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Liberal arts dean salary
Average liberal arts dean salary
$110,490
Understanding Liberal Arts Dean Salaries
As a Liberal Arts Dean, your responsibilities include overseeing academic programs, faculty, and student affairs within liberal arts departments. The average salary for this position is $110,490 per year. However, compensation can vary based on location, institution type, and years of experience.
Salary Variation by State
For instance, states like New York and California often offer higher salaries due to the cost of living and demand for qualified professionals. Additionally, urban areas such as New York City and San Francisco are among the highest-paying regions for Liberal Arts Deans.
Factors Influencing Salary
Experience plays a crucial role in determining salary. Deans with extensive backgrounds in higher education management may command salaries above the average. Furthermore, institutions with a strong emphasis on liberal arts education often provide competitive compensation packages.
To explore specific salary ranges by state and city, consider using job boards like Zippia to find up-to-date information tailored to your career goals.
Let Zippia find your next liberal arts dean job
Let Zippia find your next liberal arts dean job
Where can a Liberal Arts Dean earn more?
Average liberal arts dean salary by state
The average liberal arts dean salary in California, Nevada, and Connecticut are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average liberal arts dean salary states are North Dakota, Indiana, and Ohio.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for liberal arts deans
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Carolina | $136,510 | $65.63 |
| 2 | Nevada | $149,382 | $71.82 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $141,994 | $68.27 |
| 4 | Louisiana | $137,245 | $65.98 |
| 5 | California | $157,356 | $75.65 |
| 6 | New York | $141,050 | $67.81 |
| 7 | Michigan | $125,033 | $60.11 |
| 8 | Oregon | $134,077 | $64.46 |
| 9 | South Dakota | $124,992 | $60.09 |
| 10 | Montana | $131,267 | $63.11 |
| 11 | Minnesota | $128,098 | $61.59 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $126,049 | $60.60 |
| 13 | Wyoming | $130,504 | $62.74 |
| 14 | Alabama | $129,466 | $62.24 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $125,350 | $60.26 |
| 16 | Wisconsin | $120,255 | $57.81 |
| 17 | Missouri | $126,603 | $60.87 |
| 18 | District of Columbia | $131,191 | $63.07 |
| 19 | Kentucky | $127,517 | $61.31 |
| 20 | Maine | $121,942 | $58.63 |
| 21 | Massachusetts | $121,524 | $58.42 |
| 22 | New Mexico | $119,647 | $57.52 |
| 23 | South Carolina | $122,857 | $59.07 |
| 24 | Tennessee | $121,268 | $58.30 |
| 25 | Arizona | $120,719 | $58.04 |
| 26 | Colorado | $118,394 | $56.92 |
| 27 | Utah | $119,722 | $57.56 |
| 28 | Rhode Island | $116,257 | $55.89 |
| 29 | New Jersey | $120,557 | $57.96 |
| 30 | Mississippi | $116,673 | $56.09 |
| 31 | Maryland | $122,231 | $58.76 |
| 32 | Washington | $122,421 | $58.86 |
| 33 | Idaho | $113,548 | $54.59 |
| 34 | Iowa | $112,058 | $53.87 |
| 35 | Virginia | $113,080 | $54.37 |
| 36 | Kansas | $112,482 | $54.08 |
| 37 | Oklahoma | $114,232 | $54.92 |
| 38 | Nebraska | $114,851 | $55.22 |
| 39 | Arkansas | $112,740 | $54.20 |
| 40 | Illinois | $108,527 | $52.18 |
| 41 | New Hampshire | $115,847 | $55.70 |
| 42 | Texas | $111,922 | $53.81 |
| 43 | Alaska | $87,574 | $42.10 |
| 44 | Vermont | $116,374 | $55.95 |
| 45 | Georgia | $110,180 | $52.97 |
| 46 | Ohio | $105,194 | $50.57 |
| 47 | Florida | $95,815 | $46.06 |
| 48 | Delaware | $113,541 | $54.59 |
| 49 | North Dakota | $107,149 | $51.51 |
| 50 | Indiana | $105,934 | $50.93 |
| 51 | Hawaii | $61,710 | $29.67 |
Highest paying cities for liberal arts deans
