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Department administrator salary
Average department administrator salary
$49,768
Department Administrator Salary Overview
The average salary for a Department Administrator in the United States is approximately $49,768 annually, which breaks down to around $24 per hour. Factors influencing this salary include geographical location, years of experience, and the specific industry in which the administrator works. For instance, states like California and New York often provide higher salaries due to their cost of living and demand for skilled professionals.
Salary by Experience
Entry-level positions may start at a lower salary, but as you gain experience, your earning potential increases significantly. For example, administrators with 5-10 years of experience can expect salaries that exceed the average by a notable margin. Additionally, pursuing further education or specialized training can enhance job prospects and lead to higher compensation.
Industry Insights
Industries such as healthcare and education typically offer competitive salaries for Department Administrators. Understanding which industries offer the best pay can help candidates focus their job search efforts effectively.
Conclusion
Overall, the role of a Department Administrator is not only rewarding but also offers various opportunities for career advancement. By considering factors such as location and industry, you can make informed decisions about your career in this field.
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Where can a Department Administrator earn more?
Department administrator salary estimates from across the web
Average department administrator salary by state
The average department administrator salary in Alaska, California, and Connecticut are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average department administrator salary states are Florida, New Mexico, and Wyoming.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for department administrators
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $60,199 | $28.94 |
| 2 | Washington | $58,182 | $27.97 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $58,302 | $28.03 |
| 4 | Maine | $55,402 | $26.64 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $54,290 | $26.10 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $56,822 | $27.32 |
| 7 | Maryland | $55,970 | $26.91 |
| 8 | California | $60,163 | $28.92 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $53,551 | $25.75 |
| 10 | Oregon | $53,965 | $25.94 |
| 11 | Utah | $50,986 | $24.51 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $52,695 | $25.33 |
| 13 | New York | $56,189 | $27.01 |
| 14 | South Dakota | $55,095 | $26.49 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $52,131 | $25.06 |
| 16 | New Jersey | $54,792 | $26.34 |
| 17 | Virginia | $49,873 | $23.98 |
| 18 | Idaho | $51,550 | $24.78 |
| 19 | Michigan | $49,364 | $23.73 |
| 20 | Ohio | $49,668 | $23.88 |
| 21 | Arizona | $48,154 | $23.15 |
| 22 | Minnesota | $50,826 | $24.44 |
| 23 | District of Columbia | $49,796 | $23.94 |
| 24 | North Carolina | $48,195 | $23.17 |
| 25 | Colorado | $48,159 | $23.15 |
| 26 | Vermont | $48,021 | $23.09 |
| 27 | Tennessee | $48,196 | $23.17 |
| 28 | Nevada | $48,039 | $23.10 |
| 29 | Hawaii | $48,374 | $23.26 |
| 30 | Oklahoma | $48,037 | $23.09 |
| 31 | Delaware | $49,217 | $23.66 |
| 32 | Montana | $45,723 | $21.98 |
| 33 | North Dakota | $46,291 | $22.26 |
| 34 | Texas | $45,026 | $21.65 |
| 35 | West Virginia | $45,771 | $22.01 |
| 36 | Kansas | $46,673 | $22.44 |
| 37 | Illinois | $46,960 | $22.58 |
| 38 | Georgia | $45,587 | $21.92 |
| 39 | Iowa | $45,851 | $22.04 |
| 40 | Nebraska | $46,751 | $22.48 |
| 41 | Wyoming | $41,747 | $20.07 |
| 42 | Florida | $42,403 | $20.39 |
| 43 | New Mexico | $42,274 | $20.32 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $43,931 | $21.12 |
| 45 | Indiana | $44,700 | $21.49 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $44,658 | $21.47 |
| 47 | Missouri | $44,547 | $21.42 |
| 48 | Alabama | $40,008 | $19.23 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $39,980 | $19.22 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $42,464 | $20.42 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $41,666 | $20.03 |
Highest paying cities for department administrators
The highest-paying cities for department administrators are South San Francisco, CA, Boston, MA, and New York, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South San Francisco, CA | $64,772 | $31.14 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $56,855 | $27.33 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $56,342 | $27.09 |
| 4 | Salem, NH | $54,527 | $26.21 |
| 5 | Philadelphia, PA | $53,984 | $25.95 |
| 6 | Appleton, WI | $52,289 | $25.14 |
| 7 | McLean, VA | $50,813 | $24.43 |
| 8 | Cleveland, OH | $50,799 | $24.42 |
| 9 | Provo, UT | $50,763 | $24.41 |
| 10 | Washington, DC | $49,818 | $23.95 |
| 11 | Dearborn, MI | $49,568 | $23.83 |
| 12 | Durham, NC | $49,027 | $23.57 |
| 13 | Fort Collins, CO | $48,301 | $23.22 |
| 14 | Burlington, VT | $47,742 | $22.95 |
| 15 | Las Vegas, NV | $47,691 | $22.93 |
| 16 | Chicago, IL | $47,132 | $22.66 |
| 17 | Iowa City, IA | $46,060 | $22.14 |
| 18 | Atlanta, GA | $45,557 | $21.90 |
| 19 | Houston, TX | $45,281 | $21.77 |
| 20 | Saint Louis, MO | $44,808 | $21.54 |
Department administrator salary details
A department administrator's salary ranges from $34,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $72,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a department administrator's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $72,000 | $6,000 | $35 |
| 75th Percentile | $60,000 | $5,000 | $29 |
| Average | $49,768 | $4,147 | $24 |
| 25th Percentile | $40,000 | $3,333 | $19 |
| 10th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
Highest paying department administrator jobs
The highest paying types of department administrators are lead administrator, managing administrator, and administrator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative Analyst | $55,444 | $4,620 | $26.66 | 91,598 |
| Administrator Secretary | $34,336 | $2,861 | $16.51 | 99,520 |
| Department Secretary | $35,473 | $2,956 | $17.05 | 80,303 |
| Facilities Administrator | $70,272 | $5,856 | $33.78 | 64,826 |
| Business Administrator | $72,503 | $6,042 | $34.86 | 103,025 |
| Clinic Administrator | $71,242 | $5,937 | $34.25 | 70,844 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for department administrators, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Dr. Richard Huff Ph.D.
Assistant professor, assistant chair, Virginia Commonwealth University
These groups likely present varying degrees of salary requirements and qualifications. In the federal service, an MPA qualifies as one at the GS-9 entry-level. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) publishes salary tables at Link The beginning salary varies by location from $53K to $61K, with the higher amount near large metropolitan areas. Higher salaries are common in overseas areas. Progression is based on performance with opportunities to achieve salaries of $150K and over at the executive levels. Overall, beginning salaries for the MPA considering nonprofits and government agencies is estimated at $53K.
Top companies hiring department administrators now:
Which companies pay department administrators the most?
Department administrator salaries at MacArthur Foundation and City of San Antonio are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average department administrator salary at companies like Molina Healthcare and PNM Resources are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MacArthur Foundation | $81,119 | $39.00 |
| 2 | City of San Antonio | $78,012 | $37.51 |
| 3 | Molina Healthcare | $76,572 | $36.81 |
| 4 | PNM Resources | $68,346 | $32.86 |
| 5 | New York University | $63,718 | $30.63 |
| 6 | Tenet Healthcare | $63,427 | $30.49 |
| 7 | McCluskey Chevrolet | $59,639 | $28.67 |
| 8 | UMass Lowell | $59,615 | $28.66 |
| 9 | Agilent Technologies | $59,332 | $28.52 |
| 10 | Shriners Hospitals for Children | $59,064 | $28.40 |
| 11 | State University of New York College at Cortland | $58,958 | $28.35 |
| 12 | Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center | $57,037 | $27.42 |
| 13 | Rutgers University | $55,577 | $26.72 |
| 14 | University of California-Berkeley | $55,531 | $26.70 |
| 15 | Roswell Park | $55,113 | $26.50 |
| 16 | UC Santa Barbara | $54,721 | $26.31 |
| 17 | UCHealth | $53,813 | $25.87 |
| 18 | UMiami Health System | $53,439 | $25.69 |
| 19 | University of Colorado Boulder | $52,493 | $25.24 |
| 20 | Emory Healthcare | $52,242 | $25.12 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Department Administrator salary by industry
The average department administrator salary varies across industries:
- The average department administrator salary in the energy industry is $64,581, the highest of any industry.
- The average department administrator salary in the finance industry is $56,961.
- Department administrators in the professional industry earn an average salary of $49,668, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for department administrators
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Energy | $64,581 | $31.05 |
| 2 | Health Care | $56,961 | $27.39 |
| 3 | Government | $56,388 | $27.11 |
| 4 | Education | $50,405 | $24.23 |
| 5 | Professional | $49,668 | $23.88 |
High paying department administrator jobs
Department administrator salary trends
The average department administrator salary has risen by $9,082 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average department administrator earned $40,686 annually, but today, they earn $49,768 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for department administrators over the last decade.
Compare department administrator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average department administrator salary over time
Compare department administrator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Department administrator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $49,800 | $23.93 | +3.3% |
| 2025 | $48,100 | $23.14 | +2.3% |
| 2024 | $47,000 | $22.61 | +1.2% |
| 2023 | $46,500 | $22.35 | +1.7% |
| 2022 | $45,700 | $21.97 | +2.4% |
Recently added department administrator salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Case Western Reserve University | Department Administrator 2 | Cleveland, OH | 06/28/2025 | $56,395 |
| Jobs@Uiowa | Department Administrator | Iowa City, IA | 06/27/2025 | $45,000 |
| University of Iowa | Department Administrator | Iowa City, IA | 06/26/2025 | $45,000 |
| Montclair Dance Company | Assistant Department Administrator | Montclair, NJ | 06/25/2025 | $53,277 |
| Georgetown University | Department Administrator, Department of Mathematics and Statistics-Georgetown University College O | Washington, DC | 06/20/2025 | $44,022 |
| Montclair State University | Assistant Department Administrator | Montclair, NJ | 06/20/2025 | $53,277 |
| Georgetown University | Department Administrator, Department of Mathematics and Statistics | Washington, DC | 05/25/2025 | $44,022 |
| Excel Services | Service Department Administrator | Louisville, KY | 05/23/2025 | $41,740 |
| University of Wisconsin Madison | Assistant Department Administrator | Madison, WI | 05/20/2025 | $80,000 |
| VCU | Department Administrator-Basic Health Sciences | Richmond, VA | 05/09/2025 | $120,000 |
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