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Director of public safety salary
Average director of public safety salary
$71,271
Understanding the Director of Public Safety Salary
The average salary for a Director of Public Safety is approximately $71,271 per year, or about $34 per hour. This figure can fluctuate based on various factors, including years of experience, the state of employment, and the size and type of the employing organization. For example, directors in larger metropolitan areas often earn higher salaries due to the increased responsibilities and cost of living in those regions.
In addition to base salary, many directors receive benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, and bonuses based on performance. The highest paying states for this role include California, New York, and Texas, where safety departments are more funded and have larger teams.
Job responsibilities typically encompass managing safety protocols, overseeing emergency response teams, and working closely with law enforcement agencies. With more than a decade of experience, a Director of Public Safety can expect to see their salary rise significantly, often exceeding $90,000 annually. This role not only offers financial rewards but also the opportunity to contribute positively to community welfare.
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Where can a Director Of Public Safety earn more?
Director of public safety salary estimates from across the web
Average director of public safety salary by state
The highest-paying states for directors of public safety are New Jersey, Maryland, and Connecticut. The lowest average director of public safety salary states are Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Wyoming.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for directors of public safety
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $117,893 | $56.68 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $118,642 | $57.04 |
| 3 | New York | $111,518 | $53.61 |
| 4 | California | $111,420 | $53.57 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $109,130 | $52.47 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $114,500 | $55.05 |
| 7 | Maryland | $117,722 | $56.60 |
| 8 | Nevada | $99,708 | $47.94 |
| 9 | Virginia | $101,781 | $48.93 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $99,995 | $48.07 |
| 11 | West Virginia | $79,878 | $38.40 |
| 12 | Illinois | $92,245 | $44.35 |
| 13 | Ohio | $99,262 | $47.72 |
| 14 | Delaware | $101,593 | $48.84 |
| 15 | Michigan | $82,756 | $39.79 |
| 16 | North Carolina | $74,691 | $35.91 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | $85,701 | $41.20 |
| 18 | Vermont | $79,725 | $38.33 |
| 19 | Louisiana | $68,949 | $33.15 |
| 20 | Arizona | $78,522 | $37.75 |
| 21 | Florida | $73,995 | $35.57 |
| 22 | Texas | $77,579 | $37.30 |
| 23 | Washington | $81,572 | $39.22 |
| 24 | New Hampshire | $86,377 | $41.53 |
| 25 | Missouri | $73,745 | $35.45 |
| 26 | South Carolina | $63,946 | $30.74 |
| 27 | Georgia | $65,601 | $31.54 |
| 28 | Alabama | $62,980 | $30.28 |
| 29 | Oregon | $69,738 | $33.53 |
| 30 | New Mexico | $76,057 | $36.57 |
| 31 | Wisconsin | $69,162 | $33.25 |
| 32 | Hawaii | $81,048 | $38.97 |
| 33 | Colorado | $66,823 | $32.13 |
| 34 | South Dakota | $55,763 | $26.81 |
| 35 | Indiana | $63,173 | $30.37 |
| 36 | Alaska | $60,695 | $29.18 |
| 37 | Maine | $63,772 | $30.66 |
| 38 | Minnesota | $66,800 | $32.12 |
| 39 | Oklahoma | $52,455 | $25.22 |
| 40 | Kentucky | $59,179 | $28.45 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $63,376 | $30.47 |
| 42 | Kansas | $62,365 | $29.98 |
| 43 | Iowa | $57,820 | $27.80 |
| 44 | Montana | $51,929 | $24.97 |
| 45 | North Dakota | $60,261 | $28.97 |
| 46 | Wyoming | $52,413 | $25.20 |
| 47 | Utah | $56,417 | $27.12 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $54,184 | $26.05 |
| 49 | Tennessee | $53,598 | $25.77 |
| 50 | Idaho | $51,548 | $24.78 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $41,410 | $19.91 |
Highest paying cities for directors of public safety
The highest-paying cities for directors of public safety are Foster City, CA, Washington, DC, and New York, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Foster City, CA | $120,147 | $57.76 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $118,936 | $57.18 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $112,146 | $53.92 |
| 4 | Framingham, MA | $109,426 | $52.61 |
| 5 | Reno, NV | $103,662 | $49.84 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $93,415 | $44.91 |
| 7 | Detroit, MI | $83,578 | $40.18 |
| 8 | Tacoma, WA | $82,334 | $39.58 |
| 9 | Tucson, AZ | $77,505 | $37.26 |
| 10 | Raleigh, NC | $77,160 | $37.10 |
| 11 | Fort Lauderdale, FL | $74,389 | $35.76 |
| 12 | Kansas City, MO | $72,204 | $34.71 |
| 13 | Denver, CO | $66,698 | $32.07 |
| 14 | Tucker, GA | $65,716 | $31.59 |
| 15 | Cedar Falls, IA | $58,876 | $28.31 |
| 16 | Salt Lake City, UT | $55,638 | $26.75 |
| 17 | Little Rock, AR | $53,914 | $25.92 |
| 18 | Pocatello, ID | $49,235 | $23.67 |
Director of public safety salary details
A director of public safety's salary ranges from $38,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $132,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a director of public safety's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $132,000 | $11,000 | $63 |
| 75th Percentile | $98,000 | $8,167 | $47 |
| Average | $71,271 | $5,939 | $34 |
| 25th Percentile | $51,000 | $4,250 | $25 |
| 10th Percentile | $38,000 | $3,167 | $18 |
Highest paying director of public safety jobs
The highest paying types of directors of public safety are president/chief executive officer, senior vice president, and president.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Co-Founder | $105,022 | $8,752 | $50.49 | 4,214 |
| Co-Owner | $86,704 | $7,225 | $41.68 | 52,915 |
| Owner | $90,334 | $7,528 | $43.43 | 86,486 |
| Operations Vice President | $163,076 | $13,590 | $78.40 | 147,465 |
| President | $192,329 | $16,027 | $92.47 | 49,413 |
| Vice President | $158,637 | $13,220 | $76.27 | 119,530 |
Top companies hiring directors of public safety now:
Which companies pay directors of public safety the most?
