Education Administrators (Postsecondary)
O*NET title: 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 Dean, Academic Affairs Director, Academic Affairs Vice President (Academic Affairs VP), Academic Coordinator, Academic Dean, Academic Vice President (Academic VP)
Median pay
$104,590
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$64,560 – $215,620
People employed
180,470
Holland code
SEC
Social · Enterprising · Conventional
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you want variety, with new tasks often?
- 2.Are you OK working more than 40 hours a week?
- 3.Do you want a lot of freedom to make your own decisions?
- 4.Do you want to lead or coordinate other people’s work?
- 5.Do you want a job with little physical risk?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
Education Administrators (Postsecondary) pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (50 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
Education Administrators (Postsecondary) salary in every state →
What education administrators (postsecondary) do
- 01Direct activities of administrative departments, such as admissions, registration, and career services.
- 02Appoint individuals to faculty positions, and evaluate their performance.
- 03Develop curricula, and recommend curricula revisions and additions.
- 04Design or use assessments to monitor student learning outcomes.
- 05Recruit, hire, train, and terminate departmental personnel.
- 06Direct, coordinate, and evaluate the activities of personnel, including support staff engaged in administering academic institutions, departments, or alumni organizations.
Skills that matter most
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Writing
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Monitoring
Knowledge
- English Language
- Administration and Management
- Education and Training
- Customer and Personal Service
- Personnel and Human Resources
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Integrity
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Cooperation
- Achievement Orientation
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a graduate degree (O*NET Job Zone 5).
- Related work experience: over 4 years, up to and including 6 years.
- On-the-job training: over 3 months, up to and including 6 months.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from education administrators (postsecondary)
- Training and Development Managers88% · +27%
- Instructional Coordinators84% · −26%
- Chief Executives83% · +105%
- Business Teachers, Postsecondary82% · −5%
- Management Analysts82% · −3%
Change into education administrators (postsecondary)
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors84% · $64,330
- Instructional Coordinators83% · $77,440
- Business Teachers, Postsecondary82% · $99,080
- Education Teachers, Postsecondary82% · $75,350
- Clergy81% · $60,810
Majors that lead here
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General
- Educational, Instructional, and Curriculum Supervision
- Higher Education/Higher Education Administration
- Community College Administration
- International School Administration/Leadership
- Clinical Research Coordinator
- Health Professions Education
- Nursing Education
- Research Administration
- Medical Education Fellowship Program
- Simulation Fellowship Program
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.