Top 21 Careers In Education and Salaries in 2024

Over the years, careers in education have been known to be highly lucrative and rewarding as teachers earn very high salaries. A lot of people no longer pursue their age-long careers.

Some have suddenly found more heart-warming and rewarding opportunities and top careers in education, and salaries earned so far have been worth the while. Indeed, a career in the education field is a great way to make a positive impact on students of all age ranges.

It is a rare opportunity that allows teachers and other relevant personnel in the education circle to impart knowledge and values to children, teenagers, and younger adults for productive adult life.

Top Careers in Education and Salaries

Teaching jobs and other relevant careers in education are ideal for people who are enthusiastic, fun, creative, patient, accommodating and encouraging.

As a teacher, you must be able to juggle competing priorities, remain calm when you are frustrated, and manage your classroom in a way that makes learning fun without letting things get out of hand.

It is good to plan your teaching schedules and timetable, but even so, it’s important you be flexible too. Do not be too mean.

Teaching may not be for you if you dislike interruptions or prefer to follow a step-by-step plan for each task.

List of Best Careers in Education

Most careers in education field require a minimum of a bachelor’s degree. Still, most times you don’t have to major in education before you can get to pursue a teaching career or any other career in the education sector.

If you are interested in teaching at any level, completing a bachelor’s degree in elementary or secondary education gives you a solid foundation for starting your teaching career.

Moreover, you can pursue other lucrative and highly demanded education careers.

You will find below in this article some top 21 careers in education and their average salaries.

1#. Librarians

The library service job is one of the top educational careers with high salaries.

Take up this position if you desire to help people of all ages and education levels learn and do research for school, work, and personal purposes.

More than half of all librarians work in schools of some type, from the elementary to college level at both public and private institutions.

Often more than one-quarter find career opportunities in public libraries. Some others work in specialized settings, like corporate libraries, government libraries, medical libraries, and law libraries.

Some librarians, particularly those working in large libraries, specialize in one main responsibility: helping patrons or doing administrative work.

Working as a librarian exposes you and brings you in contact with so many people, such as students, scholars, professionals and community members.

You get to add value to them by helping them to answer questions, and guide find to really find the information they are looking for.

They also develop, organize, and maintain materials and other resources to ensure ease of access and retrieval for students, staff, and faculty.

Librarians also select new technology, materials, videos, and books for libraries based upon reviews, curricula, and patron needs. They acquire new books, materials, equipment, and technology.

Equally, develop lesson plans and gather materials used within classrooms. They may also be responsible for teaching informal classes on research and locating resources, and planning events and educational programs for library visitors.

Some librarians in leadership roles train and oversee library employees, including assistants and technicians.

There may not really be one undergraduate program that’s the right choice to prepare candidates for the career, but the Master of Library Science could be a standard requirement.

It might take one year more to acquire this degree. Candidates for librarian roles in specialized libraries may need a degree in the field in which they specialize

Average annual salary: Librarians generally earn salaries of $42,240 to $65,300 yearly.

2#. Directors of Education

Directors of Education are highly skilled professionals who plan, direct, and coordinate educational programs within secondary schools.

Chief Academic Officers, as they are also called, research, develop and monitor the progress and efficiency of academic courses and instruction within colleges or universities.

They also respond to complaints, resolve differences with faculty or academic departments, and develop means of extending and enriching course offerings.

Chief Academic Officers are required to complete a master’s degree combined with experience or a doctoral degree in educational leadership to be considered for employment.

A career in this field is another of the top careers in education that pays very highly.

Average annual salary: Directors of Education generally earn salaries ranging from $92,622 to $158,000 annually.

3#. School Principals

If your passion is teaching or you have great managerial skills outside of the classroom then this is the place for you.

School Principals are highly trained educational administrators who manage and oversee the daily operations of preschool, elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools.

School principals at any level can have numerous responsibilities. Their job describes they ensure the school meets academic, performance, budgetary, security and technology goals as well as government requirements.

They also oversee the overall development, administration, and execution of school educational policies and procedures while ensuring a standard of educational success.

School principals hire staff and educators, develop academic curricula, train staff, and monitor student progress.

