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Academic Leader Salary in the United States

How much does an Academic Leader make in the United States? As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Academic Leader in the United States is $51,489 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $25.

However, an Academic Leader's salary can vary significantly. Here's a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $62,879
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $43,651 to $57,451
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $36,515
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Check out Academic Leader Job Openings in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Academic Leader Salaries

An Academic Leader's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Academic Leader Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Academic Leader's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $50,247
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $39,381
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $51,368
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $68,439
  • Expert (over 8 years): $70,158
Job RoleYears of ExperienceAverage Salary
Academic Leader less than 1 year $50,247
Fitness Instructor I 1-2 years $39,381
Fitness Instructor II 2-4 years $51,368
Personal Trainer 5-8 years $68,439
Fitness Center Supervisor over 8 years $70,158

How Do Academic Leader Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Academic Leaders. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $57,009.
  • California: $56,792.
  • Massachusetts: $56,035.

Top Paying Cities for Academic Leader

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $64,943
  • San Francisco: $64,232
  • Oakland: $62,878

Academic Leader Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Academic Leader roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 60% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Healthcare and Business Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Academic Leader positions in Insurance or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Academic Leader as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for an Academic Leader

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare $72,084 $35.0 40%

How Education impacts an Academic Leader's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Academic Leader professionals enter the field with a high school degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Academic Leader with a high school is between $54,796 and $58,369.

Academic Leader Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Academic Leader
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Degree 0.8%
High School 61.8%
Associate's Degree 22.4%
Bachelor's Degree 12.3%
Master's Degree or MBA 2.3%
JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent 0.4%
View as Graph

Academic Leader Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Academic Leader's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$43,651
Average $51,489/year
$57,451
$3,638
Average $4,291/month
$4,788
$839
Average $990/week
$1,105
$21
Average $25/hour
$28
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $57,451 $4,788 $1,105 $28
Average $51,489 $4,291 $990 $25
25th Percentile $43,651 $3,638 $839 $21

Most common benefits for Academic Leader

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Academic Leader

Here are companies hiring for Academic Leader and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Academic Leader Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Academic Leader job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

  • Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President Strategic Solutions&Delivery

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Strategic Solutions & Delivery. About the Company. Innovative provider of cost containment technology & case management services. Industry.... more

    7 Days Ago

  • MyJobsCorner | Columbus, OH

    Bakery Jobs Immediately

    MyJobsCorner | Columbus, OH

    Find your next job here. Will train the right candidate. Average salaries from $12 - $22/Hr, full time and part time shifts available now. Hiring for: Bake... more

    7 Days Ago

  • MyJobsCorner | Columbus, OH

    Chipotle Jobs Immediately

    MyJobsCorner | Columbus, OH

    Find your next job here. Will train the right candidate. Average salaries from $12 - $22/Hr, full time and part time shifts available now. Hiring for: Chip... more

    16 Days Ago

  • Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Associate Vice President Internal Communications

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Associate Vice President, Internal Communications. About the Company. National consulting & advisory services firm focused on the healthcare industry. Indu... more

    23 Days Ago

  • Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President Credit Risk Strategy&Data Science

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Credit Risk Strategy & Data Science. About the Company. High-growth SMB lender building the next generation of credit decisioning. Industry... more

    28 Days Ago

  • Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President Payments Engineering

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Payments Engineering. About the Company. Globally-recognized provider of corporate payment solutions. Industry. Financial Services. Type. P... more

    30 Days Ago

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FAQ about Academic Leader

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Academic Leader?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Academic Leader roles, with salaries approximately 40% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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