Chapter 9
Professional Advisor Credentials, Career Ladders, and Salaries
Tables
Introduction to Tables of Chapter 9
In this chapter, the response to five survey questions are examined in order to better understand the minimum required and most
common educational credentials of professional academic advisors, if there is a career ladder for professional academic advisors, and the
typical starting and highest annual salaries of professional academic advisors.
For the questions about credentials of professional advisors (both the minimum required credential and the most common
credential), respondents selected from seven educational credentials (
high school diploma, 2-year degree, Bachelor’s degree, certificate in
advising, Master’s degree, specialist degree, and
doctorate).
For the question about a career ladder, respondents were asked to indicate whether
yes, there was a career ladder for professional
advisors, or
no there was not a career ladder.
For the questions about annual salaries for full-time professional academic advisors (both starting salary and top salary),
respondents were asked to wrote in the salary.
Sample sizes smaller than 50 respondents are marked with an * (e.g., n=30*) for tables that present the number and percentage of
respondents who endorsed a particular answer. The purpose of the asterisk is to draw your attention to the relatively small sample size. For
these groups, a change in the answer of one respondent would result in a change of more than 2%. Inferences involving these groups should
be made
cautiously.
Sample sizes smaller than 30 respondents are marked with an ** (e.g., n=26**) for tables that present the average, or median, amount
reported by respondents; for example, the average number of full-time professional advisors employed at an institution. The purpose of the
double asterisk is to draw your attention to the relatively small sample size. Inferences involving these groups should be made
cautiously.
f
%
High School Diploma
4
0.7
2-Year Degree
12
2.0
Bachelor’s Degree
261 43.3
Certificate in Advising
3
0.5
Master’s Degree
245 40.6
Specialist Degree
1
0.2
Doctorate
3
0.5
Don’t Know
1
0.2
Choose Not To Reply
2
0.3
Did Not Reply
119 19.7
MINIMUM REQUIRED
CREDENTIAL FOR
PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS
( N = 603 )
Table 9.1
f
%
f
%
f
%
High School Diploma
3
1.0
0
0
1
1.3
2-Year Degree
6
2.1
2
0.8
4
5.2
Bachelor’s Degree
121 42.3
105 44.3
34
44.2
Certificate in Advising
3
1.0
0
0
0
0
Master’s Degree
117 40.9
98
41.4
30
39.0
Specialist Degree
1
0.3
0
0
0
0
Doctorate
2
0.7
1
0.4
0
0
Did Not Reply
58
20.3
44
18.6
16
20.8
MINIMUM REQUIRED CREDENTIAL FOR
PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS BY SIZE OF INSTITUTION
Table 9.2
Small
n = 286
Medium
n = 237
Large
n = 77
f
%
f
%
f
%
f
%
f
%
f
%
f
%
f
%
High School Diploma
1
0.5
0
0
0
0
1
1.3
2
2.6
0
0
0
0
0
0
2-Year Degree
9
4.6
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
2.6
0
0
0
0
1
4.3
Bachelor’s Degree
96
49.2
12
48.0
7
25.0
34
44.7
29
37.7
50
41.3
22
37.9
11
47.8
Certificate in Advising
3
1.5
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Master’s Degree
58
29.7
7
28.0
14
50.0
38
50.0
37
48.1
58
47.9
25
43.1
8
34.8
Specialist Degree
1
0.5
