Salary guide, May 2025
EHS Director pay, United States
Manufacturing Headhunters uses the published BLS OEWS figures below. They describe the mapped occupation and area, not an individual offer.
This is what we do all day: recruit manufacturing professionals.
The median annual wage for Managers, All Other in the United States was $141,900 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $102,880 and $186,300.
Also searched as: VP EHS, Corporate EHS Director. These titles share this page because BLS reports them under one occupation.
Broader occupation · SOC 11-9199 Managers, All Other
BLS measures this broader occupation across industries. It does not publish a separate wage for this manufacturing title.
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $74,300 | $102,880 | $141,900 | $186,300 | $238,270 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $35.72 | $49.46 | $68.22 | $89.57 | $114.55 |
BLS estimated 622,190 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 11-9199 Managers, All Other, U.S.. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
How does pay compare in the target metros?
| Metro | Median | 25th to 75th | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $106,880 | $77,590 to $162,530 | 11,360 | 1.01 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $117,810 | $74,060 to $163,050 | 5,980 | 1.03 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $122,930 | $78,800 to $168,970 | 5,610 | 0.99 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $147,370 | $109,470 to $199,760 | 4,320 | 1.45 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $169,800 | $128,770 to $218,090 | 34,400 | 0.91 |
| Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $169,800 | $128,770 to $218,090 | 34,400 | 0.91 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $139,810 | $104,100 to $179,000 | 19,890 | 1.23 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $145,370 | $109,590 to $189,350 | 26,170 | 1.45 |
Rank every metro for EHS Director
What should you know about pay by manufacturing industry, United States?
Same BLS occupation, national estimates for each manufacturing industry (NAICS) BLS publishes, May 2025. Industry names are BLS labels. Nested NAICS rows overlap; they are not independent samples and must not be added together. Identical source rows repeated at different publication levels appear once.
- Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing (NAICS 334000)$192,620
- Transportation Equipment Manufacturing (NAICS 336000)$176,980
- Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing (NAICS 324000)$171,620
- Miscellaneous Manufacturing (NAICS 339000)$167,270
- Chemical Manufacturing (NAICS 325000)$165,270
- Machinery Manufacturing (NAICS 333000)$164,040
- Apparel Manufacturing (NAICS 315000)$139,980
- Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing (NAICS 335000)$137,370
- Primary Metal Manufacturing (NAICS 331000)$132,650
- Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing (NAICS 312000)$131,920
- Textile Mills (NAICS 313000)$131,000
- Paper Manufacturing (NAICS 322000)$130,430
- Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing (NAICS 326000)$126,710
- Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing (NAICS 337000)$125,530
- Food Manufacturing (NAICS 311000)$125,200
Bars compare up to 15 non-overlapping 3-digit manufacturing subsectors with exact annual medians. More detailed scopes remain in the table, identified by code and publication level.
| NAICS / scope | Industry | Employment | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31-33 · sector | Manufacturing | 45,220 | $121,950 | $163,860 | $210,040 |
| 334000 · 3-digit | Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | 8,700 | $155,090 | $192,620 | $227,550 |
| 325000 · 3-digit | Chemical Manufacturing | 8,660 | $129,320 | $165,270 | $212,000 |
| 336000 · 3-digit | Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 6,440 | $137,090 | $176,980 | $219,630 |
| 325400 · 4-digit | Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | 4,770 | $138,450 | $171,170 | $221,790 |
| 334500 · 4-digit | Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | 4,570 | $163,880 | $202,090 | $224,530 |
| 336400 · 4-digit | Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 4,530 | $167,770 | $188,440 | $222,570 |
| 333000 · 3-digit | Machinery Manufacturing | 3,830 | $116,080 | $164,040 | $201,640 |
| 339000 · 3-digit | Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 3,370 | $128,490 | $167,270 | $210,310 |