To become a principal, candidates must have some years of teaching experience and a master’s degree in either education administration or leadership.

Even though some may not have the required master’s degree in school leadership but it is important that candidates complete and acquire a bachelor degree programs in education or school counseling to qualify and fit in for that career opportunity.

It is believed these degree programs train and help the candidate develop skills and mastery for responsibilities like managing school staff members with parents and community members.

Average annual salary: Annually, school principals earn salaries ranging from $86,970 to $129,480.

4#. Superintendent of Schools

Superintendents of schools are otherwise known as Chief Executive Officers of schools.

They are like the owners of the school. And they have the duty of managing all aspects of a school district. Their salaries are the highest salary in education.

Superintendents are responsible for improving the quality of education by developing and implementing policies and procedures, managing educators and school staff, devising and maintaining budgets, and offering a resolution to education-related issues regarding complaints, schedule issues, behavior issues related to students and staff, salary issues, budgetary issues, and other problems.

Furthermore, Superintendents also plan and assist with projects, renovations, and other changes.

A Doctorate combined with progressive experience as school administrators or educators is the minimum qualification to qualify for this position. Some may gain employment with a master’s degree and advance.

Some may also have to complete specialized training or certification programs and continuing education to remain current and maintain employment.

Average annual salary: Superintendents earn an average salary ranging from $133,606 to $193,983 annually.

5#. Assistant Principal

Assistant principals collaborate with school principals in schools to handle administrative tasks. They are essential members of an educational system’s administrative team.

They offer administrative and supervisory skills to teachers, staff, and students through careful observation, development, and monitoring of performance, instruction, and programs.

Furthermore, Assistant principals devise and direct programs based on professional development, improving teaching skills, and coordinating resources to improve performance and enrich the learning environment.

They also help manage budgetary and financial issues and act as disciplinarians for students or staff.

Assistant Principals measure and assess test scores to meet local, state, and federal standards and meet with parents and educators to report student behavior and progress.

Usually, just like Principals, assistant Principals often begin as classroom educators but with master’s degrees, they gradually gain the experience necessary to advance to administrative positions.

Average annual salary: As one of the top careers in education, Assistant Principals’ salaries range from $66,697 to $89,406 annually.

6#. School Guidance Counselors

School Guidance careers in the education field are very rewarding careers. School Guidance Counselors find their place of work within the elementary, middle, and high schools offering their services to students, staff, teachers, and administrators.

Counselors usually offer their clients; individuals or groups access to personal, educational, or vocational counseling, mental health education, and other means of improving success.

They also identify student victims of abuse and refer them to external resources for help. They may also provide one-on-one career and financial aid guidance for students who are heading to college. They help students choose and plan their careers.

Moreso, School Guidance Counsellors assess student ability or interest by conducting interviews and working closely with teachers and parents to determine and identify behavior or developmental issues, disorders, and problems.

Furthermore, they work closely with teachers to ensure that students are emotionally stable. Sometimes they help connect students to financial aid opportunities.

A bachelor’s degree in school counseling is what you need to be qualified for this career in education. Sometimes a master’s degree, as well as licensure, may be required too.

Average annual salary: School Counselors earn from $38,740 to $65,360 annually

7#. Special Education Teachers

While some parents may just give up on their children who have disabilities and special needs, some may still care to enroll them ones into schools.

These students with special needs really need help. And this is what Special Education Teachers do. They provide the needed assistance to these special ones.

Special education teaching is among the top careers in education. Special education teachers are the educators who instruct students who have mental, physical, emotional and learning disabilities that make it difficult for them to learn and succeed in a more traditional learning environment.

Special education teachers may work with students who have a specific type of disability, like blindness or deafness, or they may work with students who have a variety of different disabilities that may affect their education in different ways.

They offer their students a means of maximizing independence, expanding knowledge, improving skills, and augmenting abilities with specialized curricula and programs.

Special Education Teachers often work one-on-one with students and help them to assess and adapt Individualized Education Programs or specifically developed lesson plans assuring instruction meets each students’ skills and abilities.

Also, they create transition plans for students as advance to different schools or complete studies and graduate.

