Achieving an administrative position at a higher education institution can be an incredibly rewarding career path, both personally and financially. Working in higher education can branch into a wide variety of offices and departments, and higher level administrative positions typically require employees to begin working in an entry-level position and working their way up; it’s rare for employees to receive managerial job placement without any experience working in a college setting. While higher level, management-focused positions may be more of a long-term goal, the benefit of pursuing a career in higher education lies in the transferability of skills drawn from these jobs; an employee who begins their career in a school’s Admissions and Records Office, for instance, may ultimately find themselves as a department chair, or even vice president of a school. Careers in higher education can vary from entry-level salaries of around $50,000 to $200,000+ for higher administrative roles.
Where They Work: Primarily, jobs in these areas are based directly out of an academic institution’s campus locations. Higher education jobs can exist at either the community college or the university level.
Potential Job Titles: College Dean, College President, Financial Aid Director, Academic Advising Director, Transfer Coordinator
Median Salary: $44.41 hourly, $92,360 annual