Education administrators at colleges and universities oversee academic programs, budgets, and staff. You need a master's degree and significant work experience. The role is leadership-focused, involves complex decision-making, and shapes how institutions operate.
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Education administrators at postsecondary institutions manage the day-to-day operations of colleges and universities. You make decisions about academic policies, allocate budgets, hire and supervise staff, and ensure the institution meets regulatory standards. Your work involves evaluating information for compliance, communicating with faculty and leadership, and planning long-term initiatives. You build relationships across departments, gather information to solve problems, and organize priorities to keep the institution running smoothly. This is strategic work that directly affects students, faculty, and the institution's mission.
Core work activities
Career video courtesy of CareerOneStop.
Education Administrators, Postsecondary earn a median of $104,590 a year, based on 2025 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and location.
The outlook is modest. Employment is projected to grow 2 percent from 2024 to 2034, little or no change for all occupations, with about 15,100 openings a year.
Top skills
Knowledge areas
You need a master's degree to qualify for this role. Most administrators start in related positions within education or administration, building experience in areas like student services, academic affairs, or institutional operations. This extensive preparation typically takes several years of work experience combined with graduate study. Your path may include roles as a coordinator or manager before moving into administration. Consider discussing your specific interests and timeline with a counselor to map out the best sequence of education and experience for your goals.
Most paths to this role combine a master's degree with several years of work experience in education or administration. The sequence matters, so if you are planning your next steps, Pathly can map the education administrator, postsecondary path that fits you and work through it with your counselor to build a timeline that fits your situation.
You do not need a license to work as an education administrator, postsecondary, but professional certifications can strengthen your resume.
Common certifications
You are drawn to leadership roles where you can influence how organizations work. You value building relationships, solving complex problems, and supporting others to succeed.
Reading about a career is the easy part. Turning it into a plan is where most students get stuck. Pathly takes you from curious to a clear next step, and gives your counselor the insight to champion you along the way.
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Last updated July 1, 2026.
Data sources. Career details from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Salary and outlook figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025 wages; 2024–2034 projections), delivered via the CareerOneStop API. Certification, licensing, wage, and outlook data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by USDOL/ETA and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).