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An Instruction Dean is responsible for leading academic initiatives and ensuring that educational standards are upheld. They oversee faculty hiring, curriculum development, and student engagement strategies. This position typically requires a master's degree or higher in education or a related field, along with substantial experience in academic administration.
As of October 2025, the average salary for an Instruction Dean is $81,901 per year or about $39 per hour. However, salaries can vary significantly based on factors such as location, institution type, and years of experience. For example, Instruction Deans in metropolitan areas often earn more due to higher living costs.
States like California and New York often offer the highest salaries for Instruction Deans, reflecting their competitive educational markets. Conversely, rural areas may present lower average salaries, but they can still offer rewarding opportunities for those committed to education.
The demand for Instruction Deans continues to grow, driven by the expansion of educational programs and the need for quality assurance in academic institutions. This growth signifies strong job security and opportunities for advancement in the field.
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The highest-paying states for instruction deans are California, Connecticut, and Nevada. The lowest average instruction dean salary states are Texas, Georgia, and Mississippi.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $100,981 | $48.55 |
| 2 | Nevada | $94,454 | $45.41 |
| 3 | California | $107,282 | $51.58 |
| 4 | Michigan | $85,757 | $41.23 |
| 5 | New York | $87,893 | $42.26 |
| 6 | District of Columbia | $92,356 | $44.40 |
| 7 | West Virginia | $84,064 | $40.42 |
| 8 | Montana | $82,065 | $39.45 |
| 9 | Ohio | $87,159 | $41.90 |
| 10 | Wisconsin | $79,921 | $38.42 |
| 11 | Maine | $82,669 | $39.74 |
| 12 | Oregon | $85,780 | $41.24 |
| 13 | Massachusetts | $82,268 | $39.55 |
| 14 | North Carolina | $85,477 | $41.09 |
| 15 | South Dakota | $80,924 | $38.91 |
| 16 | New Jersey | $84,604 | $40.67 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $79,494 | $38.22 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $80,214 | $38.56 |
| 19 | Maryland | $85,543 | $41.13 |
| 20 | Minnesota | $79,162 | $38.06 |
| 21 | New Hampshire | $77,621 | $37.32 |
| 22 | Wyoming | $77,019 | $37.03 |
| 23 | Kentucky | $77,453 | $37.24 |
| 24 | Louisiana | $74,058 | $35.60 |
| 25 | Virginia | $76,324 | $36.69 |
| 26 | Delaware | $79,271 | $38.11 |
| 27 | Washington | $78,583 | $37.78 |
| 28 | South Carolina | $70,493 | $33.89 |
| 29 | Vermont | $77,894 | $37.45 |
| 30 | Nebraska | $68,016 | $32.70 |
| 31 | Alaska | $66,990 | $32.21 |
| 32 | Missouri | $72,054 | $34.64 |
| 33 | Illinois | $69,681 | $33.50 |
| 34 | Iowa | $70,327 | $33.81 |
| 35 | Idaho | $67,953 | $32.67 |
| 36 | Alabama | $68,292 | $32.83 |
| 37 | Utah | $66,088 | $31.77 |
| 38 | North Dakota | $70,341 | $33.82 |
| 39 | Colorado | $57,582 | $27.68 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $66,127 | $31.79 |
| 41 | Florida | $65,244 | $31.37 |
| 42 | Arizona | $67,062 | $32.24 |
| 43 | Indiana | $66,242 | $31.85 |
| 44 | New Mexico | $61,567 | $29.60 |
| 45 | Texas | $59,936 | $28.82 |
| 46 | Kansas | $59,955 | $28.82 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $65,692 | $31.58 |
| 48 | Georgia | $58,944 | $28.34 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $58,614 | $28.18 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $56,302 | $27.07 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $55,530 | $26.70 |
The highest-paying cities for instruction deans are Redwood City, CA, Las Vegas, NV, and Washington, DC.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Redwood City, CA | $115,510 | $55.53 |
| 2 | Las Vegas, NV | $94,541 | $45.45 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $92,406 | $44.43 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $88,049 | $42.33 |
