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General director salary
Average general director salary
$109,550
Understanding the General Director Salary
A General Director plays a crucial role in organizational leadership, overseeing operations and strategic planning. As of October 2025, the average salary for this position is $109,550. Salaries can significantly differ based on factors such as location, industry, and years of experience.
Highest Paying Industries: Certain sectors, including finance and technology, offer higher salaries for General Directors. For instance, those in the finance sector may earn upwards of $120,000, highlighting the importance of industry choice.
State Variations: Geographic location also impacts earnings. States like California and New York tend to provide higher salaries due to their cost of living and demand for executive roles. For example, a General Director in California might earn around $115,000, compared to lower averages in less populated states.
Career Advancement Opportunities
For those looking to enhance their earning potential, pursuing advanced leadership roles or specialized certifications can be beneficial. Networking within targeted industries can also lead to lucrative opportunities.
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Where can a General Director earn more?
General director salary estimates from across the web
Average general director salary by state
The highest-paying states for general directors are California, Nevada, and Maine. The lowest average general director salary states are Minnesota, Wyoming, and Alabama.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for general directors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $145,513 | $69.96 |
| 2 | Maine | $123,665 | $59.45 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $123,229 | $59.24 |
| 4 | Utah | $120,834 | $58.09 |
| 5 | West Virginia | $118,800 | $57.12 |
| 6 | Delaware | $121,117 | $58.23 |
| 7 | Idaho | $118,985 | $57.20 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $121,581 | $58.45 |
| 9 | Mississippi | $112,009 | $53.85 |
| 10 | Wisconsin | $116,122 | $55.83 |
| 11 | Nevada | $128,819 | $61.93 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $122,559 | $58.92 |
| 13 | Kentucky | $112,279 | $53.98 |
| 14 | Indiana | $116,073 | $55.80 |
| 15 | Oklahoma | $111,873 | $53.79 |
| 16 | New Mexico | $115,749 | $55.65 |
| 17 | District of Columbia | $119,883 | $57.64 |
| 18 | Michigan | $112,155 | $53.92 |
| 19 | New Jersey | $113,064 | $54.36 |
| 20 | North Dakota | $108,344 | $52.09 |
| 21 | Massachusetts | $109,652 | $52.72 |
| 22 | Texas | $111,197 | $53.46 |
| 23 | Vermont | $117,748 | $56.61 |
| 24 | Nebraska | $105,975 | $50.95 |
| 25 | Missouri | $108,524 | $52.17 |
| 26 | Louisiana | $94,773 | $45.56 |
| 27 | Ohio | $98,130 | $47.18 |
| 28 | Georgia | $105,891 | $50.91 |
| 29 | New York | $101,133 | $48.62 |
| 30 | Arizona | $110,475 | $53.11 |
| 31 | Oregon | $97,225 | $46.74 |
| 32 | Washington | $103,973 | $49.99 |
| 33 | Colorado | $106,723 | $51.31 |
| 34 | Arkansas | $100,692 | $48.41 |
| 35 | Virginia | $106,640 | $51.27 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $91,559 | $44.02 |
| 37 | Maryland | $106,350 | $51.13 |
| 38 | Tennessee | $93,928 | $45.16 |
| 39 | Alabama | $81,631 | $39.25 |
| 40 | Pennsylvania | $94,471 | $45.42 |
| 41 | North Carolina | $88,669 | $42.63 |
| 42 | Alaska | $99,801 | $47.98 |
| 43 | Montana | $91,983 | $44.22 |
| 44 | Illinois | $88,372 | $42.49 |
| 45 | South Dakota | $85,936 | $41.32 |
| 46 | Hawaii | $98,038 | $47.13 |
| 47 | Florida | $79,368 | $38.16 |
| 48 | Wyoming | $82,808 | $39.81 |
| 49 | Minnesota | $83,680 | $40.23 |
| 50 | Kansas | $75,691 | $36.39 |
| 51 | Iowa | $77,578 | $37.30 |
Highest paying cities for general directors
The highest-paying cities for general directors are Sunnyvale, CA, Clearfield, UT, and Washington, DC.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale, CA | $158,400 | $76.15 |
| 2 | Clearfield, UT | $120,405 | $57.89 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $120,173 | $57.78 |
| 4 | Madison, WI | $115,083 | $55.33 |
| 5 | Houston, TX | $110,774 | $53.26 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $109,731 | $52.76 |
| 7 | Manassas, VA | $107,360 | $51.62 |
| 8 | Atlanta, GA | $106,296 | $51.10 |
| 9 | Bellevue, WA | $104,334 | $50.16 |
| 10 | Pittsburgh, PA | $92,462 | $44.45 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $88,832 | $42.71 |
| 12 | Miami, FL | $78,313 | $37.65 |
General director salary details
A general director's salary ranges from $69,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $172,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a general director's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $172,000 | $14,333 | $83 |
| 75th Percentile | $139,000 | $11,583 | $67 |
| Average | $109,550 | $9,129 | $53 |
| 25th Percentile | $86,000 | $7,167 | $41 |
| 10th Percentile | $69,000 | $5,750 | $33 |
Highest paying general director jobs
The highest paying types of general directors are vice president & general manager, managing director, and director.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Director Training & Education | $70,224 | $5,852 | $33.76 | 36,551 |
| Vice President & General Manager | $172,487 | $14,374 | $82.93 | 252,313 |
| General Service Manager | $85,187 | $7,099 | $40.96 | 435,376 |
| Youth Ministry Director | $43,203 | $3,600 | $20.77 | 7,224 |
| General Manager | $71,581 | $5,965 | $34.41 | 442,690 |
| Youth Director | $44,333 | $3,694 | $21.31 | 7,501 |
Top companies hiring general directors now:
Which companies pay general directors the most?
