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The differences between deans and residence hall directors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a dean and a residence hall director. Additionally, a dean has an average salary of $86,318, which is higher than the $47,193 average annual salary of a residence hall director.
The top three skills for a dean include curriculum development, oversight and scholarship. The most important skills for a residence hall director are residence life, desk assistants, and student development.
| Dean | Residence Hall Director | |
| Yearly salary | $86,318 | $47,193 |
| Hourly rate | $41.50 | $22.69 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 1,183 | 6,713 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A dean is responsible for overseeing the educational operations of the assigned department, enforcing school policies, and monitoring the students' progress by coordinating with the teachers and setting up procedures to improve teaching methods. Deans administer educational training and programs for the students, as well as extra-curricular activities to develop the students' social behavior, maximize their potentials, and increase their self-confidence. They also handle the department's budget, accurately allocating resources and funds to different activities and educational materials.
A Residence Hall Director spearheads and oversees campus residential areas' daily operations to ensure students' safety and welfare. They are responsible for managing staff, setting goals and guidelines, establishing budgets and timelines, delegating duties among managers, implementing programs and protocols, and monitoring all procedures, resolving issues and concerns if any arise. Moreover, a Residence Hall Director encourages staff to reach goals while implementing policies and regulations to help maintain a healthy and safe community for the students.
Deans and residence hall directors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Dean | Residence Hall Director | |
| Average salary | $86,318 | $47,193 |
| Salary range | Between $49,000 And $150,000 | Between $31,000 And $70,000 |
| Highest paying City | Los Altos, CA | Newark, NJ |
| Highest paying state | California | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Palmer College of Chiropractic | School of Visual Concepts |
| Best paying industry | Education | - |
There are a few differences between a dean and a residence hall director in terms of educational background:
| Dean | Residence Hall Director | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Most common major | Business | Psychology |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between deans' and residence hall directors' demographics:
| Dean | Residence Hall Director | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 53.8% Female, 46.2% | Male, 46.9% Female, 53.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.5% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 4.3% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 12.2% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 13.1% Asian, 4.7% White, 65.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 16% |