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The Director of Veterans Affairs plays a crucial role in advocating for veterans' rights and services. According to recent data, the average salary for this role is $81,280 per year. However, salaries can differ based on state, with certain regions offering higher compensation due to demand and cost of living factors.
In states such as California, Florida, and Texas, salaries can significantly exceed the national average, reflecting the need for skilled leaders in veterans' services. For example, the highest paying cities for Directors of Veterans Affairs include San Francisco and New York City, where experienced professionals can earn upwards of $100,000.
As the demand for veteran services continues to grow, professionals in this field have numerous opportunities for advancement. With experience, Directors can move into higher administrative roles or specialized positions focusing on policy development and program management. Understanding the various factors that affect salary can aid job seekers in negotiating their compensation effectively.
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The highest-paying states for directors of veterans affairs are Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Indiana. The lowest average director of veterans affairs salary states are Oklahoma, Alaska, and Arkansas.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $108,385 | $52.11 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $112,934 | $54.30 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $116,094 | $55.81 |
| 4 | Indiana | $102,335 | $49.20 |
| 5 | New York | $102,025 | $49.05 |
| 6 | Maine | $99,934 | $48.05 |
| 7 | South Dakota | $90,082 | $43.31 |
| 8 | Michigan | $101,159 | $48.63 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $96,923 | $46.60 |
| 10 | West Virginia | $96,741 | $46.51 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $92,406 | $44.43 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | $92,100 | $44.28 |
| 13 | North Carolina | $94,224 | $45.30 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $91,990 | $44.23 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $90,459 | $43.49 |
| 16 | Vermont | $94,084 | $45.23 |
| 17 | Wyoming | $87,950 | $42.28 |
| 18 | Maryland | $92,325 | $44.39 |
| 19 | Wisconsin | $92,745 | $44.59 |
| 20 | Arizona | $89,247 | $42.91 |
| 21 | California | $90,571 | $43.54 |
| 22 | Delaware | $90,589 | $43.55 |
| 23 | Louisiana | $82,379 | $39.61 |
| 24 | Montana | $89,943 | $43.24 |
| 25 | Kentucky | $86,809 | $41.74 |
| 26 | Alabama | $78,790 | $37.88 |
| 27 | Iowa | $79,616 | $38.28 |
| 28 | Ohio | $87,505 | $42.07 |
| 29 | Oregon | $87,046 | $41.85 |
| 30 | Virginia | $82,479 | $39.65 |
| 31 | Nevada | $86,172 | $41.43 |
| 32 | Missouri | $84,051 | $40.41 |
| 33 | Washington | $79,994 | $38.46 |
| 34 | Illinois | $77,318 | $37.17 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $75,736 | $36.41 |
| 36 | Utah | $74,148 | $35.65 |
| 37 | Mississippi | $68,676 | $33.02 |
| 38 | Arkansas | $67,074 | $32.25 |
| 39 | North Dakota | $80,006 | $38.46 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $67,716 | $32.56 |
| 41 | Colorado | $76,500 | $36.78 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $77,418 | $37.22 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $78,296 | $37.64 |
| 44 | Alaska | $67,302 | $32.36 |
| 45 | Texas | $72,625 | $34.92 |
| 46 | Idaho | $72,643 | $34.92 |
| 47 | Kansas | $71,366 | $34.31 |
| 48 | Georgia | $66,532 | $31.99 |
| 49 | New Mexico | $68,078 | $32.73 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $51,120 | $24.58 |
| 51 | Florida | $64,815 | $31.16 |
The highest-paying cities for directors of veterans affairs are Hartford, CT, Washington, DC, and Boston, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hartford, CT | $116,545 | $56.03 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $113,209 | $54.43 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $108,532 | $52.18 |
| 4 | Albany, NY | $102,163 | $49.12 |
| 5 | Indianapolis, IN | $101,366 | $48.73 |
| 6 | Folsom, CA | $97,930 | $47.08 |
| 7 | East Orange, NJ | $97,011 | $46.64 |
| 8 | Wilkes-Barre, PA | $92,591 | $44.51 |
| 9 | Bethesda, MD | $92,062 | $44.26 |
| 10 | Madison, WI | $91,482 | $43.98 |
| 11 | Cleveland, OH | $90,289 | $43.41 |
