How Much Does a Director of Sales and Marketing Make? (2025)

A Director of Sales and Marketing is one of the most vital leadership roles in any organization. This position is responsible for driving revenue growth, overseeing sales operations, and crafting marketing strategies that align with company goals. Acting as the bridge between the sales and marketing departments, the director ensures that promotional campaigns are effectively generating leads while the sales team is closing deals to maximize profitability.

Beyond just setting sales targets and approving marketing plans, the Director of Sales and Marketing plays a central role in shaping the company's public image, strengthening customer relationships, and identifying new market opportunities.

This salary guide will discuss in detail the average salary of a Director of Sales and Marketing, how pay differs by state and city, the impact of experience on earnings, strategies to increase salary, and frequently asked questions about this career path.

What is the Average Director of Sales and Marketing's Salary?

As of September 28, 2025, the average Director of Sales and Marketing salary in the United States is $199,200 per year. The compensation typically ranges from $162,901 to $228,430, with most Directors of Sales and Marketing earning between $180,200 and $214,500 depending on factors such as company size, industry, education, and experience level.

2025 Average Salary for Directors of Sales and Marketing: $199,200 per year ($96 per hour)

The average monthly salary for this position is approximately $16,600, while the average weekly pay is around $3,831.

Director of Sales and Marketing Salaries State by State

Director of Sales and Marketing salaries vary significantly across states due to cost of living, local economic conditions, industry presence, and demand for leadership roles.

The state with the highest average annual salary is the District of Columbia at $220,500, followed closely by California at $219,700 and Massachusetts at $216,800. Meanwhile, the states with the lowest average annual salaries are Mississippi at $177,700, West Virginia at $179,400, and Arkansas at $180,000.

What are the Best-Paying Cities for Directors of Sales and Marketing?

The cities that offer the highest compensation for Directors of Sales and Marketing are shown below. With an average annual salary of $251,200, San Jose, California is the best-paying city for this position.

How Does Experience Affect Director of Sales and Marketing Salaries?

Experience level plays a major role in determining a Director of Sales and Marketing's salary. As with any position, the more years of experience, the higher the pay.

An entry-level director earns about $187,390, while those with 1 to 2 years of experience average $189,118. Salaries continue to grow with a senior level position (2-4 years) at $191,422, and a specialist level (5-8 years) at $194,879. The highest-paid are at the expert level with over 8 years of experience, earning around $199,200 annually.

How to Increase Salary as a Director of Sales and Marketing?

Increasing your salary in the role of Director of Sales and Marketing is less about luck and more about strategy, influence, and measurable impact. Below are evidence-based tactics and levers you can use to boost your pay, stand out within your position, and align with company priorities.

• Tie compensation to measurable business outcomes: Executives who link their pay to revenue growth, margin expansion, customer acquisition, or cost reduction are more likely to justify higher compensation. For marketing, don't just track leads-show how those leads converted to revenue. For sales, present how your initiatives moved the bottom line. Leaders who present themselves as revenue drivers are often compensated accordingly.
• Own high-impact cross-functional projects: Leading initiatives that cut across sales, marketing, product, or operations allows you to showcase strategic thinking and broader business value. Being the person who leads product launches, brand overhauls, or market expansions gives you leverage to negotiate for more pay.
• Demonstrate mastery in data, analytics, and tools: The more comfortable you are with sales analytics platforms, marketing automation, CRM systems, attribution modeling, predictive scoring, and AI tools, the more you become indispensable. Employers reward leaders who can not only understand the tools but use them to optimize performance and ROI.
• Lead higher-stakes teams and budgets: As your span of control increases-more direct reports, more territory, larger budgets-your value increases. If you can claim responsibility for major P&L budgets, international markets, or strategic product lines, those are strong arguments for higher pay.
• Gain certifications, training, or advanced education: Formal credentials in digital marketing, data analytics, business strategy, or leadership can help differentiate you. In some industries, a master's degree or executive certificate sends a signal that you are serious about growth and creating more leverage.
• Show consistent wins and use metrics: When you deliver increasing conversion rates, improving retention, expanding market share, or launching new revenue streams, make sure these are documented. Use dashboards, quarterly reports, and internal presentations to ensure visibility of your successes. This gives you ammunition when asking for a higher salary or bonus.

Director of Sales and Marketing Skills

According to recent salary insights, professionals with expertise in complex sales see the highest average salary increase of +12.11%, followed by those specializing in key account management at +11.24%.

Other skills showing strong salary growth potential include sales operations (+10.27%), advertising (+9.56%), and marketing strategy (+9.41%). Additionally, digital marketing and brand management remain highly valuable, offering nearly +9% in salary boosts.

What are the FAQs about Director of Sales and Marketing?

Here are some common questions about director of sales and marketing salary:

How does direct sales differ from marketing in this role?

In this position, direct sales involve face-to-face interactions with clients, account management, sharing tips, and closing deals, while marketing focuses on creating brand awareness and generating qualified leads. A strong Director of Sales and Marketing knows how to balance both, ensuring that sales efforts are supported by strategic campaigns.

What skills do you need for jobs in sales and marketing leadership?

Leadership jobs in sales and marketing require a blend of analytical, communication, and strategic thinking skills. Experience in sales strategies, digital campaigns, and customer engagement is crucial. Directors must also manage time effectively to oversee multiple campaigns and respond quickly to market shifts.

How do companies measure the success of sales strategies?

Companies typically evaluate sales strategies based on revenue growth, lead conversion rates, customer retention, and overall ROI. A Director of Sales and Marketing must respond to performance data, adjusting tactics in real time to ensure that sales efforts translate into measurable business success.

What responsibilities in terms of human management fall under this role?

The Director of Sales and Marketing typically manages people, including hiring, training, performance reviews, and mentoring. They may lead teams across both sales and marketing divisions. They also coordinate human resource functions such as setting quotas, assigning territories, and ensuring team alignment with strategy.