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Director of student affairs salary
Average director of student affairs salary
$74,804
Understanding the Role of a Director of Student Affairs
The average salary for a Director of Student Affairs as of October 2025 is $74,804 per year. This compensation reflects the critical nature of the role, which includes overseeing student services, managing staff, and fostering a supportive campus environment. Salaries can vary by state, with higher averages reported in areas with a cost of living adjustment. For instance, states like New York and California often offer higher compensation due to their urban settings and demand for higher education professionals.
Salary Variations by Experience
Experience plays a significant role in determining salary levels. Entry-level positions may start lower, while those with extensive experience and advanced degrees can earn substantially more. Additionally, various institutions, such as public universities versus private colleges, often have different salary structures. Thus, professionals in this field should consider both geographic and institutional factors when evaluating their earning potential.
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Where can a Director Of Student Affairs earn more?
Director of student affairs salary estimates from across the web
Average director of student affairs salary by state
The highest-paying states for directors of student affairs are California, New Jersey, and New York. The lowest average director of student affairs salary states are Nebraska, Kansas, and Oklahoma.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for directors of student affairs
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $90,830 | $43.67 |
| 2 | California | $92,656 | $44.55 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $89,849 | $43.20 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $85,231 | $40.98 |
| 5 | Wisconsin | $83,378 | $40.09 |
| 6 | Michigan | $85,855 | $41.28 |
| 7 | South Dakota | $71,624 | $34.43 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $91,123 | $43.81 |
| 9 | Louisiana | $73,447 | $35.31 |
| 10 | Nevada | $82,162 | $39.50 |
| 11 | Iowa | $71,061 | $34.16 |
| 12 | Maryland | $86,288 | $41.48 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $73,492 | $35.33 |
| 14 | West Virginia | $77,446 | $37.23 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $75,403 | $36.25 |
| 16 | Kentucky | $71,794 | $34.52 |
| 17 | Ohio | $72,559 | $34.88 |
| 18 | Delaware | $72,023 | $34.63 |
| 19 | Wyoming | $68,372 | $32.87 |
| 20 | Washington | $73,964 | $35.56 |
| 21 | Georgia | $73,503 | $35.34 |
| 22 | Rhode Island | $69,849 | $33.58 |
| 23 | Oregon | $70,661 | $33.97 |
| 24 | Alabama | $65,138 | $31.32 |
| 25 | Idaho | $70,077 | $33.69 |
| 26 | New Hampshire | $71,733 | $34.49 |
| 27 | Montana | $70,239 | $33.77 |
| 28 | Tennessee | $62,273 | $29.94 |
| 29 | Minnesota | $65,683 | $31.58 |
| 30 | Maine | $64,405 | $30.96 |
| 31 | Texas | $65,958 | $31.71 |
| 32 | Missouri | $66,240 | $31.85 |
| 33 | Virginia | $68,395 | $32.88 |
| 34 | Alaska | $50,820 | $24.43 |
| 35 | Indiana | $61,512 | $29.57 |
| 36 | Illinois | $61,756 | $29.69 |
| 37 | Hawaii | $53,241 | $25.60 |
| 38 | Arizona | $64,464 | $30.99 |
| 39 | North Carolina | $61,932 | $29.77 |
| 40 | Arkansas | $53,449 | $25.70 |
| 41 | Colorado | $61,353 | $29.50 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $54,001 | $25.96 |
| 43 | North Dakota | $60,169 | $28.93 |
| 44 | New Mexico | $61,691 | $29.66 |
| 45 | Utah | $61,267 | $29.46 |
| 46 | Vermont | $62,217 | $29.91 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $57,916 | $27.84 |
| 48 | Florida | $58,528 | $28.14 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $57,055 | $27.43 |
| 50 | Nebraska | $56,762 | $27.29 |
| 51 | Kansas | $55,091 | $26.49 |
Highest paying cities for directors of student affairs
The highest-paying cities for directors of student affairs are San Francisco, CA, New York, NY, and Washington, DC.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $96,464 | $46.38 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $91,391 | $43.94 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $90,043 | $43.29 |
| 4 | Baltimore, MD | $86,503 | $41.59 |
| 5 | Middletown, CT | $84,844 | $40.79 |
| 6 | Amherst, MA | $75,702 | $36.40 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $73,984 | $35.57 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $73,836 | $35.50 |
| 9 | Atlanta, GA | $73,611 | $35.39 |
| 10 | Toledo, OH | $72,570 | $34.89 |
| 11 | Bend, OR | $70,941 | $34.11 |
| 12 | Bowling Green, KY | $69,359 | $33.35 |
| 13 | Saint Louis, MO | $67,944 | $32.67 |
| 14 | Charlottesville, VA | $67,729 | $32.56 |
| 15 | Cheyenne, WY | $67,103 | $32.26 |
| 16 | Minneapolis, MN | $65,622 | $31.55 |
| 17 | Arlington, TX | $65,366 | $31.43 |
| 18 | Flagstaff, AZ | $64,711 | $31.11 |
| 19 | Auburn, AL | $64,298 | $30.91 |
| 20 | Greenville, NC | $63,917 | $30.73 |
Director of student affairs salary details
A director of student affairs's salary ranges from $44,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $125,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a director of student affairs's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $125,000 | $10,417 | $60 |
| 75th Percentile | $98,000 | $8,167 | $47 |
| Average | $74,804 | $6,234 | $36 |
| 25th Percentile | $56,000 | $4,667 | $27 |
| 10th Percentile | $44,000 | $3,667 | $21 |
Highest paying director of student affairs jobs
The highest paying types of directors of student affairs 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 |
| Dean | $86,317 | $7,193 | $41.50 | 1,183 |
| Chairperson | $125,944 | $10,495 | $60.55 | 5,178 |
| New Member Educator | $34,187 | $2,849 | $16.44 | 12,866 |
| Co-Chair | $89,375 | $7,448 | $42.97 | 2,878 |
| Committee Chairperson | $122,630 | $10,219 | $58.96 | 956 |
Top companies hiring directors of student affairs now:
Which companies pay directors of student affairs the most?