| 3250A1 · 4-digit | Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | 2,960 | $124,090 | $155,310 | $179,600 |
| 3330A1 · 4-digit | Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | 2,960 | $115,620 | $164,260 | $198,400 |
| 311000 · 3-digit | Food Manufacturing | 2,870 | $97,860 | $125,200 | $164,890 |
| 339100 · 4-digit | Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | 2,720 | $135,150 | $171,160 | $214,460 |
| 334400 · 4-digit | Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | 2,200 | $143,740 | $197,920 | $236,080 |
| 332000 · 3-digit | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 2,120 | $90,490 | $117,320 | $146,280 |
| 324000 · 3-digit | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 1,630 | $141,100 | $171,620 | $215,310 |
| 324100 · 4-digit | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 1,630 | $141,100 | $171,620 | $215,310 |
| 335000 · 3-digit | Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing | 1,540 | $107,890 | $137,370 | $187,400 |
| 326000 · 3-digit | Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing | 1,360 | $99,650 | $126,710 | $162,030 |
| 326100 · 4-digit | Plastics Product Manufacturing | 1,090 | $100,360 | $126,360 | $162,480 |
| 3320A1 · 4-digit | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | 1,020 | $99,590 | $124,000 | $155,430 |
| 334100 · 4-digit | Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | 990 | $150,730 | $182,630 | $238,270 |
| 3250A2 · 4-digit | Chemical Manufacturing (3255 and 3256 only) | 930 | $99,590 | $131,710 | $167,890 |
| 327000 · 3-digit | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 850 | $83,200 | $123,710 | $150,850 |
| 322000 · 3-digit | Paper Manufacturing | 840 | $105,200 | $130,430 | $158,560 |
| 336300 · 4-digit | Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | 800 | $106,840 | $128,990 | $160,970 |
| 311900 · 4-digit | Other Food Manufacturing | 740 | $101,990 | $131,170 | $181,250 |
| 334200 · 4-digit | Communications Equipment Manufacturing | 720 | $139,720 | $173,590 | $213,700 |
| 3320A2 · 4-digit | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | 670 | $91,680 | $111,680 | $144,110 |
| 339900 · 4-digit | Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 650 | $95,050 | $125,960 | $166,590 |
| 312000 · 3-digit | Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing | 590 | $97,330 | $131,920 | $169,770 |
| 335900 · 4-digit | Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | 580 | $115,450 | $151,670 | $206,020 |
| 312100 · 4-digit | Beverage Manufacturing | 570 | $96,640 | $129,270 | $169,240 |
| 335300 · 4-digit | Electrical Equipment Manufacturing | 570 | $106,820 | $135,620 | $191,390 |
| 336100 · 4-digit | Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | 550 | $131,710 | $160,440 | $213,570 |
| 321000 · 3-digit | Wood Product Manufacturing | 540 | $84,500 | $119,800 | $152,930 |
| 333300 · 4-digit | Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing | 520 | $123,550 | $170,890 | $221,010 |
| 323000 · 3-digit | Printing and Related Support Activities | 510 | $69,690 | $106,960 | $159,540 |
| 323100 · 4-digit | Printing and Related Support Activities | 510 | $69,690 | $106,960 | $159,540 |
| 331000 · 3-digit | Primary Metal Manufacturing | 510 | $107,120 | $132,650 | $163,200 |
| 311800 · 4-digit | Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing | 480 | $91,160 | $120,870 | $139,510 |
| 322200 · 4-digit | Converted Paper Product Manufacturing | 480 | $101,850 | $124,640 | $147,020 |
| 311600 · 4-digit | Animal Slaughtering and Processing | 450 | $95,980 | $113,160 | $139,660 |
| 337000 · 3-digit | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing | 440 | $99,860 | $125,530 | $165,140 |
| 3370A1 · 4-digit | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing (3371 and 3372 only) | 410 | $98,810 | $125,530 | $158,230 |
| 322100 · 4-digit | Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills | 360 | $112,240 | $137,050 | $164,210 |
| 311400 · 4-digit | Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing | 340 | $99,970 | $133,680 | $172,330 |
| 321900 · 4-digit | Other Wood Product Manufacturing | 300 | $73,350 | $105,470 | $137,080 |
| 332700 · 4-digit | Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 300 | $79,760 | $102,390 | $130,930 |
| 311200 · 4-digit | Grain and Oilseed Milling | 280 | $99,750 | $128,890 | $165,510 |
| 326200 · 4-digit | Rubber Product Manufacturing | 270 | $97,030 | $127,380 | $160,620 |
| 336600 · 4-digit | Ship and Boat Building | 240 | $85,790 | $109,190 | $163,750 |
