Academic Programs Specialist Salary in California

How much does an Academic Programs Specialist make in California? As of November 01, 2026, the average salary for an Academic Programs Specialist in California is $60,043 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $29.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $72,974
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $53,130 to $66,812
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $46,836

Key Factors That Influence Academic Programs Specialist Salaries

An Academic Programs Specialist'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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Academic Programs Specialist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Academic Programs Specialist'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): $56,163
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $56,387
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $59,103
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $61,736
  • Expert (over 8 years): $61,924
Job RoleYears of ExperienceAverage Salary
Entry Level Academic Programs Specialist less than 1 year $56,163
Early Career Level Academic Programs Specialist 1-2 years $56,387
Mid-Level Level Academic Programs Specialist 2-4 years $59,103
Senior-Level Level Academic Programs Specialist 5-8 years $61,736
Expert Level Academic Programs Specialist over 8 years $61,924

Top Paying Cities for Academic Programs Specialist

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:

  • Los Angeles: $60,147
  • West Hollywood: $60,103
  • Dodgertown: $60,146

Academic Programs Specialist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Academic Programs Specialist'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.

  • Yearly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Hourly
  • Table View
Last Updated on November 01, 2026
$53,130
Average $60,043/year
$66,812
$4,428
Average $5,004/month
$5,568
$1,022
Average $1,155/week
$1,285
$26
Average $29/hour
$32
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $66,812 $5,568 $1,285 $32
Average $60,043 $5,004 $1,155 $29
25th Percentile $53,130 $4,428 $1,022 $26

Find Your Next Academic Programs Specialist Job

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

  • California State University, Long Beach | Long Beach, CA

    California State University, Long Beach | Long Beach, CA

    Job no:561970 Work type:Staff Location:Long Beach Categories:Unit 4 - APC - Academic Professionals of California, Administrative, Temporary, Full Time Join... more

    10 Days Ago

  • The Salvation Army Golden State Division | San Francisco, CA

    The Salvation Army Golden State Division | San Francisco, CA

    Job Description. Job Description. OVERVIEW. The Behavior Specialist is responsible for overseeing student behavior progress, incentives, and interventions,... more

    9 Days Ago

  • Goodwill Southern California | Los Angeles, CA

    Goodwill Southern California | Los Angeles, CA

    Empower Individuals to Reach Their Full Potential. Goodwill SoCal is looking for a compassionate and organized WCD Programs Specialist to help participants... more

    7 Days Ago

  • Goodwill Southern California | Commerce, CA

    Goodwill Southern California | Commerce, CA

    Goodwill is one of the leading non-profit brands in the world and one of the largest non-profits in Southern California. We are a rapidly evolving organiza... more

    7 Days Ago

  • UC Irvine | Irvine, CA

    UC Irvine | Irvine, CA

    Academic Labor And Employee Relations Specialist. Founded in 1965, UC Irvine is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and is ran... more

    10 Days Ago

  • Goodwill Southern California | Sylmar, CA

    Goodwill Southern California | Sylmar, CA

    Goodwill is one of the leading non-profit brands in the world and one of the largest non-profits in Southern California. We are a rapidly evolving organiza... more

    7 Days Ago

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst