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Academic affairs director salary
Average academic affairs director salary
$112,527
Understanding Academic Affairs Director Salaries
The role of an Academic Affairs Director is critical in shaping educational policies and managing academic programs. As of October 2025, the average salary stands at $112,527 per year. This figure varies significantly based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and the type of institution.
For instance, states with higher education budgets tend to offer higher salaries. The top-paying states for this role include California, New York, and Massachusetts. Here, salaries can exceed $130,000 annually, reflecting the demand for skilled professionals in these regions.
In terms of experience, entry-level academic affairs directors can expect starting salaries around $90,000, while those with extensive experience or leadership roles may earn upwards of $150,000. As the education sector evolves, ongoing professional development and networking opportunities can further enhance earning potential.
For those considering this career path, it's essential to research state-specific salary data and job openings to make informed decisions and maximize earning potential.
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Where can an Academic Affairs Director earn more?
Academic affairs director salary estimates from across the web
Average academic affairs director salary by state
The highest-paying states for academic affairs directors are California, Nevada, and Connecticut. The lowest average academic affairs director salary states are North Dakota, Indiana, and Georgia.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for academic affairs directors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $141,772 | $68.16 |
| 2 | Louisiana | $118,067 | $56.76 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $129,691 | $62.35 |
| 4 | Colorado | $123,211 | $59.24 |
| 5 | Oregon | $122,339 | $58.82 |
| 6 | North Carolina | $120,067 | $57.72 |
| 7 | Nevada | $140,735 | $67.66 |
| 8 | Wyoming | $117,583 | $56.53 |
| 9 | Alabama | $108,687 | $52.25 |
| 10 | Montana | $118,352 | $56.90 |
| 11 | Ohio | $116,951 | $56.23 |
| 12 | District of Columbia | $120,390 | $57.88 |
| 13 | Michigan | $113,373 | $54.51 |
| 14 | West Virginia | $113,685 | $54.66 |
| 15 | New York | $113,537 | $54.59 |
| 16 | Utah | $109,068 | $52.44 |
| 17 | Texas | $109,335 | $52.56 |
| 18 | Kentucky | $110,759 | $53.25 |
| 19 | Arizona | $108,001 | $51.92 |
| 20 | South Dakota | $111,718 | $53.71 |
| 21 | Missouri | $109,431 | $52.61 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $107,451 | $51.66 |
| 23 | New Jersey | $109,539 | $52.66 |
| 24 | Minnesota | $106,061 | $50.99 |
| 25 | Massachusetts | $107,174 | $51.53 |
| 26 | Washington | $108,724 | $52.27 |
| 27 | Pennsylvania | $104,406 | $50.20 |
| 28 | Maryland | $111,687 | $53.70 |
| 29 | Maine | $105,691 | $50.81 |
| 30 | Mississippi | $96,913 | $46.59 |
| 31 | Rhode Island | $103,435 | $49.73 |
| 32 | Oklahoma | $95,949 | $46.13 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $102,621 | $49.34 |
| 34 | New Mexico | $106,982 | $51.43 |
| 35 | South Carolina | $104,113 | $50.05 |
| 36 | Delaware | $103,087 | $49.56 |
| 37 | Nebraska | $100,084 | $48.12 |
| 38 | Vermont | $100,568 | $48.35 |
| 39 | New Hampshire | $101,097 | $48.60 |
| 40 | Illinois | $95,621 | $45.97 |
| 41 | Virginia | $101,408 | $48.75 |
| 42 | Idaho | $101,217 | $48.66 |
| 43 | Iowa | $97,688 | $46.97 |
| 44 | Alaska | $80,841 | $38.87 |
| 45 | Indiana | $92,137 | $44.30 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $93,951 | $45.17 |
| 47 | Kansas | $96,358 | $46.33 |
| 48 | Georgia | $91,401 | $43.94 |
| 49 | North Dakota | $93,530 | $44.97 |
| 50 | Florida | $89,578 | $43.07 |
| 51 | Hawaii | $53,803 | $25.87 |
Highest paying cities for academic affairs directors
The highest-paying cities for academic affairs directors are San Francisco, CA, New Haven, CT, and Washington, DC.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $155,298 | $74.66 |
| 2 | New Haven, CT | $131,396 | $63.17 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $121,203 | $58.27 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $114,164 | $54.89 |
| 5 | Baltimore, MD | $112,181 | $53.93 |
| 6 | Olympia, WA | $110,288 | $53.02 |
| 7 | Newark, NJ | $109,936 | $52.85 |
| 8 | Phoenix, AZ | $109,455 | $52.62 |
| 9 | Salt Lake City, UT | $109,085 | $52.44 |
| 10 | Philadelphia, PA | $104,910 | $50.44 |
| 11 | Jacksonville, FL | $96,875 | $46.57 |
| 12 | Alpharetta, GA | $92,648 | $44.54 |
| 13 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $53,821 | $25.88 |
Academic affairs director salary details
An academic affairs director's salary ranges from $70,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $180,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an academic affairs director's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $180,000 | $15,000 | $87 |
| 75th Percentile | $144,000 | $12,000 | $69 |
| Average | $112,527 | $9,377 | $54 |
| 25th Percentile | $87,000 | $7,250 | $42 |
| 10th Percentile | $70,000 | $5,833 | $34 |
Highest paying academic affairs director jobs
The highest paying types of academic affairs directors are chairperson, vice chairperson, and committee chairperson.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dean | $86,317 | $7,193 | $41.50 | 1,183 |
| Registrar | $40,632 | $3,386 | $19.53 | 12,723 |
| Co-Chair | $89,375 | $7,448 | $42.97 | 2,878 |
| New Member Educator | $34,187 | $2,849 | $16.44 | 12,866 |
| Student Dean | $59,497 | $4,958 | $28.60 | 10,422 |
| Chairperson | $125,944 | $10,495 | $60.55 | 5,178 |
Top companies hiring academic affairs directors now:
Which companies pay academic affairs directors the most?
