What Are The Highest-Paying Teaching Jobs?

A teaching and education degree allows learners to work in a field with high job security. Keep reading to learn about the fastest-growing positions in this field.

Updated February 6, 2023 · 3 Min Read

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According to PayScale, teachers often find their jobs meaningful. Specifically, 96% of postsecondary English language and literature teachers find their job meaningful, along with 91% of kindergarten teachers. However, even enjoyable jobs deserve rewarding pay for hard work.

Before pursuing a teaching and education degree, learners should consider the salary opportunities for teaching jobs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), education, training, and library occupations earn a median annual wage of $50,790. This figure is much higher than the median annual salary of $39,810 for all other occupations.

Fortunately, educators also benefit from a positive job outlook. The BLS projects postsecondary teaching jobs to grow by 9% between 2019-2029. Keep reading to learn about salaries for the highest-paying teaching jobs and which positions feature the highest projected job outlooks.

High-Paying Teaching Jobs

Teaching jobs require hard work, and 20% of teachers leave their jobs because of pay. However, specific education administration and teaching jobs pay more than others. Below, we take a look at three positions with high median salaries. Keep in mind that the type of school and geographical region also influence pay.

Elementary, Middle, and High School Principals

Postsecondary Teacher

Postsecondary Education Administrator

Fastest-Growing Jobs

A teaching and education degree allows learners to work in a field with high job security. As the population continues to grow, so will the need for qualified educators. Keep reading to learn about the fastest-growing positions in this field. Along with the projected employment growth rate, we also discuss the job responsibilities and salary for each role.

School and career counselors help students with academic and social skills. Ultimately, they help students select a future career through aptitude tests and one-on-one discussions. Many school counselors also coordinate student schedules and facilitate student and teacher training on bullying, mental health, and drug abuse prevention. These professionals earn a median annual salary of $57,040. The BLS projects jobs for school and career counselors to grow much faster than average at 8% between 2019-2029.

Instructional coordinators, also referred to as curriculum developers, ensure quality instructional content. They create curriculum plans, implement them, and test their effectiveness. These professionals work closely with teachers and serve as mentors. Instructional coordinators typically require a master's degree and five or more years of related experience. These professionals earn a median salary of $66,290 per year, and the BLS projects 6% employment growth between 2019-2029.

These instructors teach grades 9-12. High school teachers typically focus on one or two subjects and equip learners with the knowledge necessary to enter the workforce or succeed in college. This position only requires a bachelor's degree, but many school districts offer higher salaries to teachers with an advanced teaching degree. High school teachers earn a median salary of $61,660 per year, and the BLS projects occupations to grow 4% from 2019-2029.

Where to Work with a Teaching Degree

All fifty states and the majority of countries worldwide employ teachers. However, some geographical areas offer higher pay and a more promising job outlook than others. Data from the BLS reveals that states with lower population densities like Montana and Wyoming employ fewer teachers.

Metropolitan areas tend to pay well and hire many teaching and education degree-holders. For example, Glens Falls, New York, offers the highest concentration of teaching positions, and instructors benefit from a median pay of $78,100 per year. Learners should also consider where they would enjoy living when applying for jobs. Luckily, many school districts account for the cost of living when assigning salaries.

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