Special Education Teachers also work closely with parents, other teachers, and staff, counselors, and administrators to report and discuss student progress.

A bachelor’s degree in education is essential for a career as a special education teacher. Probably the best preparation for this career is an undergraduate program in special education specifically.

Many Special Education Teachers who hold master’s degrees in special education are preferred over candidates with less education.

Average annual salary: Special Education Teachers generally earn salaries ranging from $40,480 to $63,500 annually.

8#. Adult literacy and General Education Development Teachers

Certainly, not everyone, not every teacher, would have the time and patience to handle children and kindergartens.  

If you enjoy teaching, instructing or educating adults, then a career in postsecondary education could be a great choice for you.

Adult literacy and General Education Development career is one of the top-paying education careers that specialize in teaching and imparting some basic knowledge to adults, especially school dropouts.

Adult (GED) teachers work with adults who need extra help with basic skills such as writing, reading, writing, and articulating English.

The minimum requirement for a job in this field is a bachelor’s degree with a teaching certificate.

Average Annual Salary: $46,530

9#. Academic Deans

Taking up the position of academic dean is one of the top-paying education careers that will never dwindle as the years go by.

Many academic deans specialize in different student life aspects, like housing, residential life, multicultural affairs, financial aid, admissions, and other student activities.

They also conduct research, prepare promotional information, analyze applicant’s potential as prospective students, meet with and advise students, organize student and class data, develop and instill academic policies, manage budgets, assist in appointing faculty, assist students with securing tuition funds, create and maintain databases for students and courses, and develop means of resolving housing, personal, or academic problems.

Academic deans are required to complete a minimum of a master’s or doctoral degree in higher education with courses based on educational leadership, school finance, higher education administration, educational law, and student affairs.

Most colleges also prefer candidates with experience as a professor or educational administrator.

Earnings for academic deans vary tremendously and are based upon their field of specialization.

Average annual salary: Most academic deans earn $47,130 to $83,710 annually.

10#. College Professors

College Professors plan and deliver specialized instruction based in the humanities, sciences, information technology, history, or engineering disciplines within degree or certificate programs at a college and university level.

They also conduct original research and other experiments to gain an expanded understanding and advanced knowledge of the instruction field. Many also analyze documents, offer critical reviews, and publish their research findings.

They also advise, supervise graduate students, and assess student progress by grading coursework.

Many Professors offer administrative input regarding recruiting and hiring new faculty, promoting current faculty, and recommending policy changes and reviews.

Most also supervise teaching assistants and serve on committees to ensure accurate and current instruction. Professors must complete master’s and doctoral degrees to qualify for this offer.

Average annual salary: Salaries for Secondary School Teachers and professors are range from $53,600 to $83,960 annually.

11#. Middle School Teachers

Middle school teachers may work in public or private schools, focusing primarily on sixth to eighth-grade students as homeroom teachers or subject area specialists.

Their mission is to help students transition from elementary school to the more stringent course requirements in high school.

A bachelor’s degree may suffice to land a job as a middle school teacher if the candidate is certified in the subject area and grade level.

Average annual salary: The annual salary averages $51,960 or higher depending on the school and the teacher’s credentials.

12#. Elementary School Teachers

Elementary school teachers work with younger students from kindergarten through fifth grade. They prepare lesson plans based on the given program. They teach students basic courses and impart life skills to young minds.

It is required that these teachers have at least a bachelor’s degree. They must also have a state license and obtain certifications for their area of ​​expertise.

Average annual salary:  The average pay of elementary school teachers is $51,660 with time off during the summer break when students are on vacation.

13#. Education Administrator, Preschools and Childcare Centers

Administrators of preschools and early childhood centers have the arduous task of ensuring the safety and entertainment of very young children while providing exposure to key areas of reading and mathematics.

They are responsible for hiring, firing, budgeting, and interacting with parents. A bachelor’s degree is usually enough to get a job as a preschool or childcare center administrator.

However, some certification and licensing requirements must be met before working closely with children.

Average annual salary: The average annual compensation for these jobs is $ 51,060. Growth in this sector is expected to be strong over the next 10 years due to demographic change.

