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Department chairperson salary
Average department chairperson salary
$98,438
Average Department Chairperson Salary
The average salary for a Department Chairperson stands at $98,438 per year, or approximately $47 per hour. This figure can vary significantly based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and the specific field of education. For example, higher salaries are often seen in larger institutions or those located in urban areas.
Salary Distribution by State
In states with higher costs of living, such as California and New York, Department Chairpersons may earn well above the national average. Conversely, salaries in rural areas or smaller institutions may be lower. Understanding these variations can help prospective employees negotiate better compensation packages.
Job Outlook and Opportunities
The role of a Department Chairperson is critical in academic management, overseeing departmental responsibilities and faculty performance. As educational institutions continue to evolve, the demand for qualified leaders in academia is expected to grow, providing numerous opportunities for career advancement and salary growth.
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Where can a Department Chairperson earn more?
Department chairperson salary estimates from across the web
Average department chairperson salary by state
The highest-paying states for department chairpeople are California, Massachusetts, and Nevada. The lowest average department chairperson salary states are North Dakota, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for department chairpeople
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire | $98,633 | $47.42 |
| 2 | Maine | $93,404 | $44.91 |
| 3 | Washington | $95,892 | $46.10 |
| 4 | Nevada | $100,543 | $48.34 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $91,484 | $43.98 |
| 6 | California | $112,682 | $54.17 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $106,419 | $51.16 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $91,027 | $43.76 |
| 9 | New York | $97,751 | $47.00 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $90,208 | $43.37 |
| 11 | Vermont | $88,334 | $42.47 |
| 12 | Ohio | $82,793 | $39.80 |
| 13 | Wisconsin | $80,965 | $38.93 |
| 14 | Alaska | $83,856 | $40.32 |
| 15 | Oregon | $93,451 | $44.93 |
| 16 | Rhode Island | $91,713 | $44.09 |
| 17 | Louisiana | $80,145 | $38.53 |
| 18 | Georgia | $77,183 | $37.11 |
| 19 | Michigan | $71,896 | $34.57 |
| 20 | Maryland | $85,594 | $41.15 |
| 21 | West Virginia | $74,058 | $35.60 |
| 22 | Delaware | $83,412 | $40.10 |
| 23 | Arizona | $80,301 | $38.61 |
| 24 | Florida | $74,765 | $35.94 |
| 25 | Idaho | $83,023 | $39.91 |
| 26 | Hawaii | $84,530 | $40.64 |
| 27 | Montana | $71,387 | $34.32 |
| 28 | North Carolina | $72,115 | $34.67 |
| 29 | Wyoming | $67,445 | $32.43 |
| 30 | Indiana | $69,117 | $33.23 |
| 31 | District of Columbia | $87,211 | $41.93 |
| 32 | New Mexico | $70,290 | $33.79 |
| 33 | Texas | $71,774 | $34.51 |
| 34 | Kentucky | $70,744 | $34.01 |
| 35 | Mississippi | $61,533 | $29.58 |
| 36 | Iowa | $61,958 | $29.79 |
| 37 | Alabama | $69,195 | $33.27 |
| 38 | Virginia | $75,154 | $36.13 |
| 39 | Minnesota | $65,179 | $31.34 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $60,573 | $29.12 |
| 41 | Utah | $68,849 | $33.10 |
| 42 | Tennessee | $63,278 | $30.42 |
| 43 | Colorado | $58,221 | $27.99 |
| 44 | Illinois | $58,367 | $28.06 |
| 45 | South Dakota | $61,164 | $29.41 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $55,239 | $26.56 |
| 47 | Missouri | $52,539 | $25.26 |
| 48 | North Dakota | $57,401 | $27.60 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $56,532 | $27.18 |
| 50 | Kansas | $54,241 | $26.08 |
| 51 | Nebraska | $50,755 | $24.40 |
Highest paying cities for department chairpeople
The highest-paying cities for department chairpeople are San Francisco, CA, Boston, MA, and New York, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $125,748 | $60.46 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $107,545 | $51.70 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $98,591 | $47.40 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $97,833 | $47.04 |
| 5 | Bristol, CT | $92,286 | $44.37 |
| 6 | Cleveland, OH | $87,396 | $42.02 |
| 7 | Nampa, ID | $87,300 | $41.97 |
| 8 | Burlington, VT | $87,265 | $41.95 |
| 9 | Bethesda, MD | $84,990 | $40.86 |
| 10 | Baton Rouge, LA | $80,465 | $38.69 |
| 11 | Madison, WI | $78,400 | $37.69 |
| 12 | Morgantown, WV | $77,579 | $37.30 |
| 13 | Savannah, GA | $77,267 | $37.15 |
| 14 | Winchester, VA | $75,939 | $36.51 |
| 15 | Tampa, FL | $75,787 | $36.44 |
