* Level of Competition: A high school athletic director in a small, rural district will earn significantly less than one in a large, wealthy suburban district with multiple sports and extensive facilities. Similarly, a college athletic director at a small liberal arts college will earn far less than one at a major Division I university.
* Geographic Location: Cost of living plays a significant role. Athletic directors in high-cost areas like California or New York will generally earn more than those in lower-cost states.
* School Size and Budget: Larger schools and those with more robust athletic programs have larger budgets, allowing them to pay athletic directors more.
* Experience and Qualifications: More experienced ADs with advanced degrees and successful track records command higher salaries.
* Fundraising Abilities: At the college level, success in fundraising can significantly impact an athletic director's compensation.
Rough Estimates (highly variable):
* High School Athletic Director: Can range from $40,000 to $100,000+ annually. The lower end is more typical for smaller districts, while the higher end is for larger, more affluent districts.
* College Athletic Director (Small College/Division III): $50,000 to $200,000+. This range is vast and depends heavily on the size and prestige of the college.
* College Athletic Director (Large Division I): $100,000 to several million dollars. The highest-paid ADs at major universities can earn millions annually, including base salary, bonuses, and incentives tied to performance (e.g., winning championships, fundraising success). These top earners are in the minority, however.
It's impossible to give a precise number without specifying the specific school and location. To find the salary of a particular athletic director, you'd need to consult the school's financial reports (often publicly available) or use resources like salary comparison websites (though these may not always have complete data for this specific role).