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The median salary increase for mid-level administrative positions in higher education for 2008-9 is 3.5 percent, according to data being released today by the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources. Increases are larger at private than at public institutions, and smaller at doctoral universities than in other sectors of higher education.
Because the Consumer Price Index increased by about 3.8 percent during this period, median salaries for these positions did not keep pace with inflation. And that may be understating things. The CUPA-HR data were based on salaries in place on October 15, 2008 -- which is before many colleges and universities announced some combination of furloughs, pay cuts, pay freezes and layoffs that have cut significantly into the take-home pay of many college and university employees. CUPA-HR releases a series of salary reports each year around this time -- and has already reported that the median increase for faculty members at four-year colleges and universities this year is 3.7 percent and that the median increase for senior administrators is 4.0 percent.
For the survey of mid-level administrators, the highest paid median salary (excluding those for coaches) was that of staff physician ($127,095), followed by staff lawyer, veterinarian, pharmacist, manager of information technology audit and labor relations unit supervisor. The lowest paid position was security guard ($27,061), followed by residence hall manager, child care center teacher, entry-level computer operator and admissions counselor.
Among all positions, public institutions had higher medians in the previous two years -- but lost that advantage to private institutions this year.
Median Salary Increases, Public vs. Private
| Year | Public | Private |
| 2005-6 | 3.1% | 3.4% |
| 2006-7 | 4.0% | 3.6% |
| 2007-8 | 4.0% | 3.7% |
| 2008-9 | 3.5% | 3.8% |
By job category, the administrative areas that saw the same gains this year as last year were in academic affairs and students affairs -- the divisions that last year saw smaller raises than their colleagues elsewhere.
Median Salary Increases by Job Category
| Division | 2005-6 | 2006-7 | 2007-8 | 2008-9 |
| Academic affairs | 3.1% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 3.5% |
| Business and administrative affairs | 3.3% | 3.9% | 4.0% | 3.5% |
| Human resources | 3.5% | 4.0% | 4.0% | 3.7% |
| Information technology | 3.2% | 3.8% | 3.9% | 3.7% |
| Athletics | 3.2% | 3.7% | 4.0% | 3.8% |
| Student affairs | 3.1% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 3.5% |
| External affairs | 3.3% | 3.8% | 4.0% | 3.5% |
| Engineering research and agricultural | 3.1% | 3.5% | 3.9% | 3.4% |
Here are details on median salaries by specific positions, for all institutions, and by sector.
Median Salaries of Mid-Level Administrators, 2008-9
| All | Doctoral | Master's | Baccalaureate | Associate | ||
| Academic Affairs | ||||||
| Conference education coordinator (continuing education) | $43,115 | $43,073 | $42,532 | $40,000 | $46,015 | |
| Continuing education specialist | $49,927 | $52,317 | $49,442 | $47,778 | $51,296 | |
| Museum curator | $50,279 | $51,377 | $46,750 | $55,903 | $56,375 | |
