Dean of Students Salary in the United States

How much does a Dean of Students make in the United States?

As of May 01, 2026, the average salary for a Dean of Students in the United States is $129,189 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $62.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $151,025
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $113,808 to $140,619
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $99,804
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View as table View as graph 25% $113,808 10% $99,804 90% $151,025 75% $140,619 $129,189 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Dean of Students Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $140,619 $11,718 $2,704 $68
Average $129,189 $10,766 $2,484 $62
25th Percentile $113,808 $9,484 $2,189 $55
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Key Factors That Influence Dean of Students Salaries

A Dean of Students'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 Dean of Students Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Dean of Students'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): $119,777
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $121,154
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $123,450
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $125,745
  • Expert (over 8 years): $129,530
Levels Salary
Entry Level Dean of Students$119,777
Intermediate Level Dean of Students$121,154
Senior Level Dean of Students$123,450
Specialist Level Dean of Students$125,745
Expert Level Dean of Students$129,530
$119,777 0 yr
$121,154 < 2 yrs
$123,450 2-4 yrs
$125,745 5-8 yrs
$129,530 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Dean of Students

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: $162,946
  • San Francisco: $161,162
  • Oakland: $157,766

What Skills Can Increase a Dean of Students's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 19.48% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Task Management (Mentioned in 1.19% Job Postings): The process of managing a task through its life cycle. It involves planning, testing, tracking, and reporting. It can help either individual, or groups of individuals collaborate and share knowledge for the accomplishment of collective goals.
  • Law Enforcement (Mentioned in 0.8% Job Postings): Law enforcement is any system by which some members of society act in an organized manner to enforce the law by discovering, deterring, rehabilitating, or punishing people who violate the rules and norms governing that society. Although the term encompasses entities such as courts and prisons, it is most frequently applied to those who directly engage in patrols or surveillance to dissuade and discover criminal activity, and those who investigate crimes and apprehend offenders, a task typically carried out by the police or another law enforcement organization. Furthermore, although law enforcement may be most concerned with the prevention and punishment of crimes, organizations exist to discourage a wide variety of non-criminal violations of rules and norms, effected through the imposition of less severe consequences.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 19.48%
Task Management 1.19%
Law Enforcement 0.8%
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 Dean of Students's salary.
  • Task Management: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • DOS: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Self Motivation: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Task Management
$145,984
13%
DOS
$143,400
11%
Self Motivation
$143,400
11%
Decision Making
$134,357
4%
Alignment
$133,065
3%
Student Counseling
$133,065
3%
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How Education impacts a Dean of Students's Salary?

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

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Dean of Students with a Bachelor's Degree is between $105,403 and $116,399).

Dean of Students Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Dean of Students
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 2.0%
High School 2.0%
Associates 0.7%
Bachelors 12.0%
Masters 54.7%
Doctorate 30.7%
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Dean of Students Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Dean of Students'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 May 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Dean of Students

Salaries for a Dean of Students can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $130,506 in 2023 to around $123,130 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Dean of Students salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Dean of Students Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$130,506
2024
$128,145
2025
$123,130
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $130,506
2024 $128,145
2025 $123,130
2026
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2027
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Most common benefits for Dean of Students

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Dean of Students

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FAQ about Dean of Students

1. Where can a Dean of Students earn the most?

A Dean of Students'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 Dean of Students earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Dean of Students is $162,946.

2. What is the highest pay for Dean of Students?

The highest pay for Dean of Students is $151,025.

3. What is the lowest pay for Dean of Students?

The lowest pay for Dean of Students is $99,804.

4. What are the responsibilities of Dean of Students?

Manages the administrative and operational functions of the student affairs department. Develops strategic initiatives and participates in long-term planning and policy setting. Provides senior level leadership in areas of student housing, student counseling, student conduct, orientation, and morale. Requires an advanced degree. Typically reports to senior management. Manages a departmental sub-function within a broader departmental function. Creates functional strategies and specific objectives for the sub-function and develops budgets/policies/procedures to support the functional infrastructure. Typically requires 5+ years of managerial experience. Deep knowledge of the managed sub-function and solid knowledge of the overall departmental function.

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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