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The average salary for a Science Department Chairperson is approximately $57,958 per year, translating to about $28 per hour. Salaries for this position can vary significantly based on factors such as state, institution type, and years of experience. For instance, chairpersons in research universities may earn higher salaries compared to those in community colleges.
States such as California and New York often provide higher compensation for chairpersons, reflecting the cost of living and demand for educational leadership. Additionally, cities like San Francisco and New York City offer competitive salaries due to their robust academic environments.
As a chairperson, one can expect opportunities for career advancement, including roles in academic administration or specialized research positions. Continuous professional development and networking within educational institutions enhance prospects for higher salaries and leadership positions.
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The average science department chairperson salary in New York, California, and Alaska are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average science department chairperson salary states are Montana, Arkansas, and Georgia.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $77,005 | $37.02 |
| 2 | Alaska | $81,910 | $39.38 |
| 3 | Mississippi | $74,118 | $35.63 |
| 4 | New York | $97,650 | $46.95 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $75,859 | $36.47 |
| 6 | Nevada | $71,654 | $34.45 |
| 7 | Illinois | $78,143 | $37.57 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $70,266 | $33.78 |
| 9 | California | $91,300 | $43.89 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $79,266 | $38.11 |
| 11 | Delaware | $76,262 | $36.66 |
| 12 | New Jersey | $71,823 | $34.53 |
| 13 | Maine | $61,669 | $29.65 |
| 14 | West Virginia | $63,246 | $30.41 |
| 15 | Vermont | $60,717 | $29.19 |
| 16 | Utah | $69,987 | $33.65 |
| 17 | Hawaii | $67,087 | $32.25 |
| 18 | Massachusetts | $68,384 | $32.88 |
| 19 | District of Columbia | $76,885 | $36.96 |
| 20 | Wisconsin | $63,306 | $30.44 |
| 21 | North Dakota | $66,476 | $31.96 |
| 22 | Indiana | $65,050 | $31.27 |
| 23 | Virginia | $70,123 | $33.71 |
| 24 | Michigan | $56,692 | $27.26 |
| 25 | Florida | $59,761 | $28.73 |
| 26 | Maryland | $64,987 | $31.24 |
| 27 | Iowa | $55,804 | $26.83 |
| 28 | Oregon | $60,887 | $29.27 |
| 29 | Louisiana | $57,352 | $27.57 |
| 30 | Idaho | $56,263 | $27.05 |
| 31 | Minnesota | $63,612 | $30.58 |
| 32 | Wyoming | $51,913 | $24.96 |
| 33 | New Mexico | $53,931 | $25.93 |
| 34 | South Carolina | $55,001 | $26.44 |
| 35 | Arizona | $55,511 | $26.69 |
| 36 | Montana | $46,751 | $22.48 |
| 37 | Colorado | $51,735 | $24.87 |
| 38 | Alabama | $52,644 | $25.31 |
| 39 | Texas | $52,379 | $25.18 |
| 40 | Washington | $47,452 | $22.81 |
| 41 | Kansas | $51,798 | $24.90 |
| 42 | Georgia | $45,981 | $22.11 |
| 43 | Tennessee | $49,560 | $23.83 |
| 44 | North Carolina | $47,847 | $23.00 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $46,297 | $22.26 |
| 46 | Ohio | $47,621 | $22.89 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $44,158 | $21.23 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $48,661 | $23.39 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $46,888 | $22.54 |
| 50 | Kentucky | $41,118 | $19.77 |
| 51 | Missouri | $40,910 | $19.67 |
The highest-paying cities for science department chairpeople are New York, NY, Los Angeles, CA, and Chicago, IL.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $98,258 | $47.24 |
| 2 | Los Angeles, CA | $90,137 | $43.34 |
| 3 | Chicago, IL | $79,150 | $38.05 |
| 4 | Newark, DE | $76,183 | $36.63 |
| 5 | Bristol, CT | $75,167 | $36.14 |
| 6 | Hoboken, NJ | $71,832 | $34.53 |
| 7 | Amherst, MA | $68,523 | $32.94 |
| 8 | Charlottesville, VA | $68,413 | $32.89 |
| 9 | Baltimore, MD | $65,295 | $31.39 |
| 10 | Baton Rouge, LA | $57,729 | $27.75 |
| 11 | Galveston, TX | $54,424 | $26.17 |
| 12 | Fort Collins, CO | $52,195 | $25.09 |
| 13 | Kansas City, MO | $40,710 | $19.57 |
