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The role of an Assistant Department Head is pivotal in ensuring departmental goals are met effectively. As of October 2025, the average salary is $65,309 per year. This figure can fluctuate based on various factors, including geographic location and the specific industry. For instance, states like California and New York often offer higher salaries due to the cost of living and demand for skilled professionals.
Entry-level positions typically start lower, while those with several years of experience can command significantly higher wages, reflecting their expertise and leadership capabilities. Understanding the impact of experience can help individuals negotiate better salaries and seek promotions effectively.
To further enhance earning potential, consider positions in metropolitan areas where demand for assistant department heads is higher. Cities such as San Francisco, New York City, and Chicago frequently offer competitive salaries and additional benefits. Utilize resources like job boards to explore available roles and tailor your applications to highlight relevant experience and skills.
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The highest-paying states for assistant department heads are New York, Rhode Island, and Virginia. The lowest average assistant department head salary states are Kentucky, Arkansas, and West Virginia.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $80,996 | $38.94 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $77,843 | $37.42 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $89,095 | $42.83 |
| 4 | New York | $92,994 | $44.71 |
| 5 | Maine | $75,623 | $36.36 |
| 6 | Virginia | $82,792 | $39.80 |
| 7 | California | $76,401 | $36.73 |
| 8 | Delaware | $77,315 | $37.17 |
| 9 | Michigan | $68,608 | $32.98 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $73,962 | $35.56 |
| 11 | Vermont | $77,976 | $37.49 |
| 12 | New Jersey | $78,962 | $37.96 |
| 13 | Ohio | $64,354 | $30.94 |
| 14 | Wisconsin | $67,706 | $32.55 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $75,528 | $36.31 |
| 16 | District of Columbia | $81,696 | $39.28 |
| 17 | Maryland | $77,182 | $37.11 |
| 18 | Illinois | $67,468 | $32.44 |
| 19 | Washington | $65,450 | $31.47 |
| 20 | Alaska | $62,316 | $29.96 |
| 21 | Arizona | $57,677 | $27.73 |
| 22 | North Carolina | $57,462 | $27.63 |
| 23 | Texas | $58,152 | $27.96 |
| 24 | Indiana | $59,384 | $28.55 |
| 25 | Minnesota | $58,726 | $28.23 |
| 26 | Tennessee | $55,920 | $26.88 |
| 27 | Florida | $56,649 | $27.24 |
| 28 | Oregon | $64,590 | $31.05 |
| 29 | Nevada | $61,968 | $29.79 |
| 30 | Alabama | $53,545 | $25.74 |
| 31 | Mississippi | $53,217 | $25.59 |
| 32 | Montana | $54,926 | $26.41 |
| 33 | Georgia | $55,049 | $26.47 |
| 34 | Wyoming | $53,707 | $25.82 |
| 35 | North Dakota | $59,015 | $28.37 |
| 36 | Idaho | $59,084 | $28.41 |
| 37 | South Dakota | $56,567 | $27.20 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $52,045 | $25.02 |
| 39 | Colorado | $53,677 | $25.81 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $51,872 | $24.94 |
| 41 | Hawaii | $60,948 | $29.30 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $51,621 | $24.82 |
| 43 | Utah | $53,432 | $25.69 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $54,208 | $26.06 |
| 45 | West Virginia | $49,288 | $23.70 |
| 46 | New Mexico | $52,363 | $25.17 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $49,979 | $24.03 |
| 48 | Kansas | $51,683 | $24.85 |
| 49 | Missouri | $48,739 | $23.43 |
| 50 | Iowa | $47,399 | $22.79 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $41,654 | $20.03 |
The highest-paying cities for assistant department heads are Centereach, NY, San Francisco, CA, and Washington, DC.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Centereach, NY | $93,646 | $45.02 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $82,636 | $39.73 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $81,806 | $39.33 |
| 4 | Enfield, CT | $80,946 | $38.92 |
| 5 | Baltimore, MD | $77,364 | $37.19 |
| 6 | Dartmouth, MA | $76,247 | $36.66 |
| 7 | Bangor, ME | $71,721 | $34.48 |
| 8 | Las Vegas, NV | $61,413 | $29.53 |
| 9 | Raleigh, NC | $59,783 | $28.74 |
| 10 | Galveston, TX | $59,353 | $28.54 |
| 11 | Columbus, IN | $57,708 | $27.74 |
