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The differences between academic directors and student services 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 a student services director. Additionally, an academic director has an average salary of $122,669, which is higher than the $68,307 average annual salary of a student services director.
The top three skills for an academic director include professional development, curriculum development and student performance. The most important skills for a student services director are professional development, financial aid, and support services.
| Academic Director | Student Services Director | |
| Yearly salary | $122,669 | $68,307 |
| Hourly rate | $58.98 | $32.84 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 12,420 | 69,818 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| 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.
In learning institutions, a Student Services Director spearheads and oversees the student services office's daily operations. They directly handle student affairs, from academic endeavors to student discipline, including expulsions and suspensions, school security, child welfare, internships, and alternative education. A Student Services Director also participates in developing academic projects and programs, coordinating with internal and external parties to make them possible. Moreover, they also have the authority to implement policies and regulations, developing new ones as necessary.
Academic directors and student services directors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Academic Director | Student Services Director | |
| Average salary | $122,669 | $68,307 |
| Salary range | Between $78,000 And $191,000 | Between $43,000 And $106,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Berkeley, CA |
| Highest paying state | Oregon | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Emory Healthcare | Los Alamos National Laboratory |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | - |
There are a few differences between an academic director and a student services director in terms of educational background:
| Academic Director | Student Services Director | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between academic directors' and student services directors' demographics:
| Academic Director | Student Services Director | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 47.9% Female, 52.1% | Male, 37.4% Female, 62.6% |
| 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, 10.4% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.0% Asian, 4.3% White, 66.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 16% |