A science department chairperson's salary ranges from $34,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $97,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $97,000 | $8,083 | $47 |
| 75th Percentile | $76,000 | $6,333 | $37 |
| Average | $57,958 | $4,830 | $28 |
| 25th Percentile | $44,000 | $3,667 | $21 |
| 10th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
The highest paying types of science department chairpeople are chairperson, department chairperson, and research associate professor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biology Instructor | $58,811 | $4,901 | $28.27 | 37,540 |
| Biology Faculty Member | $60,278 | $5,023 | $28.98 | 12,876 |
| Adjunct Biology Instructor | $86,786 | $7,232 | $41.72 | 38,331 |
| Science Faculty Member | $70,683 | $5,890 | $33.98 | 30,806 |
| Chairperson | $125,944 | $10,495 | $60.55 | 5,178 |
| Department Chairperson | $98,438 | $8,203 | $47.33 | 33,511 |
Top companies hiring science department chairpeople now:
Science department chairperson salaries at West Coast University and University of Maryland, Baltimore are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average science department chairperson salary at companies like University of Massachusetts Amherst and UMass Lowell are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Coast University | $99,255 | $47.72 |
| 2 | University of Maryland, Baltimore | $97,303 | $46.78 |
| 3 | University of Massachusetts Amherst | $88,070 | $42.34 |
| 4 | UMass Lowell | $82,914 | $39.86 |
| 5 | Stevens Institute of Technology | $77,800 | $37.40 |
| 6 | New Jersey Institute of Technology | $76,692 | $36.87 |
| 7 | Univ Of Colorado-Colorado Spgs | $72,764 | $34.98 |
| 8 | University of Kentucky | $71,432 | $34.34 |
| 9 | Central Washington University | $70,633 | $33.96 |
| 10 | ArtCenter College of Design | $69,297 | $33.32 |
| 11 | University of Colorado | $67,177 | $32.30 |
| 12 | University of Delaware | $65,619 | $31.55 |
| 13 | University of Virginia | $64,340 | $30.93 |
| 14 | Rockhurst High School | $60,709 | $29.19 |
| 15 | Cosmos Holdings | $49,655 | $23.87 |
| 16 | Community College of Aurora | $46,654 | $22.43 |
| 17 | Bristol Public School District | $46,504 | $22.36 |
| 18 | UTMB HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS | $45,220 | $21.74 |
| 19 | Newark Unified School District | $41,948 | $20.17 |
| 20 | Needham Public Schools | $36,169 | $17.39 |
The average science department chairperson salary has risen by $7,780 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average science department chairperson earned $50,178 annually, but today, they earn $57,958 a year. That works out to a 12% change in pay for science department chairpeople over the last decade.
Compare science department chairperson salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare science department chairperson salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $58,000 | $27.86 | +2.7% |
| 2024 | $56,400 | $27.12 | +0.9% |
| 2023 | $55,900 | $26.87 | +5.2% |
| 2022 | $53,000 | $25.47 | +2.0% |
| 2021 | $51,900 | $24.95 | +1.7% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Colorado | Professor and Department Chair-Computer Science | Colorado Springs, CO | 06/09/2025 | $130,000 |
| Miami Dade College | Department Chairperson, School of Health Sciences | Miami, FL | 06/05/2025 | $94,419 |
| Yeshiva University | Science & Math Teacher and Department Chairperson | New York, NY | 05/30/2025 | $80,000 |
| University of Colorado | Professor and Department Chair-Computer Science | Colorado Springs, CO | 05/26/2025 | $130,000 |
| Newark Board of Education | Department Chairperson Science (Nboe) | Newark, NJ | 05/12/2025 | $92,000 |
| Ivy Tech Community College | Faculty-Paramedic Science, Program Chair | South Bend, IN | 03/23/2025 | $47,000 |
| Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation | High School: Department Chair: Science, PE, and Health | Hope, IN | 03/19/2025 | $88,616 |
| Bard | Department Chairperson-Science | Newark, NJ | 02/16/2025 | $92,000 |
| Campbell Hall-Episcopal | Science Department Chair | Los Angeles, CA | 02/08/2025 | $75,000 |
| Community College of Aurora | Department Chair of Health Sciences | Aurora, CO | 12/13/2024 | $80,000 |
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