Director of student affairs salaries at Pacifi and The Art Institute of Chicago are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average director of student affairs salary at companies like Corning Incorporated and The University of Kansas Health System are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pacifi | $105,956 | $50.94 |
| 2 | The Art Institute of Chicago | $103,811 | $49.91 |
| 3 | Corning Incorporated | $95,557 | $45.94 |
| 4 | The University of Kansas Health System | $95,492 | $45.91 |
| 5 | Tufts University | $91,138 | $43.82 |
| 6 | Nash Community College | $89,242 | $42.90 |
| 7 | PSEA | $88,186 | $42.40 |
| 8 | Oregon Health & Science University | $84,452 | $40.60 |
| 9 | University of Massachusetts Boston | $84,005 | $40.39 |
| 10 | New York University | $83,754 | $40.27 |
| 11 | Boston College | $82,257 | $39.55 |
| 12 | Sage Therapeutics | $80,862 | $38.88 |
| 13 | Pharmaceutical Product Development | $80,627 | $38.76 |
| 14 | Columbia University in the City of New York | $80,339 | $38.62 |
| 15 | Georgetown University | $79,765 | $38.35 |
| 16 | UMiami Health System | $77,999 | $37.50 |
| 17 | University of Southern California | $77,636 | $37.33 |
| 18 | San Jose State University | $77,260 | $37.14 |
| 19 | Everglades University | $76,339 | $36.70 |
| 20 | Duke University Health System | $76,301 | $36.68 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Director of student affairs salary trends
The average director of student affairs salary has risen by $10,143 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average director of student affairs earned $64,661 annually, but today, they earn $74,804 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for directors of student affairs over the last decade.
Compare director of student affairs salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average director of student affairs salary over time
Compare director of student affairs salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Director of student affairs salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $74,800 | $35.96 | +2.1% |
| 2025 | $73,200 | $35.19 | +1.1% |
| 2024 | $72,400 | $34.80 | +2.1% |
| 2023 | $70,900 | $34.07 | +1.7% |
| 2022 | $69,600 | $33.48 | +2.4% |
Recently added director of student affairs salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Farm Bureau Federation | Director, Government Affairs | Washington, DC | 06/27/2025 | $130,000 |
| Tremco Illbruck | Governmental Affairs Strategy Director | Beachwood, OH | 06/27/2025 | $126,000 |
| University at Albany | Accessibility Counselor-Student Affairs and E. | Albany, NY | 06/26/2025 | $57,151 |
| West Coast University | Campus Director, Student Affairs | Los Angeles, CA | 06/25/2025 | $87,964 |
| University of Colorado | Director of Student Progress Open Rank | Aurora, CO | 06/24/2025 | $37,500 |
| Takeda | Director, Federal Government Affairs | Ione, WA | 06/22/2025 | $174,500 |
| Ohio Wesleyan University | Asst Director of Multicultural Student Affairs | Delaware, OH | 06/18/2025 | $52,000 |
| MTC Corrections | Student Affairs Supervisor | Hawaii | 06/13/2025 | $57,000 |
| Westchester Community College | Director of Student Affairs-Westchester Community College | Valhalla, NY | 06/11/2025 | $104,194 |
| Fairvote | Director of Federal Affairs and Voting Rights | Silver Spring, MD | 06/11/2025 | $135,000 |
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