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The Associate Director of Admissions plays a pivotal role in educational institutions, focusing on student recruitment and retention strategies. As of October 2025, the average salary stands at $60,046 annually, translating to approximately $29 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly depending on location, years of experience, and the type of institution.
Top-paying states for this position include California, New York, and Texas, where salaries can exceed the average significantly. Additionally, larger universities or those with competitive programs often offer higher compensation packages.
Job prospects for Associate Directors of Admissions are promising, with many institutions expanding their recruitment efforts. This role not only offers competitive salaries but also the chance to influence students' educational journeys. For those considering this career path, understanding the salary landscape and opportunities available can lead to informed career decisions.
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The average associate director of admissions salary in Connecticut, New York, and Maryland are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average associate director of admissions salary states are Mississippi, Kansas, and Nebraska.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $71,276 | $34.27 |
| 2 | New York | $66,957 | $32.19 |
| 3 | Louisiana | $61,296 | $29.47 |
| 4 | Illinois | $64,046 | $30.79 |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $68,302 | $32.84 |
| 6 | Indiana | $64,145 | $30.84 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $62,651 | $30.12 |
| 8 | Arizona | $62,068 | $29.84 |
| 9 | Maine | $62,599 | $30.10 |
| 10 | South Dakota | $59,231 | $28.48 |
| 11 | Alabama | $56,293 | $27.06 |
| 12 | California | $62,550 | $30.07 |
| 13 | Nevada | $61,879 | $29.75 |
| 14 | West Virginia | $58,585 | $28.17 |
| 15 | Oregon | $60,916 | $29.29 |
| 16 | Wyoming | $60,970 | $29.31 |
| 17 | New Hampshire | $62,079 | $29.85 |
| 18 | Montana | $60,417 | $29.05 |
| 19 | Ohio | $57,666 | $27.72 |
| 20 | Maryland | $65,703 | $31.59 |
| 21 | Vermont | $58,128 | $27.95 |
| 22 | New Jersey | $59,427 | $28.57 |
| 23 | Pennsylvania | $56,012 | $26.93 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $55,635 | $26.75 |
| 25 | Michigan | $55,989 | $26.92 |
| 26 | Georgia | $56,269 | $27.05 |
| 27 | Rhode Island | $56,575 | $27.20 |
| 28 | Kentucky | $56,870 | $27.34 |
| 29 | Florida | $57,932 | $27.85 |
| 30 | North Carolina | $56,271 | $27.05 |
| 31 | Idaho | $58,380 | $28.07 |
| 32 | Missouri | $56,390 | $27.11 |
| 33 | Colorado | $54,622 | $26.26 |
| 34 | Iowa | $51,272 | $24.65 |
| 35 | Texas | $54,085 | $26.00 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $51,967 | $24.98 |
| 37 | Minnesota | $55,628 | $26.74 |
| 38 | Alaska | $49,534 | $23.81 |
| 39 | Mississippi | $49,458 | $23.78 |
| 40 | Arkansas | $47,247 | $22.71 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $48,078 | $23.11 |
| 42 | Virginia | $50,492 | $24.27 |
| 43 | Delaware | $55,235 | $26.56 |
| 44 | Washington | $52,324 | $25.16 |
| 45 | Utah | $51,337 | $24.68 |
| 46 | North Dakota | $50,459 | $24.26 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $52,435 | $25.21 |
| 48 | New Mexico | $49,845 | $23.96 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $47,573 | $22.87 |
| 50 | Nebraska | $48,413 | $23.28 |
| 51 | Kansas | $48,651 | $23.39 |
The highest-paying cities for associate directors of admissions are New Haven, CT, Washington, DC, and New York, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Haven, CT | $71,411 | $34.33 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $68,302 | $32.84 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $67,098 | $32.26 |
| 4 | Baltimore, MD | $65,973 | $31.72 |
| 5 | Bloomington, IN | $63,784 | $30.67 |
| 6 | Santa Clara, CA | $62,870 | $30.23 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $62,708 | $30.15 |
| 8 | Sioux Falls, SD | $59,228 | $28.48 |
| 9 | Akron, OH | $58,504 | $28.13 |
| 10 | Pocatello, ID | $58,078 | $27.92 |
| 11 | DeLand, FL | $57,945 | $27.86 |
| 12 | Chapel Hill, NC | $56,753 | $27.29 |
| 13 | Savannah, GA | $56,510 | $27.17 |
| 14 | Saint Louis, MO | $56,496 | $27.16 |
