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The differences between athletic 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 athletic director and a student services director. Additionally, an athletic director has an average salary of $71,311, which is higher than the $68,307 average annual salary of a student services director.
The top three skills for an athletic director include student athletes, NCAA and physical education. The most important skills for a student services director are professional development, financial aid, and support services.
| Athletic Director | Student Services Director | |
| Yearly salary | $71,311 | $68,307 |
| Hourly rate | $34.28 | $32.84 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 11,759 | 69,818 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
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.
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.
Athletic directors and student services directors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Athletic Director | Student Services Director | |
| Average salary | $71,311 | $68,307 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $126,000 | Between $43,000 And $106,000 |
| Highest paying City | Alameda, CA | Berkeley, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Kern Community College District | Los Alamos National Laboratory |
| Best paying industry | Insurance | - |
There are a few differences between an athletic director and a student services director in terms of educational background:
| Athletic Director | Student Services Director | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| Most common major | Kinesiology | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between athletic directors' and student services directors' demographics:
| Athletic Director | Student Services Director | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 78.2% Female, 21.8% | Male, 37.4% Female, 62.6% |
| 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, 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% |