14#. Self-enrichment Teachers

Self-enrichment teachers instruct on non-core subjects such as music, foreign languages, and art. They may generate their curriculum or use one provided by their schools.

The prerequisites for teaching these electives to elementary, middle and high school students are not as stringent as other teaching positions.

The basic requirement is proficiency in the subject matter and teaching experience.

Average annual salary: The average annual wage for self-enrichment teachers is $36,340, but the growth prospects in this field are tremendous.

Demand is expected to expand to 21 percent over the next 10 years. This average is higher than most comparable jobs.

15#.Teacher Assistants

As the job title implies, teacher assistants support the efforts of classroom teachers. They work under the supervision of teachers to provide extra attention to students who may need help.

They do not substitute teachers because their positions are more permanent than the former.

The basic prerequisite for a teacher assistant position is graduation from high school. It may be given to college students as part of an on-the-job training program.

The demand for teacher assistants is expected to grow by 15 percent mostly in preschools, elementary and middle schools due to increased enrollments and mandates to reduce the student to teacher ratios.

Average annual salary: Average wages per year are at $23,220

16#.Curators and Archivists

By focusing on historically important documents, curators and archivists collect, evaluate, catalog and preserve these documents.

They can do additional research and write academic articles to establish the importance of archival materials.

A bachelor’s degree in library science or history is required to work as an archivist at universities, colleges and museums.

Some institutions may require a master’s degree before submitting historical documents to an in-house archivist or consultant.

Average annual salary: The average annual earnings for this job is $45,200, with demand expected to grow by 15 percent because of increased interest in genealogy and historic preservation.

17#. Curriculum Developers

Instructional developers may start out as classroom teachers. With a master’s degree, teachers can advance to an instructional designer or one who is tasked with developing, testing and implementing curriculum materials.

The job may also include teacher training, textbook election, curriculum assessment and measuring effectiveness through student testing.

Curriculum developers specialize in one subject area such as math, science, reading or social studies.

Average annual salary: The average compensation for curriculum writers can range from a low of $42,000 to a high of $75,000. 

18#. Media Specialists

The main responsibility of media specialists is to manage the school’s technology resources including computers, multimedia materials, and audiovisual equipment. The media specialist evaluates new technologies and recommends procurement.

Maintenance and training of other personnel in the use of new equipment is under the purview of the media specialist.

In some cases, the media specialist will include all the librarian’s responsibilities involving the management of library resources.

Average annual salary: Depending on the size of the school, the pay scale for media specialists can range from $40,000 to $65,000 per annum.

19#. Speech Pathologists Speech-Language Pathologists

Speech-language pathologists work with students who have been identified as speech-impaired.

These impairments may include problems with articulating sound, pronunciations, and second language issues.

The work of speech pathologists spans a wide spectrum: from children with speech impediments due to physical and mental disabilities to gifted children who may have trouble being understood by others.

Speech pathologists must have a master’s degree and pass state licensure examinations.

Average annual salary: The salary of speech pathologists averages $66,920 per year.

20#. Training and Development Coordinators

Training and development specialists focus on planning, directing, and coordinating teacher training programs to enhance knowledge, introduce new technologies and explain new policies.

These specialists may not work directly with students, but they ensure that teachers can adapt new academic directives to their classrooms to enrich students’ learning experience.

Candidates for this job need at least a bachelor’s degree with some practical know-how gleaned from the classroom experience.

Holding a master’s degree in a related field will be an advantage and a prerequisite in larger institutions.

This field will see an increase in demand because of the need to enhance teachers’ skills to cope with educational reform and technological changes.

Average annual salary: The median wage of training and development specialists can range from $42,000 to $89,170 per year.

21#. Registrar and Financial Aid Counselors

To complete the admissions and registration process in postsecondary schools, students need the assistance of front-office staff.

The registrar and financial aid counselors will provide information and guide registrants through the maze of paperwork.

They will also link students with aid sources.

Average annual salary: The salary range for these positions can range from $42,000 to $90,000 at the high annually.

Conclusion:

Careers in education have recently become what everyone is turning over to. This is because of their high-paying prospects. You can always find one your heart connects with here.

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