The 15 Highest-Paying Jobs in Education

Teachers influence the lives and future careers of their students. They have the potential to inspire their students to be diligent inside and outside of the classroom, and they help guide what career goals are the best fit for them. If you want to pursue a career in education, there are plenty of options to choose from to help you inspire both children and young adults in your community. In this article, we discuss why education is important for the workforce and highlight the highest-paying teaching jobs.

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15 highest-paying teaching jobs

Below are 15 of the highest-paying jobs you can find in education.

1. Library technician

National average salary: $16.12 per hour

Primary duties: Library technicians are assistants to school librarians in helping improve the operations of the library they work in. They organize library books and documents, along with performing multiple administrative tasks. They also frequently assist visitors to the library, which can include directing them to the appropriate sections or registering them within the library system.

2. Special education teacher

National average salary: $17.00 per hour

Primary duties: Special education teachers work with children with varying special needs. They help these students with course work such as reading, writing and math besides life and communication skills. Disabilities can range from mild to severe, so professionals work with students on a case-by-case basis to fulfill their educational requirements and needs.

3. Elementary school teacher

National average salary: $19.08 per hour

Primary duties: Elementary school teachers are responsible for teaching young children to expand their skills in areas such as math and reading while working on projects and together in groups. Teachers meet with parents to discuss their students’ progress in the classroom and growth related to their personal development. They also keep records of students’ academic performance and work with them accordingly to help them excel in their assignments.

4. English as a second language teacher

National average salary: $19.15 per hour

Primary duties: Educators who teach English as a second language work with non-native English speakers to improve their fluency in spoken and written form. Some professionals go to different countries and teach English to young students who want to advance their knowledge of other languages. They may also teach classes for non-native speakers who have moved to an English-speaking country.

5. Health educator

National average salary: $43,036 per year

Primary duties: Health educators teach their students habits and behaviors that help them improve their long-term vitality. They create and administer strategies to increase the health of those within their communities, and they may work with local healthcare professionals.

6. High school teacher

National average salary: $47,291 per year

Primary duties: A high school teachers work with students from grades 9-12 to prepare them for their education after high school. They specialize in subjects like math, English or history. Also, high school teachers give students valuable lessons and skills that can help determine the direction they want to take in their professional lives.

7. Guidance counselor

National average salary: $49,103 per year

Primary duties: A guidance counselor advises students through their educational and professional search. They can help outline areas of academic success, explore potential career options and evaluate areas of social development. These professionals work with students in all areas of schooling, but they commonly guide high school or college students.

8. Learning and development coordinator

National average salary: $51,336 per year

Primary duties: A learning and development coordinator institutes training programs for students who need help in a specific area of education. They review students’ areas of growth and develop processes that help them achieve success in the classroom.

9. Director of student services

National average salary: $53,458 per year

Primary duties: The director of student services aims to meet all the students’ needs while they attend a college or university. They begin new programs that focus on student development, such as sports and concerts, to increase student interaction. They also create policies and procedures for students to adhere to if they live on campus.

10. Education consultant

National average salary: $59,092 per year

Primary duties: Education consultants render their services to students, parents and educational organizations on academic subjects of interest. They can suggest enhancements to the curriculum, classroom size and technology that help improve students’ performance.

11. Librarian

National average salary: $29.06 per hour

Primary duties: A librarian oversees a library’s staff and manages the storage and organization of informational pieces such as books, periodicals, documents and records. They may also help visitors who need to log onto the library network or search the database for books on file.

12. Assistant professor

National average salary: $63,352 per year

Primary duties: An assistant professor is an employee of an educational institution, often working in an entry-level role before gaining tenure as an associate or full professor. They establish lesson plans and lectures for students while administering exams to review their course progress. They usually have office hours to assist students with individual questions about coursework.

13. Speech pathologist

National average salary: $71.509 per year

Primary duties: A speech pathologist, also known as a speech therapist, works with patients to diagnose and treat communication disorders in both children and adults. Treatment plans typically include personalized lesson plans that the patient can practice on their own time.

14. Associate professor

National average salary: $79,252 per year

Primary duties: Associate professors hold similar roles to assistant professors, teaching college students in a specialized field. Associate professors usually earn this title once they’ve gained tenure and contributed a significant amount of research to their institution.

15. Superintendent

National average salary: $87,638 per year

Primary duties: A superintendent is also sometimes known as the chief executive within a school district. They carry out the school board’s strategy to help educate students and allocate resources that benefit their development. They’re also accountable for staffing the school district and making changes to school programs and personnel when needed.