What are the main factors that influence a DEI Specialist's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change A DEI Specialist's salary?

A DEI Specialist's salary grows with experience: starting around $86,145 for beginners, reaching about $122,066 at mid-level, and approach $165,470 for experts.

What are the highest paying states for a DEI Specialist?

DEI Specialist salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for DEI Specialist roles are District of Columbia $97,625, California $97,254, Massachusetts $95,958. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of DEI Specialist roles make?

Salaries for DEI Specialist level roles vary by specialization: DEI Director: $211,063; DEI Senior Manager: $172,733; DEI Specialist V: $151,083; DEI Program Manager: $140,140; DEI Manager: $137,719.

DEI Specialist Salary in the United States

How much does a DEI Specialist make in the United States? As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a DEI Specialist in the United States is $88,173 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $42.

However, a DEI Specialist's salary can vary significantly. Here's a look at the typical salary range:

Top Earners (90th percentile): $106,767
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $80,865 to $97,906
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $74,211

10% $74,211

50% (Median) $88,173

90% $106,767

DEI Specialist Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$97,906	$8,159	$1,883	$47
Average	$88,173	$7,348	$1,696	$42
25th Percentile	$80,865	$6,739	$1,555	$39

Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

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Key Factors That Influence DEI Specialist Salaries

A DEI Specialist's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects DEI Specialist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a DEI Specialist's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $86,145
Early Career (1-2 years): $96,177
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $122,066
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $141,798
Expert (over 8 years): $165,470

Job Role	Years of Experience	Average Salary
DEI Specialist	less than 1 year	$86,145
Storage Management Specialist II	1-2 years	$96,177
Storage Management Specialist III	2-4 years	$122,066
Storage Management Specialist IV	5-8 years	$141,798
Storage Management Specialist V	over 8 years	$165,470

How Do DEI Specialist Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract DEI Specialists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $97,625.
California: $97,254.
Massachusetts: $95,958.

District of Columbia $97,625 California $97,254 Massachusetts $95,958 Washington $95,606 New Jersey $95,570 Alaska $95,447 Connecticut $94,230 New York $93,736

Hawaii $92,158 Rhode Island $91,417 Maryland $90,915 Minnesota $90,227 Colorado $89,963 Illinois $89,874 Oregon $89,539 Delaware $89,292

New Hampshire $89,137 Virginia $88,790 Pennsylvania $87,776 Nevada $87,265 North Dakota $87,097 Michigan $86,832 Wisconsin $86,735 Vermont $86,542

Texas $86,004 Maine $85,968 Arizona $85,915 Ohio $85,854 Georgia $85,043 Indiana $84,637 Wyoming $84,558 Utah $84,434

Iowa $84,381 Kansas $83,958 Louisiana $83,835 North Carolina $83,791 Missouri $83,773 Florida $83,429 Montana $83,244 Nebraska $83,068

Kentucky $82,971 South Carolina $82,618 Tennessee $82,397 Idaho $82,309 New Mexico $81,666 Oklahoma $81,524 Alabama $81,004 South Dakota $80,131

