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The differences between academic directors and athletic directors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both an academic director and an athletic director. Additionally, an academic director has an average salary of $122,669, which is higher than the $71,311 average annual salary of an athletic director.
The top three skills for an academic director include professional development, curriculum development and student performance. The most important skills for an athletic director are student athletes, NCAA, and physical education.
| Academic Director | Athletic Director | |
| Yearly salary | $122,669 | $71,311 |
| Hourly rate | $58.98 | $34.28 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 12,420 | 11,759 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
The academic director is the person that leads the school or university in an active stance in education. The vitality of the level of education rests on the shoulders of the director. The academic director is also responsible for hiring faculty staff, working with teachers and professors to create and develop the school curriculum, work with the school administrator regarding student affairs and help in the administrative duties in line with the educational institution. Also included in the academic director's task is assessing incoming students, processing grades, and attending to students' needs and welfare.
An athletics director is an administrative professional who is responsible for managing all activities related to the athletic program of a school, university, or college. The director must ensure that the school follows athletic rules and regulations as well as provide direction and guidance for its athletic program. This director must work with coaches to file reports on the progress of each of the athletic teams. The director must also assist in hiring coaches and athletic staff and should mediate disputes between coaches and athletes.
Academic directors and athletic directors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Academic Director | Athletic Director | |
| Average salary | $122,669 | $71,311 |
| Salary range | Between $78,000 And $191,000 | Between $40,000 And $126,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Alameda, CA |
| Highest paying state | Oregon | California |
| Best paying company | Emory Healthcare | Kern Community College District |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Insurance |
There are a few differences between an academic director and an athletic director in terms of educational background:
| Academic Director | Athletic Director | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Business | Kinesiology |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between academic directors' and athletic directors' demographics:
| Academic Director | Athletic Director | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 47.9% Female, 52.1% | Male, 78.2% Female, 21.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.5% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.0% Asian, 4.3% White, 66.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 11.5% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 13.8% Asian, 4.3% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 16% |