### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Postsecondary Education Administrators Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            						
							
				                                                
                                            




            			postsecondary education administrators imagePostsecondary education administrators oversee student services, academics, and faculty research at colleges and universities.							
						Quick Facts:     Postsecondary Education Administrators2023     Median Pay
            						$102,610     per year
										$49.33     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    Master's degreeWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    Less than 5 yearsOn-the-job Training
                                    NoneNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    218,200Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    4% (As fast as average)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    7,700What Postsecondary Education Administrators Do
                                                
                        
                        
Postsecondary education administrators oversee student services, academics, and faculty research at colleges and universities.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Postsecondary education administrators work for public and private schools. Most work full time.
            
                                                How to Become a Postsecondary Education Administrator
                                                
                        
Postsecondary education administrators typically need a master’s degree. However, there will be some opportunities for those with a bachelor’s degree. Employers typically prefer to hire candidates who have experience working in a postsecondary education administrative office, especially for occupations such as registrars and academic deans.
            
                        Pay
                        												                            																				    														The median annual wage for postsecondary education administrators was $102,610 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Employment							of postsecondary education administrators is projected to grow							 4 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
						About 15,300 openings for postsecondary education administrators are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
            			
            			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for postsecondary education administrators.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of postsecondary education administrators with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about postsecondary education administrators by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Postsecondary Education Administrators Do 
            

			Postsecondary education administratorsPostsecondary education administrators assist students with a variety of tasks, such as registering for classes and completing admissions applications.			
Postsecondary education administrators oversee student services, academics, and faculty research at colleges and universities. Their job duties vary depending on the department in which they work, such as admissions, student affairs, or the registrar’s office.
Duties
Education administrators’ duties depend on the size of their college or university. Small schools often have small staffs that take on many different responsibilities, but larger schools may have different offices for each of these functions. For example, at a small college, the Office of Student Life may oversee student athletics and other activities, whereas a large university may have an Athletics Department.
Postsecondary education administrators who work in ***admissions*** decide which applicants should be admitted to the school. They typically do the following:
Determine how many students to admit to the school
Meet with prospective students and encourage them to apply
Review applications to determine which students should be admitted
Analyze data about applicants and admitted studentsAdmissions officers also prepare promotional materials about the school. They often are assigned a region of the country to which they travel and speak to high school counselors and students.
Admissions officers who work with the financial aid department offer packages of federal and institutional financial aid to prospective students.
Postsecondary education administrators may be ***provosts*** or ***academic deans****.* Provosts, also called *chief academic officers*, help college presidents develop academic policies, participate in making faculty appointments and tenure decisions, and manage budgets. They also oversee faculty research at colleges and universities. Academic deans coordinate the activities of the individual colleges or schools. For example, a large university may have a separate dean for business, law, and medical schools.
Postsecondary education administrators who work in the ***registrar’s office***, sometimes called *registrars*, maintain student and course records. They typically do the following:
Schedule course offerings, including space and times for classes
Oversee student registration for classes
Ensure that students meet graduation requirements
Plan commencement ceremonies
Prepare transcripts and diplomas for students
Produce data about students and classes
Maintain the academic records of the institutionRegistrars’ duties vary throughout the school year. During registration and at the beginning of the academic term, for example, they help students sign up for, drop, and add courses. Registrars need computer skills to create and maintain databases.
Postsecondary education administrators who work in ***student affairs*** are responsible for a variety of cocurricular school functions. They typically do the following:
Advise students on topics such as housing, personal problems, or academics
Communicate with parents or guardians
Create, support, and assess nonacademic programs for students
Schedule programs and services, such as athletic events or recreational activitiesPostsecondary education administrators in student affairs may specialize in areas such as student activities, housing and residential life, or multicultural affairs. In student activities, they plan events and advise student clubs and organizations. In housing and residential life, they assign students to rooms and match them with roommates, ensure that residential facilities are well maintained, and train residential advisers. In multicultural affairs, they plan events to celebrate different cultures and diverse backgrounds. Sometimes, they manage multicultural centers on campus.
 Work Environment
			Postsecondary education administratorsPostsecondary education administrators work in colleges, universities, community colleges, and technical and trade schools.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 Postsecondary education administrators held about 218,200 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of postsecondary education administrators were as follows:
        Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private
                81%Junior colleges; state, local, and private
                12Work Schedules
Postsecondary education administrators generally work full time. Most work year-round, but some administrators may reduce their hours during the summer.
 How to Become a Postsecondary Education Administrator

