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The average salary for a Senior Program Officer in the United States is approximately $100,469 per year or $48 per hour. This figure can vary significantly based on location, experience, and the industry in which one works. For example, states such as California and New York often offer higher salaries due to the cost of living and demand for skilled professionals. Additionally, industries like non-profit organizations and government agencies frequently provide competitive compensation packages.
As a Senior Program Officer, your responsibilities typically include overseeing program development, managing budgets, and ensuring the effective implementation of organizational strategies. This role requires strong leadership and communication skills, as well as a deep understanding of project management principles. With experience, Senior Program Officers often see their salaries increase, reflecting their expertise and contributions to their organizations.
For those interested in pursuing a career as a Senior Program Officer, job opportunities can be found across various sectors, including healthcare, education, and social services. Networking and continuous professional development are crucial for advancement in this field.
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The highest-paying states for senior program officers are California, Washington, and Georgia. The lowest average senior program officer salary states are Iowa, Nebraska, and South Carolina.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | $115,840 | $55.69 |
| 2 | New York | $104,834 | $50.40 |
| 3 | California | $148,335 | $71.31 |
| 4 | Idaho | $93,915 | $45.15 |
| 5 | Washington | $118,148 | $56.80 |
| 6 | Colorado | $99,965 | $48.06 |
| 7 | Georgia | $116,239 | $55.88 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $101,227 | $48.67 |
| 9 | New Mexico | $92,826 | $44.63 |
| 10 | Arizona | $89,509 | $43.03 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $92,597 | $44.52 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $87,153 | $41.90 |
| 13 | North Carolina | $85,661 | $41.18 |
| 14 | Delaware | $83,986 | $40.38 |
| 15 | Alaska | $95,765 | $46.04 |
| 16 | District of Columbia | $95,728 | $46.02 |
| 17 | Alabama | $81,750 | $39.30 |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $79,166 | $38.06 |
| 19 | Illinois | $84,140 | $40.45 |
| 20 | South Dakota | $78,989 | $37.98 |
| 21 | Wyoming | $86,955 | $41.81 |
| 22 | Massachusetts | $88,957 | $42.77 |
| 23 | Oklahoma | $81,680 | $39.27 |
| 24 | Oregon | $83,871 | $40.32 |
| 25 | Michigan | $80,170 | $38.54 |
| 26 | Maryland | $88,327 | $42.46 |
| 27 | Pennsylvania | $79,450 | $38.20 |
| 28 | Vermont | $85,801 | $41.25 |
| 29 | Maine | $76,418 | $36.74 |
| 30 | Tennessee | $76,411 | $36.74 |
| 31 | Montana | $82,504 | $39.67 |
| 32 | Texas | $78,291 | $37.64 |
| 33 | Minnesota | $74,214 | $35.68 |
| 34 | Ohio | $77,104 | $37.07 |
| 35 | West Virginia | $74,327 | $35.73 |
| 36 | North Dakota | $71,978 | $34.60 |
| 37 | Florida | $72,241 | $34.73 |
| 38 | Missouri | $78,953 | $37.96 |
| 39 | Mississippi | $73,122 | $35.15 |
| 40 | Indiana | $76,773 | $36.91 |
| 41 | Kansas | $76,793 | $36.92 |
| 42 | Utah | $76,680 | $36.87 |
| 43 | Virginia | $72,384 | $34.80 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $67,946 | $32.67 |
| 45 | Kentucky | $73,566 | $35.37 |
| 46 | Hawaii | $75,462 | $36.28 |
| 47 | Iowa | $68,512 | $32.94 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $65,294 | $31.39 |
| 49 | Wisconsin | $59,335 | $28.53 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $65,902 | $31.68 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $62,223 | $29.91 |
The highest-paying cities for senior program officers are San Francisco, CA, Seattle, WA, and Atlanta, GA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $169,560 | $81.52 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $120,001 | $57.69 |
| 3 | Atlanta, GA | $117,118 | $56.31 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $104,929 | $50.45 |
| 5 | Trenton, NJ | $101,085 | $48.60 |
| 6 | Aurora, CO | $99,796 | $47.98 |
| 7 | Washington, DC | $95,789 | $46.05 |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $88,956 | $42.77 |
| 9 | Baltimore, MD | $88,388 | $42.49 |
| 10 | Charlotte, NC | $85,488 | $41.10 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $84,173 | $40.47 |
