Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Program officer salary
Average program officer salary
$79,553
Understanding the Program Officer Salary
The average salary for a Program Officer in the United States is $79,553 per year. This figure can vary based on factors such as location, experience, and the specific sector in which the officer operates. Generally, Program Officers in higher-cost areas or those with greater responsibilities can expect competitive compensation.
Salary Breakdown by Experience
Experience plays a significant role in salary variation. Entry-level Program Officers might start at a lower salary, while those with extensive experience or in senior positions can earn significantly more. For example:
- Entry-Level: $55,000 - $65,000
- Mid-Level: $70,000 - $90,000
- Senior-Level: $95,000+
Top Paying Locations
Program Officers in states such as California, New York, and Massachusetts tend to earn higher salaries due to the cost of living and demand for skilled professionals. Exploring job opportunities in these regions can lead to increased earnings.
Career Opportunities
Program Officers are essential in various sectors, including non-profit organizations, government agencies, and private corporations. This role not only presents a fulfilling career path but also offers the potential for advancement to leadership positions within organizations.
Let Zippia find your next program officer job
Let Zippia find your next program officer job
Where can a Program Officer earn more?
Program officer salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level program officer | $69,700 | $33.53 |
| Mid-level program officer | $74,700 | $35.91 |
| Senior-level program officer | $89,800 | $43.15 |
Program officer salary estimates from across the web
Average program officer salary by state
The average program officer salary in California, Washington, and Arizona are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average program officer salary states are Arkansas, Tennessee, and Nebraska.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for program officers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona | $86,172 | $41.43 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $80,794 | $38.84 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $78,164 | $37.58 |
| 4 | Oregon | $82,882 | $39.85 |
| 5 | Minnesota | $80,377 | $38.64 |
| 6 | Texas | $83,432 | $40.11 |
| 7 | West Virginia | $77,018 | $37.03 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $85,176 | $40.95 |
| 9 | Washington | $94,008 | $45.20 |
| 10 | Nevada | $73,997 | $35.58 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | $77,633 | $37.32 |
| 12 | California | $100,546 | $48.34 |
| 13 | New York | $77,507 | $37.26 |
| 14 | Indiana | $75,288 | $36.20 |
| 15 | Maine | $73,023 | $35.11 |
| 16 | Illinois | $73,075 | $35.13 |
| 17 | Wyoming | $78,022 | $37.51 |
| 18 | Kentucky | $73,910 | $35.53 |
| 19 | North Carolina | $73,651 | $35.41 |
| 20 | Wisconsin | $71,558 | $34.40 |
| 21 | Georgia | $71,949 | $34.59 |
| 22 | Idaho | $67,191 | $32.30 |
| 23 | New Mexico | $64,899 | $31.20 |
| 24 | Utah | $72,764 | $34.98 |
| 25 | Colorado | $67,270 | $32.34 |
| 26 | North Dakota | $62,018 | $29.82 |
| 27 | South Dakota | $64,126 | $30.83 |
| 28 | Virginia | $72,021 | $34.63 |
| 29 | Hawaii | $75,982 | $36.53 |
| 30 | District of Columbia | $75,601 | $36.35 |
| 31 | Montana | $66,818 | $32.12 |
| 32 | New Hampshire | $64,317 | $30.92 |
| 33 | Ohio | $64,030 | $30.78 |
| 34 | Massachusetts | $70,457 | $33.87 |
| 35 | Michigan | $63,919 | $30.73 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $63,998 | $30.77 |
| 37 | Maryland | $71,860 | $34.55 |
| 38 | Louisiana | $63,522 | $30.54 |
| 39 | Arkansas | $59,929 | $28.81 |
| 40 | Vermont | $67,098 | $32.26 |
| 41 | Kansas | $62,219 | $29.91 |
| 42 | Iowa | $60,808 | $29.23 |
| 43 | Delaware | $66,081 | $31.77 |
| 44 | Alabama | $58,870 | $28.30 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $59,742 | $28.72 |
| 46 | Alaska | $68,151 | $32.76 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $60,353 | $29.02 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $59,131 | $28.43 |
| 49 | Missouri | $62,681 | $30.14 |
| 50 | Nebraska | $59,453 | $28.58 |
| 51 | Florida | $57,958 | $27.86 |
Highest paying cities for program officers
The highest-paying cities for program officers are San Francisco, CA, Seattle, WA, and Phoenix, AZ.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $109,962 | $52.87 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $94,654 | $45.51 |
| 3 | Phoenix, AZ | $86,486 | $41.58 |
| 4 | Newark, NJ | $85,151 | $40.94 |
| 5 | Austin, TX | $83,477 | $40.13 |
| 6 | Portland, OR | $81,955 | $39.40 |
| 7 | Stamford, CT | $81,095 | $38.99 |
| 8 | Minneapolis, MN | $80,430 | $38.67 |
| 9 | New York, NY | $77,690 | $37.35 |
| 10 | Pittsburgh, PA | $76,374 | $36.72 |
| 11 | Washington, DC | $75,570 | $36.33 |
| 12 | Durham, NC | $74,819 | $35.97 |
| 13 | Frankfort, KY | $74,376 | $35.76 |
| 14 | Chicago, IL | $73,283 | $35.23 |
| 15 | Arlington, VA | $72,495 | $34.85 |
| 16 | Atlanta, GA | $72,051 | $34.64 |
| 17 | Baltimore, MD | $71,999 | $34.61 |
| 18 | Boston, MA | $70,373 | $33.83 |
| 19 | Helena, MT | $67,423 | $32.41 |
| 20 | Denver, CO | $67,122 | $32.27 |
Program officer salary details
A program officer's salary ranges from $53,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $117,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a program officer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $117,000 | $9,750 | $56 |
| 75th Percentile | $97,000 | $8,083 | $47 |
| Average | $79,553 | $6,629 | $38 |
| 25th Percentile | $64,000 | $5,333 | $31 |
| 10th Percentile | $53,000 | $4,417 | $25 |
Highest paying program officer jobs
The highest paying types of program officers are communications lead, program manager, and program director.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential Manager | $39,112 | $3,259 | $18.80 | 11,464 |
| Youth Coordinator | $37,761 | $3,147 | $18.15 | 23,062 |
| Student Manager | $50,950 | $4,246 | $24.50 | 14,721 |
| House Manager | $37,235 | $3,103 | $17.90 | 28,706 |
| Communications Lead | $96,988 | $8,082 | $46.63 | 20,413 |
| Youth Leader | $29,481 | $2,457 | $14.17 | 31,851 |
Which companies pay program officers the most?
