College Administrators

Median Salary: $82,800

Many college administrators across the U.S. share a handful of key professional attributes. For example, cooperation, initiative, and self control can be critical for success in the industry, especially when coupled with career training. Around 105,900 folks were working as college administrators nationwide in 2009. With that much workplace competition, it's crucial to build on these traits and receive top-notch training, particularly if you're intending to advance in the field.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual income for college administrators in the U.S. was $82,800 in 2009, which works out to a median hourly wage of $39.80. Of course, income can vary with training and by place. Below, you'll find more data about college administrators, including wages and job density for metro areas all over the U.S..

College administrators should be skilled in:

  • Problem Sensitivity
  • Information Ordering
  • Near Vision
  • Fluency of Ideas
  • Number Facility

Different folks go into different careers; college administrators are typically:

  • Enterprising
  • Artistic
  • Investigative

Working as a college administrator requires knowledge in subjects like:

  • English Language
  • Psychology
  • Sociology and Anthropology
  • Law and Government
  • Mathematics

Related Occupations

« Return to Career Information

Below, you'll see links to more information on the top cities for this occupation (based on the number of folks working as college administrators). Note: "Job density" refers to the proportion of college administrators in each city as compared to the national average.

Alabama
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Birmingham 560 $75,700 $36.40 $133,100 $64.00 40.4%
Huntsville 210 $83,800 $40.30 $107,900 $51.90 27%
Montgomery 130 $70,500 $33.90 $99,700 $47.90 -0.2%
Alaska
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Anchorage 70 $87,900 $42.30 $115,800 $55.70 -50.1%
Arizona
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Flagstaff 90 $79,900 $38.40 $101,400 $48.80 86.1%
Phoenix 1,440 $81,600 $39.20 $131,700 $63.30 0.6%
Prescott 70 $70,700 $34.00 $83,700 $40.20 49.4%
Arkansas
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Little Rock 200 $97,100 $46.70 $130,700 $62.80 -27.3%
California
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Bakersfield 160 $101,900 $49.00 $130,600 $62.80 -24.5%
Fresno 360 $96,900 $46.60 $124,800 $60.00 35.4%
Los Angeles (Area) 4,060 $97,300 $46.80 $127,600 $61.30 -12.6%
Oakland 740 $89,500 $43.00 $120,600 $58.00 -7.3%
Oxnard 90 $98,700 $47.50 $131,700 $63.30 -60.5%
Riverside 600 $100,600 $48.40 $127,500 $61.30 -37.7%
Sacramento 850 $90,800 $43.60 $120,100 $57.80 23.3%
Salinas 170 $92,200 $44.30 $116,200 $55.90 32.9%
San Diego 1,360 $98,000 $47.10 $135,200 $65.00 31.3%
San Francisco (Area) 1,720 $86,000 $41.40 $115,300 $55.50 7.6%
San Francisco (City) 980 $82,600 $39.70 $110,100 $53.00 22.7%
San Jose 610 $100,900 $48.50 $125,500 $60.30 -15%
Santa Barbara 120 $88,400 $42.50 $115,400 $55.50 -16.2%
Stockton NA $94,100 $45.30 $125,400 $60.30 NA
Vallejo 140 $92,800 $44.60 $116,400 $56.00 40.4%
Visalia 60 $105,800 $50.90 $130,700 $62.90 -46.2%
Colorado
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Boulder 150 NA NA NA NA 16.5%
Colorado Springs 130 $83,600 $40.20 $120,200 $57.80 -33.3%
Denver 710 $86,700 $41.70 $124,200 $59.70 -28.2%
Pueblo 60 $63,700 $30.60 $81,700 $39.30 38.6%
Connecticut
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Bridgeport 360 $98,200 $47.20 $119,200 $57.30 -23.4%
Hartford 960 $94,000 $45.20 $139,000 $66.80 111%