Arkansas $79,655 West Virginia $79,400 Mississippi $78,632

Top Paying Cities for DEI Specialist

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

San Jose: $111,212
San Francisco: $109,995
Oakland: $107,677

San Jose, CA $111,212

San Francisco, CA $109,995

Oakland, CA $107,677

New York, NY $101,521

Paramus, NJ $100,287

Queens Village, NY $100,282

Passaic, NJ $100,199

Bergenfield, NJ $100,191

Stamford, CT $99,997

Huntington, NY $99,961

Newark, NJ $99,309

Bridgeport, CT $99,123

Vallejo, CA $98,947

New Brunswick, NJ $98,912

Petaluma, CA $98,859

Middlesex, NJ $98,692

Somerset, NJ $98,630

Santa Cruz, CA $98,515

Boston, MA $97,978

Monterey, CA $97,668

Seattle, WA $97,466

Santa Rosa, CA $97,448

Los Angeles, CA $97,422

Juneau, AK $97,193

Washington, DC $97,096

Orange, CA $96,782

Santa Ana, CA $96,549

Long Beach, CA $96,461

Anaheim, CA $96,443

Anchorage, AK $96,399

Santa Maria, CA $96,135

Everett, WA $96,117

Danbury, CT $95,807

Bremerton, WA $95,685

Tacoma, WA $95,368

New Suffolk, NY $95,366

Sacramento, CA $95,341

Santa Barbara, CA $95,244

San Diego, CA $95,147

Trenton, NJ $95,147

Brockton, MA $95,050

Fairbanks, AK $94,834

Lompoc, CA $94,609

Lowell, MA $94,538

Ventura, CA $94,521

Nashua, NH $94,503

Stockton, CA $94,495

Modesto, CA $93,851

Poughkeepsie, NY $93,657

Olympia, WA $93,490

Kennewick, WA $93,490

New Haven, CT $93,454

Lawrence, MA $93,137

Hartford, CT $93,049

Riverside, CA $93,031

New Bedford, MA $92,943

Richland, WA $92,943

Bakersfield, CA $92,819

San Bernardino, CA $92,784

New Britain, CT $92,775

Atlantic City, NJ $92,775

New London, CT $92,740

Norwich, CT $92,714

Portsmouth, NH $92,696

Boulder, CO $92,509

Portland, OR $92,387

Worcester, MA $92,379

Minneapolis, MN $92,105

Philadelphia, PA $91,982

Honolulu, HI $91,691

Saint Paul, MN $91,648

Vineland, NJ $91,629

Providence, RI $91,373

Chicago, IL $91,118

Bellingham, WA $91,012

Springfield, MA $90,941

Baltimore, MD $90,915

Chico, CA $90,694

Pittsfield, MA $90,456

Manchester, NH $90,289

Spokane, WA $89,901

Denver, CO $89,892

Albany, NY $89,478

Troy, NY $89,442

Nassau, NY $89,348

Schenectady, NY $89,257

Wilmington, DE $89,187

Burlington, VT $89,063

Salem, OR $89,028

Portland, ME $88,755

Yakima, WA $88,666

Rochester, MN $88,393

Reno, NV $88,349

Fresno, CA $88,349

Milwaukee, WI $88,270

Detroit, MI $88,182

Ann Arbor, MI $88,167

Allentown, PA $88,155

Colorado Springs, CO $88,005

Syracuse, NY $87,961

Carson City, NV $87,961

Houston, TX $87,838

Eugene, OR $87,794

Gary, IN $87,688

Springfield, OR $87,617

Bismarck, ND $87,600

Galveston, TX $87,538

Medford, OR $87,406

Fort Collins, CO $87,370

Concord, NH $87,326

Austin, TX $87,300

Mesa, AZ $87,115

Reading, PA $87,106

Phoenix, AZ $87,097

Dallas, TX $87,071

Saint Cloud, MN $86,986

Madison, WI $86,868

Utica, NY $86,630

Rochester, NY $86,489

Des Moines, IA $86,480

Raleigh, NC $86,471

Atlanta, GA $86,339

Battle Creek, MI $86,312

Salt Lake City, UT $86,286

Lancaster, PA $86,154

Harrisburg, PA $86,030

Kansas City, MO $85,942

Kansas City, KS $85,924

Champaign, IL $85,924

Fort Worth, TX $85,915

Columbus, OH $85,900

Boca Raton, FL $85,880

Pittsburgh, PA $85,845

Richmond, VA $85,810

Indianapolis, IN $85,792

Cleveland, OH $85,783

Las Vegas, NV $85,677

Cincinnati, OH $85,677

Petersburg, VA $85,545

Huntsville, AL $85,413

Lansing, MI $85,354

Lebanon, PA $85,342

Pueblo, CO $85,334

Appleton, WI $85,307

Buffalo, NY $85,272

Dayton, OH $85,245

Racine, WI $85,228

Charlotte, NC $85,219

Saint Louis, MO $85,192

York, PA $85,140

Elkhart, IN $85,140

Gastonia, NC $85,123

Billings, MT $85,102

Beaumont, TX $85,078

Lorain, OH $85,060

Benton Harbor, MI $85,043

Toledo, OH $85,025

Binghamton, NY $84,981

Rock Hill, SC $84,972

Rockford, IL $84,928

Springfield, IL $84,893

Elyria, OH $84,884

Fargo, ND $84,884

Flagstaff, AZ $84,822

Fort Lauderdale, FL $84,769

Duluth, MN $84,716

