Security & Investigations · Senior

Maritime Security Director Salary

Compensation benchmarks from 255 verified sources including industry surveys, published reports, and market intelligence.

National Compensation Range

P25

$100,000

25th percentile

P50

$155,000

Median

P75

$140,000

75th percentile

CANDIDATE MARKET

Very Tight

Scarcity: 8/10

EST. CANDIDATE POOL

30-80

Active candidates nationally

DEMAND TREND

Stable

8% year-over-year

RETENTION

3.8 yr avg tenure

18% annual turnover

Maritime Security Director Salary by City

New York City, NY$215,000
San Francisco, CA$200,000
Palm Beach, FL$200,000
Boston, MA$195,000
Los Angeles, CA$185,000

Median (P50) adjusted for metro cost of labor.

Market Trends

Gulf maritime hub premium applied. UAE maritime directors at O&G/shipping earn near-parity with US.

Also Known As

Director of Maritime Security, Head of Maritime Security, VP Maritime Operations Security

What Does a Maritime Security Director Do?

The Maritime Security Director operates providing executive protection, threat assessment, and security operations for high-net-worth families, corporate principals, or private organizations. Professionals in this role typically bring 12 to 18 years of relevant experience. Classified at the Senior level, this position draws from a very tight candidate market with an estimated pool of 30-80 qualified professionals, making targeted sourcing and competitive compensation critical for successful placements.

What Drives Maritime Security Director Compensation?

The median (P50) compensation for a Maritime Security Director is $155,000, with the 25th to 75th percentile range spanning $100,000 to $140,000. Pay variation across this range is primarily driven by principal risk profile, domestic vs. international travel requirements, team size managed, security clearance level, and specialized training in surveillance detection or threat mitigation. Demand for this role is trending upward with 0.08% year-over-year growth, which is putting upward pressure on compensation at all levels.

Maritime Security Director Career Path

Professionals who move into Maritime Security Director roles most commonly come from military special operations, federal law enforcement, intelligence agencies, or corporate security departments. From this position, the typical trajectory leads toward director of security for large family offices, corporate security leadership, or independent security consulting. The average tenure in this role is approximately 3.8 years, with an annual turnover rate of 18%.

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