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As of October 2025, the average salary for an Institution Director stands at $111,614 per year. This figure can fluctuate based on key factors, including geographic location, years of experience, and the specific industry. For instance, Institution Directors in urban centers often earn higher salaries compared to those in rural areas.
In terms of state averages, Institution Directors in California and New York lead the pay scale, reflecting the higher cost of living and demand for experienced professionals in these regions. Additionally, sectors such as healthcare and higher education tend to offer competitive salaries compared to other fields.
For those seeking advancement, positions like Executive Director or Program Director often come with increased responsibilities and higher pay. Understanding the landscape of salaries, including the highest paying cities such as San Francisco and Washington D.C., can assist professionals in planning their career paths effectively.
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The highest-paying states for institution directors are New York, Florida, and Nevada. The lowest average institution director salary states are Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $156,156 | $75.08 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $160,676 | $77.25 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $127,207 | $61.16 |
| 4 | Illinois | $122,085 | $58.69 |
| 5 | Nevada | $133,321 | $64.10 |
| 6 | Florida | $133,491 | $64.18 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $120,728 | $58.04 |
| 8 | Maryland | $131,277 | $63.11 |
| 9 | Washington | $121,437 | $58.38 |
| 10 | Louisiana | $109,451 | $52.62 |
| 11 | Virginia | $122,192 | $58.75 |
| 12 | Missouri | $113,673 | $54.65 |
| 13 | Massachusetts | $114,335 | $54.97 |
| 14 | Ohio | $118,589 | $57.01 |
| 15 | California | $115,960 | $55.75 |
| 16 | Delaware | $111,506 | $53.61 |
| 17 | Alabama | $102,404 | $49.23 |
| 18 | Colorado | $114,375 | $54.99 |
| 19 | Arizona | $113,485 | $54.56 |
| 20 | New Mexico | $114,253 | $54.93 |
| 21 | Texas | $106,161 | $51.04 |
| 22 | Georgia | $102,792 | $49.42 |
| 23 | Minnesota | $107,392 | $51.63 |
| 24 | Rhode Island | $104,799 | $50.38 |
| 25 | North Carolina | $98,139 | $47.18 |
| 26 | Nebraska | $99,128 | $47.66 |
| 27 | Oregon | $100,208 | $48.18 |
| 28 | Pennsylvania | $93,825 | $45.11 |
| 29 | Oklahoma | $87,297 | $41.97 |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $89,057 | $42.82 |
| 31 | Hawaii | $115,885 | $55.71 |
| 32 | Kansas | $99,834 | $48.00 |
| 33 | Michigan | $97,005 | $46.64 |
| 34 | Arkansas | $89,405 | $42.98 |
| 35 | West Virginia | $95,373 | $45.85 |
| 36 | Wyoming | $88,979 | $42.78 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $92,989 | $44.71 |
| 38 | Vermont | $85,504 | $41.11 |
| 39 | Alaska | $95,950 | $46.13 |
| 40 | Utah | $89,308 | $42.94 |
| 41 | Montana | $84,132 | $40.45 |
| 42 | Mississippi | $67,550 | $32.48 |
| 43 | New Hampshire | $90,986 | $43.74 |
| 44 | Tennessee | $82,811 | $39.81 |
| 45 | Indiana | $83,662 | $40.22 |
| 46 | North Dakota | $85,483 | $41.10 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $82,916 | $39.86 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $84,595 | $40.67 |
| 49 | Iowa | $83,722 | $40.25 |
| 50 | Idaho | $79,534 | $38.24 |
| 51 | Maine | $67,990 | $32.69 |
The highest-paying cities for institution directors are Washington, DC, New York, NY, and Saint Petersburg, FL.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $167,501 | $80.53 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $162,262 | $78.01 |
| 3 | Saint Petersburg, FL | $136,436 | $65.59 |
| 4 | Las Vegas, NV | $134,468 | $64.65 |
| 5 | Baltimore, MD | $132,606 | $63.75 |
