40 Careers in Higher Education (With Salaries and Duties)

Colleges and universities employ a variety of individuals to support their daily operations. Since these institutions have many departments and employ both administrative and academic staff, you can choose from a wide range of careers. If you’re interested in a career in higher education, understanding the types of positions that are available may help you make more informed decisions about your career path. In this article, we define higher education and provide a list of 40 careers in higher education for you to consider.Related:Benefits of Working at a University and 7 Jobs You Can Get

What is higher education?

Higher education, also known as post-secondary education, is any tertiary education program that results in a degree, such as an associate degree, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or doctorate degree, or an advanced certificate or diploma. Colleges, universities and vocational schools are all part of the higher education system. Higher education programs often take several years to complete, depending on the type of degree and area of study. To operate successfully, higher education institutions rely on their faculty and staff. Universities contain a number of colleges and academic departments, in addition to administrative departments such as:

Student affairs
Admissions
Enrollment
Human resources
Financial services
Athletics
Student housing
Administration
Accounting
Food service
Counseling
Academic affairs
Advising

11 careers in higher education

You can choose from several types of careers in higher education and also from a wide variety of departments and functional areas. Below is a list of jobs in higher education, with salary information and primary duties for each. For the most up-to-date salary information from Indeed, visit indeed.com/salaries:

1. Admissions counselor

National average salary:$43,327 per yearPrimary duties: Admissions counselors recruit prospective students to attend their university and work with them through the application process. To do this, they often attend college fairs, guide high school and prospective students on campus tours and develop outreach programs to support recruitment initiatives. They review student applications and direct them to the appropriate office so they can apply for scholarships and financial aid. These counselors may also offer general advice to students regarding degree programs and refer them to academic advisers as needed. Related:How To Become an Admissions Counselor

2. Academic adviser

National average salary:$44,860 per yearPrimary duties: An academic adviser is a counselor who works with students and provides academic guidance. They advise them on how to best fulfill the academic requirements for their major or area of study and achieve their career goals. They also inform students of curriculum changes and let them know which classes to take to complete their degree. These advisers may also recommend tutoring to help students improve their performance and graduate on time.Related:How To Become an Academic Advisor

3. Enrollment adviser

National average salary:$47,913 per yearPrimary duties: Enrollment advisers help new students navigate the enrollment process. They respond to student inquiries regarding admissions and registrations, enroll prospective students in their preferred program and explain all enrollment requirements. They provide students with information regarding financial aid and function as the primary point of contact for new students. These advisers may also call students to obtain data and information, which they use to compile enrollment reports.Related:Careers in Education You Can Pursue (Salary and Job Outlook)

4. Registrar

National average salary:$50,556 per yearPrimary duties: A university registrar manages the registrar’s office and provides oversight regarding course scheduling, registration and transcript processing. They oversee the staff who maintain and organize academic records, input records into a computer system and track student transcripts and confidential student information. They may also administer faculty evaluations at the conclusion of each semester and rank students to determine who’s on the dean’s list and who’s on academic probation. Related:Registrar Resume: How-To Guide With Template and Example

5. Librarian

National average salary:$55,970 per yearPrimary duties: Librarians work in university or college libraries where they organize and sort library materials such as books and videos, order new materials and supplies and help students find what they need. They use a catalog system to keep a record of all items in the library’s collection and may call students to remind them that their books are due. They also sell and dispose of old books and manage events and programs held at the library. Read More: Learn About Being a Librarian

6. Student manager

National average salary:$59,062 per yearPrimary duties: Student managers work with university sports teams to assist coaches with their daily activities. They assist with equipment maintenance, prepare the team for practice and games and discuss athletic career choices with students and their families. They may also help student-athletes pursue careers in professional sports by introducing them to recruiters and helping them prepare for tryouts.Related:11 Sports Management Jobs

7. Human resources manager

National average salary:$79,200 per yearPrimary duties: Human resource managers supervise the human resources department at a college or university. They oversee the human resource staff to ensure that the department operates efficiently. Their duties may involve onboarding new employees, creating and maintaining employee handbooks, filing payroll and processing employee benefits information. They also implement various professional development initiatives and play a critical role in employee engagement.Related:10 Careers in Human Resources Management

8. Professor

National average salary:$79,764 per yearPrimary duties: Professors are responsible for teaching a college-level curriculum to students and helping them better understand complex topics. They prepare and deliver lectures on a variety of topics, assign coursework, write lesson plans and grade student assignments and essays. In addition, professors supervise graduate student research and conduct their own research with the aim of regularly publishing papers in academic and scientific journals.Related:12 Reasons To Become a Professor (Plus Jobs and Salaries)

9. Diversity and inclusion manager

National average salary:$83,603 per yearPrimary duties: Diversity and inclusion managers assist a university’s director of diversity and inclusion in developing and implementing programs to support and promote diversity and foster an inclusive environment at their institutions. These managers may create and implement these programs for both internal staff and the student body. They ensure diverse representation among staff members and the student body by implementing fair and unbiased recruitment processes. These managers also measure and report on diversity metrics and provide training to other members of the staff.Related:The Basics of Diversity and Inclusion Jobs (Including Career Paths)

10. University president

National average salary:$147,802 per yearPrimary duties: A university president oversees all operations within a university and regularly meets with university donors, faculty, students and members of the general public regularly. They support the university’s fundraising functions, work closely together with the academic dean and help create academic standards. They’re responsible for executing a university’s mission and recommending new university-wide policies. Their additional responsibilities include functioning as a spokesperson for the university, preparing reports for state or local authorities, managing financial reports and ensuring that the college campus remains well-maintained.Related:What Can You Do With a Doctorate in Education? (10 Jobs To Consider)

11. Provost

National average salary:$161,249 per yearPrimary duties: A provost helps a university’s president manage the budget, establish academic policies and monitor all activities to ensure that a university fulfills its mission. Their duties include overseeing faculty appointments, departmental budgets and the allocation of resources to departments. They also manage support services and make faculty and tenure decisions.Related:26 Careers in Education Policy (With Salary Information)

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29 additional jobs in higher education

There are many other important positions and leadership roles available at universities and other educational institutions, including the following 29 jobs: