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Career services director salary
Average career services director salary
$63,640
Understanding the Career Services Director Salary
The role of a Career Services Director is crucial in guiding students and job seekers toward successful career paths. As of October 2025, the average salary for this position stands at $63,640 per year. However, salaries can vary significantly based on several factors.
Experience plays a key role; those with more years in the field often earn higher salaries. Additionally, geographic location impacts earnings, with states such as California and New York typically offering higher compensation. Here’s a snapshot of what you might expect:
- Entry-level roles: $45,000 - $55,000
- Mid-level roles: $56,000 - $75,000
- Senior roles: $76,000 - $90,000+
Furthermore, sectors such as higher education and private consulting also influence salary ranges. This information can be instrumental for those considering a career in this field, as it allows for a realistic assessment of potential earnings based on desired roles and locations.
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Where can a Career Services Director earn more?
Career services director salary estimates from across the web
Average career services director salary by state
The highest-paying states for career services directors are New Jersey, New York, and California. The lowest average career services director salary states are Kansas, Florida, and South Carolina.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for career services directors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $79,148 | $38.05 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $79,227 | $38.09 |
| 3 | Nevada | $69,597 | $33.46 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $77,913 | $37.46 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $74,932 | $36.02 |
| 6 | Washington | $71,466 | $34.36 |
| 7 | California | $78,178 | $37.59 |
| 8 | West Virginia | $66,696 | $32.07 |
| 9 | Wyoming | $65,243 | $31.37 |
| 10 | Michigan | $74,366 | $35.75 |
| 11 | Maine | $66,367 | $31.91 |
| 12 | Arizona | $66,954 | $32.19 |
| 13 | Iowa | $62,806 | $30.20 |
| 14 | Wisconsin | $72,208 | $34.72 |
| 15 | Oregon | $66,132 | $31.79 |
| 16 | Louisiana | $60,442 | $29.06 |
| 17 | Massachusetts | $68,677 | $33.02 |
| 18 | Idaho | $63,947 | $30.74 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $67,494 | $32.45 |
| 20 | Montana | $66,275 | $31.86 |
| 21 | South Dakota | $64,863 | $31.18 |
| 22 | Maryland | $74,839 | $35.98 |
| 23 | Kentucky | $63,187 | $30.38 |
| 24 | Alabama | $57,035 | $27.42 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $63,727 | $30.64 |
| 26 | Ohio | $62,454 | $30.03 |
| 27 | Minnesota | $58,558 | $28.15 |
| 28 | Missouri | $60,471 | $29.07 |
| 29 | Alaska | $61,093 | $29.37 |
| 30 | Georgia | $64,201 | $30.87 |
| 31 | Rhode Island | $62,392 | $30.00 |
| 32 | Delaware | $62,457 | $30.03 |
| 33 | Hawaii | $58,096 | $27.93 |
| 34 | Vermont | $62,710 | $30.15 |
| 35 | Colorado | $58,940 | $28.34 |
| 36 | Mississippi | $49,432 | $23.77 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $54,908 | $26.40 |
| 38 | Virginia | $58,733 | $28.24 |
| 39 | Nebraska | $52,150 | $25.07 |
| 40 | North Dakota | $56,689 | $27.25 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $48,581 | $23.36 |
| 42 | Utah | $54,609 | $26.25 |
| 43 | New Mexico | $52,018 | $25.01 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $48,186 | $23.17 |
| 45 | Kansas | $51,768 | $24.89 |
| 46 | Illinois | $52,993 | $25.48 |
| 47 | Indiana | $53,228 | $25.59 |
| 48 | Texas | $54,022 | $25.97 |
| 49 | North Carolina | $53,113 | $25.54 |
| 50 | Florida | $51,151 | $24.59 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $49,932 | $24.01 |
Highest paying cities for career services directors
The highest-paying cities for career services directors are Toms River, NJ, New York, NY, and Washington, DC.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toms River, NJ | $79,642 | $38.29 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $79,443 | $38.19 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $77,967 | $37.48 |
| 4 | Long Beach, CA | $76,209 | $36.64 |
| 5 | New Haven, CT | $75,071 | $36.09 |
| 6 | Ann Arbor, MI | $74,264 | $35.70 |
| 7 | Bellingham, WA | $72,389 | $34.80 |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $68,693 | $33.03 |
| 9 | Portland, OR | $65,897 | $31.68 |
| 10 | Atlanta, GA | $64,426 | $30.97 |
| 11 | Denver, CO | $58,984 | $28.36 |
| 12 | Dallas, TX | $53,925 | $25.93 |
| 13 | Winston-Salem, NC | $53,258 | $25.60 |
| 14 | Chicago, IL | $53,257 | $25.60 |
| 15 | Gainesville, FL | $51,760 | $24.88 |
| 16 | Spartanburg, SC | $51,049 | $24.54 |
Career services director salary details
A career services director's salary ranges from $45,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $88,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a career services director's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $88,000 | $7,333 | $42 |
| 75th Percentile | $75,000 | $6,250 | $36 |
| Average | $63,640 | $5,303 | $31 |
| 25th Percentile | $53,000 | $4,417 | $25 |
| 10th Percentile | $45,000 | $3,750 | $22 |
Highest paying career services director jobs
The highest paying types of career services 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 |
| Student Dean | $59,497 | $4,958 | $28.60 | 10,422 |
| Admissions Officer | $33,833 | $2,819 | $16.27 | 58,782 |
| Co-Chair | $89,375 | $7,448 | $42.97 | 2,878 |
| Department Chairperson | $98,438 | $8,203 | $47.33 | 33,511 |
Top companies hiring career services directors now:
Which companies pay career services directors the most?
Career services director salaries at Bain & Company and Northern Trust are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average career services director salary at companies like Mastercard and Interactive Brokers are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bain & Company | $95,123 | $45.73 |
| 2 | Northern Trust | $86,499 | $41.59 |
| 3 | Mastercard | $80,262 | $38.59 |
| 4 | Interactive Brokers | $78,642 | $37.81 |
| 5 | Lincoln Memorial University | $75,773 | $36.43 |
| 6 | Yale University | $71,955 | $34.59 |
| 7 | Universal Technical Institute | $69,114 | $33.23 |
| 8 | Hanes Companies, Inc. | $67,696 | $32.55 |
| 9 | Howard University | $67,411 | $32.41 |
| 10 | UMiami Health System | $67,348 | $32.38 |
| 11 | Chicago State University | $66,610 | $32.02 |
| 12 | Emory University | $65,782 | $31.63 |
| 13 | Education Affiliates | $64,500 | $31.01 |
| 14 | University of Michigan | $63,835 | $30.69 |
| 15 | Western Washington University | $63,579 | $30.57 |
| 16 | Michigan Technological University | $63,375 | $30.47 |
| 17 | Eastern Washington University | $63,201 | $30.39 |
| 18 | Central Washington University | $63,103 | $30.34 |
| 19 | Illinois Institute of Technology | $61,776 | $29.70 |
| 20 | Western State College of Law | $61,715 | $29.67 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Career services director salary trends
The average career services director salary has risen by $8,629 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average career services director earned $55,011 annually, but today, they earn $63,640 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for career services directors over the last decade.
Compare career services director salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average career services director salary over time
Compare career services director salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Career services director salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $63,600 | $30.60 | +2.1% |
| 2025 | $62,300 | $29.94 | +1.1% |
| 2024 | $61,600 | $29.60 | +2.1% |
| 2023 | $60,300 | $28.98 | +1.7% |
| 2022 | $59,200 | $28.48 | +2.4% |
Recently added career services director salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida State University | Career Services Director | Tallahassee, FL | 06/27/2025 | $90,000 |
| Depaul Talent Acquisition | Director, Career Services | Chicago, IL | 06/27/2025 | $85,519 |
| Depaul University | Director, Career Services | Chicago, IL | 06/26/2025 | $85,519 |
| Finger Lakes Community College | Director of Workforce, Career, and Experiential Learning | Fine, NY | 06/14/2025 | $64,457 |
| Augsburg University | Career Services Director, Strommen Center for Meaningful Work | Minneapolis, MN | 06/13/2025 | $68,000 |
| Milwaukee Area Technical College | Director, Biohealth Career Pathways | Milwaukee, WI | 06/11/2025 | $100,000 |
| Sae Institute USA | Director of Career Services | Chicago, IL | 05/29/2025 | $70,000 |
| Shepherd University | Director of Career Services | Shepherdstown, WV | 05/28/2025 | $48,000 |
| Paine College | Director of Career Services | Augusta, GA | 05/08/2025 | $43,388 |
| Northwestern University | Director, Early Career Programs | Evanston, IL | 05/07/2025 | $100,000 |
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