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The average salary for a Director of Engineering, Quality & Program Management is reported at $143,657 per year, translating to approximately $69 per hour. Salaries can differ significantly based on factors such as experience and geographic location. For instance, professionals with more years of experience typically command higher salaries, reflecting their enhanced expertise and leadership capabilities.
In addition to experience, the state where one works plays a crucial role in salary variation. States like California and New York often offer higher average salaries due to the cost of living and demand for skilled professionals. Moreover, metropolitan areas, particularly cities with major tech or industrial hubs, tend to provide competitive compensation packages.
For those aiming to enter this field, understanding the salary landscape is vital. By researching salary trends, prospective candidates can better negotiate their compensation and career paths. The demand for directors of engineering is projected to grow, making it an attractive career choice for those in engineering management.
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The highest-paying states for directors of engineering, quality & program management are Alaska, Hawaii, and California. The lowest average director of engineering, quality & program management salary states are Alabama, Arkansas, and Georgia.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Utah | $148,363 | $71.33 |
| 2 | Vermont | $149,213 | $71.74 |
| 3 | Oregon | $152,450 | $73.29 |
| 4 | New Hampshire | $149,060 | $71.66 |
| 5 | Alaska | $185,995 | $89.42 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $148,260 | $71.28 |
| 7 | Hawaii | $172,111 | $82.75 |
| 8 | Nevada | $164,339 | $79.01 |
| 9 | West Virginia | $137,777 | $66.24 |
| 10 | Delaware | $144,582 | $69.51 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $147,349 | $70.84 |
| 12 | California | $167,194 | $80.38 |
| 13 | Arizona | $141,696 | $68.12 |
| 14 | South Dakota | $134,411 | $64.62 |
| 15 | Washington | $149,169 | $71.72 |
| 16 | Louisiana | $140,920 | $67.75 |
| 17 | North Dakota | $135,358 | $65.08 |
| 18 | Mississippi | $135,971 | $65.37 |
| 19 | South Carolina | $134,433 | $64.63 |
| 20 | Montana | $144,679 | $69.56 |
| 21 | Ohio | $138,144 | $66.42 |
| 22 | Maine | $135,472 | $65.13 |
| 23 | Massachusetts | $148,680 | $71.48 |
| 24 | Idaho | $139,649 | $67.14 |
| 25 | Colorado | $137,839 | $66.27 |
| 26 | Nebraska | $132,729 | $63.81 |
| 27 | Wyoming | $125,560 | $60.37 |
| 28 | Kentucky | $133,569 | $64.22 |
| 29 | New Mexico | $134,056 | $64.45 |
| 30 | Texas | $130,199 | $62.60 |
| 31 | Maryland | $142,583 | $68.55 |
| 32 | New York | $131,942 | $63.43 |
| 33 | Pennsylvania | $130,541 | $62.76 |
| 34 | New Jersey | $131,761 | $63.35 |
| 35 | Michigan | $126,082 | $60.62 |
| 36 | Alabama | $120,824 | $58.09 |
| 37 | District of Columbia | $141,637 | $68.09 |
| 38 | Missouri | $132,710 | $63.80 |
| 39 | Wisconsin | $122,481 | $58.89 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $121,628 | $58.48 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $120,299 | $57.84 |
| 42 | North Carolina | $122,022 | $58.66 |
| 43 | Florida | $124,837 | $60.02 |
| 44 | Virginia | $125,519 | $60.35 |
| 45 | Indiana | $121,067 | $58.21 |
| 46 | Minnesota | $121,002 | $58.17 |
| 47 | Illinois | $121,477 | $58.40 |
| 48 | Tennessee | $119,705 | $57.55 |
| 49 | Iowa | $119,392 | $57.40 |
| 50 | Georgia | $120,289 | $57.83 |
| 51 | Kansas | $120,160 | $57.77 |
The highest-paying cities for directors of engineering, quality & program management are San Francisco, CA, Boston, MA, and Scottsdale, AZ.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $176,082 | $84.65 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $148,932 | $71.60 |
| 3 | Scottsdale, AZ | $142,292 | $68.41 |
| 4 | Bethesda, MD | $141,924 | $68.23 |
| 5 | Jersey City, NJ | $131,984 | $63.45 |
| 6 | Austin, TX | $131,932 | $63.43 |
| 7 | Ann Arbor, MI | $125,722 | $60.44 |
| 8 | Durham, NC | $122,733 | $59.01 |
| 9 | Oklahoma City, OK | $121,866 | $58.59 |
