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State director salary
Average state director salary
$100,102
Average State Director Salary Insights
As of October 2025, the average salary for a State Director is approximately $100,102 per year, translating to about $48 per hour. This compensation can differ significantly based on several factors, including geographical location, years of experience, and the specific sector of employment.
Factors Influencing Salary
State Directors overseeing public agencies or large nonprofits often earn higher salaries compared to those in smaller organizations. Additionally, regions with a higher cost of living, such as California or New York, typically offer more competitive salaries. For instance, State Directors in California may earn upwards of $120,000 annually.
Salary by Experience
Experience plays a pivotal role in determining salary levels. Entry-level State Directors might earn closer to $80,000, while those with extensive experience can command salaries exceeding $150,000. Understanding these dynamics is essential for professionals aiming to negotiate their salaries effectively.
Job Opportunities
For those interested in pursuing a career as a State Director, resources such as Zippia can provide valuable job listings and insights into the hiring landscape. This ensures candidates can make informed decisions about their career paths.
Let Zippia find your next state director job
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Where can a State Director earn more?
State director salary estimates from across the web
Average state director salary by state
The highest-paying states for state directors are New Jersey, New York, and California. The lowest average state director salary states are South Dakota, Montana, and Tennessee.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for state directors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $151,699 | $72.93 |
| 2 | New York | $146,769 | $70.56 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $125,153 | $60.17 |
| 4 | California | $126,331 | $60.74 |
| 5 | Washington | $126,147 | $60.65 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $114,863 | $55.22 |
| 7 | Delaware | $106,471 | $51.19 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $106,516 | $51.21 |
| 9 | Nevada | $122,868 | $59.07 |
| 10 | Maryland | $124,617 | $59.91 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $100,704 | $48.42 |
| 12 | Louisiana | $92,077 | $44.27 |
| 13 | Virginia | $104,247 | $50.12 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $89,586 | $43.07 |
| 15 | Oregon | $93,002 | $44.71 |
| 16 | Arizona | $94,504 | $45.43 |
| 17 | Missouri | $95,315 | $45.82 |
| 18 | Alabama | $84,921 | $40.83 |
| 19 | Hawaii | $111,654 | $53.68 |
| 20 | Texas | $91,945 | $44.20 |
| 21 | New Mexico | $100,122 | $48.14 |
| 22 | North Carolina | $86,924 | $41.79 |
| 23 | Colorado | $92,537 | $44.49 |
| 24 | Georgia | $85,993 | $41.34 |
| 25 | Michigan | $89,191 | $42.88 |
| 26 | Illinois | $82,865 | $39.84 |
| 27 | Florida | $87,649 | $42.14 |
| 28 | Vermont | $80,785 | $38.84 |
| 29 | West Virginia | $87,223 | $41.93 |
| 30 | Arkansas | $74,044 | $35.60 |
| 31 | New Hampshire | $86,974 | $41.81 |
| 32 | Nebraska | $82,545 | $39.69 |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $78,800 | $37.88 |
| 34 | Ohio | $80,398 | $38.65 |
| 35 | Oklahoma | $72,764 | $34.98 |
| 36 | Wyoming | $74,211 | $35.68 |
| 37 | Iowa | $71,301 | $34.28 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $79,729 | $38.33 |
| 39 | Minnesota | $77,743 | $37.38 |
| 40 | Kentucky | $71,968 | $34.60 |
| 41 | Utah | $76,354 | $36.71 |
| 42 | Alaska | $78,534 | $37.76 |
| 43 | Kansas | $75,096 | $36.10 |
| 44 | Montana | $70,440 | $33.87 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $56,013 | $26.93 |
| 46 | Indiana | $73,727 | $35.45 |
| 47 | North Dakota | $72,553 | $34.88 |
| 48 | Tennessee | $69,692 | $33.51 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $70,834 | $34.05 |
| 50 | Idaho | $69,267 | $33.30 |
| 51 | Maine | $64,988 | $31.24 |
Highest paying cities for state directors
The highest-paying cities for state directors are New York, NY, San Francisco, CA, and Seattle, WA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $150,660 | $72.43 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $133,641 | $64.25 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $128,944 | $61.99 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $126,104 | $60.63 |
| 5 | Baltimore, MD | $125,827 | $60.49 |
| 6 | Las Vegas, NV | $124,302 | $59.76 |
| 7 | Worcester, MA | $106,731 | $51.31 |
| 8 | Phoenix, AZ | $94,791 | $45.57 |
