How To Become A Science Department Chairperson: What It Is and Career Path

What is a science department chairperson and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted expert

Horacio Ferriz Ph.D.

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a science department chairperson. For example, did you know that they make an average of $27.86 an hour? That's $57,958 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 12% and produce 159,400 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a science department chairperson?

Horacio Ferriz Ph.D.

Professor of Applied Geology and Hydrogeology

We have a critical lack of good teachers in the STEM disciplines, so pursuing this path will practically guarantee you a teaching position anywhere you care to live. We also need good journalism in the STEM disciplines, because there is so much misinformation out there.

ScoreScience Department ChairpersonUS Average

Salary

4.5

Avg. Salary $57,958

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

5.2

Growth rate 12%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.2

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.28%

Asian 11.26%

Black or African American 7.18%

Hispanic or Latino 10.23%

Unknown 4.94%

White 66.11%

Gender

female 54.12%

male 45.88%

Age - 46

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 46

Stress level

5.2

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

10.0

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

5.7

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a science department chairperson

Explore science department chairperson education requirements

Most common science department chairperson degrees

Bachelor's

61.8 %

Master's

28.7 %

Doctorate

4.6 %

Start to develop specific science department chairperson skills

Skills	Percentages
Classroom Management	12.13%
Science Curriculum	10.80%
Chemistry	8.68%
Anatomy	6.86%
Instructional Strategies	5.91%

Research science department chairperson duties and responsibilities

Create web-based pages including html5, php, css, bootstrap, github, and laravel.
Link webpages to databases such as mysql and php admin where data would be store and only access by administration.
Plan and develop curriculum for daily instruction using Microsoft PowerPoint to design and deliver lecture and facilitate classroom discussion.
Mentor research students through capstone projects.

Prepare your science department chairperson resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your science department chairperson resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a science department chairperson resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable science department chairperson resume templates

Build a professional science department chairperson resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your science department chairperson resume.

Apply for science department chairperson jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a science department chairperson job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

Average science department chairperson salary

The average science department chairperson salary in the United States is $57,958 per year or $28 per hour. Science department chairperson salaries range between $34,000 and $97,000 per year.

Average science department chairperson salary

$57,958 Yearly

$27.86 hourly

What is a science department chairperson and how to become one

What general advice would you give to a science department chairperson?

Science department chairperson career paths

Key steps to become a science department chairperson

Explore science department chairperson education requirements

Most common science department chairperson degrees

Start to develop specific science department chairperson skills

Research science department chairperson duties and responsibilities

Prepare your science department chairperson resume

Choose from 10+ customizable science department chairperson resume templates

Apply for science department chairperson jobs

How did you land your first science department chairperson job

Average science department chairperson salary

How do science department chairpeople rate their job?