Devlin Peck
So you’re looking for jobs where you can put your education degree to use?
You probably already know all about the stress that often comes with teaching … Luckily, there are a bunch of other positions you can land with a degree in education, many of which offer better work-life balance and pay.
In this guide, we’ll look at 18 highest paying jobs where you can use your educational expertise to excel. Let’s dive in!
If you’re looking for a job that offers more flexibility and a higher salary than teaching using many of the same skills, consider becoming an instructional designer.
But what exactly does an instructional designer do?
Instructional designers combine learning science with writing, psychology, systems theory, and design to create great learning experiences. A key part of their work is to collaborate with subject matter experts.
You could be working on anything from job aides to staff development materials and workshop content. There is plenty of work for instructional designers outside of education. You can work in a corporate setting, for nonprofits, and in governmental jobs but you’ll still create engaging, high-quality learning materials.
Instructional design is a hugely in-demand role at the moment. It offers high levels of pay, great flexibility to work from home, and according to our Instructional Designer report, high levels of satisfaction with work-life balance.
You don’t need an education degree to be successful in instructional design. But the foundations of what you’ve learned as in teaching will position you perfectly for the role. You’ll be able to put the educational theory you’ve learned into practice and help people succeed.
If you want to learn more about instructional design, take a look at my guide here or this video I put together on how to become an ID:
For example, Sean Anderson, a former teacher, was able to transition into instructional design. You can read his story here.
Average salary: $83,347
Becoming an educational consultant allows you to still make contributions to the field while steering clear of direct delivery in the classroom.
You would be working closely with schools, districts, and other educational institutions to guide teaching practices and effective assessment methods. You might also support other areas like integrating technology into classroom or policy matters.
As such, you’ll need great people skills as well as an understanding of educational trends and the latest research in teaching and learning practice.
Average salary: $68,877
As a technical writer, you create materials like training manuals and online support systems. You use your information organization skills and ability to simplify complex ideas.
Technical writers create for all kinds of industries and often work freelance on a project-by-project basis. This makes it an enjoyable and varied job that often comes with higher rates of pay and more flexibility.
To get started with technical writing, it’s a great idea to look into the courses offered by the Society for Technical Communication.
Average salary: $82,251
HR specialists in education work with administrators, professional and support staff, school boards, and teachers' unions to manage people-related matters like grievances, dismissals, and disciplinaries. They may also support recruitment and hiring processes.
You’ll be utilizing the people management skills you’ve learned with an education degree to effectively support teams.
Average salary: $64,350
Want to work directly with students to help them through their academic journey? Consider becoming an academic advisor.
Using many of the skills learned in an education degree, academic advisors provide personalized support to help students navigate curriculum requirements. They also help learners set goals to realize their full potential.
Average salary: $53,677
As a career counselor, you offer advice to pupils on their future career paths, and the qualifications they should aim for to be successful.
It’s a great option if you’re looking for jobs with an education degree that are learner-facing but don’t come with the high demands of teaching.
You’ll need a broad understanding of career sectors and how to get into them. You’ll also utilize the excellent communication skills you’ll have honed while earning your degree.
Average salary: $55,400
As a tutor, you deliver content to students in small groups or 1:1 sessions. You’ll support them with coursework, homework, and exam preparation, and often work closely with teachers to reinforce what they’re learning in the classroom.
It can be really enjoyable to work closely with individual students and see how much they progress.
You’ll need the ability to tailor delivery methods based on specific needs, but luckily you’ll have picked this up during your educational degree.
Average salary: $58,875
If you want to specialize in early years child development, being a preschool director is a great option. You’ll be responsible for the success of curriculum development, operations, and staff.
For this role, you’ll need excellent leadership and organizational skills as well as a strong understanding of the compliance and regulatory requirements specific to early years childcare.
It’s a highly responsible role, but a rewarding one. In fact, reports show that early years staff have higher levels of job satisfaction than their secondary education counterparts.
Average salary: $59,483
What many people don’t realize is that project management roles require a ton of transferable skills from teaching. They’re also great if you have an education degree… You’ll know how to communicate, plan, and problem-solve well. You’ll also be able to assess data well.