| 5 | Durham, NC | $87,502 | $42.07 |
| 6 | Newark, NJ | $84,739 | $40.74 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $82,254 | $39.55 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $79,354 | $38.15 |
| 9 | Kansas City, MO | $70,853 | $34.06 |
| 10 | Tampa, FL | $65,547 | $31.51 |
| 11 | Houston, TX | $60,650 | $29.16 |
| 12 | Denver, CO | $57,616 | $27.70 |
An instruction dean's salary ranges from $54,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $123,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $123,000 | $10,250 | $59 |
| 75th Percentile | $101,000 | $8,417 | $49 |
| Average | $81,901 | $6,825 | $39 |
| 25th Percentile | $66,000 | $5,500 | $32 |
| 10th Percentile | $54,000 | $4,500 | $26 |
The highest paying types of instruction deans are chairperson, vice chairperson, and committee chairperson.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Co-Chair | $89,375 | $7,448 | $42.97 | 2,878 |
| Committee Chairperson | $122,630 | $10,219 | $58.96 | 956 |
| Director Of Student Affairs | $74,804 | $6,234 | $35.96 | 22,875 |
| Department Chairperson | $98,438 | $8,203 | $47.33 | 33,511 |
| Chairperson | $125,944 | $10,495 | $60.55 | 5,178 |
| Residence Hall Director | $47,193 | $3,933 | $22.69 | 6,713 |
Top companies hiring instruction deans now:
Instruction dean salaries at Kern Community College District and Summit Public Schools are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average instruction dean salary at companies like Bryant & Stratton College and Catholic Charities Health and Human Services are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kern Community College District | $119,235 | $57.32 |
| 2 | Summit Public Schools | $94,819 | $45.59 |
| 3 | Bryant & Stratton College | $94,124 | $45.25 |
| 4 | Catholic Charities Health and Human Services | $70,805 | $34.04 |
| 5 | MiraCosta College | $64,007 | $30.77 |
| 6 | Aspire Public Schools | $63,214 | $30.39 |
| 7 | Denver Public Schools | $59,644 | $28.68 |
| 8 | YES Prep Public Schools | $58,361 | $28.06 |
| 9 | KIPP Austin Public Schools | $58,117 | $27.94 |
| 10 | Metropolitan Community College | $57,903 | $27.84 |
| 11 | KIPP DC | $56,833 | $27.32 |
| 12 | Bright Star Schools | $55,966 | $26.91 |
| 13 | Great Oaks Charter Schools | $54,260 | $26.09 |
The average instruction dean salary has risen by $11,105 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average instruction dean earned $70,796 annually, but today, they earn $81,901 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for instruction deans over the last decade.
Compare instruction dean salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare instruction dean salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $81,900 | $39.38 | +2.1% |
| 2025 | $80,100 | $38.53 | +1.1% |
| 2024 | $79,200 | $38.10 | +2.1% |
| 2023 | $77,600 | $37.30 | +1.7% |
| 2022 | $76,200 | $36.65 | +2.4% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McAllen ISD (Tx | Secretary, Dean of Instruction | McAllen, TX | 06/28/2025 | $30,679 |
| Sheldon ISD | Dean of Instruction | Nome, TX | 06/28/2025 | $81,487 |
| University Academy | US Dean of Instruction | Kansas City, MO | 06/27/2025 | $65,000 |
| Lawrence Public Schools | Dean of Curriculum and Instruction | Lawrence, MA | 06/25/2025 | $89,967 |
| Uncommon Market Dallas | Dean of Curriculum & Instruction | Boston, MA | 06/21/2025 | $72,000 |
| Uncommon Schools | Dean of Curriculum & Instruction | Boston, MA | 06/20/2025 | $72,000 |
| Roxbury Prep Charter School | Dean of Curriculum & Instruction | Boston, MA | 06/19/2025 | $72,000 |
| Cleveland ISD | Dean of Instruction | Cleveland, TX | 06/19/2025 | $83,941 |
| Cleveland ISD (Tx | Dean of Instruction | Cleveland, TX | 06/19/2025 | $83,941 |
| Uncommon Schools | Dean of Curriculum & Instruction | New York, NY | 06/16/2025 | $87,000 |
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