Updated 07/14/2025
There’s good news for anyone interested in a career in higher education administration: stable hiring and lucrative salaries are the norm for this profession. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports there will be an average of about 15,200 job openings for postsecondary education administrators each year from 2023 to 2033. The BLS also indicates that the median higher education salary for administrators is $103,960 per year.1 The actual earning potential for education administrators can vary widely, as can the career opportunities for those who earn a master’s degree in educational leadership.
To determine the higher education salary waiting for you in your future career, you have to determine where your interests and aptitudes will guide you. Keep reading to discover the various careers within higher education administration and the salary you can expect to earn in those positions.
Higher Education Executives
C-suite executive positions are the pinnacle of higher education administration careers. These types of positions require strong leadership skills and an appreciation for the student-instructor relationship. College and university executives must have the ability to communicate and negotiate with a range of populations, including students, alumni, professors, community members, and government officials. The duties of a higher education executive may include:
- Creating a strategic vision for the school
- Fundraising
- Developing budgets
- Expanding the school’s academic programs
- Coordinating all academic and athletic programs within the school
- Serving as the school’s chief ambassador
Executive positions are very demanding and come with a great deal of responsibility, which is partly why they are among the highest-paying careers in education administration. According to CBS News, the average salary for higher education presidents is $186,961 per year, with the top five roles paying $1.4 million to $2.5 million annually.2
Becoming the president of an institute of higher learning not only requires an advanced degree but also experience and expertise specific to this challenging field.
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College Deans
A college or university often puts a dean in charge of each individual academic school. For example, most sizeable postsecondary schools will have a Dean of Arts and Sciences, a Dean of Engineering, a Dean of Education, etc. A college dean is the administrator charged with overseeing the faculty and students within their school. Their duties may include:
- Addressing student complaints
- Hiring, dismissing, and coaching faculty members
- Developing academic programs
- Managing college budgets and requesting additional funds
- Overseeing public relations and marketing for the college
According to Payscale.com, the average pay for an academic dean in the United States is $105,462 per year. Entry-level college and university dean salaries average $82,000.3
Financial Aid Directors
From a student’s viewpoint, one of the most important offices on campus is the financial aid office. Financial aid directors hold the ultimate responsibility of making sure college and university students receive the aid they need. This person is also responsible for verifying that the institution follows all financial-aid program requirements and guidelines.
The duties of a financial aid director may include:
- Helping students through the financial aid application process
- Hiring, training, and evaluating staff working in the financial aid department
- Overseeing financial aid processes, including certification, disbursement, and refunds
- Ensuring compliance with state and federal aid regulations
Payscale.com reports an average annual salary of $73,548 for financial aid directors.4
Advance Your Higher Education Administration Career
The online Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is a stepping stone for a variety of higher education administration careers. For more information about earning your M.A. in Educational Leadership online, contact an enrollment counselor at 877-308-9954.
Check out the “How Educators Use Technology and Data to Guide Teaching and Learning” free eBook.
Sources
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook. “Postsecondary Education Administrators.” April 18, 2025. Retrieved May 19, 2025, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/postsecondary-education-administrators.htm.
- Cerullo, M. CBS News. “How much money do college and university presidents make?” January 4, 2024. Retrieved May 19, 2025, from https://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-much-do-university-presidents-make/.
- Payscale. “Average Academic Dean Salary.” April 1, 2025. Retrieved May 19, 2025, from https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Academic_Dean/Salary.
- Payscale. “Average Financial Aid Director Salary.” March 10, 2025. Retrieved May 19, 2025, from https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Financial_Aid_Director/Salary.
