Programs
Program Director salary
Directs one or more programs or a service region. Based on 168 job-posting observations from Southern California nonprofits, reconciled with IRS filings.
Based on 168 postings✓ Full range shown (10+ postings)✓ Verified against IRS Form 990
nis the number of individual job postings a figure is calculated from. The more postings behind a number, the more you can trust it. We never publish anything based on fewer than 5.
Direct-service ladderCareer path
Most human-services careers climb the same path: start on the floor of a shelter or residential program, then manage a caseload, then manage people, then manage programs, then run them. In housing, homeless services, reentry and behavioral health the higher rungs usually ask for case-management or clinical experience; in education, youth development and advocacy they often don't.
- Step 1Shelter Specialist / Residential Monitor$44,720median of 350 postings
- Step 2Case Manager$52,000median of 533 postings
- Step 3Program Supervisor$66,560median of 106 postings
- Step 4Program Manager$74,250median of 254 postings
- Step 5 · this pageProgram Director$102,188median of 168 postings
Each rung shows the posted-salary median from its own page. The rungs span more than one job function, so they never all appear under Related occupations.
Clinical ladderCareer path
The licensed track: carry a clinical caseload, then supervise other clinicians (a licensure-gated step that usually pays more than a program-manager title), then run the program. In our postings Clinical Program Manager pays below Clinical Supervisor, so it reads as a lateral title rather than the rung above.
- Step 1Mental Health Therapist / Clinician$74,880median of 286 postings
- Step 2Clinical Supervisor$93,952median of 57 postings
- Step 3 · this pageProgram Director$102,188median of 168 postings
Each rung shows the posted-salary median from its own page. The rungs span more than one job function, so they never all appear under Related occupations.
By county
(click a header to sort)| County | Postings | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|
ⓘNot shown (fewer than 5 postings): Santa Barbara (1), Imperial (1), Riverside (2). 25th/75th percentiles appear only where a county has 10+ postings (shown as “N/A” otherwise, since a low count makes those edges unreliable).
By organization budget
| $2M-$10M | $87,500 | 9 postings |
| $10M-$20M | $112,500 | 8 postings |
| $20M-$50M | $91,730 | 32 postings |
| $50M-$100M | $104,096 | 66 postings |
| $100M+ | $103,000 | 50 postings |
By subsector
| Health Care | $125,212 | 5 postings |
| Education | $112,500 | 13 postings |
| Human Services | $92,500 | 85 postings |
| Mental Health & Crisis Intervention | $92,484 | 6 postings |
| Youth Development | $85,000 | 11 postings |
ⓘNot shown (fewer than 5 postings): International, Foreign Affairs & National Security (1), Arts, Culture & Humanities (2), Employment (2), Food, Agriculture & Nutrition (1), Housing & Shelter (2), Community Improvement & Capacity Building (3).
By career level
| Director | $100,500 | 160 postings |
| VP / Executive | $220,000 | 5 postings |
ⓘNot shown (fewer than 5 postings): Entry / Support (1), Staff / Specialist (1), Manager / Supervisor (1).
Organizations hiring now
YMCA of San Diego CountySan Diego County · Budget $100M+$54,080–$136,397View org →
Easterseals of Southern CaliforniaOrange County · Budget $100M+$73,000–$126,000View org →
The People ConcernLos Angeles County · Budget $50M-$100M$78,750–$140,000View org →
St. Joseph CenterLos Angeles County · Budget $20M-$50M$80,000–$150,000View org →
Hope of the Valley Rescue MissionLos Angeles County · Budget $50M-$100M$85,000–$160,000View org →
Dolores Huerta FoundationKern County · Budget $2M-$10M$76,392–$160,000View org →
Alliance for Community EmpowermentLos Angeles County · Budget $2M-$10M$80,000–$126,000View org →
Omni Family HealthKern County · Budget $100M+$104,000–$139,124View org →Actual compensation (IRS Form 990)
| <$2M | $116,541 | 5 employees |
| $2M-$10M | $131,816 | 78 employees |
| $10M-$20M | $150,342 | 48 employees |
| $20M-$50M | $165,322 | 106 employees |
| $50M-$100M | $197,140 | 84 employees |
| $100M+ | $249,779 | 86 employees |
ⓘReported compensation of incumbents from the most recent Form 990 filings — actual pay, not posted ranges.
Want the reported figures behind these numbers?
See the actual executive compensation reported on IRS Form 990 filings, and each organization’s full pay profile.
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