| Head of reference and instruction | $51,078 | $59,043 | $50,000 | $48,590 | $49,703 | |
| Reference and instructional librarian - Level I | $42,002 | $44,213 | $43,264 | $36,764 | $41,408 | |
| Catalog/metadata librarian - Lev II | $50,591 | $52,787 | $49,551 | $49,487 | $59,521 | |
| Cataloger librarian - Level I | $37,211 | $40,284 | $36,774 | $34,830 | $39,856 | |
| Coordinator, Library services for distance education | $52,000 | $62,659 | $50,040 | $53,951 | $48,757 | |
| Government documents, publications librarian | $51,314 | $55,881 | $49,056 | $44,100 | n/a | |
| Serials librarian | $51,244 | $55,696 | $50,862 | $46,213 | n/a | |
| Systems librarian | $56,963 | $63,523 | $56,261 | $52,038 | $64,581 | |
| Admissions counselor | $33,957 | $35,151 | $33,631 | $31,554 | $38,469 | |
| Financial aid counselor | $36,755 | $38,340 | $36,270 | $35,000 | $38,938 | |
| Academic evaluator | $36,068 | $36,274 | $34,600 | $34,360 | $40,619 | |
| Business and administrative affairs | ||||||
| Administrative specialist | $43,685 | $45,829 | $42,814 | $41,479 | $42,286 | |
| Staff attorney | $104,423 | $106,429 | $96,317 | n/a | $105,565 | |
| Buyer | $40,071 | $43,000 | $38,586 | $36,202 | $41,220 | |
| Buyer, senior | $49,238 | $50,366 | $45,928 | $44,722 | $49,613 | |
| Buyer, supervisory | $60,777 | $66,962 | $51,500 | $60,317 | $59,256 | |
| Contract and grants specialist | $51,007 | $48,267 | $51,000 | $51,200 | $54,325 | |
| Accountant | $41,752 | $43,576 | $40,500 | $40,027 | $40,431 | |
| Accountant, senior | $52,732 | $52,434 | $51,475 | $51,693 | $53,156 | |
| Accounting unit supervisor | $60,308 | $61,936 | $58,380 | $57,399 | $58,735 | |
| Auditor | $50,470 | $50,500 | $45,760 | $60,460 | $55,000 | |
| Auditor, senior | $64,601 | $65,000 | $62,544 | $58,654 | $76,743 | |
| Budget analyst | $49,502 | $50,860 | $47,347 | $47,411 | $50,910 | |
| Budget analyst, senior | $63,006 | $65,467 | $59,012 | $57,767 | $62,436 | |
| Budget unit supervisor | $75,395 | $75,800 | $71,300 | $73,740 | $68,769 | |
| Dept. business manager (small unit) | $52,882 | $55,842 | $49,314 | $48,464 | $50,375 | |
| Dept business manager (large unit) | $68,816 | $70,974 | $59,513 | $64,502 | $67,617 | |
| Head cashier | $35,152 | $40,712 | $33,615 | $29,755 | $38,041 | |
| Collections supervisor | $42,105 | $46,850 | $41,308 | $35,831 | $44,787 | |
| Auditor, IT | $60,864 | $59,257 | n/a | n/a | n/a | |
| Auditor, Senior IT | $71,924 | $71,712 | n/a | n/a | n/a | |
| Manager, audit | $86,090 | $86,100 | $69,592 | n/a | n/a | |
| Manager, IT audit | $89,000 | $89,000 | n/a | n/a | n/a | |
| Shipping and receiving supervisor | $39,687 | $39,042 | $41,120 | $37,591 | $37,998 | |
| Print shop supervisor | $43,978 | $47,153 | $44,031 | $36,134 | $44,880 | |
| Mail services supervisor | $37,420 | $41,769 | $36,114 | $32,379 | $42,992 | |
| Child care center teacher | $30,519 | $31,280 | $31,097 | $29,765 | $29,749 | |
| Child care site director | $51,279 | $58,868 | $50,494 | $47,055 | $51,034 | |
| Textbook manager | $40,807 | $49,115 | $38,000 | $33,740 | $49,899 | |
| Food service manager (Unit) | $46,705 | $49,411 | $43,499 | $46,275 | $42,663 | |
| Assistant police chief | $65,870 | $81,836 | $61,008 | $53,910 | $57,930 | |
| Police lieutenant | $56,176 | $62,340 | $52,476 | $45,736 | $51,900 | |
