Education Administrators, Postsecondary: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)
Management · SOC 11-9033 · O*NET 11-9033.00
Plan, direct, or coordinate student instruction, administration, and services, as well as other research and educational activities, at postsecondary institutions, including universities, colleges, and junior and community colleges.
Education Administrators, Postsecondary fall under the Management category in the U.S. occupational classification. Education Administrators, Postsecondary earn a median salary of $103,960 per year, ranking in the top 11% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +1.7% job growth through 2034, projected to grow slower than the US average. Entry into this field typically requires a bachelor's degree, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.
What do education administrators, postsecondary earn?
The median annual wage for education administrators, postsecondary is $103,960. That puts education administrators, postsecondary at #86 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. Pay at this level is well above the U.S. median household income, signaling sustained demand and meaningful credential requirements. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.
| 10th percentile (entry-level) | $63,820 |
| 25th percentile | $79,880 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $103,960 |
| 75th percentile | $140,940 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $212,420 |
| Median hourly wage | $49.98/hr |
Is education administrators, postsecondary a growing career?
The 10-year outlook for education administrators, postsecondary is +1.7%, projected to grow slower than the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 226K positions in 2024 to 230K in 2034, a net change of 4K. Flat growth typically reflects a mature, stable field. Most openings will come from retirements rather than new positions, which can favor candidates with strong networks and willingness to relocate.
What do education administrators, postsecondary do every day?
According to O*NET task surveys of working education administrators, postsecondary, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.
- 1.Recruit, hire, train, and terminate departmental personnel.
- 2.Establish operational policies and procedures and make any necessary modifications, based on analysis of operations, demographics, and other research information.
- 3.Provide assistance to faculty and staff in duties such as teaching classes, conducting orientation programs, issuing transcripts, and scheduling events.
- 4.Prepare reports on academic or institutional data.
- 5.Promote the university by participating in community, state, and national events or meetings, and by developing partnerships with industry and secondary education institutions.
- 6.Advise students on issues such as course selection, progress toward graduation, and career decisions.
- 7.Plan, administer, and control budgets, maintain financial records, and produce financial reports.
- 8.Formulate strategic plans for the institution.
Top skills for education administrators, postsecondary
O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.
What education does my child need to become education administrators, postsecondary?
The standard path into education administrators, postsecondary begins with a bachelor's degree in a related field, followed by entry-level experience or internships during college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.
Based on O*NET surveys of incumbents — what people in this job actually have, not what employers list as required.
Related careers your child might also consider
How parents help teens explore careers like this
Solyo helps parents map a teen's interests to specific careers, then back to the colleges and majors that lead there. Salary, outlook, and education data come from BLS and O*NET — the same sources high school counselors use — but presented for the parent's planning lens, not the student's exploration view.
Common questions parents ask about education administrators, postsecondary
What is the median salary for education administrators, postsecondary?
The median annual salary for education administrators, postsecondary is $103,960 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Is education administrators, postsecondary a growing career?
BLS projects +1.7% growth for education administrators, postsecondary from 2024 through 2034, which is flat growth projected to grow slower than the US average.
What education does my child need to become education administrators, postsecondary?
The typical entry path requires a bachelor's degree, plus any state licensure or certification specific to the role. Programs that align well with this career can be filtered inside Solyo's college search.
What careers are similar to education administrators, postsecondary?
Related occupations within the Management category share education paths and skill profiles, so they're a useful starting set when a teen is uncertain. The "Related careers" section below lists nearby options.
Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics program. Skills, tasks, and education distribution from the O*NET database. Job outlook from the BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 release.