Dean: career path and pay in the US
Where a Dean goes next, what each step typically pays in the United States, and how exposed the path is to AI replacement. 3 steps, from Dean to Provost / Vice President of Academic Affairs.
Also for the United Kingdom: Dean in the UK
The path
Step 1 · 8 to 12 years
Dean
$90K to $135K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: PhD (preferred) - Global, Academic Leadership Certification (optional) - Global, M.Ed. (minimum) - Global.
Step 2 · 12 to 18 years
Dean / Senior Dean
$110K to $165K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: PhD - Global, Academic Leadership Certification - Global, M.Ed. - Global.
Step 3 · 18+ years
Provost / Vice President of Academic Affairs
$135K to $205K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: PhD - Global, Academic Leadership Certification - Global, M.Ed. - Global, Executive Education - Global.
Exposure and pay along the path
Exposure to AI, now to later
24% → 24%
Stays level across the path. Lower is better.
Typical pay, now to later
$90K to $135K → $135K to $205K
US estimates by job title, Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale US. No US estimate was found for Senior Dean; this band is placed between the neighbouring steps.
What the work involves
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.
Skills that matter most
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Speaking
- Monitoring
Knowledge areas
- English Language
- Administration and Management
- Education and Training
- Customer and Personal Service
- Personnel and Human Resources
- Administrative
Education people bring
- Master's Degree: 48%
- Doctoral Degree: 37%
- Bachelor's Degree: 8%
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
- Provost
- Vice President of Academic Affairs
- President
- Education Consultant
More Education paths in the US
Related occupations in O*NET: Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary, Education Teachers, Postsecondary, Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors, Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary, Instructional Coordinators.
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.