Project management is a well-paid job where you can make an impact and get a real sense of job satisfaction.Some roles will require evidence of your skills in action on a project, which is why you might start with smaller projects and work your way up.
Average salary: $78,967
As a school psychologist, you’re responsible for the well-being of students. You also work closely with those who have additional learning needs or are neurodivergent.
To succeed in the role, you need an expert understanding of the resources available to students struggling with complex issues. Additionally, you need great problem-solving skills.
There are specialist degrees in school psychology. However, if you hold a general Psychology degree and have gained your education degree, you would also fulfill requirements for the role.
Average salary: $77,099
Are you passionate about the benefits that technology brings to the classroom? This could be the perfect role for you.
As a technology consultant, you work closely with schools and other education organizations to identify areas where tech could enhance the learner experience. You then work with them to implement these new tools and ensure positive outcomes.
In this role, you’ll use the communication skills, research abilities, and awareness of technological trends that you picked up during your educational degree. Working as an educational technology specialist could also be a good fit if you’re coming from an IT/digital teaching background.
Average salary: $69,398
Corporate training is an excellent fit if you’re looking for other jobs with an education degree that are similar to teaching, but you want to work with adult learners outside of the school setting.
A few transferable skills include classroom management and effective communication. You’ll conduct everything from workshops, seminars, and on-the-job training to facilitate learning and development for the staff of private companies.
Average salary: $74,367
Being an educational coordinator is a massively varied role. You’re involved in everything from organizing teacher training and timetables to overseeing student support services and curriculum development.
As such, educational coordinators need a deep understanding of all facets of the education system. You also need high levels of organization and planning. Luckily, both of these are things you will have acquired during your education degree.
Average salary: $54,152
As a marketing specialist, you’re responsible for marketing campaigns. The work depends on the type of marketing role you’re looking for, but this could include creating compelling content, organizing events, and writing emails.
As such, it’s a varied and engaging role that requires a diverse skillset. You should have great communication, organization, and research abilities. It will also help you land a role if you have a working knowledge of graphic design, copywriting, or social media marketing.
Average salary: $47,904
School principals provide strategic leadership, report to stakeholders, and line manage senior staff across both curriculum and professional services/support. This means that in this role, you have a huge impact on the school and drive positive change within it without being involved in day-to-day teaching.
To be a school principal, you need excellent people management, decision-making, and influencing skills, as well as a deep understanding of the education sector.
For that reason, though it’s unlikely that you’d become a school principal straight after finishing your degree, it’ll definitely provide great, relevant experience.
Average salary: $165,840
As a curriculum developer, you work on designing new curriculum frameworks, refining existing ones, and collaborating with schools and employers to ensure courses stay relevant.
You need an excellent understanding of assessment methods and the skills to identify areas for improvement. For example, this could mean recognizing areas where the integration of digital learning could improve learner outcomes.
A degree in education along with sufficient experience in teaching or curriculum management will help you qualify for the role.
Joanna Cappuccilli is a former teacher who successfully transitioned into a curriculum development role at Amazon Web Services. Find more case studies here.
Average salary: $60,710
Being a librarian is much different than the outdated stereotype many of us have… When you’re working in a modern education space, you’re responsible for overseeing and managing resources including e-learning platforms, and curating digital content to support teaching and learning.
It’s a dynamic role that allows you to use your problem-solving, research, and organization skills to create great experiences for students.
Average salary: $53,606
Within schools, administrators are responsible for everything from recording student admissions to organizing and organizing student data.
If you have a degree in education, you could be a great fit. You’ll have a solid understanding of educational principles and practices as well as great communication skills.
Being an administrator is often a lot less stressful than teaching but still allows you to make an impact on students' educational experiences. Many enjoy the opportunity to create a supportive environment without the pressure of heavy workloads.
Average salary: $45,830
So there you have it! A complete list of jobs with an education degree, many of which offer increased earning potential, more freedom, and greater work-life balance than teaching.
One of the most popular career paths is instructional design.
That’s because you use plenty of the skills you learn in education, but in a new setting. The job includes remote work possibilities, a higher salary, and the opportunity to learn new and modern skills.
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Read more:
The Best Non-Teaching Jobs in Education