Miami, FL $84,716

Grand Forks, ND $84,655

Cheyenne, WY $84,655

Bangor, ME $84,461

Cedar Rapids, IA $84,364

Durham, NC $84,327

Louisville, KY $84,320

Grand Rapids, MI $84,302

Hialeah, FL $84,293

Casper, WY $84,170

Scranton, PA $84,064

New Orleans, LA $84,037

Virginia Beach, VA $84,029

Akron, OH $83,984

Peoria, IL $83,870

Sarasota, FL $83,852

Nashville, TN $83,791

Omaha, NE $83,791

Green Bay, WI $83,791

Baton Rouge, LA $83,746

Charleston, SC $83,729

Davenport, IA $83,685

Jamestown, NY $83,685

Tucson, AZ $83,641

Saint Petersburg, FL $83,588

Tampa, FL $83,570

Evansville, IN $83,517

Port Arthur, TX $83,517

Bradenton, FL $83,482

Santa Fe, NM $83,323

Orlando, FL $83,164

Clearwater, FL $83,138

La Crosse, WI $82,953

Canton, OH $82,953

Albuquerque, NM $82,900

Newport News, VA $82,891

High Point, NC $82,865

Ogden, UT $82,829

Corpus Christi, TX $82,759

Norfolk, VA $82,706

Laramie, WY $82,706

Rock Island, IL $82,653

Saginaw, MI $82,635

Jacksonville, FL $82,627

Salisbury, NC $82,609

Boise, ID $82,591

Moline, IL $82,547

Fort Myers, FL $82,521

Memphis, TN $82,503

Tulsa, OK $82,459

Waterloo, IA $82,406

Spartanburg, SC $82,318

Lincoln, NE $82,274

Fort Wayne, IN $82,256

Provo, UT $82,247

Cedar Falls, IA $82,142

San Antonio, TX $82,106

Greensboro, NC $82,071

South Bend, IN $82,062

Savannah, GA $81,965

Muskegon, MI $81,930

Birmingham, AL $81,921

Winston Salem, NC $81,878

Lake Charles, LA $81,666

Anderson, IN $81,648

Lexington, KY $81,621

Augusta, GA $81,595

Greenville, SC $81,595

Lima, OH $81,524

Wichita, KS $81,516

Tuscaloosa, AL $81,516

Columbia, SC $81,436

Springfield, OH $81,419

Asheville, NC $81,278

Bloomington, IN $81,216

Knoxville, TN $80,898

Shreveport, LA $80,890

Wilmington, NC $80,775

Roanoke, VA $80,775

Topeka, KS $80,616

Frankfort, KY $80,607

Oklahoma City, OK $80,546

Chillicothe, OH $80,510

Longview, TX $80,502

Melbourne, FL $80,493

Sioux Falls, SD $80,352

Mobile, AL $80,343

Terre Haute, IN $80,308

Altoona, PA $80,255

Amarillo, TX $80,193

Killeen, TX $80,167

Fayetteville, AR $80,096

Chattanooga, TN $80,070

Sioux City, IA $79,990

Idaho Falls, ID $79,973

Lynchburg, VA $79,902

Gainesville, FL $79,787

Portsmouth, OH $79,743

Little Rock, AR $79,726

Lafayette, LA $79,690

Youngstown, OH $79,690

Daytona Beach, FL $79,638

Clarksville, TN $79,629

Pensacola, FL $79,620

Temple, TX $79,614

Hopkinsville, KY $79,355

Erie, PA $79,338

Florence, SC $79,303

Charleston, WV $79,161

Great Falls, MT $79,117

Macon, GA $78,994

Tallahassee, FL $78,985

Fayetteville, NC $78,967

Waco, TX $78,950

Helena, MT $78,888

Pine Bluff, AR $78,855

Vincennes, IN $78,747

Lubbock, TX $78,712

Alamogordo, NM $78,659

Twin Falls, ID $78,580

Rapid City, SD $78,553

Jackson, MS $78,394

Huntington, WV $78,388

Greenville, MS $78,386

Parkersburg, WV $78,296

Montgomery, AL $78,280

Wichita Falls, TX $78,192

Springfield, MO $78,192

Biloxi, MS $78,147

Monroe, LA $78,059

Johnstown, PA $77,998

Sumter, SC $77,962

Columbus, GA $77,953

Pascagoula, MS $77,786

Abilene, TX $77,786

Kingsport, TN $77,557

Albany, GA $77,557

Gulfport, MS $77,530

Alexandria, LA $77,239

Fort Smith, AR $77,019

El Paso, TX $76,781

Las Cruces, NM $76,384

Harlingen, TX $76,160

Pocatello, ID $76,146

Florence, AL $76,031

Brownsville, TX $76,014

Mcallen, TX $75,829

Dothan, AL $75,705

Columbus, MS $75,181

Altus, OK $74,770

Lawton, OK $74,603

Pierre, SD $74,285

DEI Specialist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For DEI Specialist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 20% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Business Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 10% above the average. In contrast, DEI Specialist positions in Transportation or Software & Networking typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view DEI Specialist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a DEI Specialist

