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Academic Advising Director Salary in the United States

How much does an Academic Advising Director make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Academic Advising Director in the United States is $76,333 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $37.

However, an Academic Advising Director's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $102,197
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $65,018 to $89,871
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $54,716
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Academic Advising Director Salaries

An Academic Advising Director's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Academic Advising Director Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Academic Advising Director's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • School Counselor (0-2 years): $48,022
  • Student Psychologist - Higher Ed. (10+ years): $61,156
  • Academic Advising Director (10+ years): $76,333
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
School Counselor0-2 years$48,022
Student Psychologist - Higher Ed.10+ years$61,156
Academic Advising Director10+ years$76,333
View as Graph

How Do Academic Advising Directors Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Academic Advising Directors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $84,516.
  • California: $84,195.
  • Massachusetts: $83,073.

Top Paying Cities for Academic Advising Director

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $96,279
  • San Francisco: $95,225
  • Oakland: $93,218

What Skills Can Increase an Academic Advising Director's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 3.57% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 1.56% Job Postings): Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
  • AWS (Mentioned in 1.04% Job Postings): Amazon Web Services, Inc. is a subsidiary of Amazon that provides on-demand cloud computing platforms and APIs to individuals, companies, and governments, on a metered pay-as-you-go basis.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 3.57%
Microsoft Office 1.56%
AWS 1.04%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Academic Advising Director's salary.

  • AWS: Can increase your salary by up to 30%.
  • Illustrator: Can increase your salary by up to 28%.
  • Vendor Management: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
AWS $99,233
30%
Illustrator $97,706
28%
Vendor Management $83,966
10%
Get Latest Data

Academic Advising Director Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Academic Advising Director salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $78,776. While startup companies pay approximate $67,312.

Academic Advising Director Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $67,312
Growth Stage 51~500 $71,019
Established 501~5000 $76,260
Enterprise 5000+ $78,776

Academic Advising Director Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Academic Advising Director roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 22% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Government, offers compensation 10% above the average. Conversely, Academic Advising Director positions in Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Academic Advising Director as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Academic Advising Director

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Government$83,966$40.010%
Education$77,860$37.02%

How Education impacts an Academic Advising Director's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Academic Advising Director enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Academic Advising Director with a Bachelor's Degree is between $84,405 and $93,070.

Academic Advising Director Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Academic Advising Director
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.7%
High School 3.5%
Associates 7.1%
Bachelors 20.6%
Masters 53.2%
Doctorate 14.9%
View as Graph

Academic Advising Director Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Academic Advising Director's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$65,018
Average $76,333/year
$89,871
$5,418
Average $6,361/month
$7,489
$1,250
Average $1,468/week
$1,728
$31
Average $37/hour
$43
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $89,871 $7,489 $1,728 $43
Average $76,333 $6,361 $1,468 $37
25th Percentile $65,018 $5,418 $1,250 $31

Academic Advising Director Salary Growth & Career Path

Academic Advising Director

Next Role

For an Academic Advising Director, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Foreign Studies Director role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $82,315 - a projected growth of 8% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Academic Advising Director

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Academic Advising Director

Here are companies hiring for Academic Advising Director and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Academic Advising Director

1. Where can an Academic Advising Director earn the most?

An Academic Advising Director's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, an Academic Advising Director earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of an Academic Advising Director is $96,279.

2. What is the highest pay for Academic Advising Director?

The highest pay for Academic Advising Director is $102,197.

3. What is the lowest pay for Academic Advising Director?

The lowest pay for Academic Advising Director is $54,716.

4. What are the responsibilities of Academic Advising Director?

Directs the academic advising department in a college/university. Works closely with academic advisors, faculty, and other staff to ensure that a proactive and high-quality approach is taken with all students' advising needs. Collects, interprets, and utilizes student success data to make informed decisions. Analyzes existing goals and programs and recommends improvements. May require a master's degree. Typically reports to senior management. Manages subordinate staff in the day-to-day performance of their jobs. True first level manager. Ensures that project/department milestones/goals are met and adhering to approved budgets. Has full authority for personnel actions. Typically requires 5 years experience in the related area as an individual contributor. 1-3 years supervisory experience may be required. Extensive knowledge of the function and department processes.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Academic Advising Director?

The Government industry offers the highest average compensation for Academic Advising Director roles, with salaries approximately 10% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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