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The average salary for a graduate school dean is approximately $71,921 per year, equating to around $35 per hour. This position requires a strong educational background, typically a doctorate, and extensive experience in academic administration.
Salaries for graduate school deans fluctuate based on several factors:
Some of the highest-paying states for this role include California, New York, and Massachusetts. Specific cities known for competitive salaries include Los Angeles, New York City, and Boston. By focusing on these areas, aspiring graduate school deans can maximize their earning potential.
For those considering a career as a graduate school dean, understanding the financial landscape and potential earning opportunities is crucial. This knowledge can guide your career decisions and help you identify the best options for your professional journey.
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The highest-paying states for graduate school deans are Connecticut, California, and Nevada. The lowest average graduate school dean salary states are New Mexico, Mississippi, and Texas.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $89,565 | $43.06 |
| 2 | Montana | $80,524 | $38.71 |
| 3 | Oregon | $79,592 | $38.27 |
| 4 | Michigan | $76,788 | $36.92 |
| 5 | Nevada | $82,341 | $39.59 |
| 6 | Wyoming | $74,591 | $35.86 |
| 7 | California | $85,359 | $41.04 |
| 8 | Maine | $76,730 | $36.89 |
| 9 | Ohio | $77,333 | $37.18 |
| 10 | New York | $77,407 | $37.21 |
| 11 | Minnesota | $73,667 | $35.42 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $71,095 | $34.18 |
| 13 | South Dakota | $76,185 | $36.63 |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $80,447 | $38.68 |
| 15 | New Jersey | $74,487 | $35.81 |
| 16 | New Hampshire | $70,676 | $33.98 |
| 17 | Alaska | $69,509 | $33.42 |
| 18 | Wisconsin | $73,096 | $35.14 |
| 19 | Massachusetts | $74,226 | $35.69 |
| 20 | Vermont | $72,182 | $34.70 |
| 21 | North Carolina | $74,555 | $35.84 |
| 22 | Washington | $74,300 | $35.72 |
| 23 | West Virginia | $73,600 | $35.38 |
| 24 | Maryland | $74,653 | $35.89 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $70,455 | $33.87 |
| 26 | Missouri | $67,351 | $32.38 |
| 27 | Louisiana | $67,026 | $32.22 |
| 28 | Delaware | $69,346 | $33.34 |
| 29 | Kentucky | $69,453 | $33.39 |
| 30 | Idaho | $65,251 | $31.37 |
| 31 | Illinois | $63,558 | $30.56 |
| 32 | North Dakota | $67,713 | $32.55 |
| 33 | Iowa | $65,117 | $31.31 |
| 34 | Colorado | $63,812 | $30.68 |
| 35 | Nebraska | $64,383 | $30.95 |
| 36 | Arizona | $58,764 | $28.25 |
| 37 | Virginia | $66,198 | $31.83 |
| 38 | Kansas | $57,665 | $27.72 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $62,385 | $29.99 |
| 40 | Alabama | $62,738 | $30.16 |
| 41 | Indiana | $59,947 | $28.82 |
| 42 | Utah | $63,060 | $30.32 |
| 43 | New Mexico | $55,973 | $26.91 |
| 44 | Tennessee | $60,229 | $28.96 |
| 45 | Hawaii | $65,471 | $31.48 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $53,089 | $25.52 |
| 47 | Florida | $59,399 | $28.56 |
| 48 | Texas | $53,732 | $25.83 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $54,366 | $26.14 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $52,962 | $25.46 |
| 51 | Georgia | $53,297 | $25.62 |
The highest-paying cities for graduate school deans are Redwood City, CA, New Haven, CT, and Las Vegas, NV.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Redwood City, CA | $92,103 | $44.28 |
| 2 | New Haven, CT | $89,688 | $43.12 |
| 3 | Las Vegas, NV | $81,958 | $39.40 |
| 4 | Albany, OR | $79,659 | $38.30 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $77,564 | $37.29 |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $74,863 | $35.99 |
| 7 | Plainfield, NJ | $74,495 | $35.81 |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $74,315 | $35.73 |
| 9 | Inver Grove Heights, MN | $73,622 | $35.40 |
| 10 | Charlotte, NC | $73,080 | $35.13 |
| 11 | Milwaukee, WI | $73,061 | $35.13 |
| 12 | Bethlehem, PA | $70,916 | $34.09 |
| 13 | Kansas City, MO | $67,506 | $32.45 |
| 14 | Norfolk, VA | $66,099 | $31.78 |
| 15 | Commerce City, CO | $63,874 | $30.71 |
| 16 | Anderson, IN | $60,255 | $28.97 |
| 17 | Pembroke Pines, FL | $59,618 | $28.66 |