| 332710 · 5-digit | Machine Shops | 220 | $76,520 | $96,760 | $124,990 |
| 333600 · 4-digit | Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing | 220 | $133,750 | $169,090 | $201,640 |
| 335200 · 4-digit | Household Appliance Manufacturing | 220 | $100,290 | $129,450 | $169,210 |
| 311500 · 4-digit | Dairy Product Manufacturing | 190 | $111,990 | $134,840 | $172,830 |
| 334300 · 4-digit | Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing | 160 | $138,130 | $171,770 | $214,540 |
| 335100 · 4-digit | Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing | 160 | $108,760 | $127,680 | $167,790 |
| 311700 · 4-digit | Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging | 150 | $72,860 | $99,760 | $134,120 |
| 313000 · 3-digit | Textile Mills | 150 | $96,420 | $131,000 | $171,000 |
| 311300 · 4-digit | Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing | 140 | $114,410 | $131,090 | $170,010 |
| 315000 · 3-digit | Apparel Manufacturing | 140 | $101,070 | $139,980 | $177,340 |
| 333500 · 4-digit | Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing | 140 | $87,090 | $124,710 | $168,190 |
| 336500 · 4-digit | Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing | 140 | $133,110 | $158,290 | $200,480 |
| 321200 · 4-digit | Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Wood Product Manufacturing | 130 | $97,180 | $121,090 | $152,710 |
| 331300 · 4-digit | Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing | 130 | $108,700 | $143,670 | $179,290 |
| 336200 · 4-digit | Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing | 130 | $97,010 | $125,020 | $157,330 |
| 315200 · 4-digit | Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing | 120 | $123,170 | $143,680 | $211,960 |
| 332800 · 4-digit | Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities | 120 | $66,940 | $83,210 | $134,650 |
| 314000 · 3-digit | Textile Product Mills | 110 | $82,890 | $109,970 | $155,820 |
| 331400 · 4-digit | Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | 110 | $125,790 | $143,510 | $173,070 |
| 311100 · 4-digit | Animal Food Manufacturing | 100 | $106,360 | $136,520 | $211,550 |
| 321100 · 4-digit | Sawmills and Wood Preservation | 100 | $118,870 | $148,150 | $160,000 |
| 331200 · 4-digit | Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel | 100 | $91,720 | $110,770 | $147,510 |
| 331500 · 4-digit | Foundries | 100 | $99,080 | $122,390 | $143,620 |
| 313200 · 4-digit | Fabric Mills | 80 | $107,080 | $131,100 | $166,190 |
| 331100 · 4-digit | Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | 80 | $109,100 | $126,490 | $156,830 |
| 332720 · 5-digit | Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 80 | $90,760 | $130,500 | $145,620 |
| 314100 · 4-digit | Textile Furnishings Mills | 70 | $92,680 | $133,870 | $172,300 |
| 336900 · 4-digit | Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 50 | $86,720 | $104,190 | $128,790 |
| 313300 · 4-digit | Textile and Fabric Finishing and Fabric Coating Mills | 40 | $101,240 | $151,640 | $202,500 |
| 314900 · 4-digit | Other Textile Product Mills | 40 | $76,350 | $99,670 | $109,990 |
| 313100 · 4-digit | Fiber, Yarn, and Thread Mills | 30 | $83,170 | $96,920 | $126,650 |
| 334600 · 4-digit | Manufacturing and Reproducing Magnetic and Optical Media | Not published by BLS | $89,900 | $92,330 | $144,160 |
What should you know about manufacturing pay mix?
For EHS Director, clarify the base pay before discussing call-outs, travel or extra shifts. OEWS measures straight-time gross wages, not pure base salary or total compensation. It includes base rate, guaranteed pay, commissions and production bonuses. It excludes overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits.
An attendance bonus is not a production bonus; confirm its purpose and treatment rather than adding every bonus to the BLS figure. Skills-based pay steps affect the base rate when they are part of straight-time pay; BLS does not publish a separate rate for each plant's skill grade. Ask whether a tool allowance is expense reimbursement or wage pay. OEWS does not publish a separate tool-allowance component. Keep these items separate in the offer so the published wage is not mistaken for the whole package.
Pay mix here means how published medians for this one BLS occupation differ across manufacturing industries and against the all-industry median. It does not split pay into base, incentive or overtime. BLS wages are straight-time gross pay and exclude overtime, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses.
