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Academic director salary
Average academic director salary
$122,669
Understanding Academic Director Salaries
An Academic Director plays a pivotal role in educational institutions, overseeing curriculum development and faculty management. According to recent data, the average salary for this position stands at $122,669 annually. However, salaries can vary significantly based on factors such as location, years of experience, and the specific institution type.
Salary by State
In states like California and New York, salaries for Academic Directors tend to be higher due to the cost of living and demand for educational leadership. For instance:
- California: $135,000
- New York: $130,000
- Texas: $115,000
Additionally, experience matters. Academic Directors with over 10 years of experience can command significantly higher salaries, often exceeding $150,000. As educational needs evolve, so do opportunities for career advancement, making this role both challenging and rewarding.
Career Opportunities
For those interested in pursuing a career as an Academic Director, it’s crucial to stay informed about salary trends and job openings in your area. Utilize resources like Zippia to find opportunities that align with your career goals.
Let Zippia find your next academic director job
Let Zippia find your next academic director job
Where can an Academic Director earn more?
Academic director salary estimates from across the web
Average academic director salary by state
The highest-paying states for academic directors are Oregon, Nevada, and Connecticut. The lowest average academic director salary states are Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Arkansas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for academic directors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $139,390 | $67.01 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $135,214 | $65.01 |
| 3 | Montana | $129,108 | $62.07 |
| 4 | California | $134,311 | $64.57 |
| 5 | Colorado | $126,161 | $60.65 |
| 6 | Nevada | $137,319 | $66.02 |
| 7 | Indiana | $122,565 | $58.93 |
| 8 | Illinois | $122,151 | $58.73 |
| 9 | District of Columbia | $130,825 | $62.90 |
| 10 | Arizona | $124,357 | $59.79 |
| 11 | New York | $123,606 | $59.43 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $120,271 | $57.82 |
| 13 | Idaho | $130,783 | $62.88 |
| 14 | Wyoming | $126,044 | $60.60 |
| 15 | Louisiana | $107,703 | $51.78 |
| 16 | Ohio | $115,226 | $55.40 |
| 17 | Maryland | $125,945 | $60.55 |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $119,017 | $57.22 |
| 19 | Washington | $117,984 | $56.72 |
| 20 | South Dakota | $114,111 | $54.86 |
| 21 | New Jersey | $113,068 | $54.36 |
| 22 | Maine | $117,135 | $56.31 |
| 23 | Vermont | $109,971 | $52.87 |
| 24 | Utah | $114,076 | $54.84 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $107,160 | $51.52 |
| 26 | Wisconsin | $107,122 | $51.50 |
| 27 | Michigan | $108,373 | $52.10 |
| 28 | West Virginia | $113,817 | $54.72 |
| 29 | Alabama | $100,051 | $48.10 |
| 30 | Kentucky | $108,660 | $52.24 |
| 31 | North Carolina | $106,139 | $51.03 |
| 32 | Rhode Island | $108,428 | $52.13 |
| 33 | Minnesota | $106,830 | $51.36 |
| 34 | Missouri | $105,634 | $50.79 |
| 35 | Georgia | $100,138 | $48.14 |
| 36 | Mississippi | $88,450 | $42.52 |
| 37 | Oklahoma | $88,706 | $42.65 |
| 38 | Iowa | $97,532 | $46.89 |
| 39 | Virginia | $96,271 | $46.28 |
| 40 | Delaware | $105,588 | $50.76 |
| 41 | Texas | $92,972 | $44.70 |
| 42 | Tennessee | $97,189 | $46.73 |
| 43 | Alaska | $91,026 | $43.76 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $91,464 | $43.97 |
| 45 | New Mexico | $98,241 | $47.23 |
| 46 | North Dakota | $96,687 | $46.48 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $87,279 | $41.96 |
| 48 | Florida | $85,410 | $41.06 |
| 49 | Kansas | $90,792 | $43.65 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $85,552 | $41.13 |
| 51 | Hawaii | $71,376 | $34.32 |
Highest paying cities for academic directors
The highest-paying cities for academic directors are San Francisco, CA, Washington, DC, and Denver, CO.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $150,093 | $72.16 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $131,717 | $63.33 |
| 3 | Denver, CO | $127,608 | $61.35 |
| 4 | Chandler, AZ | $125,596 | $60.38 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $124,047 | $59.64 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $123,086 | $59.18 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $120,572 | $57.97 |
| 8 | Columbus, OH | $115,288 | $55.43 |
| 9 | Burlington, VT | $109,403 | $52.60 |
| 10 | Detroit, MI | $108,809 | $52.31 |
| 11 | Providence, RI | $108,490 | $52.16 |
