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Academic Program Director Salary in the United States

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

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for an Academic Program Director in the United States is $77,515 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): $102,155
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $65,026 to $90,413
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $53,655
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

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 geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

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: $85,825.
  • California: $85,499.
  • Massachusetts: $84,360.

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: $97,770
  • San Francisco: $96,699
  • Oakland: $94,662

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.
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 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 $100,770
30%
Illustrator $99,219
28%
Vendor Management $85,267
10%
Get Latest Data

Academic Program Director Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Academic Program 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 Program Director positions in Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Academic Program Director as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Academic Program Director

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Government$85,267$41.010%
Education$79,066$38.02%

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%
View as Graph

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.

Last Updated on October 01, 2026
$65,026
Average $77,515/year
$90,413
$5,419
Average $6,460/month
$7,534
$1,250
Average $1,491/week
$1,739
$31
Average $37/hour
$43
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $90,413 $7,534 $1,739 $43
Average $77,515 $6,460 $1,491 $37
25th Percentile $65,026 $5,419 $1,250 $31

Most common benefits for Academic Program Director

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

Common company salaries for Academic Program Director

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

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FAQ about Academic Program Director

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Academic Program Director?

The Government industry offers the highest average compensation for Academic Program 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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