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Director of communications and outreach salary
Average director of communications and outreach salary
$75,152
Understanding the Role and Salary
The Director of Communications and Outreach plays a crucial role in fostering relationships between organizations and their communities. This position demands a blend of strategic planning, public relations, and community engagement skills. As of October 2025, the average salary stands at $75,152 per year, with hourly rates around $36.
Factors Influencing Salary
Compensation can vary significantly based on several factors:
- Experience Level: Directors with more years in the field often command higher salaries.
- Location: Salaries differ by state, with urban areas typically offering higher compensation to meet the cost of living.
- Industry: Nonprofits, government agencies, and corporate sectors may offer varying salary scales.
Additionally, the highest paying cities for this role include major metropolitan areas known for their active job markets and higher living costs. Exploring these opportunities can lead to substantial career advancement.
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Where can a Director Of Communications And Outreach earn more?
Director of communications and outreach salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level director of communications and outreach | $65,900 | $31.67 |
| Mid-level director of communications and outreach | $70,600 | $33.93 |
| Senior-level director of communications and outreach | $84,800 | $40.76 |
Average director of communications and outreach salary by state
The highest-paying states for directors of communications and outreach are California, Utah, and Arizona. The lowest average director of communications and outreach salary states are Minnesota, Oklahoma, and Alabama.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for directors of communications and outreach
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $100,049 | $48.10 |
| 2 | Utah | $94,814 | $45.58 |
| 3 | West Virginia | $78,953 | $37.96 |
| 4 | Wyoming | $82,558 | $39.69 |
| 5 | Virginia | $89,537 | $43.05 |
| 6 | Oregon | $93,389 | $44.90 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $92,971 | $44.70 |
| 8 | New York | $87,641 | $42.14 |
| 9 | Washington | $87,592 | $42.11 |
| 10 | Arizona | $94,253 | $45.31 |
| 11 | Idaho | $81,917 | $39.38 |
| 12 | Michigan | $88,749 | $42.67 |
| 13 | District of Columbia | $86,547 | $41.61 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $80,416 | $38.66 |
| 15 | Illinois | $81,527 | $39.20 |
| 16 | Louisiana | $69,644 | $33.48 |
| 17 | Nevada | $73,734 | $35.45 |
| 18 | Kentucky | $75,701 | $36.39 |
| 19 | Montana | $71,303 | $34.28 |
| 20 | Colorado | $74,980 | $36.05 |
| 21 | Tennessee | $75,095 | $36.10 |
| 22 | South Dakota | $66,443 | $31.94 |
| 23 | Vermont | $69,716 | $33.52 |
| 24 | Maryland | $75,022 | $36.07 |
| 25 | Indiana | $72,693 | $34.95 |
| 26 | Massachusetts | $70,593 | $33.94 |
| 27 | Pennsylvania | $70,773 | $34.03 |
| 28 | Delaware | $68,779 | $33.07 |
| 29 | Arkansas | $68,738 | $33.05 |
| 30 | Florida | $73,103 | $35.15 |
| 31 | Hawaii | $69,598 | $33.46 |
| 32 | Alaska | $68,061 | $32.72 |
| 33 | Ohio | $69,503 | $33.41 |
| 34 | North Dakota | $65,003 | $31.25 |
| 35 | Alabama | $64,070 | $30.80 |
| 36 | Iowa | $67,920 | $32.65 |
| 37 | Oklahoma | $64,358 | $30.94 |
| 38 | Nebraska | $66,749 | $32.09 |
| 39 | Connecticut | $68,680 | $33.02 |
| 40 | Texas | $68,158 | $32.77 |
| 41 | New Mexico | $67,778 | $32.59 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $68,043 | $32.71 |
| 43 | New Hampshire | $66,208 | $31.83 |
| 44 | Wisconsin | $65,788 | $31.63 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $64,676 | $31.09 |
| 46 | North Carolina | $65,145 | $31.32 |
| 47 | Maine | $63,180 | $30.38 |
| 48 | Missouri | $66,985 | $32.20 |
| 49 | Georgia | $63,908 | $30.73 |
| 50 | Minnesota | $64,564 | $31.04 |
| 51 | Kansas | $62,582 | $30.09 |
Highest paying cities for directors of communications and outreach
The highest-paying cities for directors of communications and outreach are Bakersfield, CA, Arlington, VA, and Washington, DC.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bakersfield, CA | $100,853 | $48.49 |
| 2 | Arlington, VA | $90,019 | $43.28 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $86,573 | $41.62 |
| 4 | Rockville, MD | $74,933 | $36.03 |
| 5 | Cambridge, MA | $70,485 | $33.89 |
| 6 | Davenport, IA | $68,144 | $32.76 |
Director of communications and outreach salary details
A director of communications and outreach's salary ranges from $52,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $107,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a director of communications and outreach's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $107,000 | $8,917 | $51 |
| 75th Percentile | $90,000 | $7,500 | $43 |
| Average | $75,152 | $6,263 | $36 |
| 25th Percentile | $62,000 | $5,167 | $30 |
| 10th Percentile | $52,000 | $4,333 | $25 |
Highest paying director of communications and outreach jobs
The highest paying types of directors of communications and outreach are director, communications director, and trustee.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student Manager | $50,950 | $4,246 | $24.50 | 14,721 |
| House Manager | $37,235 | $3,103 | $17.90 | 28,706 |
| Youth Coordinator | $37,761 | $3,147 | $18.15 | 23,062 |
| Service Program Manager | $78,256 | $6,521 | $37.62 | 116,114 |
| Youth Leader | $29,481 | $2,457 | $14.17 | 31,851 |
| Corps Member | $30,813 | $2,568 | $14.81 | 4,837 |
Top companies hiring directors of communications and outreach now:
Which companies pay directors of communications and outreach the most?