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense	$96,990	$47.0	10%
Business Services	$96,990	$47.0	10%
Construction	$96,990	$47.0	10%
Energy & Utilities	$96,990	$47.0	10%
Healthcare	$96,990	$47.0	10%

DEI Specialist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a DEI Specialist's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

$80,865

Average $88,173/year

$97,906

$6,739

Average $7,348/month

$8,159

$1,555

Average $1,696/week

$1,883

$39

Average $42/hour

$47

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$97,906	$8,159	$1,883	$47
Average	$88,173	$7,348	$1,696	$42
25th Percentile	$80,865	$6,739	$1,555	$39

Salary Trends for DEI Specialist

Salaries for a DEI Specialist can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $70,395 in 2023 to around $70,313 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of DEI Specialist salary trends, click here.

Average Annual Salary of DEI Specialist Over Time

$???
$70,395
$70,686
$70,313
$???
$???

2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$70,395
2024	$70,686
2025	$70,313

Most common benefits for DEI Specialist

Social Security
401 (k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for DEI Specialist

Here are companies hiring for DEI Specialist and their salaries, click below for more details.

C $128,509/per year

C R Bard Inc Biotechnology United States

H $124,697/per year

Henry Schein Canada Biotechnology United States

N $123,899/per year

Nordex Inc Biotechnology United States

N $120,416/per year

Nipro Corp Biotechnology United States

E $115,870/per year

Enovis Biotechnology United States

A $114,553/per year

Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy Biotechnology United States

M $112,110/per year

MiniMed Inc Biotechnology United States

L $111,500/per year

Labcorp Drug Development Biotechnology United States

L $110,229/per year

Life Technologies Corp Biotechnology United States

Z $106,224/per year

Zimmer Biomet Biotechnology United States

P $103,077/per year

Promontory Therapeutics Biotechnology United States

S $102,181/per year

Steris PLC Biotechnology United States

G $97,274/per year

Gavin Conferences Pty Ltd Biotechnology United States

E $94,764/per year

Endeavor BioMedicines Biotechnology United States

R $94,402/per year

Replay Holdings LLC Biotechnology United States

P $94,235/per year

Pleno Inc Biotechnology United States

S $93,666/per year

Simulaids Inc Biotechnology United States

N $88,880/per year

NOIRLab/CAS Biotechnology United States

O $86,468/per year

Onward Technology Biotechnology United States

L $84,895/per year

LED Medical Diagnostics Inc Biotechnology United States

E $84,682/per year

Eyeco Ltd Biotechnology United States

P $84,523/per year

Paerosol Biotechnology United States

I $83,525/per year

IONIQ Sciences Inc Biotechnology United States

S $82,815/per year

Stateside PPE Biotechnology United States

D $82,041/per year

Digi Bio Biotechnology United States

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FAQ about DEI Specialist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for DEI Specialist?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for DEI Specialist roles, with salaries approximately 10% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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DEI Specialist Salary in the United States

Check out DEI Specialist Job Openings in the United States

Key Factors That Influence DEI Specialist Salaries

How Experience Level Affects DEI Specialist Salaries?

How Do DEI Specialist Salaries Vary from State to State?

Top Paying Cities for DEI Specialist

DEI Specialist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

The top paying industries for a DEI Specialist

DEI Specialist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Salary Trends for DEI Specialist

Average Annual Salary of DEI Specialist Over Time

Most common benefits for DEI Specialist

Common company salaries for DEI Specialist

Find Your Next DEI Specialist Job

For Employees

For Employers

FAQ about DEI Specialist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for DEI Specialist?

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

DEI Specialist Salary in the United States

Check out DEI Specialist Job Openings in the United States

Key Factors That Influence DEI Specialist Salaries

How Experience Level Affects DEI Specialist Salaries?

How Do DEI Specialist Salaries Vary from State to State?

Top Paying Cities for DEI Specialist

DEI Specialist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

The top paying industries for a DEI Specialist

DEI Specialist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Salaries of jobs related to DEI Specialist

Salary Trends for DEI Specialist

Average Annual Salary of DEI Specialist Over Time

Most common benefits for DEI Specialist

Common company salaries for DEI Specialist

Find Your Next DEI Specialist Job

For Employees

For Employers

FAQ about DEI Specialist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for DEI Specialist?

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?