| Police sergeant | $46,964 | $53,275 | $41,758 | $39,953 | $48,101 | |
| Police officer | $37,947 | $42,642 | $35,590 | $34,477 | $37,171 | |
| Security guard | $27,061 | $26,687 | $26,951 | $26,948 | $28,753 | |
| Environmental health and safety specialist | $51,166 | $51,130 | $50,000 | $50,232 | $50,938 | |
| Safety officer | $52,031 | $56,481 | $44,886 | $43,415 | $52,633 | |
| Skilled crafts supervisor | $52,520 | $57,463 | $50,196 | $51,489 | $50,140 | |
| Coordinator of construction projects | $63,953 | $64,734 | $59,623 | $64,975 | $64,994 | |
| Architect | $72,328 | $73,171 | $67,006 | $71,126 | $77,867 | |
| Facilities utilization planner | $54,981 | $58,704 | $51,000 | $53,121 | $51,677 | |
| Facilities engineer | $66,464 | $67,949 | $60,687 | $63,960 | $67,101 | |
| Manager of inventory | $45,000 | $47,221 | $43,325 | $37,370 | $39,801 | |
| Human Resources | ||||||
| Coordinator of disability services | $53,345 | $61,245 | $47,100 | $50,614 | $51,984 | |
| Training specialist | $50,249 | $50,837 | $46,207 | $48,703 | $53,385 | |
| EEO/affirmative action specialist | $53,818 | $52,657 | $50,588 | n/a | $63,124 | |
| Employee relations specialist | $48,037 | $49,350 | $46,144 | n/a | $49,705 | |
| Employee relations specialist, senior | $62,391 | $62,000 | n/a | n/a | $58,311 | |
| Employee relations unit supervisor | $71,000 | $72,699 | $58,332 | n/a | $72,500 | |
| HR generalist | $42,136 | $45,275 | $41,189 | $39,344 | $42,090 | |
| HR generalist, senior | $55,114 | $56,224 | $52,460 | $55,990 | $59,503 | |
| Credential specialist | $43,757 | $51,969 | $43,152 | $39,502 | $39,808 | |
| Compensation specialist | $46,422 | $46,842 | $42,987 | n/a | $47,704 | |
| Compensation specialist, senior | $58,414 | $57,567 | $60,056 | n/a | $56,217 | |
| Compensation/classified unit supervisor | $69,716 | $70,096 | n/a | n/a | $55,252 | |
| Benefits specialist | $40,950 | $41,240 | $40,000 | $38,780 | $43,205 | |
| Benefits specialist, senior | $50,758 | $50,944 | $47,246 | $48,642 | $53,925 | |
| Benefits unit supervisor | $60,126 | $62,550 | $55,000 | n/a | $60,519 | |
| Labor relations specialist | $48,581 | $48,000 | n/a | n/a | n/a | |
| Labor relations specialist, senior | $69,499 | $74,840 | n/a | n/a | n/a | |
| Labor relations unit supervisor | $86,766 | $80,000 | n/a | n/a | n/a | |
| Employment specialist | $40,296 | $41,870 | $37,246 | $35,337 | $43,912 | |
| Employment specialist, senior | $50,975 | $50,975 | $49,128 | $47,903 | $55,056 | |
| Employment unit supervisor | $65,827 | $67,200 | $66,344 | n/a | $61,186 | |
| Advisor, disability services | $44,239 | $44,808 | $45,601 | $42,889 | $43,600 | |
| Work-life coordinator | $52,593 | $49,274 | n/a | n/a | n/a | |
| Information Technology | ||||||
| Programmer analyst | $51,775 | $53,940 | $49,158 | $51,785 | $50,214 | |
| Programmer analyst, senior | $63,185 | $65,963 | $59,923 | $62,365 | $64,601 | |
| Programmer Analyst, supervisor | $74,472 | $79,114 | $70,300 | $67,680 | $68,271 | |
| Systems programmer | $53,907 | $57,226 | $51,549 | $49,445 | $51,970 | |
| Systems programmer, senior | $65,510 | $69,543 | $62,536 | $65,292 | $71,346 | |
| Systems programmer, supervisor | $78,569 | $82,610 | $71,710 | $82,327 | $82,721 | |
| IT security analyst/engineer | $62,673 | $64,742 | $60,868 | $56,375 | $70,093 | |