| 16 | San Antonio, TX | $73,653 | $35.41 |
| 17 | Detroit, MI | $72,558 | $34.88 |
| 18 | Muncie, IN | $71,177 | $34.22 |
| 19 | Salt Lake City, UT | $67,773 | $32.58 |
| 20 | Rochester, MN | $64,051 | $30.79 |
Department chairperson salary details
A department chairperson's salary ranges from $50,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $191,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a department chairperson's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $191,000 | $15,917 | $92 |
| 75th Percentile | $139,000 | $11,583 | $67 |
| Average | $98,438 | $8,203 | $47 |
| 25th Percentile | $69,000 | $5,750 | $33 |
| 10th Percentile | $50,000 | $4,167 | $24 |
Highest paying department chairperson jobs
The highest paying types of department chairpeople are chairperson, vice chairperson, and committee chairperson.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registrar | $40,632 | $3,386 | $19.53 | 12,723 |
| Finance Aid Director | $58,644 | $4,887 | $28.19 | 98,523 |
| New Member Educator | $34,187 | $2,849 | $16.44 | 12,866 |
| Education Director | $62,123 | $5,177 | $29.87 | 24,774 |
| Athletic Director | $71,311 | $5,943 | $34.28 | 11,759 |
| Campus Director | $73,324 | $6,110 | $35.25 | 10,958 |
Top companies hiring department chairpeople now:
Which companies pay department chairpeople the most?
Department chairperson salaries at Marshall University and National Medical Association are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average department chairperson salary at companies like Poly Prep Country Day School and Peddie School are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marshall University | $163,395 | $78.56 |
| 2 | National Medical Association | $143,601 | $69.04 |
| 3 | Poly Prep Country Day School | $133,718 | $64.29 |
| 4 | Peddie School | $132,999 | $63.94 |
| 5 | Columbia College Chicago | $127,818 | $61.45 |
| 6 | University of Maryland, Baltimore | $126,704 | $60.92 |
| 7 | Chicago Public Schools | $125,488 | $60.33 |
| 8 | Cornish College of the Arts | $120,076 | $57.73 |
| 9 | Darrow School | $112,571 | $54.12 |
| 10 | Mayo Clinic | $108,285 | $52.06 |
| 11 | Faulkner University | $108,130 | $51.99 |
| 12 | University of Vermont | $106,821 | $51.36 |
| 13 | Catholic Health Initiatives - Colorado | $105,665 | $50.80 |
| 14 | Univ. Of Texas Cancer Ctr. | $105,572 | $50.76 |
| 15 | Northwell Health | $101,302 | $48.70 |
| 16 | The International School of Music | $99,520 | $47.85 |
| 17 | Rutgers University | $99,376 | $47.78 |
| 18 | Iowa State University | $98,344 | $47.28 |
| 19 | Geisinger Medical Center | $97,927 | $47.08 |
| 20 | Fair Haven Community Health Care | $96,088 | $46.20 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Department chairperson salary trends
The average department chairperson salary has risen by $13,347 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average department chairperson earned $85,091 annually, but today, they earn $98,438 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for department chairpeople over the last decade.
Compare department chairperson salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average department chairperson salary over time
Compare department chairperson salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Department chairperson salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $98,400 | $47.33 | +2.1% |
| 2025 | $96,300 | $46.31 | +1.1% |
| 2024 | $95,200 | $45.79 | +2.1% |
| 2023 | $93,200 | $44.83 | +1.7% |
| 2022 | $91,600 | $44.05 | +2.4% |
Recently added department chairperson salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami Dade College | Department Chairperson, Business | Miami, FL | 06/29/2025 | $94,419 |
| State of Georgia | Culinary Arts Department Chair | Atlanta, GA | 06/27/2025 | $60,000 |
| Virginia Community College System | Medical Laboratory Technology Department Chair/Program Director | Richmond, VA | 06/26/2025 | $88,000 |
| Dallas College | Department Chair, Esol | Dallas, TX | 06/24/2025 | $75,000 |
| Tcsedsystem | Department Chair, Education | Pasadena, CA | 06/20/2025 | $81,280 |
| Touro College | Associate Chair, Department of Anatomy | Middletown, NY | 06/14/2025 | $132,983 |
| Director of Student Health In Vallejo, California | Chair of OMM Department | Vallejo, CA | 06/10/2025 | $202,000 |
| Aventure Staffing | Department of Nursing Chairperson | Sioux City, IA | 06/09/2025 | $75,000 |
| Dallas College | Department Chair, Esol | Nunez, GA | 06/07/2025 | $75,000 |
| Houston Independent School District | Chair, Spcl ED 10M Department | Houston, TX | 06/07/2025 | $64,000 |
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