by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying in the field of education will help prepare you to be an effective and inspirational teacher. You will learn skills on how to manage a classroom while still providing an interesting lesson. In this field, you will influence children, teenagers or adults in a way that can change their lives. A teacher is much more than an educator, you will act as a counselor, disciplinarian, friend, and confidant. The roles you will play in the lives of your students are endless.
However, teaching is not the only career available in the field of education. It is also possible to become a principle or an administrator. Here is where you take the knowledge you already have about the teaching profession and use it to help your school run smoothly. Another direction that you may choose to go within this field is career or guidance counseling. This allows you to have a more one on one role with the student in order to motivate and encourage them.
If education interests you, but working directly with students is not your passion, you may choose to work as a curriculum developer. Here you would work with state standards and tests, instruction methods, and technology to make sure students are getting the best education possible.
Studying Education involves the study of Education. Instructional Programs That Focus On The Theory And Practice Of Learning And Teaching, And Related Research, Administrative And Support Services. Continue reading for the essential details every education major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering education programs.
Across the country, education draws strong interest, with 317,436 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Education Schools ranking analyzes these 2,227 schools to determine the best overall colleges for education students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of education programs later in this article.
Coursework for Education develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations education graduates commonly enter.
There are many different skills essential to working in education: Some of the most important are enthusiasm, compassion, dedication, creativity, organization, and flexibility. No matter how perfectly you plan a lesson or a meeting; there is always a chance that something may not go according to plan, making quick thinking and adaptability important. It is also important to have a passion for the future, even if you are not working directly in a classroom every day.
There is a very wide variety of majors within education. Students with different strengths can excel in this field because of the endless options. Students in education should have a desire to help the greater common good and should also have strong communication skills. Communication is important for teaching, but also to make sure everyone is on the same page, whether it is parents, administrators, or the state. Most of the concentrations within this field will require at least one semester of student teaching.
The skill set developed in a education program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a education major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several education degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 4,789 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 17,944 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 92,051 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 183,805 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 16,277 |
People currently working in careers related to education tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 36.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 31.6% |
| Master’s degree | 15.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 7.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.1% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.1% |
| Some college courses | 1.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.1% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.0% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.6% |
| First professional degree | 0.3% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in education careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
There are a variety of career opportunities for those who enter the education field. Some may want to be a classroom teacher in either a particular grade level or subject, whereas others will choose to serve as a school administrator. Other options include school counseling, curriculum development, educational policy, tutoring and more. With the many diverse directions you can go, there is bound to be a career options that appeals to you.
A degree in education prepares you for many career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to education.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to education.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Special Education Teachers, All Other | 1,501,521 | 9.2% |
| Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education | 1,457,958 | 2.6% |
| Instructional Coordinators | 1,448,345 | -1.3% |
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,441,246 | 2.4% |
| Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other | 1,421,275 | 11.1% |
| Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School | 1,384,848 | 9.0% |
| Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,328,652 | -4.2% |
| Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,267,153 | 0.4% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of education graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $53,304 |
| 4 years | $52,563 |
| 5 years | $58,393 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for education graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers education grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $129,049 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $99,604 |
| Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education | $99,352 |
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,329 |
| Teaching Assistants, Special Education | $96,801 |
| Education Administrators, All Other | $91,340 |
| Teaching Assistants, Preschool, Elementary, Middle, and Secondary School, Except Special Education | $89,337 |
| Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $86,398 |
With 2,227 different education programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased education school rankings to help you.
Students interested in education, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
