Most people assume that a Master’s in Education is just for people who want to teach in a classroom, but there are many more careers in education than you might have imagined.
Is a Master's in Education Worth It?
Many educators choose to pursue an advanced degree because of the potential pay increase. While it’s true that full-time teachers with a master’s degree earn, on average, $14,420 more a year than teachers with just a bachelor’s degree, there is so much more to be gained from pursuing a Master’s in Education.
As a student earning a master’s degree in education, you can expect to graduate knowing how to:
- Communicate effectively
- Accommodate for diversity
- Modify with change
- Motivate others to achieve greater gains
Whether you want to work in education administration, curriculum and instruction, educational leadership, or a different industry altogether, these skills will set you up for success.
Exploring Master's in Education Careers
School Principal
A Master's in Education is often a requirement for principal positions in both public and private schools. As the head administrator, a principal must assume complete responsibility for the school and its performance, supervise all employees, and ensure that their school provides an excellent learning environment for its students.
Principals also serve as the public face of the school, so they must be confident leaders with excellent written and verbal communication skills. By taking their knowledge and experience into the classroom, principals are able to make a daily impact on the lives of countless students and teachers.
Curriculum Developer
Schools and textbook companies hire individuals with a Master’s in Education to help with research and development for curriculum and educational materials. As a curriculum developer, you can decide on instructional methods, define time frames and design physical and digital training materials.
You’ll also play a role in ensuring that any new curriculum adheres to state and local requirements.
Curriculum developers can work with school boards, school administrators and educators to create curriculum for K-12 education, or they can work for governments, nonprofit organizations or private enterprises that want to teach adult learners or train employees.
No matter which path you choose, a curriculum developer’s job is to evaluate students’ educational needs, then develop a plan for fulfilling them.
Educational Diagnostician
Those interested in pursuing a Master’s in Special Education can take their work beyond the classroom to help assess students’ learning disabilities, accommodate for neurodiversity, and guide everyone involved in a child's educational plan toward the best educational goals.
An educational diagnostician may be involved in designing learning programs and keeping track of students’ progress by working closely with other special education teachers. This highly-collaborative position helps both teachers and students as they work to create an ideal learning environment.
Corporate Trainer
If you love teaching but enjoy the office environment, you might want to consider a career path in corporate training.
Many companies hire corporate trainers to teach skills, share knowledge, and motivate employees. Corporate trainers are responsible for developing training materials, leading sessions, and working closely with individuals to evaluate the needs of both the company and its employees.
Depending on their area of expertise, a corporate trainer may work full-time with one company, or work with multiple different companies teaching a wide range of skills.
Education Policy Developer
Education policy developers carry a great deal of weight in the world of education since they shape the policies that will impact the next generation.They identify, brainstorm, and research the key issues affecting schools, then provide a well-reasoned recommendation for the best policy solution.
The government frequently hires candidates with a Master’s in Education to help create sustainable educational policies that are beneficial on a large scale. By looking at education systems, processes, relationships, and structures, education policy developers determine whether legislative and institutional guidelines are serving the nation’s youth effectively and act as advocates for educational funding.
Advance Your Career With a Master's in Education
A Master’s in Education provides the foundation for a wide range of career opportunities in education, both in the classroom and beyond. Teachers with a master’s degree gain deep insights into educational policy, develop leadership skills, and are equipped to conduct research about teaching practices. This unique degree choice will produce a great return on your time, effort, and money invested in obtaining a Master’s in Education.
To help you achieve your career goals in education, the University of San Diego School of Leadership and Education Sciences (USD SOLES) offers three teacher credential programs and two MEd degree options.
We are committed to supporting and empowering you as you pursue your career goals in education, whether that’s becoming a teacher a California or taking your passion for education beyond the classroom.
To get started on your own path toward a master's in education, check out our comprehensive resource: Teachers for the Next Generation — Getting a Future-Focused Master’s in Education.
