Education Administrators, Postsecondary
Plan, direct, or coordinate student instruction, administration, and services, as well as other research and educational activities, at postsecondary institutions, including universities, colleges, and junior and community colleges.
Also called: Academic Affairs Vice President (Academic Affairs VP) · Academic Dean · Admissions Director · College President · Dean · Financial Aid Director
Median pay (national)
$103,960
$63,820–$212,420 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
176,420
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+1.7%
~15,100 openings/yr
Typical entry
Master's degree
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for education administrators, postsecondary shows an unusually wide range: the top 10% earn $212,420 versus $63,820 at the bottom 10% — 3.3x. The median of $103,960 leaves roughly 104% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +1.7% from 2024 to 2034 — slower than the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 15,100 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 52 states with released data, Alaska pays the most for this role (median $147,190, +42% vs the national median), while Puerto Rico sits lowest at $76,930 — a 91% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Active Listening as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint as in-demand technologies for this role.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Speaking
- Monitoring
- Active Learning
- Learning Strategies
- Mathematics
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Design or use assessments to monitor student learning outcomes.
- Recruit, hire, train, and terminate departmental personnel.
- Advise students on issues such as course selection, progress toward graduation, and career decisions.
- Plan, administer, and control budgets, maintain financial records, and produce financial reports.
- Establish operational policies and procedures and make any necessary modifications, based on analysis of operations, demographics, and other research information.
- Represent institutions at community and campus events, in meetings with other institution personnel, and during accreditation processes.
- Participate in faculty and college committee activities.
- Direct, coordinate, and evaluate the activities of personnel, including support staff engaged in administering academic institutions, departments, or alumni organizations.
- Formulate strategic plans for the institution.
- Provide assistance to faculty and staff in duties such as teaching classes, conducting orientation programs, issuing transcripts, and scheduling events.
Tools & technology
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Student information systems SIS software
- Hypertext markup language HTML
- IBM SPSS Statistics
- Microsoft Visio
- Oracle PeopleSoft
- SAP software
- SAS
- Adobe Dreamweaver
- Blackbaud The Raiser's Edge
- Blackboard software
- CollegeNET Schedule 25
Knowledge areas
- English Language
- Administration and Management
- Education and Training
- Customer and Personal Service
- Personnel and Human Resources
- Administrative
- Computers and Electronics
- Communications and Media