Education Administrators, Postsecondary: Career Overview
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.
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What Do Education Administrators, Postsecondary Take On?
Typical responsibilities of education administrators, postsecondary include:
- Design or use assessments to monitor student learning outcomes.
- Recruit, hire, train, and terminate departmental personnel.
- Direct, coordinate, and evaluate the activities of personnel, including support staff engaged in administering academic institutions, departments, or alumni organizations.
- 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.
- Formulate strategic plans for the institution.
- Establish operational policies and procedures and make any necessary modifications, based on analysis of operations, demographics, and other research information.
- Provide assistance to faculty and staff in duties such as teaching classes, conducting orientation programs, issuing transcripts, and scheduling events.
Skills and Knowledge
Top education administrators, postsecondary draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The competencies that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Related Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Academic Affairs Dean
- Academic Affairs Director
- Academic Affairs Vice President (Academic Affairs VP)
- Academic Coordinator
- Academic Dean
- Academic Vice President (Academic VP)
- Administration Dean
- Admissions Coordinator
Job Outlook
There are about 241,277 education administrators, postsecondary working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to decline by -1.7% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Education Administrators, Postsecondary
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $161,927 |
| Hourly median | $77.85 |
| 10th percentile | $95,589 |
| 25th percentile | $128,758 |
| 75th percentile | $195,097 |
| 90th percentile | $228,266 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Education Administrators, Postsecondary Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $147,190 |
| Wisconsin | $137,400 |
| New York | $136,170 |
| Delaware | $135,610 |
| New Jersey | $130,520 |
| Maryland | $125,730 |
| California | $123,840 |
| Massachusetts | $122,970 |
| Wyoming | $113,160 |
| Washington | $110,310 |
| Connecticut | $109,700 |
| Oregon | $109,480 |
| Virginia | $108,750 |
| New Hampshire | $107,600 |
| South Dakota | $107,110 |
| Rhode Island | $107,070 |
| Oklahoma | $106,650 |
| District of Columbia | $106,530 |
| Georgia | $105,950 |
| Kansas | $105,870 |
| Kentucky | $105,660 |
| New Mexico | $105,350 |
| Missouri | $105,050 |
| Michigan | $104,920 |
| Colorado | $104,650 |
| Tennessee | $104,230 |
| Montana | $102,150 |
| Texas | $102,150 |
| Arizona | $102,080 |
| Minnesota | $101,700 |
| Louisiana | $101,660 |
| Pennsylvania | $100,320 |
| Utah | $100,110 |
| North Carolina | $99,910 |
| North Dakota | $99,690 |
| Alabama | $99,290 |
| Vermont | $98,750 |
| Indiana | $98,660 |
| Idaho | $98,270 |
| Illinois | $95,520 |
| Hawaii | $95,160 |
| Nevada | $88,880 |
| Florida | $87,470 |
| Iowa | $86,470 |
| Nebraska | $86,440 |
| Mississippi | $85,670 |
| West Virginia | $85,260 |
| Maine | $84,850 |
| South Carolina | $83,710 |
| Ohio | $82,640 |
| Arkansas | $79,020 |
| Puerto Rico | $76,930 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Earnings for education administrators, postsecondary vary by region. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Atlantic | $118,741 | 12.3% | 0.99 |
| Far Western US | $118,497 | 13.2% | 0.77 |
| New England | $115,662 | 9.1% | 1.95 |
| Southwest | $102,547 | 15.3% | 1.17 |
| Rocky Mountains | $101,754 | 3.4% | 0.91 |
| Plains States | $98,092 | 7.3% | 1.08 |
| Great Lakes | $95,711 | 15.3% | 1.13 |
| Southeast | $94,001 | 23.6% | 1.14 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binghamton, NY | NY | $180,760 | 50 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | MI | $177,670 | 450 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | GA | $170,460 | 190 |
| Napa, CA | CA | $163,380 | 30 |
| Salisbury, MD | MD | $141,910 | 110 |
| Merced, CA | CA | $140,160 | 50 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | MI | $138,900 | 790 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | WI | $137,560 | 340 |
Top Industries Employing Education Administrators, Postsecondary
Most education administrators, postsecondary are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Services | 174,160 | $103,840 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 1,320 | $146,470 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 90 | $146,980 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 70 | $98,490 |
Below are examples of industries where education administrators, postsecondary work:
Software Education Administrators, Postsecondary Use
- Web page creation and editing software: Facebook (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Google Docs (hot technology)
- Web platform development software: Hypertext markup language HTML (hot technology)
- Analytical or scientific software: IBM SPSS Statistics (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Project management software: Microsoft Project (hot technology)
- Document management software: Microsoft SharePoint (hot technology)
- Process mapping and design software: Microsoft Visio (hot technology)
Work Environment
The work environment for education administrators, postsecondary is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Telephone Conversations
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Freedom to Make Decisions
Education and Training
Entry-level education administrators, postsecondary positions require a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Training and Development Managers (Primary-Long)
- Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare (Primary-Long)
- Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary (Primary-Short)
- Medical and Health Services Managers (Supplemental)
- Social and Community Service Managers (Primary-Long)
- Management Analysts (Primary-Long)
- Social Science Research Assistants (Supplemental)
- Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors (Primary-Short)
Degree Programs
Future education administrators, postsecondary commonly pursue programs in:
Education
5 programs across 1 majors
Health Professions and Related Programs
3 programs across 2 majors
2 programs across 1 majors
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
1 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 11-9033.00 (Education Administrators, Postsecondary).
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