| Telecommunications manager | $58,558 | $78,158 | $54,000 | $47,970 | $60,183 | |
| Network engineer | $59,550 | $63,592 | $54,334 | $54,473 | $59,798 | |
| E-mail administrator | $63,123 | $70,647 | $60,066 | $56,000 | $53,686 | |
| Network administrator | $58,503 | $64,636 | $57,566 | $55,599 | $58,319 | |
| System administrator | $55,952 | $58,748 | $55,000 | $53,659 | $56,369 | |
| Database administrator | $64,950 | $72,342 | $63,511 | $57,784 | $62,916 | |
| Data administrator | $61,752 | $65,047 | $60,153 | $53,476 | $49,780 | |
| Manager of Web services/Webmaster | $55,720 | $62,529 | $55,073 | $51,179 | $53,323 | |
| Web graphics designer | $48,188 | $48,421 | $46,555 | $48,366 | $48,425 | |
| Web content developer | $48,398 | $50,415 | $46,935 | $48,000 | $49,613 | |
| Computer operator, entry | $32,906 | $32,117 | $33,405 | $31,181 | $34,834 | |
| Computer operator, senior | $41,202 | $38,969 | $41,202 | $40,259 | $46,862 | |
| Computer operations supervisor | $54,273 | $54,155 | $49,239 | $58,302 | $61,589 | |
| IT support specialist | $42,790 | $46,169 | $42,500 | $41,347 | $40,031 | |
| Help desk specialist/technician | $36,787 | $40,192 | $36,024 | $35,602 | $34,008 | |
| Help desk manager | $51,666 | $60,997 | $49,702 | $47,104 | $54,386 | |
| IT technical writer | $47,771 | $46,527 | $47,837 | n/a | n/a | |
| IT project manager | $70,704 | $76,363 | $70,056 | $58,603 | $63,240 | |
| Electronic resources librarian | $51,980 | $56,983 | $47,840 | $49,735 | $44,047 | |
| Media librarian | $53,453 | $61,650 | $48,176 | $52,800 | n/a | |
| Instructional technology specialist | $49,464 | $50,896 | $47,573 | $51,743 | $46,648 | |
| Multi-media specialist/technician | $41,435 | $44,576 | $40,122 | $39,918 | $40,569 | |
| Athletics | ||||||
| Asst athletic trainer/physical therapist | $37,763 | $40,346 | $36,500 | $36,430 | $40,841 | |
| Head athletic trainer | $52,366 | $67,654 | $50,000 | $47,474 | $45,707 | |
| Ticket manager (athletic event) | $43,592 | $48,407 | $39,168 | $43,324 | n/a | |
| Head coach-football | $86,020 | $219,250 | $82,132 | $70,380 | $63,223 | |
| Offensive coordinator -- football | $60,008 | $132,310 | $50,500 | $41,507 | n/a | |
| Defensive coordinato -- football | $60,000 | $125,500 | $52,366 | $42,140 | n/a | |
| Assistant coach -- football | $42,103 | $88,658 | $40,184 | $35,252 | n/a | |
| Head coach -- baseball | $55,050 | $78,000 | $54,002 | $45,271 | $57,896 | |
| Assistant coach -- baseball | $35,700 | $44,135 | $32,847 | $25,696 | $36,874 | |
| Head coach -- men’s basketball | $74,600 | $201,752 | $72,346 | $57,491 | $51,815 | |
| Assistant coach-men’s basketball | $44,280 | $72,813 | $39,007 | $32,960 | $32,730 | |
| Head coach-women’s basketball | $66,995 | $134,450 | $66,065 | $52,030 | $50,028 | |
| Asst coach -- women’s basketball | $40,087 | $53,494 | $37,875 | $31,000 | $37,283 | |
| Head coach -- cross country | $41,725 | $51,339 | $39,500 | $37,132 | n/a | |
| Head coach -- track and field | $52,074 | $68,704 | $50,672 | $46,174 | n/a | |
| Head coach -- X country/track/field | $54,002 | $62,387 | $51,770 | $47,968 | n/a | |
| Head coach-skiing (Alpine/Nordic) | $51,500 | $51,577 | n/a | $51,500 | n/a | |
