▼18%
$149,537
Avg. Base Salary (USD)
/ year
Avg. Base Salary (USD)
10%
$81k
MEDIAN
$150k
90%
$230k
The average salary for an Executive Director is $149,537 in 2025
Base Salary
$81k - $230k
Bonus
$2k - $50k
Profit Sharing
$10k - $70k
Total Pay
$81k - $248k
Is Average Executive Director with Leadership Skills Salary in Washington, District of Columbia your job title? Find out what you should be paid
Use our tool to get a personalized report on your market worth.What's this?
EXPLORE BY:
Featured Content
‹
Remote Work
New research shows how to set pay for remote employees
Gender Pay Gap
New research shows that each woman experiences the disparity of gender pay gap in different ways, depending on her position, age, race and education.
Compensation Best Practices Report
From compensation planning to variable pay to pay equity analysis, we surveyed 4,900+ organizations on how they manage compensation.
Salary Budget Survey Report
See how organizations are shifting their salary budgets this year.
Retention Report
Get strategies you can use to retain top talent and learn how impactful employee retention really is.
Variable Pay Playbook
Before you decide whether variable pay is right for your org, get a deeper understanding of the variable pay options and the cultural impact of pay choices.
›
What is the Pay by Experience Level for Executive Directors?
What Do Executive Directors Do?
Find your market worth – how it works:
Common Health Benefits for a Executive Director
Medical
89%
Dental
79%
Vision
70%
None
11%
Gender Breakdown for Executive Directors
Female
68.6%
Male
27.5%
Prefer to self-define
2.0%
This data is based on 51 survey responses. Learn more about the gender pay gap.
FAQs About Executive Directors
What is the highest pay for Executive Directors in Washington?
Our data indicates that the highest pay for an Executive Director in Washington is $230k / year
What is the lowest pay for Executive Directors in Washington?
Our data indicates that the lowest pay for an Executive Director in Washington is $81k / year
How can Executive Directors increase their salary?
Increasing your pay as an Executive Director is possible in different ways. Change of employer: Consider a career move to a new employer that is willing to pay higher for your skills. Level of Education: Gaining advanced degrees may allow this role to increase their income potential and qualify for promotions. Managing Experience: If you are an Executive Director that oversees more junior Executive Directors, this experience can increase the likelihood to earn more.