The Average Salary of a Director of Sponsored Programs

Directors of sponsored programs report to vice presidents or division chairs.

A director of sponsored programs is an employee of a college or university, a school district, or a nonprofit or charitable organization. Job duties include administering, managing and reporting on programs provided through government, foundation or corporate sponsorship. Financial reporting is an important job responsibility, as is program operation and successful reporting on research progress and program outcomes. Directors of sponsored programs are responsible to both their organization and program sponsors.

Colleges and Universities

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, directors of sponsored programs are included in education administrators. Directors of sponsored programs at colleges and universities must have a Master's degree or Ph.D. and experience in program administration. Nearly all four-year colleges and universities employ one or more directors of sponsored programs. The average annual salary for college and university program administrators was $100,920 in May, 2010, according to the BLS. By state, salaries ranged from $119,170 in New Jersey to $74,360 in West Virginia.

Junior Colleges

Most junior or community colleges do not conduct research. Directors of sponsored programs at two-year colleges may operate government-funded job training or placement programs, or other program administration. The BLS reported that the average salary of a junior college program administrator was $83,960 in May, 2010. Directors of sponsored programs may also be employed in social or community service programs at junior colleges, and their average annual wage was $66,240 in May, 2010, according to the BLS.

Public Schools

Directors of sponsored programs for elementary and secondary schools may be employed as general program administrators, social and community service administrators or medical and health services administrators. According to the BLS, social and community service administrators at public schools earned an average of $75,010 in May, 2010. General program administrators earned $87,710 on average, and medical and health services administrators earned $86,380, also as of May, 2010.

Nonprofit Organizations

If you have a degree in social work, public administration or health services, you may be qualified for a position as director of sponsored programs for a nonprofit organization. Salaries in the nonprofit industry vary depending upon the sector and locality. A director of a social and community service program earned an average of $55,400 in May, 2010, according to the BLS, which also reported that directors of medical and health services programs earned an average of $82,800, and those in general program areas earned an average of $69,820 in May, 2010.

References

• Bureau of Labor Statistics; Occupational Employment and Wages, 2010-2011; Education Administrators; December 2009
• Bureau of Labor Statistics; Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2010 11-9033 Education Administrators, Postsecondary
• Bureau of Labor Statistics: May 2010 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates NAICS 611200 - Junior Colleges
• Bureau of Labor Statistics: May 2010 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates NAICS 624200 - Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services