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Bursar Salary in the United States

How much does a Bursar make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Bursar in the United States is $78,235 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $38.

However, a Bursar's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $91,879
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $63,866 to $85,377
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $50,784
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Bursar Salaries

A Bursar'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 Bursar Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Bursar'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): $71,801
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $72,873
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $75,018
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $78,235
  • Expert (over 8 years): $80,900
Levels Salary
Entry Level Bursar$71,801
Intermediate Level Bursar$72,873
Senior Level Bursar$75,018
Specialist Level Bursar$78,235
Expert Level Bursar$80,900
View as Graph

How Do Bursars 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 Bursars. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $86,622.
  • California: $86,293.
  • Massachusetts: $85,143.

Top Paying Cities for Bursar

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: $98,678
  • San Francisco: $97,597
  • Oakland: $95,541

What Skills Can Increase a Bursar's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 7.28% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 2.3% 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.
  • PeopleSoft (Mentioned in 1.53% Job Postings): PeopleSoft is an e-business software product line owned by Oracle. PeopleSoft originally offered human resources and finance applications.
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 7.28%
Microsoft Office 2.3%
PeopleSoft 1.53%
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 a Bursar's salary.

  • Data-Driven Decision-Making: Can increase your salary by up to 40%.
  • Generally Accepted Accounting Principles: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
  • Auditing: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Data-Driven Decision-Making $109,529
40%
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles $89,188
14%
Auditing $87,623
12%
Get Latest Data

Bursar Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Bursar salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $80,738. While startup companies pay approximate $68,989.

Bursar Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $68,989
Growth Stage 51~500 $72,788
Established 501~5000 $78,160
Enterprise 5000+ $80,738

Bursar Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Bursar roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 8% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Government, offers compensation 8% above the average. Conversely, Bursar positions in Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Bursar as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Bursar

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Government$84,494$41.08%

How Education impacts an Bursar's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Bursar 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 Bursar with a Bachelor's Degree is between $79,196 and $88,452.

Bursar Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Bursar
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 14.7%
High School 14.7%
Associates 14.7%
Bachelors 38.2%
Masters 32.4%
Doctorate 0.0%
View as Graph

Bursar Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Bursar'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
$63,866
Average $78,235/year
$85,377
$5,322
Average $6,520/month
$7,115
$1,228
Average $1,505/week
$1,642
$31
Average $38/hour
$41
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $85,377 $7,115 $1,642 $41
Average $78,235 $6,520 $1,505 $38
25th Percentile $63,866 $5,322 $1,228 $31

Most common benefits for Bursar

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

Common company salaries for Bursar

Here are companies hiring for Bursar and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Bursar

1. Where can a Bursar earn the most?

A Bursar'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, a Bursar earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Bursar is $98,678.

2. What is the highest pay for Bursar?

The highest pay for Bursar is $91,879.

3. What is the lowest pay for Bursar?

The lowest pay for Bursar is $50,784.

4. What are the responsibilities of Bursar?

Manages the process of billing students for tuition and fees and overseeing the collection of payments. Maintains accurate records of all financial transactions related to students and the institution. Monitors and approves account reconciliation. Ensures compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and institutional policies. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a director. Typically manages through subordinate managers and professionals in larger groups of moderate complexity. Provides input to strategic decisions that affect the functional area of responsibility. May give input into developing the budget. Typically requires 3+ years of managerial experience. Capable of resolving escalated issues arising from operations and requiring coordination with other departments.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Bursar?

The Government industry offers the highest average compensation for Bursar roles, with salaries approximately 8% 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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