Director of public safety salaries at Gilead Sciences and Novant Health are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average director of public safety salary at companies like City of Detroit and The University of Chicago are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gilead Sciences | $133,970 | $64.41 |
| 2 | Novant Health | $122,031 | $58.67 |
| 3 | City of Detroit | $109,532 | $52.66 |
| 4 | The University of Chicago | $107,068 | $51.48 |
| 5 | The City University of New York | $99,598 | $47.88 |
| 6 | Mt. San Antonio College | $97,255 | $46.76 |
| 7 | Washington and Lee University | $87,385 | $42.01 |
| 8 | City of Reno | $83,677 | $40.23 |
| 9 | Piedmont Healthcare | $82,748 | $39.78 |
| 10 | City of Las Vegas | $80,536 | $38.72 |
| 11 | Emory Healthcare | $78,032 | $37.52 |
| 12 | Bellevue Jr/Sr High School | $77,470 | $37.25 |
| 13 | Blue Ridge Community College | $71,765 | $34.50 |
| 14 | Washington College | $68,583 | $32.97 |
| 15 | Bucknell University | $67,720 | $32.56 |
| 16 | Superior Court Of California | $61,217 | $29.43 |
| 17 | Monroe County | $58,387 | $28.07 |
| 18 | Tacoma Community College | $56,551 | $27.19 |
| 19 | Guilford College | $56,119 | $26.98 |
| 20 | Northern Essex Community College | $54,989 | $26.44 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Director of public safety salary trends
The average director of public safety salary has risen by $7,298 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average director of public safety earned $63,973 annually, but today, they earn $71,271 a year. That works out to a 3% change in pay for directors of public safety over the last decade.
Compare director of public safety salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average director of public safety salary over time
Compare director of public safety salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Director of public safety salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $71,300 | $34.26 | +0.8% |
| 2024 | $70,700 | $33.99 | -2.8% |
| 2023 | $72,700 | $34.94 | +3.3% |
| 2022 | $70,200 | $33.77 | +1.1% |
| 2021 | $69,500 | $33.39 | +3.4% |
Recently added director of public safety salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community College of Rhode Island | Director of Public Safety & Chief of Police | Rhode Island | 06/30/2025 | $115,000 |
| University of Colorado Boulder | Director of Communications-Division of Public Safety | Boulder, CO | 06/25/2025 | $85,000 |
| University of Colorado | Director of Communications-Division of Public Safety | Boulder, CO | 06/25/2025 | $85,000 |
| Main Line Health, Inc. | Public Safety Telecom Spec. | Ardmore, PA | 06/18/2025 | $37,587 |
| University of Maryland Medical Center Baltimore Washington | Director of Public Safety | Easton, MD | 06/15/2025 | $120,000 |
| Ivy Tech Community College | Director of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness | Indianapolis, IN | 06/10/2025 | $55,000 |
| City University of New York | University Deputy Director of Public Safety (Revised) | New York, NY | 06/04/2025 | $162,000 |
| Mohawk Valley Community College | Assistant Director Public Safety and Emergency Management | Utica, NY | 05/24/2025 | $60,882 |
| Claflin University | Deputy Director of Public Safety | Orangeburg, SC | 05/18/2025 | $60,000 |
| University of Maryland Medical System | Director of Public Safety | Glen Burnie, MD | 05/17/2025 | $120,775 |
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