New Haven NA $93,200 $44.80 $127,200 $61.20 NA
Norwich 70 $120,200 $57.80 $133,600 $64.20 -35.9%
Delaware
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Dover 110 $79,500 $38.20 $112,900 $54.30 125.6%
District of Columbia
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Washington (Area) NA $67,200 $32.30 $97,600 $46.90 NA
Florida
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Deltona 50 $93,000 $44.70 $112,500 $54.10 -56.5%
Jacksonville 110 $83,500 $40.10 $105,600 $50.80 -77.7%
Lakeland 40 $94,000 $45.20 $106,100 $51.00 -74.8%
Miami (Area) 530 $100,100 $48.10 $127,900 $61.50 -71.1%
Orlando 430 $75,600 $36.40 $87,500 $42.10 -46.7%
Palm Bay 60 $84,700 $40.70 $114,900 $55.20 -65.2%
Pensacola 40 $97,100 $46.70 $139,900 $67.30 -71.6%
Tallahassee 50 $98,100 $47.20 $123,600 $59.40 -63.5%
Tampa 160 $103,900 $49.90 $132,000 $63.50 -82.6%
Georgia
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Atlanta 2,410 $84,400 $40.60 $119,900 $57.60 29.7%
Augusta 190 NA NA NA NA 16.3%
Gainesville 30 $74,300 $35.70 $87,900 $42.30 -46.9%
Macon 140 $85,600 $41.20 $111,500 $53.60 81.8%
Savannah 150 $80,300 $38.60 $112,100 $53.90 24.4%
Hawaii
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Honolulu 250 $91,400 $43.90 $143,000 $68.80 -28.9%
Idaho
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Boise City 520 $75,500 $36.30 $105,500 $50.70 141.9%
Illinois
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Chicago (Area) 2,010 $78,200 $37.60 $111,100 $53.40 -29.8%
Rockford 120 $45,500 $21.90 $67,900 $32.70 1.8%
Springfield NA $68,600 $33.00 $86,100 $41.40 NA
Indiana
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Evansville 120 $57,300 $27.60 $85,800 $41.30 -15.4%
Fort Wayne NA $97,600 $46.90 $129,300 $62.20 NA
Indianapolis 490 $58,400 $28.10 $83,900 $40.30 -31.3%
South Bend NA $50,100 $24.10 $69,900 $33.60 NA
Iowa
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Cedar Rapids 120 $59,100 $28.40 $79,400 $38.20 9%
Davenport 70 $73,700 $35.40 $94,700 $45.50 -55.7%
Des Moines 260 $69,700 $33.50 $89,000 $42.80 0.2%
Dubuque 90 $64,300 $30.90 $82,900 $39.90 112.5%
Sioux City 40 $74,000 $35.60 $86,600 $41.60 -37.1%
Waterloo 80 $71,500 $34.40 $111,700 $53.70 14.7%
Kansas
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Wichita 240 $64,700 $31.10 $86,800 $41.80 -0.2%
Kentucky
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Lexington 270 $68,100 $32.80 $110,500 $53.10 37.9%
Louisville 290 $89,200 $42.90 $123,200 $59.20 -40%
Owensboro 40 $66,400 $31.90 $90,100 $43.30 4.4%
Louisiana
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Baton Rouge 460 $81,500 $39.20 $122,000 $58.70 55.4%
New Orleans 760 $84,500 $40.60 $138,400 $66.60 85%
Shreveport 50 $72,300 $34.80 $88,300 $42.40 -66.7%
Maine
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Bangor 140 $65,300 $31.40 $84,000 $40.40 174.4%
Portland 170 $66,800 $32.10 $88,400 $42.50 8.3%
Maryland
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Baltimore 1,640 $80,800 $38.90 $107,600 $51.70 61%
Cumberland 40 $92,700 $44.60 $124,900 $60.10 34.2%
Hagerstown 40 $75,400 $36.20 $91,800 $44.10 -43.5%
Salisbury 80 $78,600 $37.80 $114,600 $55.10 85.2%
Massachusetts
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Boston (Area) 3,910 $80,100 $38.50 $102,300 $49.20 128.6%
Springfield 530 $82,400 $39.60 $107,700 $51.80 127.5%
Worcester 360 $81,300 $39.10 $105,900 $50.90 86.3%
Michigan
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Detroit (Area) 1,120 $86,700 $41.70 $121,900 $58.60 -16.4%
Flint 180 $82,400 $39.60 $113,700 $54.70 67.3%
Grand Rapids 240 $97,700 $47.00 $128,700 $61.90 -17.6%
