Best states for a dean

Q: What is the best state for deans?

The best state to be a dean is Connecticut based on dean salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for deans?

The highest paying state for deans is Arkansas based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for deans?

The worst state for deans is Nebraska, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Quoted expert

Suzanne T. Ortega

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Not all states present equal opportunity for employees, and when it comes to dean jobs, it's no different. We know how hard job search can be, and in order to make your life a little easier, we have the information you need in order to determine where you might want to start your job search. We wanted to look at the best states for deans -- where there are plenty of dean jobs to go around and deans get paid what they deserve during every phase of their career.

The median salary for deans in Connecticut is $100,798. Compare that to the median salary in Nebraska of $49,831, which ranked worst for deans, and you can see how your location is important for your career.We found that the Midwest is best for deans, and the Northeast is the worst. Los Altos, CA is the best city in the country for dean jobs, where as Connecticut is the best state in the country.

10 best states for deans in 2025

1. Connecticut
Total dean jobs: 29
Average annual salary: $100,798
Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $174,000
Location Quotient:
1.96
Dean jobs in Connecticut
2. New York
Total dean jobs: 99
Average annual salary: $103,382
Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $178,000
Location Quotient:
1.73
Dean jobs in New York
3. District of Columbia
Total dean jobs: 20
Average annual salary: $99,868
Lowest 10 percent earn: $56,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $176,000
Location Quotient:
2.68
Dean jobs in District of Columbia
4. Massachusetts
Total dean jobs: 72
Average annual salary: $98,148
Lowest 10 percent earn: $56,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $170,000
Location Quotient:
1.76
Dean jobs in Massachusetts
5. Wisconsin
Total dean jobs: 51
Average annual salary: $88,535
Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $159,000
Location Quotient:
2.07
Dean jobs in Wisconsin
6. California
Total dean jobs: 125
Average annual salary: $109,129
Lowest 10 percent earn: $62,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $191,000
Location Quotient:
0.96
Dean jobs in California
7. Michigan
Total dean jobs: 42
Average annual salary: $94,080
Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $168,000
Location Quotient:
1.22
Dean jobs in Michigan
8. Virginia
Total dean jobs: 62
Average annual salary: $89,498
Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $162,000
Location Quotient:
1.48
Dean jobs in Virginia
9. Oregon
Total dean jobs: 23
Average annual salary: $85,977
Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000
Location Quotient:
1.25
Dean jobs in Oregon
10. Rhode Island
Total dean jobs: 11
Average annual salary: $80,204
Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $141,000
Location Quotient:
2.03
Dean jobs in Rhode Island

Dean jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a dean

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a dean

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Connecticut	$100,798	$58,000	3,588,184	29
2	New York	$103,382	$59,000	19,849,399	99
3	District of Columbia	$99,868	$56,000	693,972	20
4	Massachusetts	$98,148	$56,000	6,859,819	72
5	Wisconsin	$88,535	$49,000	5,795,483	51
6	California	$109,129	$62,000	39,536,653	125
7	Michigan	$94,080	$52,000	9,962,311	42
8	Virginia	$89,498	$49,000	8,470,020	62
9	Oregon	$85,977	$48,000	4,142,776	23
10	Rhode Island	$80,204	$45,000	1,059,639	11
11	Nevada	$96,341	$53,000	2,998,039	4
12	West Virginia	$76,645	$40,000	1,815,857	13
13	New Hampshire	$93,291	$53,000	1,342,795	3
14	North Carolina	$79,362	$41,000	10,273,419	47
15	Ohio	$79,431	$42,000	11,658,609	36
16	New Jersey	$85,734	$48,000	9,005,644	33
17	Maryland	$84,832	$47,000	6,052,177	27
18	Pennsylvania	$81,156	$45,000	12,805,537	37
19	Arizona	$77,405	$41,000	7,016,270	20
20	Maine	$73,782	$41,000	1,335,907	7
21	Indiana	$72,176	$37,000	6,666,818	26
22	Delaware	$81,666	$45,000	961,939	0
23	Vermont	$70,025	$38,000	623,657	5
24	Washington	$76,233	$42,000	7,405,743	25
25	Louisiana	$74,957	$39,000	4,684,333	9
26	Idaho	$76,201	$41,000	1,716,943	4
27	Montana	$67,573	$38,000	1,050,493	8
28	Kentucky	$72,942	$38,000	4,454,189	6
29	Minnesota	$71,417	$39,000	5,576,606	21
30	Florida	$70,552	$36,000	20,984,400	53
31	South Dakota	$65,522	$36,000	869,666	5
32	Alaska	$58,521	$37,000	739,795	17
33	Iowa	$67,522	$36,000	3,145,711	10
34	Illinois	$64,582	$34,000	12,802,023	55
35	Utah	$62,066	$33,000	3,101,833	17
36	Texas	$63,143	$32,000	28,304,596	72
37	Wyoming	$63,072	$35,000	579,315	2
38	New Mexico	$65,421	$34,000	2,088,070	5
39	Colorado	$51,208	$28,000	5,607,154	60
40	South Carolina	$63,447	$32,000	5,024,369	12
41	Alabama	$63,087	$32,000	4,874,747	8
42	Tennessee	$59,771	$30,000	6,715,984	18
43	Hawaii	$68,109	$45,000	1,427,538	0
44	North Dakota	$59,611	$34,000	755,393	2
45	Georgia	$54,267	$27,000	10,429,379	33
46	Arkansas	$49,371	$26,000	3,004,279	7
47	Mississippi	$55,045	$28,000	2,984,100	2
48	Missouri	$50,209	$26,000	6,113,532	16
49	Oklahoma	$49,634	$26,000	3,930,864	6
50	Kansas	$49,965	$27,000	2,913,123	4
51	Nebraska	$49,831	$27,000	1,920,076	3