Program officer salaries at BNP Paribas and Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average program officer salary at companies like Low Income Investment Fund and Citi are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BNP Paribas | $123,783 | $59.51 |
| 2 | Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation | $119,012 | $57.22 |
| 3 | Low Income Investment Fund | $118,996 | $57.21 |
| 4 | Citi | $118,061 | $56.76 |
| 5 | State Street | $117,445 | $56.46 |
| 6 | Barclays | $116,557 | $56.04 |
| 7 | Morgan Stanley | $109,481 | $52.64 |
| 8 | CoreLogic | $109,022 | $52.41 |
| 9 | Merrill Lynch | $107,262 | $51.57 |
| 10 | Stanford University | $106,842 | $51.37 |
| 11 | Bank of the West | $106,722 | $51.31 |
| 12 | American Red Cross | $104,016 | $50.01 |
| 13 | Conrad N. Hilton Foundation | $103,385 | $49.70 |
| 14 | Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation | $103,311 | $49.67 |
| 15 | Dalberg | $103,196 | $49.61 |
| 16 | MacArthur Foundation | $101,649 | $48.87 |
| 17 | General Electric | $99,178 | $47.68 |
| 18 | University of California-Berkeley | $98,198 | $47.21 |
| 19 | Claims Conference | $95,905 | $46.11 |
| 20 | William and Flora Hewlett Foundation | $95,650 | $45.99 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Program Officer salary by industry
The average program officer salary varies across industries:
- The average program officer salary in the finance industry is $87,517, the highest of any industry.
- The average program officer salary in the finance industry is $80,154.
- Program officers in the education industry earn an average salary of $73,049, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for program officers
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Finance | $87,517 | $42.08 |
| 2 | Professional | $80,154 | $38.54 |
| 3 | Non Profits | $76,779 | $36.91 |
| 4 | Government | $75,282 | $36.19 |
| 5 | Education | $73,049 | $35.12 |
High paying program officer jobs
Program officer salary trends
The average program officer salary has risen by $12,505 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average program officer earned $67,048 annually, but today, they earn $79,553 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for program officers over the last decade.
Compare program officer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average program officer salary over time
Compare program officer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Program officer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $79,600 | $38.25 | +3.5% |
| 2025 | $76,800 | $36.90 | +2.7% |
| 2024 | $74,700 | $35.89 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | $73,300 | $35.22 | -0.9% |
| 2022 | $73,900 | $35.54 | +1.8% |
Recently added program officer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Foundation | Program Officer, Building Institutions and Networks | New York, NY | 06/30/2025 | $173,000 |
| University of Arizona | Academic Programs Officer II | Tucson, AZ | 06/30/2025 | $65,687 |
| Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE | Associate Program Officer, Program Department | Washington, DC | 06/28/2025 | $57,000 |
| Envision Education | Program Officer Development and Strategic Partnerships | Oakland, CA | 06/28/2025 | $130,000 |
| CIPE | Associate Program Officer, Program Department | Ione, WA | 06/28/2025 | $57,000 |
| Oklahoma State Department of Health | Administrative Programs Officer I | Oklahoma City, OK | 06/27/2025 | $54,175 |
| Enterprise Community Partners | Program Officer | Detroit, MI | 06/27/2025 | $70,000 |
| Oklahoma Military Department | Administrative Programs Officer | Oklahoma City, OK | 06/27/2025 | $62,926 |
| Department of Justice | Correctional Program Officer (Unit Manager) | Greenville, IL | 06/26/2025 | $90,870 |
| Department of The Interior | Correctional Program Officer | Billings, MT | 06/26/2025 | $105,383 |
Program officer salary FAQs
Search for program officer jobs