Director of communications and outreach salaries at Harvard University and Tetra Tech are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average director of communications and outreach salary at companies like Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Inc. and Americorps are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harvard University | $86,540 | $41.61 |
| 2 | Tetra Tech | $84,414 | $40.58 |
| 3 | Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Inc. | $77,510 | $37.26 |
| 4 | Americorps | $62,384 | $29.99 |
| 5 | Clinica Sierra Vista | $53,515 | $25.73 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Director Of Communications And Outreach salary by industry
The average director of communications and outreach salary varies across industries:
- The average director of communications and outreach salary in the finance industry is $67,662, the highest of any industry.
- The average director of communications and outreach salary in the finance industry is $67,201.
- Directors of communications and outreach in the education industry earn an average salary of $60,186, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for directors of communications and outreach
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Finance | $67,662 | $32.53 |
| 2 | Telecommunication | $67,201 | $32.31 |
| 3 | Health Care | $64,761 | $31.14 |
| 4 | Non Profits | $61,673 | $29.65 |
| 5 | Education | $60,186 | $28.94 |
High paying director of communications and outreach jobs
Director of communications and outreach salary trends
The average director of communications and outreach salary has risen by $11,813 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average director of communications and outreach earned $63,339 annually, but today, they earn $75,152 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for directors of communications and outreach over the last decade.
Compare director of communications and outreach salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average director of communications and outreach salary over time
Compare director of communications and outreach salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Director of communications and outreach salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $75,200 | $36.13 | +3.5% |
| 2025 | $72,500 | $34.86 | +2.7% |
| 2024 | $70,500 | $33.91 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | $69,200 | $33.28 | -0.9% |
| 2022 | $69,800 | $33.58 | +1.8% |
Recently added director of communications and outreach salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| International City Management | Director of Communications and Outreach-Village of | Schaumburg, IL | 05/22/2025 | $136,932 |
| Horizon Institute for Public Service | Director of Communications & Outreach/Senior Program Associate (Communications & Outreach) | Washington, DC | 05/03/2025 | $110,000 |
| University of Pennsylvania | Director of Communications and Outreach | Philadelphia, PA | 04/29/2025 | $76,000 |
| Alfred University | Director of Communications & Outreach | Alfred, NY | 04/17/2025 | $68,000 |
| ABFE Member, Cap Ex Advisory Group | Director, Communications, Connections, Outreach-Allegany Franciscan Ministries | Palm Harbor, FL | 02/19/2025 | $90,000 |
| Atcev | Outreach & Communications Director Coalition To Stop Violence Against Native Women | Albuquerque, NM | 02/16/2025 | $57,000 |
| Wyomingpbs | Director of Marketing, Outreach and Communications | Riverton, UT | 02/16/2025 | $74,434 |
| Mayor's Office of Talent and Appointments (Mota | Director of Communications and Outreach-Deputy Mayor for Education (DME) | Washington, DC | 01/13/2025 | $130,000 |
| University of Pennsylvania | Director of Communications and Outreach | Philadelphia, PA | 11/23/2024 | $61,046 |
| Northwestern University | Director of Communications, Outreach and Engagement, Buffett | Evanston, IL | 10/23/2024 | $98,447 |
Director of communications and outreach salary FAQs
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