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The differences between academic directors and deans 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 a dean. Additionally, an academic director has an average salary of $122,669, which is higher than the $86,318 average annual salary of a dean.
The top three skills for an academic director include professional development, curriculum development and student performance. The most important skills for a dean are curriculum development, oversight, and scholarship.
| Academic Director | Dean | |
| Yearly salary | $122,669 | $86,318 |
| Hourly rate | $58.98 | $41.50 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 12,420 | 1,183 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| 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.
A dean is responsible for overseeing the educational operations of the assigned department, enforcing school policies, and monitoring the students' progress by coordinating with the teachers and setting up procedures to improve teaching methods. Deans administer educational training and programs for the students, as well as extra-curricular activities to develop the students' social behavior, maximize their potentials, and increase their self-confidence. They also handle the department's budget, accurately allocating resources and funds to different activities and educational materials.
Academic directors and deans have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Academic Director | Dean | |
| Average salary | $122,669 | $86,318 |
| Salary range | Between $78,000 And $191,000 | Between $49,000 And $150,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Los Altos, CA |
| Highest paying state | Oregon | California |
| Best paying company | Emory Healthcare | Palmer College of Chiropractic |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Education |
There are a few differences between an academic director and a dean in terms of educational background:
| Academic Director | Dean | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between academic directors' and deans' demographics:
| Academic Director | Dean | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 47.9% Female, 52.1% | Male, 53.8% Female, 46.2% |
| 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, 14.2% Asian, 4.3% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 16% |