Assistant Athletics Director Salary in the United States

How much does an Assistant Athletics Director make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Assistant Athletics Director in the United States is $87,293 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $42.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $103,343
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $72,157 to $95,694
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $58,376

Key Factors That Influence Assistant Athletics Director Salaries

An Assistant Athletics 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 Assistant Athletics Director Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Assistant Athletics 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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $81,645
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $82,323
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $85,712
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $89,425
  • Expert (over 8 years): $90,428
Levels Salary
Entry Level Assistant Athletics Director$81,645
Intermediate Level Assistant Athletics Director$82,323
Senior Level Assistant Athletics Director$85,712
Specialist Level Assistant Athletics Director$89,425
Expert Level Assistant Athletics Director$90,428

Top Paying Cities for Assistant Athletics Directors

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: $110,103
  • San Francisco: $108,897
  • Oakland: $106,602

What Skills Can Increase an Assistant Athletics Director's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 7.85% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Public Relations (Mentioned in 3.07% Job Postings): Public relations (PR) is the practice of deliberately managing the spread of information between an individual or an organization (such as a business, government agency, or a nonprofit organization) and the public. Public relations may include an organization or individual gaining exposure to their audiences using topics of public interest and news items that do not require direct payment. This differentiates it from advertising as a form of marketing communications. Public relations is the idea of creating coverage for clients for free, rather than marketing or advertising. But now, advertising is also a part of greater PR Activities. An example of good public relations would be generating an article featuring a client, rather than paying for the client to be advertised next to the article. The aim of public relations is to inform the public, prospective customers, investors, partners, employees, and other stakeholders and ultimately persuade them to maintain a positive or favorable view about the organization, its leadership, products, or political decisions. Public relations professionals typically work for PR and marketing firms, businesses and companies, government, and public officials as PIOs and nongovernmental organizations, and nonprofit organizations. Jobs central to public relations include account coordinator, account executive, account supervisor, and media relations manager.
  • Academic Advising (Mentioned in 1.37% Job Postings): Academic advising is, according to the National Academic Advising Association, "a series of intentional interactions with a curriculum, a pedagogy, and a set of student learning outcomes. Academic advising synthesizes and contextualizes students' educational experiences within the frameworks of their aspirations, abilities and lives to extend learning beyond campus boundaries and timeframes."
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 7.85%
Public Relations 3.07%
Academic Advising 1.37%

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 Assistant Athletics Director's salary.

  • Business Operations: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
  • Networking: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Event Management: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Business Operations $101,260
16%
Networking $96,022
10%
Event Management $92,531
6%

Assistant Athletics Director Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Assistant Athletics Director salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $90,122. While startup companies pay approximate $76,961.

Assistant Athletics Director Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $76,961
Growth Stage 51~500 $81,216
Established 501~5000 $87,225
Enterprise 5000+ $90,122

How Education impacts an Assistant Athletics Director's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Assistant Athletics 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 Assistant Athletics Director with a Bachelor's Degree is between $85,925 and $97,715.

Assistant Athletics Director Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Assistant Athletics Director
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 12.5%
High School 25.0%
Associates 25.0%
Bachelors 37.5%
Masters 37.5%
Doctorate 0.0%

Assistant Athletics Director Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Assistant Athletics 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 September 01, 2026
$72,157
Average $87,293/year
$95,694
$6,013
Average $7,274/month
$7,975
$1,388
Average $1,679/week
$1,840
$35
Average $42/hour
$46
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $95,694 $7,975 $1,840 $46
Average $87,293 $7,274 $1,679 $42
25th Percentile $72,157 $6,013 $1,388 $35

Assistant Athletics Director Salary Growth & Career Path

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As an Assistant Athletics Director, you have the following paths for advancement. The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles. By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.

Assistant Athletics Director Salary Growth and Career Path
Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Men's Athletics Director $87,893 1%
Athletics Director $123,847 42%
Women's Athletics Director $87,735 1%

Most common benefits for Assistant Athletics Director

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

Common company salaries for Assistant Athletics Director

Here are companies hiring for Assistant Athletics Director and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Assistant Athletics Director

1. Where can an Assistant Athletics Director earn the most?

An Assistant Athletics 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 Assistant Athletics Director earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of an Assistant Athletics Director is $110,103.

2. What is the highest pay for Assistant Athletics Director?

The highest pay for Assistant Athletics Director is $103,343.

3. What is the lowest pay for Assistant Athletics Director?

The lowest pay for Assistant Athletics Director is $58,376.

4. What are the responsibilities of Assistant Athletics Director?

Assists in overseeing the daily operations of a university/college athletic department. Responsible for implementing strategic plans for the university/college athletic programs. Assists in managing the public image of the athletic program, including media relations and promoting the program's achievements. Ensures the athletic program adheres to all relevant rules, regulations, and policies, including those set by the school, state, and the NCAA. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to an athletics director. 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.

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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