Career opportunities for a person with an educational leadership degree are typically high-ranking administrative positions within K-12 public or private education systems. Degrees in educational leadership are typically master’s or graduate certificate programs for those who already have a bachelor’s degree and who are striving to move into a career in public or private school administration. Read on to learn more about career opportunities you can pursue with this type of degree.
Elementary, Middle, or High School Principal
A principal typically has an educational leadership degree along with several years of experience as a teacher. He or she is responsible for all daily operations of his or her school, from hiring to discipline to curriculum. The typical K-12 principal earns a median of $87,670 per year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. While growth for new principal jobs is expected to grow more slowly than other professionals, the outlook is good for the most experienced and educated candidates. To learn more, visit the BLS website. Many high school principals first serve as vice principals; principals who want to advance often move into a district role as the superintendent of schools.
Instructional Coordinator
These professionals are responsible for developing curriculum for educational programs and ensuring that the material taught in class aligns with established goals. Instructional coordinators must have a degree in educational administration, and usually must have some work experience either as a teacher or as a lower-level school administrator before graduating into this role. Instructional coordinators make approximately $60,000 per year, and there are expected to be over 18,000 new jobs in this career over the next ten years.
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School and Career Counselors
These counselors, commonly known as guidance counselors, work at either the high school or college level to help students determine goals for future education and career, and help them implement steps to get on the path to meet those goals. School counselors must have a master’s in educational administration or a related field, and typically make about $53,600 per year. Growth in this career field is steady, with over 31,000 new jobs expected to be created over the next ten years.
Post-secondary Education Administrators
A degree in educational leadership is required for this type of role, which oversees operations at various aspects and programs at the college and university level. These administrators can become program directors, admissions officers, registrars, and other high-level staff in post-secondary education. These jobs typically pay about $86,490 a year, and opportunities are expected to increase by 15 percent between now and 2022.
While career opportunities for a person with an educational leadership degree are varied, the common denominator is that most of these roles require at least some prior experience in the classroom or in school administration. Since most educational leadership degrees are at the graduate level, a bachelor’s degree in education, communications, or a related field is a great step toward pursuing this career path.