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Doctorate
1
0.5
0
0
0
0
1
1.3
0
0
0
0
1
1.7
0
0
Did Not Reply
45
23.1
6
24.0
7
25.0
8
10.5
16
20.8
18
14.9
14
24.1
5
21.7
Public Bachelor
n = 25*
MINIMUM REQUIRED CREDENTIAL FOR PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS BY INSTITUTIONAL TYPE
Table 9.3
Private Doctorate
n = 58
Proprietary
n = 23*
Private Master
n = 77
Public Doctorate
n = 121
Private Bachelor
n = 28*
Public Master
n = 76
Two-Year
n = 195
f
%
f
%
f
%
High School Diploma
0
0
4
1.8
0
0
2-Year Degree
4
1.8
7
3.1
1
0.6
Bachelor’s Degree
83 37.7
95 42.2
83 52.5
Certificate in Advising
1
0.5
1
0.4
1
0.6
Master’s Degree
105 47.7
75 33.3
65 41.1
Specialist Degree
0
0
0
0
1
0.6
Doctorate
2
0.9
1
0.4
0
0
Did Not Reply
38 17.3
58 25.8
23 14.6
Table 9.4
MINIMUM REQUIRED CREDENTIAL FOR
PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS BY MANDATORY
ADVISING
Yes
n = 220
No
n = 225
For Some
n = 158
f
%
f
%
High School Diploma
2
1.2
2
0.5
2-Year Degree
2
1.2
10
2.3
Bachelor’s Degree
77
45.8
183
43.0
Certificate in Advising
0
0
3
0.7
Master’s Degree
64
38.1
180
42.3
Specialist Degree
0
0
1
0.2
Doctorate
1
0.6
2
0.5
Did Not Reply
32
19.0
80
18.8
Table 9.5
Full-Time Professional Advisors
n = 168
Both Full-Time Professional and Faculty advisors
n = 426
MINIMUM REQUIRED CREDENTIAL FOR PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS BY ADVISING
PERSONNEL
f
%
f
%
f
%
High School Diploma
3
0.7
1
0.6
0
0
2-Year Degree
10
2.4
1
0.6
1
3.7
Bachelor’s Degree
186
44.6
74
41.3
13
48.1
Certificate in Advising
3
0.7
0
0
0
0
Master’s Degree
162
38.8
79
44.1
13
48.1
Specialist Degree
1
0.2
0
0
0
0
Doctorate
2
0.5
1
0.6
0
0
Did Not Reply
87
20.9
31
17.3
4
14.8
Department
n = 27*
MINIMUM REQUIRED CREDENTIAL FOR PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS BY
ADVISING SITUATION ( N = 623 )
Table 9.6
Institution
n = 417
College, School, Division
n = 179
f
%
High School Diploma
4
0.7
2-Year Degree
2
0.3
Bachelor’s Degree
106 17.6
Certificate in Advising
3
0.5
Master’s Degree
392 65.0
Specialist Degree
3
0.5
Doctorate
15
2.5
Don’t Know
6
1.0
Choose Not to Reply
2
0.3
Did Not Reply
119 19.7
MOST COMMON
CREDENTIAL FOR
PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS
( N = 603 )
Table 9.7
f
%
f
%
f
%
High School Diploma
3
1.0
1
0.4
0
0
2-Year Degree
1
0.3
0
0
1
1.3
Bachelor’s Degree
50 17.5
41 17.3
14 18.2
Certificate in Advising
3
1.0
0
0.0
0
0
Master’s Degree
178 62.2
162 68.4
52 67.5
Specialist Degree
2
0.7
1
0.4
0
0
Doctorate
7
2.4
7
3.0
1
1.3
Did Not Reply
58 20.3
44 18.6
16 20.8
MOST COMMON CREDENTIAL FOR PROFESSIONAL
ADVISORS BY SIZE OF INSTITUTION
Table 9.8
Small
n = 286
Medium
n = 237
Large
n = 77
f
%
f
%
f
%
f
%
f
%
f
%
f
%
f
%
High School Diploma
1
0.5
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
2.6
0
0
1
1.7
0
0
2-Year Degree
2
1.0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Bachelor’s Degree
48
24.6
5
20.0
3
10.7
11
14.5
10
13.0
15
12.4
8
13.8
6
26.1
Certificate in Advising
1
0.5
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
2.6
0
0
0
0
0
0
Master’s Degree
112
57.4
13
52.0
16
57.1
59
77.6
51
66.2
89
73.6
38
65.5
14
60.9
Specialist Degree
2
1.0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1.3
0
0
0
0
0
0
Doctorate
2
1.0
1
4.0
2
7.1
2
2.6
2
2.6
2
1.7
4
6.9
0
0
