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Careers in education

Michael Feder

Written by Michael Feder

Photo of the College of Education Dean, Pam Roggeman, EdD.

Reviewed by Pamela M. Roggeman, EdD, Dean,听College of Education

School principal smiling with his arms crossed to signify one of the many careers in education

The field of education offers a wide range of rewarding career paths. Educators help shape the leaders of the future, and they provide everyone from preschoolers to adult students the opportunity to change their lives through education.

Why pursue careers in education?

The drawback? Careers in education have a reputation for low pay. However, there are opportunities to defy that stereotype outside traditional teaching roles in primary and secondary education. In fact, from administrators to instructional coordinators, there are several well-paying careers in education to consider.

Additionally, training and library occupations have a job outlook of projected each year from 2022 to 2032.

Between stable job growth and a range of salary options, education is a field that has more diversity of opportunity than one might think. But it鈥檚 first important to learn what role could be a great fit. Here are some higher-paying careers in education to consider.

Salary ranges are not specific to students or graduates of 乐鱼体育. Actual outcomes vary based on multiple factors, including prior work experience, geographic location and other factors specific to the individual. 乐鱼体育 does not guarantee employment, salary level or career advancement. BLS data is not geographically based. Information for a specific state/city can be researched on the BLS website.

BLS Occupational Employment Projections, 2022-2032 is published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This data reflects BLS鈥� projections of national (not local) conditions. These data points are not specific to 乐鱼体育 students or graduates.

Top careers in education

Superintendent

A superintendent is one of the top positions in the education field. Superintendents report directly to a school board, and they act as the top executive of a county鈥檚 education system.

Education:听Becoming a superintendent typically requires a master鈥檚 degree, and sometimes a doctorate is preferred, often in a specialty such as school administration or leadership. However, these requirements can vary by state.

Salary:听Superintendents, which BLS categorizes as executive positions, earned between听with a median wage of听$206,680, according to BLS. The job outlook for this profession has a听听from 2022 to 2032.

School principal

School principals are responsible for supervising and managing the daily operations of a school. This can include leading teacher training and meetings, attending school board meetings, managing disciplinary action for students and contacting parents. Principals can work in public or private schools, and their duties normally require them to work year-round.

Education: To reach this level of school leadership, an educator needs to gain and earn a master鈥檚 degree in education, educational administration or educational leadership. This education and training provide aspiring principals with leadership, communication, management and teaching skills to create a positive learning environment at their school.

Salary: As of May 2023, school principals earned between with a median wage of听$103,460, according to BLS. The job outlook for these roles is projected to show little or no change from 2022 to 2032.

College administrator

mong the many careers in education, in the postsecondary sector, college administrator is one of the top positions. College administrators oversee the operations of colleges and universities. This includes academics, student activities, and services and research conducted by the faculty. College administrators can work for both private and public colleges and universities, including both in-person and online institutions.

Education: To be hired as a college administrator, most institutions require working in an administrative capacity at a college or university. Doctoral degrees are required for positions such as a dean and provost.

College administrators need to develop skills specific to the department they are overseeing. These skills can include communication, interpersonal aptitude, financial management, problem-solving and leadership.

Professor

Professors, or postsecondary teachers, educate students who have graduated from high school and are pursuing postsecondary education. Professors work at colleges and universities and teach one subject to students. They are responsible for听teaching students, acting as mentors, attending faculty meetings, conducting research and publishing their work.

Education:听贰诲耻肠补迟辞谤蝉听听to become a professor. Some colleges and technical schools may hire professors who have a master鈥檚 degree and a suitable amount of professional experience.

厂补濒补谤测:听As of May 2023, professors earned between听, with a median wage of听$84,380, according to BLS. The job outlook has a听听between 2022 and 2032, also according to BLS. However, the availability of tenure-track positions depends on area of expertise and geographic location.听

Instructional coordinator

Unlike some other careers in education, instructional coordinators can work in all fields of education 鈥� primary, secondary or postsecondary. Instructional听coordinators oversee the curriculum and instructional practices of a school. These education professionals work closely with teachers to ensure that all students experience a positive learning environment.

贰诲耻肠补迟颈辞苍:听To be hired for this position, candidates typically need a听. Some teachers with extensive experience may be hired for this role, depending on the school and the state a teacher lives in.

Special education teacher

Special education teachers can work with students of any age, and they have specialized knowledge in providing a quality educational experience for听students with physical, mental or learning disabilities.

贰诲耻肠补迟颈辞苍:听To be hired as a special education teacher, candidates must听听in special education and take the necessary exams to be licensed by your state. Some schools prefer applicants who hold a听master鈥檚 degree in special education, due to the role鈥檚 highly specialized nature.

Salary: As of May 2023, special education teachers , with a median wage of听$65,910, according to BLS. This career's job outlook is projected to show little to no change from 2022 to 2032.

Reasons for differences in education salaries

The differences in earning potential among the different careers in education can be attributed to a variety of factors, including:听

鈼徧�Experience: The longer candidates work in the field, the more experience they have. Many schools pay their more experienced staff higher salaries.

鈼徧�Advanced degrees: Earning a master鈥檚 degree, a doctoral degree or even taking a few graduate courses as a part of continuing education can impact earning potential as an educator. Advanced education demonstrates a more specialized or in-depth level of expertise.

鈼徧�Earning a state license: While some states may allow people to teach without earning a license, earning one may increase your earning potential.

鈼徧�Geographic location: Geographic location can have a major impact on .

Learn more about programs for careers in education

If you鈥檙e eager to expand your knowledge and skill for one of the many careers in education, there are several paths to consider.听乐鱼体育听offers online degrees and certificates as well as continuing teacher education:

Contact 乐鱼体育 for more information.

Headshot of Michael Feder

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A graduate of Johns Hopkins University and its Writing Seminars program and winner of the Stephen A. Dixon Literary Prize, Michael Feder brings an eye for detail and a passion for research to every article he writes. His academic and professional background includes experience in marketing, content development, script writing and SEO. Today, he works as a multimedia specialist at 乐鱼体育 where he covers a variety of topics ranging from healthcare to IT.

Headshot of Pamela Roggeman

ABOUT THE REVIEWER

As dean of the 乐鱼体育 College of Education,听Pamela Roggeman has spent over a decade in higher education teacher preparation in both the public and private sector. Her experience has included national partnerships that help to advance thought leadership in the field of education. Dr. Roggeman also serves as the President of the Arizona Educational Foundation鈥檚 Board of Directors.

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