| Head coach -- swimming and diving | $54,150 | $63,850 | $47,417 | $47,929 | n/a | |
| Head coach -- men’s golf | $46,575 | $60,000 | $42,426 | $38,200 | n/a | |
| Head coach -- men’s gymnastics | $82,685 | $84,000 | n/a | n/a | n/a | |
| Head coach -- men’s ice hockey | $86,888 | $156,197 | $75,000 | $85,000 | n/a | |
| Head coach -- men’s lacrosse | $52,000 | $82,497 | $49,320 | $47,432 | n/a | |
| Head coach -- men’s rowing | $55,081 | $67,500 | $53,040 | $56,915 | n/a | |
| Head coach -- men’s soccer | $49,440 | $64,789 | $45,799 | $46,129 | n/a | |
| Head coach -- men’s tennis | $45,866 | $58,830 | $40,675 | $42,141 | n/a | |
| Head coach -- men’s volleyball | $51,255 | $65,874 | $45,111 | $41,966 | n/a | |
| Head coach -- men’s wrestling | $51,740 | $69,700 | $49,008 | $45,331 | n/a | |
| Head coach -- women’s field hockey | $48,160 | $61,900 | $43,252 | $45,001 | n/a | |
| Head coach -- women’s golf | $45,524 | $62,118 | $38,293 | $33,233 | n/a | |
| Head coach -- women’s gymnastics | $68,574 | $71,449 | $62,107 | n/a | n/a | |
| Head coach -- women’s ice hockey | $66,300 | $92,177 | $53,448 | $63,450 | n/a | |
| Head coach -- women’s lacrosse | $45,797 | $60,500 | $42,038 | $45,000 | n/a | |
| Head coach -- women’s rowing | $58,320 | $64,008 | $43,835 | $50,922 | n/a | |
| Head coach -- women’s soccer | $47,508 | $62,200 | $45,799 | $41,600 | n/a | |
| Head coach -- women’s softball | $47,000 | $61,278 | $45,000 | $42,188 | $44,846 | |
| Head coach -- women’s tennis | $48,528 | $58,081 | $40,000 | $42,892 | n/a | |
| Head coach -- women’s volleyball | $49,842 | $70,149 | $48,000 | $43,889 | $42,582 | |
| Student Affairs | ||||||
| Intramural/recreation coordinator | $39,484 | $42,918 | $38,149 | $35,299 | $41,875 | |
| Student activities officer | $41,000 | $44,115 | $38,312 | $36,060 | $44,814 | |
| Campus minister | $44,647 | $47,210 | $42,551 | $48,894 | n/a | |
| Sign language interpreter | $44,937 | $47,583 | $44,850 | $39,000 | $44,049 | |
| Events coordinator | $40,035 | $40,089 | $38,459 | $39,813 | $43,260 | |
| Events technical services coordinator | $42,718 | $44,520 | $39,661 | $41,407 | $43,961 | |
| Academic advisor/counselor | $40,000 | $40,487 | $39,895 | $39,338 | $40,272 | |
| Student career counselor | $42,000 | $44,207 | $41,105 | $41,500 | $45,329 | |
| Cooperative program coordinator | $44,734 | $45,464 | $44,734 | $44,290 | $41,908 | |
| Study abroad advisor | $40,554 | $41,156 | $40,005 | $41,550 | n/a | |
| Academic support center coordinator | $47,050 | $49,825 | $46,197 | $44,743 | $48,031 | |
| Residence hall manager -- room and board included | $29,403 | $31,398 | $29,149 | $27,503 | $25,668 | |
| Residence hall manager -- room and board not included | $37,500 | $42,869 | $38,493 | $28,531 | n/a | |
| Counseling psychologist | $58,199 | $58,250 | $55,587 | $60,560 | $69,820 | |
| Counselor | $46,795 | $47,250 | $44,600 | $47,650 | $50,808 | |
| Nurse practitioner | $70,398 | $72,368 | $66,038 | $66,368 | $63,509 | |
| Staff nurse | $46,295 | $49,950 | $44,096 | $43,375 | $50,102 | |
| Staff physician | $127,095 | $127,915 | $126,594 | $153,918 | n/a | |
| Clinical research nurse | $59,303 | $60,000 | $53,513 | n/a | n/a | |
| Pharmacist | $91,058 | $92,408 | $80,232 | n/a | n/a | |
| External Affairs | ||||||