| 9 | Albany, OR | $93,685 | $45.04 |
| 10 | Pueblo, CO | $93,630 | $45.01 |
| 11 | Dallas, TX | $92,286 | $44.37 |
| 12 | Detroit, MI | $89,788 | $43.17 |
| 13 | Raleigh, NC | $88,154 | $42.38 |
| 14 | Miami, FL | $86,816 | $41.74 |
| 15 | Atlanta, GA | $85,976 | $41.33 |
| 16 | Birmingham, AL | $84,524 | $40.64 |
| 17 | Chicago, IL | $83,055 | $39.93 |
| 18 | Cleveland, OH | $81,364 | $39.12 |
| 19 | Milwaukee, WI | $79,292 | $38.12 |
| 20 | Saint Paul, MN | $77,814 | $37.41 |
State director salary details
A state director's salary ranges from $59,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $167,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a state director's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $167,000 | $13,917 | $80 |
| 75th Percentile | $131,000 | $10,917 | $63 |
| Average | $100,102 | $8,342 | $48 |
| 25th Percentile | $76,000 | $6,333 | $37 |
| 10th Percentile | $59,000 | $4,917 | $28 |
Highest paying state director jobs
The highest paying types of state directors are president/chief executive officer, chief executive officer, and vice president.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner | $90,334 | $7,528 | $43.43 | 86,486 |
| Chief Of Staff | $130,835 | $10,903 | $62.90 | 124,272 |
| Chief Operating Officer | $136,604 | $11,384 | $65.67 | 128,993 |
| Vice President | $158,637 | $13,220 | $76.27 | 119,530 |
| Director, Special Projects | $129,916 | $10,826 | $62.46 | 45,103 |
| Regional Director Of Operations | $115,156 | $9,596 | $55.36 | 130,533 |
Top companies hiring state directors now:
Which companies pay state directors the most?
State director salaries at Pwc and MasterBrand Cabinets are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average state director salary at companies like Stand Together and AmeriHealth Caritas are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pwc | $165,343 | $79.49 |
| 2 | MasterBrand Cabinets | $154,449 | $74.25 |
| 3 | Stand Together | $153,447 | $73.77 |
| 4 | AmeriHealth Caritas | $147,733 | $71.03 |
| 5 | HashiCorp | $146,860 | $70.61 |
| 6 | Halliburton | $146,735 | $70.55 |
| 7 | Wells Fargo | $140,793 | $67.69 |
| 8 | Grant Thornton | $139,957 | $67.29 |
| 9 | Prudential Bank | $137,069 | $65.90 |
| 10 | Colgate-Palmolive | $135,688 | $65.23 |
| 11 | AARP | $135,413 | $65.10 |
| 12 | Fortune Brands Home & Security | $133,369 | $64.12 |
| 13 | Liberty Mutual Insurance | $131,994 | $63.46 |
| 14 | Moss Adams | $129,755 | $62.38 |
| 15 | Black & Veatch | $129,107 | $62.07 |
| 16 | KPMG LLP | $125,474 | $60.32 |
| 17 | Cohen & Company | $123,306 | $59.28 |
| 18 | NextGen America | $116,947 | $56.22 |
| 19 | No Labels | $115,822 | $55.68 |
| 20 | Weaver | $113,621 | $54.63 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
State director salary trends
The average state director salary has risen by $10,250 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average state director earned $89,852 annually, but today, they earn $100,102 a year. That works out to a 3% change in pay for state directors over the last decade.
Compare state director salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average state director salary over time
Compare state director salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
State director salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $100,000 | $48.13 | +0.8% |
| 2025 | $99,300 | $47.74 | -2.8% |
| 2024 | $102,000 | $49.07 | +3.3% |
| 2023 | $98,700 | $47.43 | +1.1% |
| 2022 | $97,600 | $46.90 | +3.4% |
Recently added state director salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Working Families Party | Rhode Island State Director | Rhode Island | 06/29/2025 | $85,000 |
| Working Families Party | Massachusetts State Director | Rowe, MA | 06/29/2025 | $106,250 |
| Medical Air Services Association | State Sales Director | Indianapolis, IN | 06/26/2025 | $100,000 |
| Doordash | Director, Head of U.S. State & Local Public Policy | San Francisco, CA | 06/26/2025 | $190,400 |
| Empire State College | Director of Apprenticeships and Dual Enrollment-Empire State University | New York, NY | 06/25/2025 | $80,000 |
| DW Simpson | Director, State Pricing-Hybrid | Washington, DC | 06/24/2025 | $137,000 |
| Empower Retirement | State Director-Government Markets | Baltimore, MD | 06/21/2025 | $123,000 |
| Thompson Child & Family Focus | State Director, Child Services | Louisville, KY | 06/20/2025 | $80,000 |
| State of Indiana | State Director, Gal/Casa | Indianapolis, IN | 06/14/2025 | $85,020 |
| Doordash | Director, Head of U.S. State & Local Public Policy | San Francisco, CA | 06/14/2025 | $190,400 |
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