Kalamazoo 100 $117,900 $56.70 $156,400 $75.20 -4.2%
Minnesota
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Duluth 140 $85,500 $41.10 $113,900 $54.80 35.9%
Minneapolis 1,310 $72,300 $34.80 $89,700 $43.10 -6.9%
Rochester 50 NA NA NA NA -46.5%
St. Cloud 90 $77,800 $37.40 $105,200 $50.60 21.1%
Mississippi
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Gulfport 70 $72,100 $34.70 $84,100 $40.40 -12.5%
Hattiesburg 60 NA NA NA NA 21.5%
Jackson 280 $62,000 $29.80 $74,800 $36.00 40.9%
Missouri
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Columbia 110 NA NA NA NA 67.3%
Jefferson City 30 $61,800 $29.70 $76,800 $36.90 -46.7%
Joplin 30 $88,600 $42.60 $101,300 $48.70 -46.9%
Kansas City 730 $70,000 $33.60 $96,500 $46.40 -9.4%
Springfield 210 $72,900 $35.10 $104,500 $50.20 41.1%
St. Louis 1,010 $75,900 $36.50 $106,300 $51.10 -4.6%
Montana
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Great Falls 30 $69,800 $33.60 $83,800 $40.30 5.4%
Nebraska
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Omaha 400 $59,200 $28.50 $85,800 $41.20 8.9%
Nevada
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Las Vegas 360 NA NA NA NA -47.6%
New Hampshire
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Manchester 120 $65,900 $31.70 $86,700 $41.70 48.8%
New Jersey
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Atlantic City 100 $106,900 $51.40 $149,500 $71.90 -8.3%
New Mexico
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Albuquerque 220 $140,700 $67.70 $164,000 $78.80 -29.3%
Santa Fe 40 $72,400 $34.80 $89,200 $42.90 -31.8%
New York
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Albany 540 $83,800 $40.30 $117,400 $56.50 52.4%
Binghamton NA $66,900 $32.10 $85,600 $41.10 NA
Buffalo 370 $82,600 $39.70 $109,500 $52.60 -14.4%
Ithaca 150 $109,700 $52.70 $137,400 $66.10 265.1%
New York (Area) 5,400 $103,200 $49.60 $137,800 $66.30 -34.6%
Poughkeepsie 230 $86,900 $41.80 $123,000 $59.10 15.8%
Rochester 390 $108,600 $52.20 $138,200 $66.40 -1.2%
Syracuse 250 $103,500 $49.80 $137,100 $65.90 0.2%
Utica 130 $84,400 $40.60 $103,600 $49.80 22.1%
North Carolina
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Asheville 110 $67,800 $32.60 $94,400 $45.40 -22.3%
Charlotte 660 $68,600 $33.00 $91,500 $44.00 -3.6%
Durham 590 $58,300 $28.00 $79,800 $38.30 164.1%
Fayetteville 110 $66,400 $31.90 $90,700 $43.60 5.7%
Goldsboro NA $61,100 $29.40 $91,000 $43.80 NA
Greensboro 460 $76,400 $36.70 $108,900 $52.40 61.7%
Hickory 140 $61,900 $29.80 $81,800 $39.30 17.3%
Raleigh 1,830 $79,700 $38.30 $117,700 $56.60 351.7%
Wilmington 180 $76,900 $37.00 $102,900 $49.50 57%
Winston-Salem 350 $77,500 $37.30 $108,300 $52.10 107.4%
North Dakota
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Fargo NA $99,000 $47.60 $127,900 $61.50 NA
Grand Forks 40 $95,100 $45.70 $145,800 $70.10 -6.9%
Ohio
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Akron 180 $71,100 $34.20 $100,800 $48.40 -31.4%
Canton 80 $81,400 $39.10 $105,000 $50.50 -43.9%
Cincinnati 310 $88,400 $42.50 $120,000 $57.70 -61.7%
Cleveland 410 $94,900 $45.60 $121,900 $58.60 -50.1%
Columbus 570 $109,300 $52.50 $154,200 $74.10 -22.8%
Dayton 230 $92,700 $44.60 $134,200 $64.50 -22.3%
Lima 30 $73,600 $35.40 $83,800 $40.30 -24.5%
Toledo 190 $91,500 $44.00 $126,900 $61.00 -21.7%
Youngstown 90 $79,600 $38.30 $109,800 $52.80 -50.3%
Oklahoma
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Oklahoma City 310 $82,100 $39.50 $116,400 $55.90 -32.6%
Tulsa 230 $61,700 $29.60 $76,000 $36.50 -32.2%
Oregon
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Eugene 110 $88,400 $42.50 $108,000 $51.90 -5.2%
Medford NA $75,800 $36.50 $105,400 $50.70 NA