| 10 | Chicago, IL | $121,773 | $58.54 |
| 11 | Plymouth, MN | $120,891 | $58.12 |
| 12 | Indianapolis, IN | $120,621 | $57.99 |
A director of engineering, quality & program management's salary ranges from $104,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $197,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $197,000 | $16,417 | $95 |
| 75th Percentile | $169,000 | $14,083 | $81 |
| Average | $143,657 | $11,971 | $69 |
| 25th Percentile | $121,000 | $10,083 | $58 |
| 10th Percentile | $104,000 | $8,667 | $50 |
The highest paying types of directors of engineering, quality & program management are engineering director, senior engineering manager, and vice president of engineering.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research And Development Director | $137,944 | $11,495 | $66.32 | 102,901 |
| Research And Development Manager | $117,507 | $9,792 | $56.49 | 125,447 |
| Design Manager | $102,637 | $8,553 | $49.34 | 61,273 |
| Engineering Supervisor | $97,535 | $8,128 | $46.89 | 57,046 |
| Engineering Director | $162,252 | $13,521 | $78.01 | 63,868 |
| Vice President Of Engineering | $150,651 | $12,554 | $72.43 | 92,133 |
Top companies hiring directors of engineering, quality & program management now:
Director of engineering, quality & program management salaries at PayPal and Pure Storage are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average director of engineering, quality & program management salary at companies like eBay and OU Health are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PayPal | $173,473 | $83.40 |
| 2 | Pure Storage | $172,506 | $82.94 |
| 3 | eBay | $167,785 | $80.67 |
| 4 | OU Health | $150,420 | $72.32 |
| 5 | ServiceNow | $147,960 | $71.13 |
| 6 | Chime | $147,846 | $71.08 |
| 7 | Royal Bank of Canada | $147,784 | $71.05 |
| 8 | Microsoft | $146,023 | $70.20 |
| 9 | ICU Medical | $138,550 | $66.61 |
| 10 | Elbit Systems of America | $137,625 | $66.17 |
| 11 | Experian Data Quality | $132,550 | $63.73 |
| 12 | Embraer Aircraft Holding Corporation | $132,267 | $63.59 |
| 13 | Fidelity Investments | $129,137 | $62.09 |
| 14 | Dartmouth | $128,912 | $61.98 |
| 15 | Cyngn | $124,296 | $59.76 |
| 16 | Marriott International | $124,034 | $59.63 |
| 17 | Aspen Snowmass | $123,242 | $59.25 |
The average director of engineering, quality & program management salary has risen by $17,416 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average director of engineering, quality & program management earned $126,242 annually, but today, they earn $143,657 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for directors of engineering, quality & program management over the last decade.
Compare director of engineering, quality & program management salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare director of engineering, quality & program management salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $144,000 | $69.07 | +1.9% |
| 2025 | $141,000 | $67.74 | +1.2% |
| 2024 | $139,000 | $66.93 | +1.7% |
| 2023 | $137,000 | $65.79 | +2.0% |
| 2022 | $134,000 | $64.49 | +0.7% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F5 Networks | Director of Engineering, Release Management | San Jose, CA | 06/30/2025 | $215,437 |
| Applied Materials | Director, Engineering Management-(M6) | Santa Clara, CA | 06/11/2025 | $184,000 |
| West Yost Careers | Associate Engineer-Water Program Management | Davis, CA | 05/24/2025 | $83,655 |
| Standard Aero Aviation Holdings Inc. | Director, Programs-Engines | Stockton, CA | 04/28/2025 | $134,640 |
| Walgreens | Director of Identity & Access Management/Engineering | Chantilly, VA | 04/03/2025 | $165,900 |
| Standard Aero Aviation Holdings Inc. | Director, Programs-Engines | Stockton, CA | 03/29/2025 | $134,640 |
| HGE Components-CRS | Director, Programs-Engines | Stockton, CA | 03/25/2025 | $134,640 |
| Paypal, Inc. | Engineering Program Mgmt 3 | Austin, TX | 03/07/2025 | $160,000 |
| Paypal, Inc. | Engineering Program Mgmt 3 | Austin, TX | 03/07/2025 | $160,000 |
| Caterpillar | Director of Engineering & Product Management | Fort Worth, TX | 02/25/2025 | $199,680 |
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