Top Ten Career options for Doctorate of Education

It is completely natural to wonder about your career options after getting a major degree like master’s or a doctorate. Undoubtedly, a person holding a doctorate of education goes through similar anxiety before saying ‘yes’ to a specific career.  

If you have been searching for doctor of education jobs because you do not know which career to join and offer your services in, don’t worry, we can help!

There’s tons of options and diversified career pathways in schools, college and universities alike, where you can apply for a variety of positions, lead departments and inspire future generations.

Having a doctorate in education (EdD) means that you are ready to make most of your leadership skills and prepared for a career with a lasting impact on the community. From using critical thinking skills to adjusting in roles that create a real impact on students, youth and at any ground level of an organization working to improve quality of life in a community, professionals with EdD have various career fields available to them. 

Let’s take a look at the diversity of careers that you can go for to make the most of your doctorate of education degree. 

1- President of an Educational Institution

School, college or university presidents are responsible for running their organizations smoothly and strategically by collaborating with higher authorities and guiding the staff, under their supervision, to level up the institution’s services and quality of education. 

Other responsibilities include visiting other institutions to represent yours, conducting seminars, delivering speeches, arranging competitions to boost student’s morale and sustaining their performance level throughout their academic career. 

An educational institution president can receive six to seven-figure income, with figures varying between public and private institutions.

2- Higher Education Administration

There are several doctor of education jobs in the higher education administration department such as; Directorate of student financial aid, strategist, curriculum advisor, enrollment head and budget planner according to the needs of college or university departments. These jobs are highly paid and respectable as well. The average higher education administration salary is $88,390 per year.

3- School Principal

Schools principals are responsible for keeping an eye on all the affairs of school related to students and teachers, including teacher’s input and students output as well. This role encapsulates various responsibilities, including but not limited to management, administration, politics, community outreach and overall maintenance of the school’s infrastructure. The annual wage estimated for middle and high school principals till May 2019 was estimated at $95,300.

4- Vice President

Depending on the institution level, a vice president administrates all the academic affairs under the supervision of the college or university president. A provost not only communicates with the head of departments and keeps the president aware of the situation but also serves as an acting head of the institution in the absence of the president. The annual salary of a college provost ranges from $227,900 to $316,039.

5- School or College Superintendent

With an average $159,352 yearly income, a superintendent leads and supervises all the schools within a district, handles faculty recruitments, school safety matters, coordinates with other districts, and advocates for higher authorities’ funds. A doctorate in education is considered best for the college superintendent post because of the demanding leadership skills of the role.

6- Directorate of Student Affairs

Coordinating with the students, understanding their queries, prioritizing their needs and being concerned about their safety, the directorate of student affairs is considered the backbone of a college or university and is expected to keep things going smoothly on all levels. Helping in all possible ways to promote talent and facilitating students throughout their academic sessions, a directorate of student affairs offers invaluable services to any institution they serve. Their average salary is estimated to be $112,400. 

7- Professor 

Another highly preferred career option among doctorate of education jobs is Professorship of a college or university. A professor is accountable for assembling courses, delivering lectures to graduate and undergraduate students and supervising their research work. When not teaching, a college or university professor publishes research papers, conducts seminars, and attends conferences to stay updated. According to 2021 statistics, a U.S. college professor made an average salary of $140,543.  

8- School and Career Counselor

A school counselor creates and implements counseling programs to allow students to express themselves and work through their future goals, values and responds to their anxieties about college admissions, assists students individually, and consults with parents to lay the groundwork for their children’s future. 

They also help students with their career selection by highlighting interests and capabilities in the best possible way. School and career counselor salaries ranged from $61,000 to $106,000 by the end of 2019.    

9- Training and Development Officer

An educational institution’s training and development officer is charged with formulating training strategies, planning and leading training programs throughout the year, equipping staff with the latest skills and boasting their energies through motivation followed by incentives and activities. The median salary of a training and development officer in the United States is $58,541 per year.

10- Educational Policymaking

Highlighting key issues of unsuccessful policies, reshaping them and generating fresh ones is what’s included in the basic roles and responsibilities of an educational policymaker. They are also held accountable for evaluating educational policies to report to higher authorities and figure out the future needs of the education sector as well. Depending on their role, the median salary of an educational policy professional ranges from $58,828 to $81,000.

The Bottomline

An important reminder here is that there is variation in salary and benefits in any of the above-listed career options, depending on the role, extent of responsibilities, and the kind of institution or organization you work in. It also depends upon the size of an organization, the area of your expertise, your experience in the field and working hours. 

There are tons of other career options to talk about under the umbrella of EdD, and you can research more to understand the extensive career prospects. 

Regardless of what you choose, an EdD is all about education and exhibiting leadership skills through various roles and finding opportunities to grow in the field while simultaneously impacting the education industry for the better.

Erin Lane
Erin Lane

Erin Lane is a creative writer and lifestyle blogger from Canberra, Australia. She is a hard-working, organized, dedicated professional interested in learning new things. With over six years of experience in writing, Erin has covered numerous topics, including health, tech, fashion, fitness, makeup, home improvement, decoration, business, and finances. Erin is an active person who enjoys nature and traveling.

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