General director salaries at Regeneron and Publicis Sapient are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average general director salary at companies like Northrop Grumman and Finlay are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Regeneron | $177,883 | $85.52 |
| 2 | Publicis Sapient | $149,760 | $72.00 |
| 3 | Northrop Grumman | $136,375 | $65.56 |
| 4 | Finlay | $132,476 | $63.69 |
| 5 | Northwestern Medicine | $131,052 | $63.01 |
| 6 | Erickson Senior Living | $122,017 | $58.66 |
| 7 | Mount Sinai Health System | $117,438 | $56.46 |
| 8 | Confluence | $110,388 | $53.07 |
| 9 | Novo | $107,879 | $51.86 |
| 10 | Art of Problem Solving | $107,571 | $51.72 |
| 11 | University of Wisconsin Foundation | $106,004 | $50.96 |
| 12 | Optum | $104,038 | $50.02 |
| 13 | National Conference of State Legislatures | $100,291 | $48.22 |
| 14 | Prince William County | $60,042 | $28.87 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
General Director salary by industry
The average general director salary varies across industries:
- The average general director salary in the health care industry is $134,299, the highest of any industry.
- The average general director salary in the finance industry is $125,347.
- General directors in the finance industry earn an average salary of $112,207, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for general directors
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Health Care | $134,299 | $64.57 |
| 2 | Pharmaceutical | $125,347 | $60.26 |
| 3 | Manufacturing | $123,942 | $59.59 |
| 4 | Media | $118,372 | $56.91 |
| 5 | Technology | $115,272 | $55.42 |
| 6 | Transportation | $113,713 | $54.67 |
| 7 | Finance | $112,207 | $53.95 |
High paying general director jobs
General director salary trends
The average general director salary has risen by $20,983 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average general director earned $88,567 annually, but today, they earn $109,550 a year. That works out to a 17% change in pay for general directors over the last decade.
Compare general director salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average general director salary over time
Compare general director salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
General director salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $110,000 | $52.67 | +2.8% |
| 2025 | $107,000 | $51.21 | +7.0% |
| 2024 | $99,100 | $47.65 | +4.5% |
| 2023 | $94,700 | $45.51 | +0.9% |
| 2022 | $93,800 | $45.08 | -0.4% |
Recently added general director salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University at Albany | Director of General Studies and Summer Sessions. | Albany, NY | 06/28/2025 | $80,000 |
| Digital Media Solutions | Director, TV & Streaming, General | Los Angeles, CA | 06/14/2025 | $120,000 |
| Manhattan College | Director of General Chemistry Labs | New York, NY | 06/05/2025 | $73,000 |
| Travelers Indemnity Co | General Liability Director | Dallas, TX | 05/19/2025 | $123,000 |
| Harman Professional | Director, Manufacturing General | Ione, CA | 05/18/2025 | $173,250 |
| Travelers Insurance Company | General Liability Director | Richardson, TX | 05/17/2025 | $123,000 |
| Digital Media Solutions | Director, TV & Streaming, General | Los Angeles, CA | 04/28/2025 | $120,000 |
| Acosta, Inc. | Director-Kroger General Merchandise | Portland, OR | 03/30/2025 | $102,900 |
| Digital Media Solutions | Director, TV & Streaming, General | Los Angeles, CA | 03/28/2025 | $120,000 |
| Bergey's | Regional General Motors Parts Director | Souderton, PA | 03/14/2025 | $90,000 |
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