Highest paying states for deans

Rank	State	Avg. Dean Salary
1	Connecticut	$100,798
2	New York	$103,382
3	District of Columbia	$99,868
4	Massachusetts	$98,148
5	Wisconsin	$88,535
6	California	$109,129
7	Michigan	$94,080
8	Virginia	$89,498
9	Oregon	$85,977
10	Rhode Island	$80,204
11	Nevada	$96,341
12	West Virginia	$76,645
13	New Hampshire	$93,291
14	North Carolina	$79,362
15	Ohio	$79,431
16	New Jersey	$85,734
17	Maryland	$84,832
18	Pennsylvania	$81,156
19	Arizona	$77,405
20	Maine	$73,782
21	Indiana	$72,176
22	Delaware	$81,666
23	Vermont	$70,025
24	Washington	$76,233
25	Louisiana	$74,957
26	Idaho	$76,201
27	Montana	$67,573
28	Kentucky	$72,942
29	Minnesota	$71,417
30	Florida	$70,552
31	South Dakota	$65,522
32	Alaska	$58,521
33	Iowa	$67,522
34	Illinois	$64,582
35	Utah	$62,066
36	Texas	$63,143
37	Wyoming	$63,072
38	New Mexico	$65,421
39	Colorado	$51,208
40	South Carolina	$63,447
41	Alabama	$63,087
42	Tennessee	$59,771
43	Hawaii	$68,109
44	North Dakota	$59,611
45	Georgia	$54,267
46	Arkansas	$49,371
47	Mississippi	$55,045
48	Missouri	$50,209
49	Oklahoma	$49,634
50	Kansas	$49,965
51	Nebraska	$49,831

Expert opinions on the best states for deans

Are there any particularly good places in the United States for deans to find work opportunities?
Suzanne T. Ortega
President, Council of Graduate Schools
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, projected job growth for postsecondary teachers over the next decade is about 9 percent, which is much faster than the average, although there are differences in the academic field. Job growth is likely to occur in those regions and states with the most rapidly growing populations.

Best states for a dean

10 best states for deans in 2025

1. Connecticut

2. New York

3. District of Columbia

4. Massachusetts

5. Wisconsin

6. California

7. Michigan

8. Virginia

9. Oregon

10. Rhode Island

Dean jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a dean

Detailed list of the best states for a dean

Highest paying states for deans

Expert opinions on the best states for deans

Are there any particularly good places in the United States for deans to find work opportunities?

Dean best states FAQs

What is the best state for deans?

What is the highest paying state for deans?

What is the worst state for deans?

Search for dean jobs

Total dean jobs:	29
Average annual salary:	$100,798
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$58,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$174,000
Location Quotient:	1.96