How to Become a College Administrator (Postsecondary)
Run the programs behind higher education: admissions, student services, academic operations, and research administration. It typically requires a master's degree, with a median salary of $104,590 per year and slower than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$104,590/yr
Middle half
$80,870 to $144,370
Job growth
Slower than average
Openings / yr
15,100
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Program Administration
- Policy
- Budgeting
- Critical Thinking
- Communication
Helpful certifications
- Graduate degree in higher education or related field
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
67/100
Work-life balance
60/100
Stress level
54/100
Related careers
- School Principal (K-12 Administrator)$105,870 median
- School Psychologist$95,990 median
- Instructional Coordinator$77,440 median
- Teacher (Secondary Education)$72,040 median
- Librarian$68,270 median
- Career and Technical Education Teacher$66,270 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a College Administrator (Postsecondary) make?
The median pay for a College Administrator (Postsecondary) is $104,590 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $80,870 and $144,370 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a College Administrator (Postsecondary)?
The usual entry point is a master's degree. Common majors are Higher Education Administration, Educational Leadership, Public Administration, and Business Administration.
Is College Administrator (Postsecondary) a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is slower than average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 15,100 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a College Administrator (Postsecondary) use most?
Common skills for this role are Program Administration, Policy, Budgeting, Critical Thinking, and Communication.
Planning to become a College Administrator (Postsecondary)?
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).