| 6 | Newark, NJ | $128,288 | $61.68 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $122,682 | $58.98 |
| 8 | Roanoke, VA | $122,512 | $58.90 |
| 9 | Seattle, WA | $122,173 | $58.74 |
| 10 | Cleveland, OH | $118,487 | $56.96 |
| 11 | Oakland, CA | $116,986 | $56.24 |
| 12 | Pueblo, CO | $116,322 | $55.92 |
| 13 | Carlsbad, NM | $115,223 | $55.40 |
| 14 | Boston, MA | $114,802 | $55.19 |
| 15 | New Orleans, LA | $109,983 | $52.88 |
| 16 | Minneapolis, MN | $107,469 | $51.67 |
| 17 | Galveston, TX | $106,715 | $51.31 |
| 18 | Portland, OR | $99,748 | $47.96 |
| 19 | Charlotte, NC | $98,286 | $47.25 |
| 20 | Pittsburgh, PA | $93,042 | $44.73 |
An institution director's salary ranges from $72,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $172,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $172,000 | $14,333 | $83 |
| 75th Percentile | $140,000 | $11,667 | $67 |
| Average | $111,614 | $9,301 | $54 |
| 25th Percentile | $88,000 | $7,333 | $42 |
| 10th Percentile | $72,000 | $6,000 | $35 |
The highest paying types of institution directors are president/chief executive officer, senior vice president, and president.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dean | $86,317 | $7,193 | $41.50 | 1,183 |
| Co-Founder | $105,022 | $8,752 | $50.49 | 4,214 |
| Co-Owner | $86,704 | $7,225 | $41.68 | 52,915 |
| Chief Finance Officer | $143,947 | $11,996 | $69.21 | 145,184 |
| Owner | $90,334 | $7,528 | $43.43 | 86,486 |
| Chief Operating Officer | $136,604 | $11,384 | $65.67 | 128,993 |
Top companies hiring institution directors now:
Institution director salaries at United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and Cleveland Clinic are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average institution director salary at companies like Udacity and Northwell Health are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States Holocaust Memorial Museum | $149,396 | $71.83 |
| 2 | Cleveland Clinic | $144,762 | $69.60 |
| 3 | Udacity | $143,473 | $68.98 |
| 4 | Northwell Health | $142,997 | $68.75 |
| 5 | Community Medical Center | $141,955 | $68.25 |
| 6 | The Brookings Institution | $137,793 | $66.25 |
| 7 | SMC | $135,659 | $65.22 |
| 8 | Cohen & Steers | $134,193 | $64.52 |
| 9 | UMiami Health System | $133,719 | $64.29 |
| 10 | Geisinger Medical Center | $133,592 | $64.23 |
| 11 | Carilion Clinic | $129,626 | $62.32 |
| 12 | Novant Health | $128,178 | $61.62 |
| 13 | Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Inc. | $127,532 | $61.31 |
| 14 | Swedish Hospital | $127,092 | $61.10 |
| 15 | Providence Health & Services | $125,065 | $60.13 |
| 16 | Janus Henderson U.S. | $122,730 | $59.00 |
| 17 | ARGUS DENTAL PLAN | $121,759 | $58.54 |
| 18 | University Of Minnesota Physicians | $121,542 | $58.43 |
| 19 | UTMB HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS | $119,778 | $57.59 |
| 20 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | $116,860 | $56.18 |
The average institution director salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Health Care | $121,330 | $58.33 |
| 2 | Finance | $109,498 | $52.64 |
| 3 | Non Profits | $93,590 | $45.00 |
| 4 | Education | $83,817 | $40.30 |
The average institution director salary has risen by $11,428 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average institution director earned $100,186 annually, but today, they earn $111,614 a year. That works out to a 3% change in pay for institution directors over the last decade.
Compare institution director salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare institution director salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $112,000 | $53.66 | +0.8% |
| 2024 | $111,000 | $53.23 | -2.8% |
| 2023 | $114,000 | $54.71 | +3.3% |
| 2022 | $110,000 | $52.89 | +1.1% |
| 2021 | $109,000 | $52.29 | +3.4% |
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