Did Not Reply
45
23.1
6
24.0
7
25.0
8
10.5
16
20.8
18
14.9
14
24.1
5
21.7
Table 9.9
Private Doctorate
n = 58
Proprietary
n = 23*
Private Master
n = 77
Public Doctorate
n = 121
Private Bachelor
n = 28*
Public Master
n = 76
Two-Year
n = 195
Public Bachelor
n = 25*
MOST COMMON CREDENTIAL FOR PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS BY INSTITUTIONAL TYPE
f
%
f
%
f
%
High School Diploma
2
0.9
1
0.4
1
0.6
2-Year Degree
0
0
2
0.9
0
0
Bachelor’s Degree
33 15.0
43 19.1
30 19.0
Certificate in Advising 1
0.5
1
0.4
1
0.6
Master’s Degree
146 66.4
132 58.7
114 72.2
Specialist Degree
2
0.9
0
0
1
0.6
Doctorate
10 4.5
3
1.3
2
1.3
Did Not Reply
38 17.3
58 25.8
23 14.6
MOST COMMON CREDENTIAL FOR
PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS BY MANDATORY
ADVISING
Tables 9.10
Yes
n = 220
No
n = 225
For Some
n = 158
f
%
f
%
High School Diploma
1
0.6
3
0.7
2-Year Degree
1
0.6
1
0.2
Bachelor’s Degree
28
16.7
78
18.3
Certificate in Advising
1
0.6
2
0.5
Master’s Degree
114
67.9
276
64.8
Specialist Degree
0
0
3
0.7
Doctorate
4
2.4
11
2.6
Did Not Reply
32
19.0
80
18.8
Table 9.11
FT Professional Advisors
n = 168
Both FT Pro. Adv. and Fac
n = 426
MOST COMMON CREDENTIAL FOR PROFESSIONAL
ADVISORS BY ADVISING PERSONNEL
f
%
f
%
f
%
High School Diploma
3
0.7
0
0
1
3.7
2-Year Degree
2
0.5
0
0
0
0
Bachelor’s Degree
81
19.4
23
12.8
7
25.9
Certificate in Advising
2
0.5
1
0.6
0
0
Master’s Degree
265
63.5
122
68.2
16
59.3
Specialist Degree
2
0.5
0
0
1
3.7
Doctorate
9
2.2
5
2.8
1
3.7
Did Not Reply
87
20.9
31
17.3
4
14.8
Department
n = 27*
MOST COMMON CREDENTIAL FOR PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS BY ADVISING
SITUATION ( N = 623 )
Table 9.12
Institution
n = 417
College, School, Division
n = 179
f
%
Yes
72 11.9
No
391 64.8
Don't Know
16
2.7
Choose Not to Reply
5
0.8
Did Not Reply
119 19.7
Table 9.13
IS THERE A CAREER
LADDER FOR
PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS
( N = 603 )
f
%
f
%
f
%
Yes
21
7.3
30
12.7
21
27.3
No
196 68.5
155 65.4
39
50.6
Did Not Reply 58
20.3
44
18.6
16
20.8
n = 286
n = 237
n = 77
IS THERE A CAREER LADDER FOR
PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS BY SIZE OF
INSTITUTION
Table 9.14
Small
Medium
Large
f
%
f
%
f
%
f
%
f
%
f
%
f
%
f
%
Yes
15
7.7
3
12.0
2
7.1
10
13.2
5
6.5
22
18.2
7
12.1
8
34.8
No
128
65.6
16
64.0
19
67.9
53
69.7
54
70.1
80
66.1
32
55.2
9
39.1
Did Not Reply
45
23.1
6
24.0
7
25.0
8
10.5
16
20.8
18
14.9
14
24.1
5
21.7
Public Master
IS THERE A CAREER LADDER FOR PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS BY INSTITUTIONAL TYPE
Table 9.15
n = 23*
Proprietary
Private Doctorate
n = 58
n = 121
Public Doctorate
Two-Year
n = 195
Public Bachelor
n = 25*
Private Bachelor
n = 28*
n = 77
Private Master
n = 76
f
%
f
%
f
%
Yes
17
7.7
29 12.9
26 16.5
No
154 70.0
134 59.6
103 65.2
Did Not Reply 38 17.3
58 25.8
23 14.6
n = 220
n = 225
n = 158
Table 9.16
IS THERE A CAREER LADDER FOR
PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS BY MANDATORY
ADVISING
Yes
No
For Some
f
%
f
%
Yes
21
12.5
51
12.0
No
114
67.9
275
64.6
Did Not Reply
32
19.0
80
18.8
IS THERE A CAREER LADDER FOR PROFESSIONAL
ADVISORS BY ADVISING PERSONNEL
Table 9.17
FT Professional Advisors
n = 168
Both FT Pro. Adv. and Fac
n = 426
f
%
f
%
f
%
Yes
48
11.5
28
15.6
