by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Secondary Education involves the study of Secondary Education And Teaching. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Teach Students In The Secondary Grades, Which May Include Grades Seven Through Twelve, Depending On The School System Or State Regulations. May Include Preparation To Teach A Comprehensive Curriculum Or Specific Subject Matter. Read on to learn the essential details every secondary education student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering secondary education programs.
Nationwide, secondary education is a widely-pursued major, with 10,594 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Secondary Education Schools ranking analyzes these 551 schools to determine the best overall colleges for secondary education students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of secondary education programs later in this article.
Coursework for Secondary Education build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations secondary education graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a secondary education program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a secondary education major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several secondary 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 | 131 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 786 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 3,755 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 5,892 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 30 |
People currently working in careers related to secondary education tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 64.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 22.4% |
| Master’s degree | 7.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 2.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.1% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.1% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in secondary education careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying secondary education prepares you for numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to secondary education.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to secondary education.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,441,246 | 2.4% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of secondary education graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $44,857 |
| 4 years | $43,846 |
| 5 years | $48,879 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for secondary education graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers secondary education grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,329 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $77,927 |
With 551 different secondary education programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased secondary education school rankings to help you.
Students interested in secondary 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.