| 12 | Carson City, NV | $89,528 | $43.04 |
| 13 | Mankato, MN | $88,781 | $42.68 |
| 14 | Arlington, VA | $84,711 | $40.73 |
| 15 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $78,762 | $37.87 |
| 16 | Bismarck, ND | $78,639 | $37.81 |
| 17 | Chicago, IL | $77,964 | $37.48 |
| 18 | Colorado Springs, CO | $76,634 | $36.84 |
| 19 | Dallas, TX | $75,474 | $36.29 |
| 20 | South Jordan, UT | $74,320 | $35.73 |
A director of veterans affairs's salary ranges from $48,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $137,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $137,000 | $11,417 | $66 |
| 75th Percentile | $107,000 | $8,917 | $51 |
| Average | $81,280 | $6,773 | $39 |
| 25th Percentile | $61,000 | $5,083 | $29 |
| 10th Percentile | $48,000 | $4,000 | $23 |
The highest paying types of directors of veterans affairs are chairperson, vice chairperson, and committee chairperson.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student Dean | $59,497 | $4,958 | $28.60 | 10,422 |
| Chairperson | $125,944 | $10,495 | $60.55 | 5,178 |
| New Member Educator | $34,187 | $2,849 | $16.44 | 12,866 |
| Co-Chair | $89,375 | $7,448 | $42.97 | 2,878 |
| Dean | $86,317 | $7,193 | $41.50 | 1,183 |
| Registrar | $40,632 | $3,386 | $19.53 | 12,723 |
Top companies hiring directors of veterans affairs now:
Director of veterans affairs salaries at AIG and Splunk are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average director of veterans affairs salary at companies like Northwest Lineman College and Myriad Genetics are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AIG | $116,599 | $56.06 |
| 2 | Splunk | $116,405 | $55.96 |
| 3 | Northwest Lineman College | $115,251 | $55.41 |
| 4 | Myriad Genetics | $109,046 | $52.43 |
| 5 | Intel | $108,035 | $51.94 |
| 6 | Merck | $107,350 | $51.61 |
| 7 | Stanford University | $104,836 | $50.40 |
| 8 | Emory University | $103,226 | $49.63 |
| 9 | Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Inc. | $102,346 | $49.20 |
| 10 | Medline | $101,771 | $48.93 |
| 11 | The University of Chicago | $99,370 | $47.77 |
| 12 | New York Institute of Technology | $98,630 | $47.42 |
| 13 | The ACI Group | $98,422 | $47.32 |
| 14 | Columbia University in the City of New York | $98,343 | $47.28 |
| 15 | Corning Incorporated | $97,822 | $47.03 |
| 16 | Siemens | $97,646 | $46.95 |
| 17 | Sony Pictures | $96,840 | $46.56 |
| 18 | BridgeBio | $95,842 | $46.08 |
| 19 | Sage Therapeutics | $94,898 | $45.62 |
| 20 | Pharmaceutical Product Development | $94,614 | $45.49 |
The average director of veterans affairs salary has risen by $11,021 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average director of veterans affairs earned $70,259 annually, but today, they earn $81,280 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for directors of veterans affairs over the last decade.
Compare director of veterans affairs salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare director of veterans affairs salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $81,300 | $39.08 | +2.1% |
| 2024 | $79,500 | $38.24 | +1.1% |
| 2023 | $78,600 | $37.81 | +2.1% |
| 2022 | $77,000 | $37.02 | +1.7% |
| 2021 | $75,700 | $36.38 | +2.4% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Associated Builders and Contractors | Director of Government Affairs | Beltsville, MD | 06/29/2025 | $120,000 |
| Xcel Energy | Director, Regional Government Affairs | Minneapolis, MN | 06/26/2025 | $144,800 |
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | Director-Administration and Fiscal Affairs | University, MS | 06/06/2025 | $104,045 |
| International Student House of Washington, Dc | Director of External Affairs | Washington, DC | 05/30/2025 | $80,000 |
| State of Louisiana | Director of Governmental Affairs | New Orleans, LA | 05/24/2025 | $114,400 |
| American Express | Director-Government Affairs | Columbia, SC | 05/23/2025 | $130,000 |
| American Express | Director-Government Affairs | Little Rock, AR | 05/23/2025 | $130,000 |
| American Express | Director-Government Affairs | Albany, NY | 05/23/2025 | $130,000 |
| American Express | Director-Government Affairs | Des Moines, IA | 05/23/2025 | $130,000 |
| American Express | Director-Government Affairs | Madison, WI | 05/23/2025 | $130,000 |
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