Academic Program Director Salary in the United States

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

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for an Academic Program Director in the United States is $77,399 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $37.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $101,896
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $64,973 to $90,221
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $53,660
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View as table View as graph 25% $64,973 10% $53,660 90% $101,896 75% $90,221 $77,399 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Academic Program Director Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $90,221 $7,518 $1,735 $43
Average $77,399 $6,450 $1,488 $37
25th Percentile $64,973 $5,414 $1,249 $31
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Key Factors That Influence Academic Program Director Salaries

An Academic Program 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 Program Director Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Academic Program 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): $71,186
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $72,221
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $74,465
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $77,053
  • Expert (over 8 years): $81,767
Levels Salary
Entry Level Academic Program Director$71,186
Intermediate Level Academic Program Director$72,221
Senior Level Academic Program Director$74,465
Specialist Level Academic Program Director$77,053
Expert Level Academic Program Director$81,767
$71,186 0 yr
$72,221 < 2 yrs
$74,465 2-4 yrs
$77,053 5-8 yrs
$81,767 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Academic Program Director 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 Program Directors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $85,696.
  • California: $85,371.
  • Massachusetts: $84,233.

Top Paying Cities for Academic Program 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: $97,623
  • San Francisco: $96,663
  • Oakland: $94,519

What Skills Can Increase an Academic Program 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.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 3.57%
Microsoft Office 1.56%
AWS 1.04%
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 Program 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
 $100,618
30%
Illustrator
 $99,070
28%
Vendor Management
 $85,138
10%
Team Development
 $85,138
10%
Project Management
 $84,364
9%
Analytical Skills
 $83,590
8%
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How Education impacts an Academic Program Director's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Academic Program Directors 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 an Academic Program Director with a Bachelor's Degree is between $84,405 and $93,070).

Academic Program Director Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Academic Program 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%
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Academic Program Director Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Academic Program 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.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on January 01, 2026
$64,973
Average $77,399/year
$90,221
$5,414
Average $6,450/month
$7,518
$1,249
Average $1,488/week
$1,735
$31
Average $37/hour
$43
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $90,221 $7,518 $1,735 $43
Average $77,399 $6,450 $1,488 $37
25th Percentile $64,973 $5,414 $1,249 $31

Salaries of jobs related to Academic Program Director

Salary Trends for Academic Program Director

Salaries for an Academic Program Director can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $61,719 in 2023 to around $61,509 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Academic Program Director salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Academic Program Director Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$61,719
2024
$61,872
2025
$61,509
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
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2023 $61,719
2024 $61,872
2025 $61,509
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Academic Program Director

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401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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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.)

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