The highest-paying cities for liberal arts deans are Oakland, CA, New York, NY, and Fall River, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oakland, CA | $176,463 | $84.84 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $145,809 | $70.10 |
| 3 | Fall River, MA | $123,196 | $59.23 |
| 4 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $114,085 | $54.85 |
| 5 | Sarasota, FL | $99,445 | $47.81 |
Liberal arts dean salary details
A liberal arts dean's salary ranges from $67,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $180,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a liberal arts dean's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $180,000 | $15,000 | $87 |
| 75th Percentile | $143,000 | $11,917 | $69 |
| Average | $110,490 | $9,208 | $53 |
| 25th Percentile | $85,000 | $7,083 | $41 |
| 10th Percentile | $67,000 | $5,583 | $32 |
Highest paying liberal arts dean jobs
The highest paying types of liberal arts deans are chairperson, vice chairperson, and committee chairperson.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Co-Chair | $89,375 | $7,448 | $42.97 | 2,878 |
| Admissions Officer | $33,833 | $2,819 | $16.27 | 58,782 |
| Education Director | $62,123 | $5,177 | $29.87 | 24,774 |
| Athletic Director | $71,311 | $5,943 | $34.28 | 11,759 |
| Department Chairperson | $98,438 | $8,203 | $47.33 | 33,511 |
| Committee Chairperson | $122,630 | $10,219 | $58.96 | 956 |
Top companies hiring liberal arts deans now:
Which companies pay liberal arts deans the most?
Liberal arts dean salaries at 4CD Live and Bristol Community College are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average liberal arts dean salary at companies like The City University of New York and North Orange County Community College District are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4CD Live | $129,221 | $62.13 |
| 2 | Bristol Community College | $98,245 | $47.23 |
| 3 | The City University of New York | $89,079 | $42.83 |
| 4 | North Orange County Community College District | $57,314 | $27.55 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Liberal arts dean salary trends
The average liberal arts dean salary has risen by $14,982 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average liberal arts dean earned $95,508 annually, but today, they earn $110,490 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for liberal arts deans over the last decade.
Compare liberal arts dean salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average liberal arts dean salary over time
Compare liberal arts dean salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Liberal arts dean salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $110,000 | $53.12 | +2.1% |
| 2024 | $108,000 | $51.98 | +1.1% |
| 2023 | $107,000 | $51.40 | +2.1% |
| 2022 | $105,000 | $50.32 | +1.7% |
| 2021 | $103,000 | $49.45 | +2.4% |
Recently added liberal arts dean salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Shore Community College | Dean of Liberal Studies | Rowe, MA | 05/29/2025 | $130,000 |
| Rmcad | Dean of Art + Design | Lakewood, CO | 05/28/2025 | $100,000 |
| North Shore Community College | Dean of Liberal Studies | Rowe, MA | 04/27/2025 | $130,000 |
| Minnesota Limited | Dean of Liberal Arts and General Education | Rochester, NY | 03/28/2025 | $93,713 |
| High Tech High | High School Dean-High Tech High Media Arts | Ione, CA | 03/28/2025 | $84,800 |
| North Shore Community College | Dean of Liberal Studies | Rowe, MA | 03/27/2025 | $130,000 |
| Oakton Community College | Dean of Liberal Arts (Dla-25)-Oakton College | Des Plaines, IL | 03/26/2025 | $125,000 |
| San Mateo Community College District | Dean of Language Arts | San Mateo, CA | 03/22/2025 | $192,672 |
| Rochester Community and Technical College | Dean of Liberal Arts and General Education | Rochester, NY | 03/20/2025 | $93,713 |
| McNeese State University | Dean, College of Liberal Arts | Lake Charles, LA | 03/08/2025 | $129,000 |
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