What Does a Study Abroad Director Do?
Sending students to study in another country can be life-changing and, at times, nerve-racking for the college that sends them. Study abroad directors plan the programs, vet overseas partners and spend a lot of time preparing for emergencies they hope never happen. Some run a campus office, while others live abroad and manage a university's own study center.
Also known as: Assistant Director, Costa Rica Study Abroad, Director of Study Abroad, Associate Director, Oxford Residential Center, Assistant Director, Oxford Study Abroad
Other Job Titles for This Work
Workers in this occupation report titles such as Academic Affairs Vice President (Academic Affairs VP), Academic Dean, Admissions Director, College President, Dean, Financial Aid Director, Institutional Research Director, Provost.
Study Abroad Director Duties and Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of a study abroad director include:
- Develop semester, summer and faculty-led programs with academic departments and overseas partners.
- Negotiate agreements with partner universities, housing providers and program vendors abroad.
- Set program budgets and student fees, and track spending in several currencies.
- Write health, safety and emergency plans for each site and test them before departure.
- Monitor State Department travel advisories and decide when a program must change or close.
- Run pre-departure orientation on culture, health, money and local laws.
- Approve course credit plans with the registrar so time abroad counts toward graduation.
- Supervise advisors on campus or local staff at an overseas study center.
- Handle emergencies abroad, from lost passports to hospital stays, often outside business hours.
- Promote programs at fairs and in classes, and manage scholarships for students with financial need.
Required Skills and Qualifications
To succeed as a study abroad director, you will need the following skills and qualifications:
- Program management across time zones
- Risk management and emergency planning
- Contract and budget skills, including foreign currency
- Study abroad software such as Terra Dotta or Via TRM
- Fluency in a second language, such as Spanish or French
- Experience living or studying abroad
- Knowledge of the Forum on Education Abroad standards
- Calm leadership in a crisis
Education and Training
Most study abroad directors hold a master's degree, often in international education, higher education or a language, and time spent living or working abroad is close to essential. With experience, you could progress from advisor to assistant director and then director, or run a university's center overseas. You could also move into international admissions or global partnerships.
Salary and Job Outlook
Typical pay: $80,870 - $144,370 per year, with a median of $104,590.
The range covers the middle half of earners nationwide. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Education Administrators, Postsecondary.
For postsecondary education administrators as a whole, BLS projects growth of about 2 percent from 2025 to 2035. Director posts in study abroad are few. Hiring often is tied to world events and travel conditions, but colleges that send students overseas always will need someone accountable for their safety.
Outlook source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, Education administrators, postsecondary.
Study Abroad Director Pay Range
| Earners | Annual pay |
|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $64,560 |
| Bottom 25% earn less than | $80,870 |
| Median (half earn more, half less) | $104,590 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $144,370 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $215,620 |
Highest-Paying States for Study Abroad Directors
The states with the highest median pay for this occupation are New York ($139,640), New Jersey ($131,570), Massachusetts ($128,970), Delaware ($128,570), Wyoming ($127,960). Pay is lowest in Florida ($83,840), Hawaii ($81,020), Arkansas ($78,240).
Median pay in all 51 states with BLS data
| State | Median annual pay |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $100,030 |
| Alaska | $103,080 |
| Arizona | $103,280 |
| Arkansas | $78,240 |
| California | $125,460 |
| Colorado | $118,440 |
| Connecticut | $123,190 |
| Delaware | $128,570 |
| District of Columbia | $107,390 |
| Florida | $83,840 |
| Georgia | $110,200 |
| Hawaii | $81,020 |
| Idaho | $101,200 |
| Illinois | $99,770 |
| Indiana | $98,000 |
| Iowa | $89,320 |
| Kansas | $110,020 |
| Kentucky | $114,310 |
| Louisiana | $98,840 |
| Maine | $88,180 |
| Maryland | $118,550 |
| Massachusetts | $128,970 |
| Michigan | $108,500 |
| Minnesota | $104,740 |
| Mississippi | $86,590 |
| Missouri | $104,560 |
| Montana | $102,980 |
| Nebraska | $96,030 |
| Nevada | $88,810 |
| New Hampshire | $104,190 |
| New Jersey | $131,570 |
| New Mexico | $109,480 |
| New York | $139,640 |
| North Carolina | $101,060 |
| North Dakota | $101,600 |
| Ohio | $87,370 |
| Oklahoma | $105,830 |
| Oregon | $120,110 |
| Pennsylvania | $103,740 |
| Rhode Island | $106,520 |
| South Carolina | $95,570 |
| South Dakota | $126,160 |
| Tennessee | $100,850 |
| Texas | $104,390 |
| Utah | $100,420 |
| Vermont | $104,450 |
| Virginia | $120,840 |
| Washington | $127,630 |
| West Virginia | $84,660 |
| Wisconsin | $124,960 |
| Wyoming | $127,960 |
What the Work Is Like
O*NET surveys people who work as education administrators, postsecondary about their daily conditions. Of those surveyed:
- 93% use email every day
- 88% say teamwork is very or extremely important in their job
- 83% say being exact and accurate is very or extremely important
- 77% usually work more than 40 hours a week
- 76% work indoors in a climate-controlled space every day
- 73% are on the phone every day
- 68% spend more than half the workday sitting
Education Workers Say the Job Needs
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Master's degree | 48% |
| Doctoral degree | 37% |
| Bachelor's degree | 8% |
| Post-doctoral training | 7% |
Tools and Software Study Abroad Directors Use
Tools and equipment
Software
Is This Job a Good Fit for You?
People who do well in this job tend to enjoy helping, teaching or caring for people as well as leading, persuading and making business decisions.
Skills O*NET rates most important: Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Active Listening, Writing, Speaking, Monitoring.
Knowledge areas used most: English Language, Administration and Management, Education and Training, Customer and Personal Service, Personnel and Human Resources.
Preparation: O*NET places this occupation in Job Zone 5 of 5, which means extensive preparation.
Related Careers
These jobs use similar skills, according to O*NET's related-occupation data:
Applying for a Study Abroad Director Job
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Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035.
- O*NET 30.1 Database, occupation 11-9033.00 (Education Administrators, Postsecondary). View on O*NET OnLine.
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. The Job Explorer has modified some of the information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these changes.