Portland 720 $77,400 $37.20 $106,400 $51.20 -10.1%
Salem 90 $80,900 $38.90 $109,700 $52.70 -21.2%
Pennsylvania
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Allentown 380 $66,700 $32.10 $101,900 $49.00 42.5%
Erie 100 $62,900 $30.20 $98,800 $47.50 -4.1%
Harrisburg 290 $91,000 $43.80 $125,200 $60.20 16%
Johnstown 50 $55,700 $26.80 $80,500 $38.70 -1.7%
Lancaster 170 $67,000 $32.20 $102,500 $49.30 -5.4%
Philadelphia (Area) 2,600 $91,200 $43.80 $132,400 $63.60 -2.2%
Pittsburgh 1,270 $72,000 $34.60 $103,300 $49.60 40.8%
Reading 150 $55,500 $26.70 $76,000 $36.60 10.1%
Scranton 230 $63,000 $30.30 $91,600 $44.00 10.1%
Rhode Island
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Providence 620 $89,900 $43.20 $126,200 $60.70 39.8%
South Carolina
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Charleston 150 $67,100 $32.30 $91,100 $43.80 -35.1%
Columbia 180 $83,700 $40.30 $119,400 $57.40 -32.4%
Greenville 450 $73,800 $35.50 $113,500 $54.60 87.7%
Myrtle Beach 90 $71,000 $34.10 $86,500 $41.60 3.2%
Spartanburg 70 $72,200 $34.70 $90,700 $43.60 -26.5%
South Dakota
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Sioux Falls 40 $69,200 $33.30 $86,700 $41.70 -66.1%
Tennessee
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Chattanooga 120 $61,800 $29.70 $83,400 $40.10 -36%
Clarksville 100 $66,000 $31.70 $94,500 $45.40 56.4%
Jackson 40 $58,600 $28.20 $80,000 $38.50 -5.4%
Kingsport 80 $75,100 $36.10 $95,100 $45.70 -18.9%
Knoxville 240 $63,100 $30.30 $85,600 $41.10 -9%
Memphis 250 $71,700 $34.50 $105,700 $50.80 -49.4%
Nashville 530 $74,600 $35.90 $102,300 $49.20 -8.6%
Texas
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
College Station 670 $77,800 $37.40 $114,000 $54.80 802.1%
Dallas (Area) 1,420 $79,400 $38.20 $112,000 $53.80 -43.3%
El Paso NA $117,200 $56.30 $166,400+ $80.00+ NA
Killeen 110 $65,000 $31.30 $82,000 $39.40 8%
Laredo 30 $91,900 $44.20 $113,800 $54.70 -57.2%
Longview 50 $66,500 $32.00 $84,800 $40.80 -32.6%
Lubbock 100 $139,800 $67.20 $166,400+ $80.00+ 2.6%
McAllen 60 $75,900 $36.50 $102,500 $49.30 -66.6%
Odessa 50 NA NA NA NA 5.7%
San Antonio 460 $69,200 $33.30 $99,500 $47.80 -32.7%
Tyler 50 $91,800 $44.10 $110,100 $53.00 -35.1%
Waco 160 $70,900 $34.10 $88,400 $42.50 98.4%
Utah
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Ogden 90 $85,400 $41.00 $118,900 $57.20 -45.9%
Provo 380 $70,300 $33.80 $87,700 $42.20 172.7%
Salt Lake City 420 $77,200 $37.10 $108,800 $52.30 -15.2%
Vermont
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Burlington NA $83,000 $39.90 $119,800 $57.60 NA
Virginia
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Danville 40 $79,400 $38.20 $91,400 $44.00 10.4%
Lynchburg 60 $64,600 $31.10 $85,200 $41.00 -31.6%
Richmond 390 $84,400 $40.60 $119,000 $57.20 -19.5%
Roanoke 50 $77,600 $37.30 $95,000 $45.70 -63.4%
Virginia Beach 700 $82,500 $39.70 $113,800 $54.70 16.6%
Washington
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Seattle (Area) 1,130 $77,300 $37.20 $97,200 $46.70 -14.4%
Spokane 200 $78,200 $37.60 $100,400 $48.30 20%
West Virginia
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Charleston 80 $64,900 $31.20 $82,100 $39.50 -33%
Parkersburg 30 $69,600 $33.50 $89,700 $43.10 -42.5%
Wheeling 50 $62,900 $30.20 $75,100 $36.10 4.8%
Wisconsin
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Eau Claire 120 $68,200 $32.80 $93,500 $44.90 89.5%
Fond du Lac 50 $80,300 $38.60 $93,700 $45.00 51%
Green Bay 120 $70,200 $33.80 $103,500 $49.70 -7.3%
Janesville 40 $63,400 $30.50 $77,500 $37.30 -16%
La Crosse 120 $71,400 $34.30 $92,800 $44.60 101.8%
Madison 620 $86,000 $41.40 $111,800 $53.70 133.8%
Milwaukee 700 $71,000 $34.10 $99,600 $47.90 5.8%