by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Teacher Education involves the study of Teacher Education, Multiple Levels. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Teach Students At More Than One Educational Level, Such As A Combined Program In Elementary/secondary, Early Childhood/elementary, Elementary/middle School, Or Junior High/high School Teacher Education. Continue reading for the key facts every teacher education major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering teacher education programs.
Across the country, teacher education draws strong interest, with 8,732 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Teacher Education Schools ranking analyzes these 273 schools to determine the best overall colleges for teacher education students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of teacher education programs later in this article.
Coursework for Teacher Education develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations teacher education graduates commonly enter.
The skill set developed in a teacher education program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a teacher education major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several teacher 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 | 151 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1,215 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 2,315 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 4,996 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 27 |
People currently working in careers related to teacher education tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 43.0% |
| Doctoral degree | 24.4% |
| Master’s degree | 9.7% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 8.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 5.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.7% |
| Some college courses | 2.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.0% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.3% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.9% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in teacher education careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in teacher education prepares you for numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to teacher education.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to teacher education.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education | 1,457,958 | 2.6% |
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,441,246 | 2.4% |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | 1,058,186 | 6.4% |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 692,039 | -1.4% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | 84,106 | 4.9% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of teacher education graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb 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 teacher education graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers teacher education grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education | $99,352 |
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,329 |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $83,105 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $77,927 |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $75,366 |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $63,776 |
With 273 different teacher education programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased teacher education school rankings to help you.
Those considering teacher 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.