			Postsecondary education administratorsPostsecondary education administrators need to build good relationships with colleagues, students, and parents.			
Postsecondary education administrators typically need a master’s degree. However, there will be some opportunities for those with a bachelor’s degree. Employers typically prefer candidates who have experience working in a postsecondary academic administrative office, particularly for occupations such as registrars and academic deans.
Education
Postsecondary education administrators typically need a master’s degree. However, a bachelor’s degree may be sufficient for positions at small colleges and universities. Degrees may be in a variety of fields, such as education, business, or social science.
Provosts and deans often must have a Ph.D. Some begin their careers as professors and later move into administration. They have a doctorate in the field in which they taught or in higher education.
Work Experience in a Related Occupation
Employers typically prefer to hire candidates who have several years of experience in a college administrative setting. Some postsecondary education administrators work in the registrar’s office or as a resident assistant while in college to gain the necessary experience. For other positions, such as those in admissions and student affairs, experience may not be necessary.
Important Qualities
***Computer skills.*** Postsecondary education administrators need to be comfortable working with computers so they can use software to manage student and school records.
***Interpersonal skills.*** Postsecondary education administrators need to build good relationships with colleagues, students, and parents. For example, those in admissions need to be outgoing so they can encourage prospective students to apply to the school.
***Organizational skills.*** Administrators need to be organized so they can manage records, prioritize tasks, and coordinate activities with their staff.
***Problem-solving skills.*** Administrators need to react calmly when a difficult situation arises and develop creative solutions.
**Advancement**
Education administrators with advanced degrees may be promoted to higher level positions within their department or the college. Some become college presidents, an occupation discussed in the profile on top executives.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                Postsecondary Education AdministratorsMedian annual wages, May 2023Education administrators, postsecondary$102,610  Other management occupations$102,510  Total, all occupations$48,060Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median annual wage for postsecondary education administrators was $102,610 in May 2023. 


The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $62,970, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $209,870.





		
	    					 In May 2023, the median annual wages for postsecondary education administrators in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private
                $103,730Junior colleges; state, local, and private
                99,720As part of their employee benefits plan, many colleges and universities allow full-time employees to attend classes at a discount or for free.
Postsecondary education administrators generally work full time. Most work year-round, but some schools may reduce their hours during the summer.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
                Postsecondary Education AdministratorsPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Other management occupations5%  Education administrators, postsecondary4%  Total, all occupations3%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Employment				of postsecondary education administrators is projected to grow				 4 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
			
			About 15,300 openings for postsecondary education administrators are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
			
			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
			Employment
	
			
Employment growth in the occupation is tied to student enrollments at colleges and universities.
People will continue to seek postsecondary education to accomplish their career goals. As more people enter colleges and universities, more postsecondary education administrators will be needed to serve the needs of these additional students.
Additional admissions officers will be needed to process students’ applications. Registrars will be needed to direct student registration for classes and ensure that they meet graduation requirements. Student affairs workers will be needed to make housing assignments and plan events for students.
Provosts and academic dean positions will be limited, since there is typically a set number of these positions per institution.
Despite expected increases in enrollment, employment growth in public colleges and universities will depend on state and local government budgets. If there is a budget deficit, postsecondary institutions may lay off employees, including administrators. If there is a budget surplus, postsecondary institutions may hire more employees.
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                        Employment projections data for     postsecondary education administrators, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Education administrators, postsecondary**
			11-9033
			218,200
			225,900
			4
			7,700
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Education administrators, postsecondary **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of postsecondary education administrators. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Administrative Services and Facilities Managers**
            Administrative services and facilities managers plan, direct, and coordinate activities that help an organization run efficiently.
            Bachelor's degree
            $104,900**Human Resources Managers**
            Human resources managers plan, coordinate, and direct the administrative functions of an organization.
            Bachelor's degree
            $136,350**Postsecondary Teachers**
            Postsecondary teachers instruct students in a variety of academic subjects beyond the high school level.
            See How to Become One
            $84,380**Public Relations and Fundraising Managers**
            Public relations managers direct the creation of materials that will enhance the public image of their employer or client. Fundraising managers coordinate campaigns that bring in donations for their organization.
            Bachelor's degree
            $130,480**Public Relations Specialists**
            Public relations specialists create and maintain a positive public image for the clients they represent.
            Bachelor's degree
            $66,750**School and Career Counselors and Advisors**
            School counselors help students develop academic and social skills. Career counselors and advisors help people choose a path to employment.
            Master's degree
            $61,710**Top Executives**
            Top executives plan strategies and policies to ensure that an organization meets its goals.
            Bachelor's degree
            $103,840**Training and Development Managers**
            Training and development managers plan, coordinate, and direct skills- and knowledge-enhancement programs for an organization’s staff.
            Bachelor's degree
            $125,040**Elementary, Middle, and High School Principals**
            Elementary, middle, and high school principals oversee all school operations, including daily school activities.
            Master's degree
            $103,460
 Contacts for More Information
								
For more information about registrars or admissions counselors, visit
American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers
For more information about education administrators specializing in student affairs, visit
NASPA - Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        Education Administrators, Postsecondary
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Postsecondary Education Administrators, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/postsecondary-education-administrators.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


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