Academic affairs director salaries at University of Maryland, Baltimore and Oregon Health & Science University are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average academic affairs director salary at companies like Capital Health and Fortegra are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Maryland, Baltimore | $162,402 | $78.08 |
| 2 | Oregon Health & Science University | $146,520 | $70.44 |
| 3 | Capital Health | $136,250 | $65.50 |
| 4 | Fortegra | $131,642 | $63.29 |
| 5 | Sage Therapeutics | $128,950 | $62.00 |
| 6 | Live Nation Entertainment | $128,092 | $61.58 |
| 7 | Pharmaceutical Product Development | $127,469 | $61.28 |
| 8 | Intel | $127,151 | $61.13 |
| 9 | Pacifi | $125,801 | $60.48 |
| 10 | UT Health East Texas | $124,911 | $60.05 |
| 11 | Rutgers University | $124,149 | $59.69 |
| 12 | Thomson Reuters | $122,462 | $58.88 |
| 13 | Glaxosmithkline | $119,472 | $57.44 |
| 14 | Spectrum | $117,598 | $56.54 |
| 15 | Yale University | $116,305 | $55.92 |
| 16 | New Jersey Economic Development Authority | $114,732 | $55.16 |
| 17 | Corning Incorporated | $108,338 | $52.09 |
| 18 | Amgen | $108,026 | $51.94 |
| 19 | Arizona Board of Regents | $106,514 | $51.21 |
| 20 | Columbia University in the City of New York | $105,956 | $50.94 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Academic affairs director salary trends
The average academic affairs director salary has risen by $15,257 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average academic affairs director earned $97,270 annually, but today, they earn $112,527 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for academic affairs directors over the last decade.
Compare academic affairs director salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average academic affairs director salary over time
Compare academic affairs director salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Academic affairs director salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $113,000 | $54.10 | +2.1% |
| 2025 | $110,000 | $52.94 | +1.1% |
| 2024 | $109,000 | $52.35 | +2.1% |
| 2023 | $107,000 | $51.25 | +1.7% |
| 2022 | $105,000 | $50.36 | +2.4% |
Recently added academic affairs director salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Get It-Hospitality | Director of State Government Affairs-Remote | Seattle, WA | 06/29/2025 | $97,000 |
| Green Thumb Industries (GTI | Director, Government Affairs | Nunez, GA | 06/24/2025 | $160,000 |
| Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd. | Director, Federal Government Affairs | Washington, DC | 06/17/2025 | $174,500 |
| Silicon Valley Leadership Group | Director, Regional Government Affairs (South Bay/Silicon Valley) | San Jose, CA | 06/15/2025 | $135,000 |
| New York University | Director, Academic Affairs | New York, NY | 06/11/2025 | $105,000 |
| Envision Consulting | Director of External Affairs | Los Angeles, CA | 06/11/2025 | $100,000 |
| Global | Governmental Affairs Strategy Director | Beachwood, OH | 06/10/2025 | $126,000 |
| AHRI | Director, Government Affairs | Arlington, VA | 06/09/2025 | $140,000 |
| Green Thumb Industries (GTI | Director, Government Affairs | Chicago, IL | 05/30/2025 | $160,000 |
| Cato Institute | Director of Government Affairs-Constitution & Law | Washington, DC | 05/26/2025 | $115,000 |
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