2
7.4
No
270
64.7
111
62.0
18
66.7
Did Not Reply
87
20.9
31
17.3
4
14.8
IS THERE A CAREER LADDER FOR PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS BY
ADVISING SITUATION ( N = 623 )
Table 9.18
n = 417
Institution
College, School, Division
n = 179
Department
n = 27*
Valid Responses
n = 529 (87.7%)
25
th
Percentile
$32,000
50
th
Percentile (Median)
$36,000
75
th
Percentile
$40,000
STARTING ANNUAL SALARY FOR FULL-TIME
PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS ( N = 603 )
Table 9.19
Small
Medium
Large
n = 286
n = 237
n = 77
Valid Responses
n = 236 (82.5%)
n = 219 (92.4%)
n = 73 (94.8%)
25
th
Percentile
$32,000
$32,000
$33,000
50
th
Percentile (Median)
$36,000
$36,000
$36,000
75
th
Percentile
$40,000
$41,000
$40,500
STARTING ANNUAL SALARY FOR FULL-TIME PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS
BY SIZE OF INSTITUTION
Table 9.20
Two-Year
Public Bachelor
Private Bachelor
Public Master
Private Master
Public Doctorate
Private Doctorate
Proprietary
n = 195
n = 25
n = 28
n = 76
n = 77
n = 121
n = 58
n = 23
Valid Responses
n = 173 (88.7%)
n = 23** (92%)
n = 21** (75%)
n = 72 (94.7%)
n = 56 (72.7%)
n = 111 (91.7%)
n = 51 (87.9%)
n = 22** (95.7%)
25th Percentile
$32,000
$29,400
$29,310
$33,250
$32,000
$32,000
$32,000
$36,000
50th Percentile (Median)
$37,000
$33,000
$35,000
$38,000
$35,000
$35,000
$36,000
$40,000
75th Percentile
$42,183
$35,000
$41,000
$41,750
$40,000
$38,000
$40,000
$40,500
Table 9.21
STARTING ANNUAL SALARY FOR FULL-TIME PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS BY INSTITUTIONAL TYPE
Yes
No
For Some
n = 220
n = 225
n = 158
Valid Responses
n = 180 (81.8%)
n = 199 (88.4%)
n = 150 (94.9%)
25
th
Percentile
$32,000
$32,000
$32,000
50
th
Percentile (Median)
$36,000
$36,000
$35,000
75
th
Percentile
$40,000
$41,000
$40,000
STARTING ANNUAL SALARY FOR FULL-TIME PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS BY
MANDATORY ADVISING
Table 9.22
FT Professional Advisors
Both FT Pro. Adv. and Fac
n = 168
n = 426
Valid Responses
n = 155 (92.3%)
n = 370 (86.9%)
25
th
Percentile
$32,000
$32,000
50
th
Percentile (Median)
$36,000
$36,000
75
th
Percentile
$40,000
$40,000
STARTING ANNUAL SALARY FOR FULL-TIME PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS BY
ADVISING PERSONNEL
Table 9.23
Region 1
Region 2
Region 3
Region 4
Region 5
Region 6
Region 7
Region 8
Region 9
Region 10
n = 79
n = 75
n = 50
n = 40
n = 101
n = 43
n = 83
n = 42
n = 41
n = 49
Valid Responses
n = 70 (88.6%)
n = 55 (73.3%)
n = 41 (82%)
n = 37 (92.5%)
n = 93 (92.1%)
n = 38 (88.4%)
n = 73 (88%)
n = 36 (85.7%)
n = 38 (92.7%)
n = 48 (98%)
25th Percentile
$36,750
$35,000
$30,000
$29,391
$32,500
$31,000
$30,000
$34,409
$35,000
$32,027
50th Percentile (Median)
$40,000
$40,000
$34,000
$35,000
$36,000
$33,500
$33,500
$36,000
$40,000
$35,000
75th Percentile
$45,000
$47,000
$38,000
$38,772
$40,000
$35,000
$38,000
$38,750
$43,400
$40,000
STARTING ANNUAL SALARY FOR FULL-TIME PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS BY REGION
Table 9.24
Institution
College, School, Division
Department
n = 417
n = 176
n = 27
Valid Responses
n = 371 (89%)
n = 149 (84.7%)
n = 22** (81.5%)
25
th
Percentile
$32,000
$32,000
$30,000
50
th
Percentile (Median)
$36,000
$35,000
$34,000
75
th
Percentile
$41,000