| 18 | Memphis, TN | $58,913 | $28.32 |
| 19 | Atlanta, GA | $53,499 | $25.72 |
| 20 | Oklahoma City, OK | $52,908 | $25.44 |
A graduate school dean's salary ranges from $51,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $101,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $101,000 | $8,417 | $49 |
| 75th Percentile | $86,000 | $7,167 | $41 |
| Average | $71,921 | $5,993 | $35 |
| 25th Percentile | $60,000 | $5,000 | $29 |
| 10th Percentile | $51,000 | $4,250 | $25 |
The highest paying types of graduate school deans are chairperson, vice chairperson, and committee chairperson.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admissions Officer | $33,833 | $2,819 | $16.27 | 58,782 |
| Co-Chair | $89,375 | $7,448 | $42.97 | 2,878 |
| Registrar | $40,632 | $3,386 | $19.53 | 12,723 |
| Director Of Admissions | $57,524 | $4,794 | $27.66 | 12,833 |
| Department Chairperson | $98,438 | $8,203 | $47.33 | 33,511 |
| Director Of Student Affairs | $74,804 | $6,234 | $35.96 | 22,875 |
Top companies hiring graduate school deans now:
Graduate school dean salaries at Future Generations University and Excel Academy Charter Schools are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average graduate school dean salary at companies like Summit Public Schools and Hca Hospital Services Of San Diego are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Future Generations University | $95,922 | $46.12 |
| 2 | Excel Academy Charter Schools | $83,560 | $40.17 |
| 3 | Summit Public Schools | $81,951 | $39.40 |
| 4 | Hca Hospital Services Of San Diego | $81,659 | $39.26 |
| 5 | Ivy Tech Community College | $81,480 | $39.17 |
| 6 | Yale University | $81,378 | $39.12 |
| 7 | UC Santa Barbara | $81,275 | $39.07 |
| 8 | Princeton University | $81,269 | $39.07 |
| 9 | UT Health San Antonio | $74,961 | $36.04 |
| 10 | Rutgers University | $74,879 | $36.00 |
| 11 | St. Jude Children's Research Hospital | $74,395 | $35.77 |
| 12 | Catholic Charities Health and Human Services | $73,631 | $35.40 |
| 13 | HealthTrust | $72,251 | $34.74 |
| 14 | C.W. Matthews Contracting Co. | $72,000 | $34.62 |
| 15 | TMC Transportation | $70,771 | $34.02 |
| 16 | Washington State University | $70,232 | $33.77 |
| 17 | PSEA | $67,723 | $32.56 |
| 18 | KIPP Northern California Public Schools | $61,697 | $29.66 |
| 19 | Zion Elementary School District 6 | $60,889 | $29.27 |
| 20 | Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES | $55,514 | $26.69 |
The average graduate school dean salary has risen by $9,752 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average graduate school dean earned $62,169 annually, but today, they earn $71,921 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for graduate school deans over the last decade.
Compare graduate school dean salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare graduate school dean salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $71,900 | $34.58 | +2.1% |
| 2025 | $70,400 | $33.84 | +1.1% |
| 2024 | $69,600 | $33.46 | +2.1% |
| 2023 | $68,100 | $32.75 | +1.7% |
| 2022 | $66,900 | $32.19 | +2.4% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield School District 186 | Guidance Dean-Middle School | Springfield, IL | 06/24/2025 | $98,124 |
| United Schools Network | Dean of Family & Community Engagement, Middle School) | Columbus, OH | 06/24/2025 | $55,000 |
| Kipp Capital Region (Kipp Albany Public Schools | ) Dean of History-High School | Albany, NY | 05/24/2025 | $68,400 |
| Kipp Capital Region Public Schools | ] Dean of Humanities-High School | Albany, NY | 05/13/2025 | $68,400 |
| Kipp Capital Region Public Schools | ] Dean of School Culture-High School | Albany, NY | 05/13/2025 | $68,400 |
| The Leffell School | High School Grade Dean | Hartsdale, NY | 04/28/2025 | $60,000 |
| San Rafael City School District | Dean, SAN Rafael High School School Year | Ione, CA | 04/26/2025 | $107,988 |
| Department of Human Resources | Federal Work Study-Graduate School (Fall 2025-Spring 2026) | Jacksonville, AL | 04/17/2025 | $17,218 |
| Voorhees College | Dean, School of Graduate Studies | Denmark, SC | 04/11/2025 | $60,000 |
| WME Express | New Trucking School Graduate | Salt Lake City, UT | 04/09/2025 | $60,000 |
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