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The differences between athletic directors and assistant athletic directors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become an athletic director, becoming an assistant athletic director takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an athletic director has an average salary of $71,311, which is higher than the $70,392 average annual salary of an assistant athletic director.
The top three skills for an athletic director include student athletes, NCAA and physical education. The most important skills for an assistant athletic director are student-athletes, oversight, and ncaa compliance.
| Athletic Director | Assistant Athletic Director | |
| Yearly salary | $71,311 | $70,392 |
| Hourly rate | $34.28 | $33.84 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 11,759 | 7,384 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 47 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
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.
An assistant athletic director is in charge of overseeing the athletic programs and projects at learning institutions and other facilities. Their responsibilities typically include monitoring the progress of all operations, liaising with internal and external parties, and directly reporting to the athletic director. They may also perform administrative support tasks such as preparing and processing documentation, managing budgets and schedules, and maintaining records. Furthermore, as an assistant athletic director, it is essential to lead and encourage the employees and athletes in the joint effort to reach goals, all while implementing policies and regulations.
Athletic directors and assistant athletic directors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Athletic Director | Assistant Athletic Director | |
| Average salary | $71,311 | $70,392 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $126,000 | Between $37,000 And $133,000 |
| Highest paying City | Alameda, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Kern Community College District | Commonwealth |
| Best paying industry | Insurance | Education |
There are a few differences between an athletic director and an assistant athletic director in terms of educational background:
| Athletic Director | Assistant Athletic Director | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Kinesiology | Kinesiology |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between athletic directors' and assistant athletic directors' demographics:
| Athletic Director | Assistant Athletic Director | |
| Average age | 47 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 78.2% Female, 21.8% | Male, 74.0% Female, 26.0% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 12.8% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 5.5% White, 61.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 8% |