Professionals in education often turn to a Doctorate in Education program, or Ed. D. program, to advance their careers, achieve personal and professional goals, and earn more money. Ed.D. degrees are especially beneficial for candidates looking to become leaders in their schools, school districts, and the field of education overall.
Plus, with an average of about 857,600 job openings in educational instruction and library occupations projected each year, there’s no better time to apply and get hired for high-paying jobs with an Ed.D. Below, we’ll discuss what students can expect from an Ed.D. degree and the many high-paying jobs with an Ed.D. degree they can achieve.
What is a Doctorate in Education program (Ed.D. program)?
A Doctorate in Education (Ed.D. degree) is a terminal degree that prepares graduates for academic and administrative leadership roles in K-12 and higher education. Students in these programs gain the skills and experience they need to be leaders, policymakers, and researchers in the field of education.
A Doctorate in Education program offers courses in educational leadership, research and analysis, international education, and dissertations.
Common Ed.D. courses include:
- Action Research
- Comparative Education
- Constitutional Law
- Dissertation Proposals
- Education Leadership
- Intro to Research
- Literature Review
- Organization Management
- Postsecondary Teaching or Leadership Experience
- Public School Finance
- Urban Leadership
- Workshop in Curriculum Development
Ed.D. programs often also allow students to concentrate in various areas, including higher education leadership, PK/K-12 educational administration, early childhood education, curriculum and instruction, special education, and more.
Graduates of these programs use existing research to help improve practices in the field of education and develop new research. Thus, it’s evident that high paying jobs with Doctorate in Education degrees exist in various professional settings well beyond traditional academic roles.
Five high-paying jobs with a Doctorate in Education
Professionals interested in obtaining top-level educational leadership and administrative positions and gaining real-world problem-solving skills to excel in those positions will benefit greatly from pursuing their Doctor of Education degree.
Candidates can also rest easy knowing that there are many high-paying jobs with an Ed.D. degree available in educational leadership positions in K-12 schools, colleges, and universities, as well as roles in government agencies, non-profit organizations, and corporate training departments.
1. School Principal
Elementary, middle, and high school principals oversee all school operations, including daily school activities. They organize curriculums, manage staff, and provide a safe and productive learning environment for students.
Earning an Ed.D. degree is a great way to reach one’s goal of becoming a school principal, as many programs offer students several pathways to their 092 certification, a certification often needed to hold administrative positions.
For example, at University of Bridgeport, our Ed.D. program offers two different tracks for students looking to go this route. One is the 66-credit track to earn your 092 certification in conjunction with the Ed.D., and the other is the 42-credit track for students who received their 092 through a Sixth-Year Degree program.
Elementary, middle, and high school principals can expect to earn a median annual salary of $103,460, with the highest ten percent earning more than $163,010.
2. Postsecondary professor
Candidates with their master’s degrees can only go so far in elementary and secondary education. However, by earning an Ed.D. degree, candidates open themselves up to more opportunities, such as university and college professors. With a doctorate in Education, teachers are qualified to work in postsecondary institutions as well as to conduct research in their field.
A professor’s salary depends on their level of experience as well as whether or not they’re on the tenure track. In general, professorship levels can be broken down as follows: instructor, lecturer, assistant professor, associate professor, and full professor. Average yearly salaries for professors increase as they progress along this track.
But generally, postsecondary teachers make a median annual salary of $84,380, with the highest ten percent earning more than $182,710.
Is a career in Educational Leadership in your future? Learn more about University of Bridgeport’s Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, here!
3. Academic Dean
Academic deans are senior administrators of colleges or universities who carry out the following responsibilities and duties:
- Direct fundraising efforts
- Manage departmental budgets
- Manage faculty and administrative staff
- Set academic goals
- Work with admissions offices to attract new students to the school
These professionals work in specific academic departments or in administrative departments such as admissions, student affairs, or alumni outreach.
Academic deans fall under the postsecondary education administrators category and earn a median annual salary of $102,610, with the highest ten percent earning more than $209,870.
4. Training and development managers
An additional high-paying job with a Doctorate in Education is that of a training and development manager.
These individuals design and direct knowledge-enhancement programs for an organization’s staff. They are also responsible for:
- Aligning training with the organization’s goals
- Creating or selecting course content and materials for training programs
- Evaluating employees’ training needs
- Evaluating the effectiveness of training programs and instructors
Training and development managers earn a median annual salary of $125,040, with the highest ten percent earning more than $220,060.
5. Education Consultant
A career as an education consultant is a great fit for someone with an Ed.D. degree and a passion for improving student learning. Education consultants advise teachers, families, school administrators, and school boards on the best educational techniques and practices to implement in classrooms.
That is why they need to understand how to create a curriculum, how to conduct research, and how to understand and identify problem areas in a school or school system. Thankfully, all of this knowledge and experience is provided by a Doctorate in Education program making it an extremely worthwhile degree.
Education Consultants can also work with government officials in the development of educational policy or for private consultation firms, school systems, and even as independent contractors.
Take the next step toward high-paying jobs with an Ed.D. degree at University of Bridgeport
No matter which career path you choose, an exciting, fulfilling, and high-paying career is possible with an Ed.D. degree program like the one at University of Bridgeport. Our program offers three different tracks for students looking to earn their Educational Leadership Doctorate.
Furthermore, depending on the track, students can complete their Ed.D. degree in three to four years. Plus, many colleges and universities offer in-person, online, and hybrid program formats to accommodate students’ needs and schedules.
It’s time to take the next step toward high-paying jobs with an Ed.D. degree by enrolling in a Doctorate in Education program.