| 12 | Helena, MT | $55,582 | $26.72 |
| 13 | Lincoln, NE | $54,065 | $25.99 |
| 14 | Baton Rouge, LA | $52,040 | $25.02 |
| 15 | Manhattan, KS | $51,638 | $24.83 |
| 16 | Blue Springs, MO | $47,914 | $23.04 |
An assistant department head's salary ranges from $39,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $106,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $106,000 | $8,833 | $51 |
| 75th Percentile | $84,000 | $7,000 | $40 |
| Average | $65,309 | $5,442 | $31 |
| 25th Percentile | $50,000 | $4,167 | $24 |
| 10th Percentile | $39,000 | $3,250 | $19 |
The highest paying types of assistant department heads are team leader, sales leader, and department manager.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shift Supervisor | $34,141 | $2,845 | $16.41 | 282,079 |
| Key Holder | $31,779 | $2,648 | $15.28 | 431,956 |
| Co-Manager | $64,962 | $5,413 | $31.23 | 258,234 |
| Sales Leader | $68,699 | $5,725 | $33.03 | 458,558 |
| Team Leader | $68,817 | $5,735 | $33.09 | 197,336 |
| Merchandise Lead | $35,572 | $2,964 | $17.10 | 72,605 |
Top companies hiring assistant department heads now:
Assistant department head salaries at Princeton University and University of California are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average assistant department head salary at companies like California Institute of Technology and Brigham and Women's Hospital are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Princeton University | $121,039 | $58.19 |
| 2 | University of California | $112,150 | $53.92 |
| 3 | California Institute of Technology | $108,694 | $52.26 |
| 4 | Brigham and Women's Hospital | $105,835 | $50.88 |
| 5 | The Chapin School | $89,223 | $42.90 |
| 6 | UC Merced | $88,972 | $42.77 |
| 7 | University of Nebraska at Omaha | $86,931 | $41.79 |
| 8 | Tenet Healthcare | $86,825 | $41.74 |
| 9 | LA State University Continuing | $85,370 | $41.04 |
| 10 | The Culinary Institute of America | $82,078 | $39.46 |
| 11 | PSEA | $79,702 | $38.32 |
| 12 | City of Baltimore | $77,609 | $37.31 |
| 13 | University of Nevada, Reno | $76,618 | $36.84 |
| 14 | University of Georgia Small Business Development Center | $72,720 | $34.96 |
| 15 | University Of Minnesota Physicians | $70,319 | $33.81 |
| 16 | Newton Public Schools | $70,010 | $33.66 |
| 17 | Kansas State University | $69,484 | $33.41 |
| 18 | Oxford Solutions | $66,911 | $32.17 |
| 19 | Amherst College | $66,326 | $31.89 |
| 20 | Tactical Engineering & Analysis | $64,687 | $31.10 |
The average assistant department head salary has risen by $8,010 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average assistant department head earned $57,299 annually, but today, they earn $65,309 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for assistant department heads over the last decade.
Compare assistant department head salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare assistant department head salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $65,300 | $31.40 | +3.0% |
| 2024 | $63,400 | $30.47 | +1.8% |
| 2023 | $62,200 | $29.93 | +2.7% |
| 2022 | $60,600 | $29.11 | -1.3% |
| 2021 | $61,300 | $29.48 | +1.9% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kimberton Whole Foods | Assistant Apothecary Department Head | Pottsville, PA | 06/20/2025 | $39,653 |
| Adecco Us, Inc. | Bilingual Department Assistant Receptionist | Fern Park, FL | 05/24/2025 | $41,740 |
| Kimberton Whole Foods | Assistant Perishable Department Head | Pottsville, PA | 05/10/2025 | $39,653 |
| Kimberton Whole Foods | Assistant Grocery Department Head | Wyomissing, PA | 04/27/2025 | $39,653 |
| California State University System | Graduate Assistant Pool In Department of Psychology (Academic Year) | Humboldt Hill, CA | 04/02/2025 | $9,732 |
| Blain Supply, Inc. | Agriculture Department Head | Dubuque, IA | 03/30/2025 | $35,479 |
| Blain's Farm & Fleet | Pet Department Head | Dubuque, IA | 03/27/2025 | $36,523 |
| Kimberton Whole Foods | Assistant Apothecary Department Head | Wyomissing, PA | 03/23/2025 | $39,653 |
| Kimberton Whole Foods | Assistant Department Head-Dairy, Meat & Gourmet | Pottsville, PA | 02/19/2025 | $37,566 |
| North Carolina Fc | Assistant Head Groundskeeper | Salisbury, MD | 02/19/2025 | $31,305 |
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