Data current as of October 2026 · sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET
Average base salary
$182,000 / year
≈ $15,150 per month · $87.50 per hour
Low $121,000Average $182,000High $237,500
Figures reflect WePayFairly survey data aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. Range estimated at −20% / +25% around the aged average. State figures use estimated geographic differentials. Actual pay varies with experience, location, industry, and organization size.
Total cash compensation
Base salary plus target annual bonus. Target bonus opportunity scales with role level, so a higher base carries a higher target percentage.
Long-term incentive is not shown for this role. Equity awards are only disclosed publicly for the named executive officers of public companies, so no market figure exists for most jobs. See executive pay disclosures.
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About this role
Director Systems Engineering/Programming Section is a senior leadership role that directs multiple teams, programs, and budgets, focused on Systems Engineering/Programming in the Information Technology job family. The title carries Section-level responsibility, indicating a section scope within a department.
The Information Technology function covers the design, build, security, and support of an organization's systems, infrastructure, applications, and data.
Typical experience: 12 to 18 years at the Director level, per widely used corporate career-level norms (Radford, Mercer, and SHRM career-level frameworks). Actual expectations vary by function, industry, and company size.
Own the function within a business unit, region, or enterprise scope
Set strategy, priorities, and standards for the functional area
Manage a team of Managers and their teams
Allocate budget, headcount, and resources across the organization
Represent the function in senior leadership meetings and cross-functional forums
Report on functional performance to the executive team
Design, build, and operate technical systems and applications
Enforce engineering standards, code quality, and best practices
Ensure system reliability, performance, and security
FLSA classification (typical)
Typically Exempt · Executive exemption
Managerial roles at this level typically qualify for the Executive exemption because they customarily direct the work of two or more full-time employees and have authority over hiring, firing, or promotion decisions. Actual classification depends on the specific job duties, salary basis, and any applicable state or local rules. The current federal salary threshold for exemption is $684 per week ($35,568 per year), per the 2020 Department of Labor rule; the 2024 rule that would have raised the threshold was struck down by federal court in November 2024.
Career ladder and pay outlook
Median base pay at each level of the Systems Engineering/Programming ladder. Titles vary by company; levels compare role scope.
Projection assumes market wages keep rising about 3.5% a year, consistent with recent wage growth measured by the BLS Employment Cost Index. It reflects market movement for the title, not individual raises or promotions, which vary.
Get your Personal Pay Report for Director Systems Engineering/Programming Section
Keep your market comparison in a print-ready PDF, with negotiation targets, a script using your numbers, and a five-year market-pay illustration. Career ladder where available.
StateYears of experienceCurrent salary
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Sources and assumptions
Modeled market estimate, aged to 2026. Underlying source families are BLS OEWS May 2025 for BLS-mapped occupations and the 2018–19 collection for corporate titles. Annual aging is compounded at approximately 3–4%; geographic, industry and company-size repricing are modeled. See the role details and methodology for the applicable source and assumptions.
Your free market check includes an estimated percentile and pay gap when you enter your salary. The paid report adds a PDF, negotiation targets and script, and a five-year market-pay illustration. See a full sample report
How much does a Director Systems Engineering/Programming Section make?
The median market pay for a Director Systems Engineering/Programming Section in the United States is about $181,500 per year in 2026, based on WePayFairly's market model.
What is the salary range for a Director Systems Engineering/Programming Section?
A typical market range for a Director Systems Engineering/Programming Section runs from about $154,500 to $208,500, with pay varying by company size, industry, and location.
How this role compares
Director Systems Engineering/Programming Section pays 5% above the average across 12,709 roles in the Information Technology job family (family average $174,000).
Need Director Systems Engineering/Programming Section pay benchmarked for your organization, or defensible compensation analysis for a dispute or valuation? Grahall builds it from primary sources, backed by an expert who testifies.