$40,000
$42,000
Table 9.25
STARTING ANNUAL SALARY FOR FULL-TIME FOR PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS BY ADVISING
SITUATIONS ( N = 623 )
Starting Salary
Valid Responses
n = 485 (80.4%)
25
th
Percentile
$43,000
50
th
Percentile (Median)
$50,000
75
th
Percentile
$60,000
Table 9.26
TOP AUNNUAL SALARY FOR FULL-TIME
PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS ( N = 603 )
Small
Medium
Large
n = 286
n = 237
n = 77
Valid Responses
n = 214 (74.8%)
n = 202 (85.2%)
n = 68 (88.3%)
25
th
Percentile
$40,750
$45,000
$47,250
50
th
Percentile (Median)
$46,266
$50,000
$53,673
75
th
Percentile
$55,050
$60,197
$61,984
Table 9.27
TOP ANNUAL SALARY FOR FULL-TIME PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS
Two-Year
Public Bachelor
Private Bachelor
Public Master
Private Master
Public Doctorate
Private Doctorate
Proprietary
n = 195
n = 25
n = 28
n = 76
n = 77
n = 121
n = 58
n = 23
Valid Responses
n = 160 (82.1%)
n = 20** (80%)
n = 21** (75%)
n = 64 (84.2%)
n = 48 (62.3%)
n = 108 (89.3%)
n = 46 (79.3)
n = 18** (78.3%)
25th Percentile
$45,000
$35,750
$39,000
$43,000
$38,500
$44,250
$41,900
$45,000
50th Percentile (Median)
$50,000
$42,912
$48,000
$49,000
$45,000
$50,000
$49,500
$49,000
75th Percentile
$61,562
$49,600
$71,500
$62,447
$54,750
$60,000
$60,000
$70,750
TOP ANNUAL SALARY FOR FULL-TIME FOR PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS BY INSTITUTIONAL TYPE
Table 9.28
Yes
No
For Some
n = 220
n = 225
n = 158
Valid Responses
n = 166 (75.5%)
n = 182 (80.9%)
n = 137 (86.7%)
25
th
Percentile
$41,000
$45,000
$42,851
50
th
Percentile (Median)
$47,000
$51,000
$50,000
75
th
Percentile
$57,000
$61,953
$60,000
Table 9.29
TOP ANNUAL SALARY FOR FULL-TIME PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS BY
MANDATORY ADVISING
FT Professional Advisors
Both FT Pro. Adv. and Fac
n = 168
n = 426
Valid Responses
n = 141 (83.9%)
n = 343 (80.5%)
25
th
Percentile
$43,000
$43,000
50
th
Percentile (Median)
$50,000
$50,000
75
th
Percentile
$60,000
$60,000
Table 9.30
TOP ANNUAL SALARY FOR FULL-TIME PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS BY ADVISING
PERSONNEL
Region 1
Region 2
Region 3
Region 4
Region 5
Region 6
Region 7
Region 8
Region 9
Region 10
n = 79
n = 75
n = 50
n = 40
n = 101
n = 43
n = 83
n = 42
n = 41
n = 49
Valid Responses
n = 61 (77.2%)
n = 54 (72%)
n = 39 (78%)
n = 33 (82.5%)
n = 84 (83.2%)
n = 37 (86%)
n = 67 (80.7%)
n = 34 (81%)
n = 32 (78%)
n = 44 (89.8%)
25th Percentile
$48,750
$49,500
$38,000
$43,900
$45,000
$42,000
$41,000
$41,450
$46,002
$42,175
50th Percentile (Median)
$56,000
$60,000
$45,000
$47,100
$50,000
$47,000
$45,000
$45,000
$53,000
$47,000
75th Percentile
$70,000
$75,500
$55,000
$54,500
$60,000
$59,962
$50,000
$57,750
$74,250
$50,000
TOP ANNUAL SALARY FOR FULL-TIME FOR PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS BY REGION
Table 9.31
Institution
College, School, Division
Department
n = 417
n = 179
n = 27
Valid Responses
n = 337 (80.8%)
n = 145 (81%)
n = 17 (63%)
25
th
Percentile
$43,850
$42,000
$41,085
50
th
Percentile (Median)
$50,000
$50,000
$47,000
75
th
Percentile
$60,000
$60,000
$54,500
Table 9.32
TOP ANNUAL SALARY FOR FULL-TIME FOR PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS BY ADVISING
SITUATION ( N = 623 )
