How To Become A University Administrator: What It Is and Career Path

What is a university administrator and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

2 min read

Quoted expert

Dr. Richard Huff Ph.D.

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a university administrator. For example, did you know that they make an average of $18.94 an hour? That's $39,398 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 7% and produce 15,500 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a university administrator?

Dr. Richard Huff Ph.D.

Assistant professor, assistant chair, Virginia Commonwealth University

I believe opportunities for employment will begin to open up with a transition in the federal government over the next year or two. While local government and nonprofits will continue to offer opportunities for MPA graduates, I believe the federal government will have urgent needs for talent, given its aging workforce, retirements, and its neglect over the past four years.

I advise graduates to begin considering federal careers, but for whatever sector they choose to shift from micro concerns about management, behavior and work outcomes, and organization structure and operations, and begin to look toward the macro or "big picture." A macro view concerns changes brought on by external environmental forces, which shape our institutions over time. With so many external forces at work today, such as a global pandemic, technological change, ongoing climate change, political trends, and social upheavals, the involvement of public administrators is critical to maintaining our institutions and steadying government response. I encourage students to think critically but also to think big and pursue their passions. Public service is a noble calling. Set your sights high and pursue opportunities that match them.

ScoreUniversity AdministratorUS Average

Salary

3.1

Avg. Salary $39,398

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

8.1

Growth rate 7%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.0

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.70%

Asian 4.33%

Black or African American 10.65%

Hispanic or Latino 14.10%

Unknown 4.00%

White 66.22%

Gender

female 48.67%

male 51.33%

Age - 47

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 - 47

Stress level

8.1

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

9.0

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.8

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a university administrator

Explore university administrator education requirements

Most common university administrator degrees

Bachelor's

56.3 %

Master's

18.5 %

Associate

14.3 %

Start to develop specific university administrator skills

Skills	Percentages
Facilities Management	55.47%
Workstations	15.41%
Financial Aid	11.83%
Learning Management System	10.97%
SQL	6.33%

Complete relevant university administrator training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New university administrators learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a university administrator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real university administrator resumes.

Research university administrator duties and responsibilities

Establish operating policies and procedures and attain SNF Medicare certification.
Lead and develop the technical strategy for improving architectural and design elements of SharePoint to enhance utilization and drive user functionality.
Lead and develop the technical strategy for improving architectural and design elements of SharePoint to enhance utilization and drive user functionality.

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