.18 |
| 15 | Kansas | $105,261 | $50.61 |
| 16 | Massachusetts | $113,106 | $54.38 |
| 17 | Georgia | $113,931 | $54.77 |
| 18 | Arizona | $112,961 | $54.31 |
| 19 | Vermont | $118,464 | $56.95 |
| 20 | Illinois | $106,651 | $51.27 |
| 21 | New York | $112,612 | $54.14 |
| 22 | Missouri | $103,265 | $49.65 |
| 23 | Oregon | $113,784 | $54.70 |
| 24 | New Jersey | $106,535 | $51.22 |
| 25 | West Virginia | $108,913 | $52.36 |
| 26 | Louisiana | $98,207 | $47.21 |
| 27 | Virginia | $105,263 | $50.61 |
| 28 | Ohio | $99,234 | $47.71 |
| 29 | North Carolina | $96,078 | $46.19 |
| 30 | Iowa | $102,694 | $49.37 |
| 31 | Alabama | $90,030 | $43.28 |
| 32 | Texas | $96,966 | $46.62 |
| 33 | South Carolina | $97,956 | $47.09 |
| 34 | Wisconsin | $98,338 | $47.28 |
| 35 | California | $102,320 | $49.19 |
| 36 | Oklahoma | $83,863 | $40.32 |
| 37 | Idaho | $88,144 | $42.38 |
| 38 | Wyoming | $96,942 | $46.61 |
| 39 | Minnesota | $89,184 | $42.88 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $89,210 | $42.89 |
| 41 | North Dakota | $95,493 | $45.91 |
| 42 | Maryland | $96,469 | $46.38 |
| 43 | Montana | $78,146 | $37.57 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $91,624 | $44.05 |
| 45 | Utah | $94,448 | $45.41 |
| 46 | Florida | $81,021 | $38.95 |
| 47 | Alaska | $76,197 | $36.63 |
| 48 | Hawaii | $79,178 | $38.07 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $85,494 | $41.10 |
| 50 | Colorado | $80,387 | $38.65 |
| 51 | Washington | $82,307 | $39.57 |
The highest-paying cities for center directors are Newark, DE, Washington, DC, and Indianapolis, IN.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newark, DE | $125,529 | $60.35 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $124,702 | $59.95 |
| 3 | Indianapolis, IN | $119,978 | $57.68 |
| 4 | Las Vegas, NV | $118,317 | $56.88 |
| 5 | Atlanta, GA | $115,569 | $55.56 |
| 6 | Tucson, AZ | $113,920 | $54.77 |
| 7 | Portland, OR | $113,681 | $54.65 |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $113,394 | $54.52 |
| 9 | New York, NY | $113,058 | $54.35 |
| 10 | Philadelphia, PA | $111,333 | $53.53 |
| 11 | Jackson, MS | $109,136 | $52.47 |
| 12 | Chicago, IL | $107,042 | $51.46 |
| 13 | Newark, NJ | $106,754 | $51.32 |
| 14 | San Francisco, CA | $106,581 | $51.24 |
| 15 | Omaha, NE | $106,548 | $51.23 |
| 16 | Kansas City, KS | $106,443 | $51.17 |
| 17 | Richmond, VA | $105,478 | $50.71 |
| 18 | Kansas City, MO | $102,369 | $49.22 |
| 19 | Milwaukee, WI | $98,723 | $47.46 |
| 20 | Fort Worth, TX | $98,141 | $47.18 |
A center director's salary ranges from $65,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $172,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $172,000 | $14,333 | $83 |
| 75th Percentile | $137,000 | $11,417 | $66 |
| Average | $106,505 | $8,875 | $51 |
| 25th Percentile | $82,000 | $6,833 | $39 |
| 10th Percentile | $65,000 | $5,417 | $31 |
The highest paying types of center directors are executive director, director, and co-director.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parent Educator | $38,992 | $3,249 | $18.75 | 7,183 |
| Center Manager | $56,284 | $4,690 | $27.06 | 278,683 |
| School Director | $68,563 | $5,714 | $32.96 | 37,761 |
| Test Center Administrator | $26,135 | $2,178 | $12.57 | 95,722 |
| Education Director | $62,123 | $5,177 | $29.87 | 24,774 |
| Center Supervisor | $39,359 | $3,280 | $18.92 | 99,942 |
Top companies hiring center directors now:
Center director salaries at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and St. Joseph Healthcare are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average center director salary at companies like Roanoke Chowan Community Health Center and Providence Community Health Centers are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center | $157,317 | $75.63 |
| 2 | St. Joseph Healthcare | $157,170 | $75.56 |
| 3 | Roanoke Chowan Community Health Center | $155,569 | $74.79 |
| 4 | Providence Community Health Centers | $154,864 | $74.45 |
| 5 | JCPenney | $149,859 | $72.05 |
| 6 | Plastic Omnium Auto Exteriors | $147,636 | $70.98 |
| 7 | Nova Medical Centers | $146,476 | $70.42 |
| 8 | St. Joseph's Health | $146,129 | $70.25 |
| 9 | The New York Academy of Medicine | $145,164 | $69.79 |
| 10 | National Medical Association | $138,793 | $66.73 |
| 11 | Detroit Medical Center | $138,602 | $66.64 |
| 12 | Stanford University | $138,530 | $66.60 |
| 13 | Microsoft | $138,483 | $66.58 |
| 14 | New York University | $136,523 | $65.64 |
| 15 | Japanese American National Museum | $135,427 | $65.11 |
| 16 | FTI Consulting | $134,511 | $64.67 |
| 17 | The Heritage Foundation | $133,179 | $64.03 |
| 18 | Oregon Health & Science University | $132,914 | $63.90 |
| 19 | Albemarle | $132,017 | $63.47 |
| 20 | Cnsi | $130,078 | $62.54 |
The average center director salary has risen by $11,548 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average center director earned $94,957 annually, but today, they earn $106,505 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for center directors over the last decade.
Compare center director salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare center director salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $107,000 | $51.20 | +1.9% |
| 2025 | $104,000 | $50.21 | +0.6% |
| 2024 | $104,000 | $49.93 | +2.2% |
| 2023 | $102,000 | $48.84 | +2.3% |
| 2022 | $99,200 | $47.69 | +0.3% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audubon Engineering | Center Director, Trinity River Audubon Center | Dallas, TX | 06/30/2025 | $89,000 |
| Learning Care Group | Center Director | Galloway, NJ | 06/29/2025 | $58,000 |
| Learning Care Group | Center Director | Longview, WA | 06/29/2025 | $77,969 |
| Think Academy Us | Learning Center Director | Sunnyvale, CA | 06/29/2025 | $73,045 |
| Bambini Montessori Academy | Center Director | Gambrills, MD | 06/29/2025 | $62,000 |
| Octapharma Plasma | CA Associate Center Director | West Covina, CA | 06/28/2025 | $75,000 |
| Octapharma Plasma | Associate Center Director | Rochester, NY | 06/28/2025 | $75,000 |
| University of Mississippi | Sbdc Sub Center Director (Hybrid Telework Possible) | Oxford, MS | 06/28/2025 | $68,682 |
| Jekyll Island, Georgia Vacation, Conservation, and Education Destination | Director of Georgia SEA Turtle Center | Nunez, GA | 06/28/2025 | $71,000 |
| Olympic College | Director, Resource Center | Bremerton, WA | 06/28/2025 | $81,126 |
Search for center director jobs