| Annual giving officer-- entry level | $39,500 | $42,099 | $38,000 | $37,050 | $49,569 | |
| Annual giving officer -- senior level | $50,000 | $53,777 | $46,168 | $47,865 | $50,432 | |
| Alumni relations officer -- entry level | $40,000 | $41,494 | $39,956 | $37,671 | $40,591 | |
| Alumni relations officer -- senior level | $49,998 | $53,243 | $46,933 | $46,350 | $49,738 | |
| Major gift officer -- entry level | $53,085 | $54,132 | $52,455 | $54,485 | n/a | |
| Major gift officer -- senior level | $72,940 | $80,000 | $67,610 | $71,721 | $65,486 | |
| Planned giving officer -- entry level | $48,870 | $51,096 | $47,901 | $47,500 | n/a | |
| Planned giving officer -- senior level | $76,191 | $89,041 | $72,100 | $73,100 | n/a | |
| Coordinator, resource development | $43,371 | $46,446 | $42,140 | $39,916 | $46,690 | |
| Public information specialist | $44,133 | $46,585 | $42,000 | $41,319 | $44,684 | |
| Assistant editor | $39,603 | $37,906 | $42,889 | $40,650 | n/a | |
| Editor | $48,467 | $47,237 | $47,401 | $54,884 | $45,462 | |
| Graphic designer | $42,000 | $42,390 | $41,480 | $42,108 | $42,407 | |
| Writer | $44,313 | $44,968 | $43,679 | $41,616 | $49,769 | |
| Assistant writer | $35,362 | $37,286 | $33,175 | n/a | n/a | |
| Photographer | $42,071 | $41,942 | $41,881 | $43,700 | $43,940 | |
| Producer/director (television) | $50,232 | $51,343 | $46,775 | $45,966 | $50,741 | |
| Program manager (television) | $53,172 | $54,267 | $52,320 | n/a | $53,444 | |
| Television engineer, senior | $52,425 | $52,551 | $52,316 | $47,327 | $54,834 | |
| Manager of FM radio station | $60,829 | $73,958 | $56,994 | $49,500 | $59,944 | |
| Manager of TV station | $66,780 | $82,037 | $50,291 | $53,447 | $71,560 | |
| Engineering/Research and Agricultural | ||||||
| Electrical/electronic engineer | $57,127 | $57,931 | $53,033 | $47,733 | n/a | |
| Electrical/electronic engineer, senior level | $72,035 | $73,260 | $62,837 | n/a | n/a | |
| Mechanical engineer | $61,345 | $61,960 | $56,352 | n/a | n/a | |
| Mechanical engineer, senior level | $76,968 | $78,115 | n/a | n/a | n/a | |
| Research assistant -- natural or physical sciences | $38,743 | $39,987 | $33,620 | $38,628 | n/a | |
| Research assistant, senior level -- natural or physical sciences | $49,101 | $49,995 | $50,637 | $53,621 | n/a | |
| Research assistant -- social or behavioral sciences | $40,412 | $40,412 | $41,619 | n/a | n/a | |
| Research assistant, senior level -- social or behavioral sciences | $52,273 | $52,421 | $48,293 | n/a | n/a | |
| Lab coordinator | $43,923 | $45,845 | $42,598 | $41,811 | $41,908 | |
| Laboratory technician II | $34,963 | $34,204 | $35,356 | $35,700 | $39,640 | |
| Laboratory technician IV | $41,921 | $41,366 | $41,887 | $48,402 | $34,115 | |
| Research field technician | $36,495 | $35,430 | $39,308 | $44,005 | n/a | |
| Research computer specialist | $56,243 | $57,399 | $59,195 | $44,771 | n/a | |
| Electronic technician supervisor | $57,960 | $57,971 | $56,931 | $52,450 | n/a | |
| Research project engineer | $60,610 | $60,175 | n/a | n/a | n/a | |
| Veterinarian | $95,702 | $94,300 | n/a | n/a | n/a | |
| Animal care manager | $51,378 | $55,351 | $42,354 | $34,578 | n/a | |
| Farm manager | $48,080 | $50,575 | $46,828 | $43,743 | $50,656 |
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