Education is a very noble profession, as the role and duties of educational professionals can have a direct impact on their students.
Education is a high-growth sector with a consistent demand for teachers, professors, support staff, and administrators.
The 10 highest-paying jobs in education in 2024 include:
1. Superintendent
A superintendent is more or less the chief executive officer of an educational institute. Superintendents manage all aspects of a school, including the implementation of policies and procedures, managing and overseeing budgets, managing educational staff, mediating any issues between staff and students, dealing with salary/compensation-related matters, resolving complaints, handling staff and school schedules and managing and monitoring any major school projects, renovations, etc.
Superintendents can earn between $130,000 to $194,000. However, with more specialized training and education, such as a doctor of education degree, superintendents can progress much faster and demand higher salaries.
2. College President
A college president can earn between $45,000 to $194,000 a year. Their primary duties include overseeing the goals of the college or university and executing key initiatives to achieve business goals.
They are also involved in fundraising, staff supervision, and establishing and promoting academic standards. College presidents generally report to a board of trustees.
3. Vice President of Academic Affairs
The average salary of a Vice President of Academic Affairs is $170,452. However, the higher amount is generally claimed by professionals with higher educational qualifications and more experience.
The salary range can range between $143,419 and $189,610. A vice president of academic affairs establishes and oversees guidelines for educational programs at educational institutes.
They also play an active role in hiring policies and ensure the needs of faculty and staff are met. Other duties include budgeting, identifying and evaluating student needs, and coordinating with deans of different departments.
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4. Director of Education
The average annual salary of a Director of Education and Training is $66,537 a year. Education directors can work for public school systems, but there is no shortage of opportunities for these professionals in the private sector either.
A Director of Education oversees the selection and integration of the school curriculum; they also oversee the learning strategies and materials employed to teach that curriculum.
Education directors often work in elementary, secondary, and high schools and private educational institutions and organizations. They are also sometimes involved in planning and coordinating the delivery of training materials for educational courses and training programs.
5. Provost
A provost, frequently known as the chief academic officer at an educational institution, college, or university, makes between 90,000 and 145,000 a year. In terms of hierarchy, a provost is equivalent to a vice president.
Their primary duties include hiring staff and faculty, playing an active role in academic councils and committees, setting strategic goals and managing budgets for the educational institute, and engaging with external business partners. Overall, a provost is actively involved in guiding the academic vision of an educational institute.
6. School Principals
The average salary of a school principal is $106,000 per year. School principals manage the day-to-day operations of elementary, secondary and high schools. They are responsible for the entire school staff, which includes teachers, administrators, and support staff.
School principals are also the primary representatives of the school when interacting with the general public and handle relations between teachers, students, and parents.
7. College Professors
The average salary of a college professor is $79,600. College Professors work in all public and private colleges and universities. They can work full-time or part-time and usually focus on a single subject area.
A college professor’s salary can vary quite significantly based on their level of education, subject area, and experience.
8. Instructional Coordinators
Instructional coordinators work with principals and teachers and are mainly involved in assessing and implementing the curriculum of an educational institute. Instructional coordinators are generally well-qualified with a master’s degree or higher.
They are required to have at least five years of experience in an administrative position at an educational institute.
Some states require instructional coordinators to also have a license. Salaries for instructional coordinators can vary from state to state and depend on qualifications and years of experience. However, the median income for this role is around $65,000, and the salary can range between $36,000 to $102,000.
9. College Administrators
College Administrators have an average salary of $111000. They are responsible for maintaining the operation of an educational institute and often have to work directly with students.
College administrators work in different capacities at different colleges and universities. They are generally required to have a Master’s degree and can earn higher pay if they have specialized degrees and experience.
10. Special Education Teachers
Special education teachers make between $40,000 to $63,500 per year. These professionals work with students who have mental or physical disabilities.
Their primary responsibilities include the implementation of individualized education programs for children with special needs, a transition plan for such students, working with parents, counsellors, administrators, and other teachers to monitor student progress, assist special education students with their academic needs, and maximizing the independence, skills, and abilities of children with mental and physical disabilities.
Special Education Teachers need to have a degree in education and special education certification and experience working with children with disabilities.