| 12 | Inver Grove Heights, MN | $106,983 | $51.43 |
| 13 | Madison, WI | $106,808 | $51.35 |
| 14 | New Orleans, LA | $105,913 | $50.92 |
| 15 | Charlotte, NC | $104,821 | $50.39 |
| 16 | Atlanta, GA | $101,563 | $48.83 |
| 17 | Dallas, TX | $95,887 | $46.10 |
| 18 | Omaha, NE | $91,142 | $43.82 |
| 19 | Jonesboro, AR | $86,964 | $41.81 |
| 20 | Columbia, SC | $86,825 | $41.74 |
Academic director salary details
An academic director's salary ranges from $78,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $191,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an academic director's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $191,000 | $15,917 | $92 |
| 75th Percentile | $155,000 | $12,917 | $75 |
| Average | $122,669 | $10,222 | $59 |
| 25th Percentile | $96,000 | $8,000 | $46 |
| 10th Percentile | $78,000 | $6,500 | $38 |
Highest paying academic director jobs
The highest paying types of academic directors are chairperson, vice chairperson, and committee chairperson.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dean | $86,317 | $7,193 | $41.50 | 1,183 |
| Registrar | $40,632 | $3,386 | $19.53 | 12,723 |
| Co-Chair | $89,375 | $7,448 | $42.97 | 2,878 |
| New Member Educator | $34,187 | $2,849 | $16.44 | 12,866 |
| Admissions Officer | $33,833 | $2,819 | $16.27 | 58,782 |
| Student Dean | $59,497 | $4,958 | $28.60 | 10,422 |
Top companies hiring academic directors now:
Which companies pay academic directors the most?
Academic director salaries at Emory Healthcare and Explore Schools are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average academic director salary at companies like New York University and New York Institute of Technology are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emory Healthcare | $145,011 | $69.72 |
| 2 | Explore Schools | $134,078 | $64.46 |
| 3 | New York University | $128,370 | $61.72 |
| 4 | New York Institute of Technology | $119,865 | $57.63 |
| 5 | Princeton University | $116,926 | $56.21 |
| 6 | Touro College | $115,208 | $55.39 |
| 7 | Atrium Health Floyd | $111,885 | $53.79 |
| 8 | Inver Hills Community College | $110,682 | $53.21 |
| 9 | Columbia University in the City of New York | $104,397 | $50.19 |
| 10 | University of Michigan | $103,500 | $49.76 |
| 11 | Saint Xavier University | $102,589 | $49.32 |
| 12 | Emory University | $101,445 | $48.77 |
| 13 | Texas State Teachers Association | $98,230 | $47.23 |
| 14 | University of California-Berkeley | $96,111 | $46.21 |
| 15 | Brown University | $95,918 | $46.11 |
| 16 | Georgetown University | $95,517 | $45.92 |
| 17 | The Ohio State University | $93,581 | $44.99 |
| 18 | The City University of New York | $88,958 | $42.77 |
| 19 | University of Rochester | $83,425 | $40.11 |
| 20 | Southern Methodist University | $79,845 | $38.39 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Academic director salary trends
The average academic director salary has risen by $16,633 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average academic director earned $106,036 annually, but today, they earn $122,669 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for academic directors over the last decade.
Compare academic director salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average academic director salary over time
Compare academic director salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Academic director salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $123,000 | $58.98 | +2.1% |
| 2024 | $120,000 | $57.71 | +1.1% |
| 2023 | $119,000 | $57.06 | +2.1% |
| 2022 | $116,000 | $55.87 | +1.7% |
| 2021 | $114,000 | $54.90 | +2.4% |
Recently added academic director salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zetacharterschools | Director of Academic Excellence | New York, NY | 06/29/2025 | $100,000 |
| New Haven Residential Treatment Center | Academic Director | Spanish Fork, UT | 06/28/2025 | $100,000 |
| Touro College | Academic Director & Faculty (Speech-Language Pathology) | New York, NY | 06/27/2025 | $92,000 |
| Touro University | Academic Director & Faculty (Speech-Language Pathology) | New York, NY | 06/25/2025 | $92,000 |
| Rose and Alex Pilibos Armenian School | Elementary Academic Director | Los Angeles, CA | 06/19/2025 | $72,000 |
| Kipp Dc | Academic Director, Math K | Charlotte, NC | 06/14/2025 | $80,000 |
| Minnesota Limited | Mnscu Academic Professional 6-Director, Media Relations | Saint Paul, MN | 06/11/2025 | $82,103 |
| Discovery Ranch | Academic Director | Mapleton, UT | 06/10/2025 | $63,000 |
| Kipp Public Schools | Academic Director, Math K | Charlotte, NC | 06/06/2025 | $80,000 |
| Yes Prep Schools | Director of Academics-YES Prep North Central Secondary | Houston, TX | 05/29/2025 | $69,500 |
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