| 12 | Portland, OR | $82,073 | $39.46 |
| 13 | Greenville, TX | $79,374 | $38.16 |
| 14 | Arlington, VA | $72,992 | $35.09 |
| 15 | Little Rock, AR | $65,274 | $31.38 |
A senior program officer's salary ranges from $68,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $146,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $146,000 | $12,167 | $70 |
| 75th Percentile | $122,000 | $10,167 | $59 |
| Average | $100,469 | $8,372 | $48 |
| 25th Percentile | $82,000 | $6,833 | $39 |
| 10th Percentile | $68,000 | $5,667 | $33 |
The highest paying types of senior program officers are director, deputy program director, and director of senior programs.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Director | $113,489 | $9,457 | $54.56 | 230,711 |
| Sports Director | $61,211 | $5,101 | $29.43 | 13,106 |
| Director Of After School Program | $49,648 | $4,137 | $23.87 | 94,858 |
| Director Of Program Development | $69,014 | $5,751 | $33.18 | 131,077 |
| Program Supervisor | $45,460 | $3,788 | $21.86 | 65,551 |
| Program Manager | $96,084 | $8,007 | $46.19 | 197,556 |
Top companies hiring senior program officers now:
Senior program officer salaries at Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Amazon are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average senior program officer salary at companies like Low Income Investment Fund and BNP Paribas are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation | $171,417 | $82.41 |
| 2 | Amazon | $147,679 | $71.00 |
| 3 | Low Income Investment Fund | $142,803 | $68.66 |
| 4 | BNP Paribas | $138,606 | $66.64 |
| 5 | Bank of the West | $138,097 | $66.39 |
| 6 | International Peace Institute | $135,777 | $65.28 |
| 7 | Mercy Corps | $127,893 | $61.49 |
| 8 | Open Society Foundations | $125,534 | $60.35 |
| 9 | United States Institute of Peace | $124,691 | $59.95 |
| 10 | Banyan | $121,472 | $58.40 |
| 11 | Global Knowledge | $118,355 | $56.90 |
| 12 | Abt Associates | $116,063 | $55.80 |
| 13 | Winrock International | $114,505 | $55.05 |
| 14 | New York University | $110,627 | $53.19 |
| 15 | World Learning | $106,014 | $50.97 |
| 16 | FHI 360 | $105,937 | $50.93 |
| 17 | Wikimedia Foundation | $105,610 | $50.77 |
| 18 | Jhpiego | $105,139 | $50.55 |
| 19 | SpaceX | $103,763 | $49.89 |
| 20 | International Rescue Committee | $103,465 | $49.74 |
The average senior program officer salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Non Profits | $119,657 | $57.53 |
| 2 | Professional | $106,579 | $51.24 |
| 3 | Manufacturing | $85,853 | $41.28 |
| 4 | Internet | $82,960 | $39.88 |
The average senior program officer salary has risen by $7,548 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average senior program officer earned $92,921 annually, but today, they earn $100,469 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for senior program officers over the last decade.
Compare senior program officer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare senior program officer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $100,000 | $48.30 | +2.6% |
| 2024 | $97,900 | $47.05 | +3.7% |
| 2023 | $94,300 | $45.32 | +0.1% |
| 2022 | $94,200 | $45.28 | +0.9% |
| 2021 | $93,300 | $44.86 | +3.5% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citigroup Inc. | Csis SR Program Officer-VP-(Hybrid) | New York, NY | 06/28/2025 | $116,880 |
| IREX | Senior Program Officer II | Washington, DC | 06/27/2025 | $88,000 |
| Wwf Us | Senior Program Officer, Corporate Climate Engagement | Washington, DC | 06/26/2025 | $82,300 |
| First Citizens Bank | Senior Risk Officer-Program Governance | Raleigh, NC | 06/25/2025 | $107,000 |
| Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation | Senior Program Officer, Drug Discovery | Seattle, WA | 06/21/2025 | $285,300 |
| World Wildlife Fund | Senior Program Officer, Corporate Climate Engagement | Washington, DC | 06/14/2025 | $82,300 |
| Auburn University | Senior Sponsored Programs Officer | Auburn, AL | 06/05/2025 | $72,190 |
| Wwf Us | Senior Program Officer, Strategic Planning and Finance | Washington, DC | 05/26/2025 | $82,300 |
| Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation | Senior Program Officer, Digital Public Finance, Development Policy & Finance | Washington, DC | 05/23/2025 | $169,700 |
| First Citizens Bank | Senior Risk Officer-Program Governance (Remote) | Raleigh, NC | 05/20/2025 | $107,000 |
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