| 15 | Philadelphia, PA | $56,479 | $27.15 |
| 16 | Milwaukee, WI | $55,788 | $26.82 |
| 17 | Denver, CO | $54,641 | $26.27 |
| 18 | Houston, TX | $53,939 | $25.93 |
| 19 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $52,453 | $25.22 |
| 20 | Bothell, WA | $52,331 | $25.16 |
An associate director of admissions's salary ranges from $45,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $78,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $78,000 | $6,500 | $38 |
| 75th Percentile | $69,000 | $5,750 | $33 |
| Average | $60,046 | $5,004 | $29 |
| 25th Percentile | $52,000 | $4,333 | $25 |
| 10th Percentile | $45,000 | $3,750 | $22 |
The highest paying types of associate directors of admissions 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 |
| Department Chairperson | $98,438 | $8,203 | $47.33 | 33,511 |
| Committee Chairperson | $122,630 | $10,219 | $58.96 | 956 |
| Chairperson | $125,944 | $10,495 | $60.55 | 5,178 |
| Registrar | $40,632 | $3,386 | $19.53 | 12,723 |
| New Member Educator | $34,187 | $2,849 | $16.44 | 12,866 |
Top companies hiring associate directors of admissions now:
Associate director of admissions salaries at Léman Manhattan Preparatory School and King's College are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average associate director of admissions salary at companies like Claremont Graduate University and Mercy College are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Léman Manhattan Preparatory School | $70,626 | $33.95 |
| 2 | King's College | $69,749 | $33.53 |
| 3 | Claremont Graduate University | $69,630 | $33.48 |
| 4 | Mercy College | $69,251 | $33.29 |
| 5 | Stanford University | $67,974 | $32.68 |
| 6 | Hawaii Pacific University | $66,711 | $32.07 |
| 7 | Suffolk University | $65,602 | $31.54 |
| 8 | Nova Southeastern University | $65,089 | $31.29 |
| 9 | Merrimack College | $65,009 | $31.25 |
| 10 | University of California | $64,907 | $31.21 |
| 11 | Yale University | $64,906 | $31.20 |
| 12 | UW-Milwaukee | $64,870 | $31.19 |
| 13 | Head-Royce School | $64,425 | $30.97 |
| 14 | Santa Clara University | $64,338 | $30.93 |
| 15 | Golden Gate University | $64,107 | $30.82 |
| 16 | Savannah College of Art and Design | $64,088 | $30.81 |
| 17 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | $63,686 | $30.62 |
| 18 | Boston College | $62,909 | $30.24 |
| 19 | SUNY Geneseo | $62,730 | $30.16 |
| 20 | Cornell College | $62,376 | $29.99 |
The average associate director of admissions salary has risen by $8,141 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average associate director of admissions earned $51,905 annually, but today, they earn $60,046 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for associate directors of admissions over the last decade.
Compare associate director of admissions salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare associate director of admissions salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $60,000 | $28.87 | +2.1% |
| 2025 | $58,800 | $28.25 | +1.1% |
| 2024 | $58,100 | $27.93 | +2.1% |
| 2023 | $56,900 | $27.35 | +1.7% |
| 2022 | $55,900 | $26.87 | +2.4% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Chicago | Associate Director, Admissions | Chicago, IL | 06/30/2025 | $37,400 |
| Lehigh University | Associate Director of Admissions | Bethlehem, PA | 06/28/2025 | $66,270 |
| National University College | Associate Director of Admissions | Tampa, FL | 06/28/2025 | $70,000 |
| Avenues1 | Assistant/Associate Director of ELC and Lower Division Admissions | New York, NY | 06/27/2025 | $60,000 |
| Stanbridge University | Associate Director, Admissions | Riverside, CA | 06/25/2025 | $85,000 |
| Garrison Forest School | Assistant/Associate Director of Admission | Owings Mills, MD | 06/20/2025 | $55,000 |
| Tufts University | Associate Director of Admissions | Medford, MA | 06/16/2025 | $64,550 |
| Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College | Associate Director of Honors Recruitment and Admissions | Kennesaw, GA | 06/16/2025 | $68,000 |
| Kennesaw State University | Associate Director of Honors Recruitment and Admissions | Kennesaw, GA | 06/16/2025 | $68,000 |
| Hartwick College | Senior Associate Director of Admissions | Oneonta, NY | 06/14/2025 | $75,000 |
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