For the UK's 2025/26 tax year, the most commonly cited "optimum" director's salary is £12,570 per year, as it fully utilizes your tax-free Personal Allowance and earns you a qualifying year for the State Pension without incurring employee National Insurance (NI) contributions, while also saving on Corporation Tax, though it triggers employer NI. However, a lower salary (e.g., £6,500) or even nil might be better depending on personal factors like other income or pension status, so consulting an accountant is crucial.
The optimum directors salary 2025/26 is £12,570 per annum. The reason for this is all down to the National Insurance (NI) rates. The lower earnings limit for NI in 2025/26 is £6,500 per annum. If you earn over this amount it will count as a qualifying year for your future state pension.
Option 2: £6,500 (Lower Earnings Limit)
To protect your entitlement to the State Pension and benefits, the minimum you should pay yourself in 2025-26 is £6,500 (£125 per week, £542 per month). This is the NIC Lower Earnings Limit (LEL). You won't be liable to pay Income Tax on your salary.
The average total compensation for S&P 500 directors (excluding independent chairs' fees) is $327,096, an increase of 1.8% from $321,220 in 2023. The trend toward stock compensation continues, maintaining the same levels as last year (58%).
While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $115,000 and as low as $16,000, the majority of Director salaries currently range between $32,500 (25th percentile) to $60,500 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $90,000 annually across the United States.
Much like salary packages in other fields, director salaries depend on the size, sector, and complexity of the organisation. Larger companies with extensive operations tend to offer higher director remuneration, reflecting the significant responsibilities and accountabilities that come with such roles.
In 2022, average total director compensation for S&P 500 directors was $316,000, according to Spencer Stuart, up from $245,000 a decade earlier. In 2023, the figure increased by 2% to $321,220. The distribution of total annual director compensation among the S&P 500 is bell-shaped.
As a board member, you are seen as an expert in your field. The company's CEO typically appoints members, and those members have full voting rights. When you join a board of directors, you will gain a high level of visibility and recognition in your community and industry.
The youngest new independent director to join a board in 2025 was 36 years old. The oldest was 77 years old, younger than last year. In 2024, the oldest new independent director was 82 years old — the oldest since the U.S. Spencer Stuart Board Index began. The average age of sitting independent directors is 63.6.
Determining directors' remuneration
The remuneration committee's role is to ensure that director's remuneration is aligned to the company's purpose, strategies, and long-term success.
How to Negotiate Executive Compensation
Average base salary
The average salary for a director is $105,482 per year in the United States and $10,000 profit sharing per year. 24.4k salaries taken from job postings on Indeed in the past 36 months (updated January 12, 2026).
In most cases you would keep your salary lower and pay yourself dividends as it is more tax efficient. It is important to note that dividends can only be paid if a company has made a profit, so past losses could mean the only way to take more money out of the business is via salary not dividends.
A JPMorgan Managing Director (MD) salary varies significantly by role and location but generally involves a base salary plus substantial bonuses and stock, with total compensation often ranging from the mid-$200,000s to over $1 million, especially in revenue-generating roles like investment banking, with averages often cited around $500k-$800k+ total for senior roles in major financial hubs like NYC. For example, tech-focused MDs might see base salaries of $450k+, while dealmakers can reach seven figures total pay.
BoardSource recommends two consecutive three-year terms for nonprofits. The National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) recommends 10 to 15-year terms for for-profit corporate boards.
In the US, board member pay can be substantial
However, the US is a nation of heavy hitters, and big boards pay very well. According to executive compensation firm Veritas, compensation for board members can easily reach $300,000 to $500,000 a year.
500k salary $500,000 jobs
A $200k salary is quite rare for an individual (top 5%), but more common for households, with around 14% of U.S. households earning over $200k, though this varies heavily by location, with high-cost areas like Massachusetts seeing over 22% and lower-cost states much less. While it's significantly above the national median, it's often seen as middle-class or just above in very expensive areas but puts you in a very high percentile nationally, far from the top 1% which starts much higher.