Academic Advisor: career path and pay in the US
Where a Academic Advisor goes next, what each step typically pays in the United States, and how exposed the path is to AI replacement. 3 steps, from Academic Advisor to Director of Academic Advising / Dean of Students.
Also for the United Kingdom: Academic Advisor in the UK
The path
Step 1 · 0 to 3 years
Academic Advisor
$40K to $60K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: Academic Advising Certification (optional) - Global, M.Ed. (optional) - Global.
Step 2 · 3 to 8 years
Academic Advisor / Senior Academic Advisor
$45K to $70K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: Academic Advising Certification - Global, M.Ed. - Global.
Step 3 · 8+ years
Director of Academic Advising / Dean of Students
$110K to $165K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: Academic Advising Certification - Global, M.Ed. - Global, Ed.D. (optional) - Global.
Exposure and pay along the path
Exposure to AI, now to later
76% → 52%
Falls 24 points. Each step is harder to automate than the last. Lower is better.
Typical pay, now to later
$40K to $60K → $110K to $165K
US estimates by job title, Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale US.
What the work involves
Advise and assist students and provide educational and vocational guidance services.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
Knowledge areas
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Therapy and Counseling
- Education and Training
- Psychology
- Administrative
Education people bring
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree: 3%
- Post-Master's Certificate: 1%
- Some College Courses: 0%
Job Zone 5, job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed. Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Other paths from here
- Guidance Counselor
- Dean of Students
- Student Services Director
- Education Consultant
More Education paths in the US
Related occupations in O*NET: Rehabilitation Counselors, School Psychologists, Instructional Coordinators, Education Teachers, Postsecondary, Child, Family, and School Social Workers.
Your own role
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SourcesSalary bands: Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale US, US national averages by job title, retrieved September 2026Skills, knowledge and education: O*NET 31.0 Database
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CC BY 4.0
Salary estimates by job title from Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale, retrieved September 2026. Each band runs from 20% below to 20% above the reported average, rounded to $5K. Exposure percentages and the skills listed under each step are this app's own editorial ratings, not published data.