What should you know about two BLS releases?
| Release period | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | $100,010 | $136,550 | $179,190 |
| May 2025 | $102,880 | $141,900 | $186,300 |
These are two separate BLS estimates from different survey panels. The workers and employers behind them differ, so the gap is not like-for-like pay for the same workers and is not a growth rate. We show no percentage change.
Recruiter's read. Qualitative, not BLS data.
What should you know about authority and independence?
The reporting line matters for a role that may need to say no. A director reporting to the chief operating officer can be pulled into production priorities, while one with a line to the CEO or owner has a firmer footing.
We ask owners how they would respond when the director shuts down a line, and ask candidates what they did in a similar moment. In union groups, the director also coordinates with labor relations on safety committees and discipline, and learns to separate local plant practice from group standards without weakening either.
What should you know about questions?
Wages for the OEWS survey are straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay. Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
What is the median pay for a EHS Director?
The median annual wage for Managers, All Other in the United States was $141,900 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $102,880 and $186,300. This is the broader occupation BLS publishes, not a figure for this exact title.
What does the 10th percentile mean here?
10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than $74,300. 90% earned less than $238,270.
Does this include overtime or bonuses?
Wages for the OEWS survey are straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay. Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
Is this the pay for a EHS Director at a plant?
BLS measures this broader occupation across industries. It does not publish a separate wage for this manufacturing title. These are occupation estimates across all industries, not an offer for a particular manufacturing title.
How many people work in this occupation?
BLS estimated 622,190 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
What should you know about related?
What does this data mean for your opening?
EHS Director roles, tracked under the broader SOC 11-9199 category, currently command a national median annual wage of $141,900. For EHS Director in the United States, releases are separate survey estimates. The May 2025 median is $141,900; the May 2024 median is $136,550. Their arithmetic difference is $5,350.
They are not the same workers' raises and do not establish a pay trend or its cause. The middle band width for this occupation is $83,420, which is determined by the salary levels at the 75th and 25th percentiles. This data encompasses diverse industries beyond just manufacturing, meaning the figures do not isolate plant-specific leadership roles or multi-site responsibility scopes.
Manufacturing industry benchmarks provide a more specific view of compensation for this level of leadership. The Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing industry leads with a median of $202,090. Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing holds a median of $197,920, and Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing reports $192,620. Manufacturing Headhunters observes that these national sector benchmarks are critical for context, as they align more closely with complex manufacturing EHS duties than the general national aggregate.
Geography significantly influences the wage profiles when comparing to high-employment metros. The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV area presents a median of $170,980 with a middle band width of $43,200. In comparison, the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro shows a median of $169,800 with a significantly broader middle band width of $89,320. These figures demonstrate that regional labor market dynamics can shift pay levels well above the national median.
For EHS Director in the United States, OEWS measures straight-time gross wages, not pure base salary or total compensation. Commissions and production bonuses are included; overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits are excluded. Furthermore, the location quotient for the Washington metro is 3.35, while the New York metro sits at 0.91, illustrating varying levels of employment concentration. The data presented covers a total national employment of 622,190 for this occupation category, providing a sound, albeit broad, framework for analysis.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
The national median is based on a broad occupational group and is likely lower than the compensation found in specialized manufacturing industries. Industry-specific rows such as the $202,090 median for measuring instrument manufacturing provide more accurate benchmarks for that sector.
Does the $141,900 national median accurately represent the pay for an EHS Director in manufacturing?
The national median is based on a broad occupational group and is likely lower than the compensation found in specialized manufacturing industries. Industry-specific rows such as the $202,090 median for measuring instrument manufacturing provide more accurate benchmarks for that sector.
What accounts for the change in the EHS Director median between May 2024 and May 2025?
For EHS Director in the United States, releases are separate survey estimates. The May 2025 median is $141,900; the May 2024 median is $136,550. Their arithmetic difference is $5,350. They are not the same workers' raises and do not establish a pay trend or its cause.
Why is the middle band width for the New York-Newark-Jersey City area significantly wider than the national band?
The New York-Newark-Jersey City metro area shows a middle band width of $89,320, compared to the national band of $83,420. This indicates a wider range of salary distribution among the 25th and 75th percentiles within the local labor market.
Related recruiting or pay page · Related wage comparison 1 · Data methodology · Related wage comparison 3 · Related wage comparison 4