10 Highest Paying Jobs in Education for 2021
By getting a degree in education, you will be equipped with the skills needed to delve into a variety of different career options that will help you build a successful future on your career path. Whether you’re interested in teaching, school counseling, research work, or traveling abroad to teach English overseas – there are plenty of high-paying jobs available in the education sector that will allow you to thrive no matter what you choose.
Your degree will be a stepping stone to many careers, giving you the chance to find your niche depending on your interests and area of expertise. It has never been easier to figure out where you are meant to be with the freedom to become a professor, a principal, a counselor, or even a museum education officer.
While most people shy away from an education degree due to the salary, there are plenty of careers in this field that will not only allow you to move up but will pay you a liveable wage with opportunities to earn more as you progress in your role.
If you want to learn more about the highest-paying jobs in education for 2021, these options will help you discover what is out there and what you can do with your degree after graduation.
Curriculum Developer 
With a Master’s degree, an administrative license, and experience under your belt – you will have all of the necessary tools to become a successful curriculum developer in the education sector.
In this role, you will be responsible for ordering classroom materials as needed, observing teaching methods, giving recommendations for better student performance, training teachers, working closely with students, and making changes to the curriculum so that it meets the required guidelines for your location. With this job title, you will earn a good starting salary, with opportunities to move up available.
Researcher
As a researcher who works for an academic institution, you will be responsible for gathering data for different projects, analyzing the data you find, and publishing the findings to aid new research. Depending on where you are working, you may be with a team of other researchers to complete a project and discover new information.
You will need to obtain a Master’s or Doctoral degree in the research field, along with prior teaching experience. This will prepare you for what is ahead, giving you a jumpstart in your career field.
With this career option, you will be able to make a competitive salary. Of course, you will also have the opportunity to earn more as you move up and develop seniority in your sector.
Principal 
By taking on a career role as a principal, you will be in charge of overseeing all of the operations of your school, maintaining an updated school curriculum, making funding decisions, exploring new ways to improve the quality of education, ensuring school policies are being followed at all times, and creating a positive environment for students to learn in.
To take on this job, you will need a Master’s degree in education or administration, along with prior teaching experience and an administrative license. You will also need to bring strong leadership skills to the table and other necessary characteristics to help you succeed in your new role. Remember, you will not just be setting an example for your colleagues but also for the students that surround you.
As a principal, you will make a great salary, making this a good option when seeking out education careers that can further your salary and your opportunities.
Community Education Officer
With a career as a community education officer, you will be responsible for encouraging community members to participate in learning programs or skill development activities, which they may not have access to otherwise. Community education schemes are available to anyone regardless of age or background, but they are typically focused on communities where a lack of education can negatively impact the progress of the community members.
In this position, you will be able to increase the number of children attending primary, secondary, or post-secondary schools, offer adult literacy classes, and encourage others to take English classes if necessary. This will allow these communities to integrate into mainstream society with ease, learning all of the valuable tools that will be needed to thrive in an educational setting.
As a community education officer, you will be making a competitive wage depending on your background and the success you can build in your area.
Dean of Students 
While the role of a dean may seem similar to a principal, a dean’s role requires overseeing a college or university and the students that attend, to help create a positive campus environment. You will be responsible for looking over academic programming, developing policies, and taking care of any issues that arise in admissions. You will also need to be a good leader, be organized, and be detail-oriented to succeed in your new position as a dean.
If you are interested in becoming a dean, you will need to have an advanced degree such as a Master’s in education or a Doctoral degree. You may also need to progress from a lower administrative role before you can move up to the title of dean, depending on where you are seeking employment.
Secondary Teacher
While this is a traditional job option to get with your education degree, it is still a job that pays well and can take you to many places in your career field in the future. As a secondary teacher, you will be able to teach any grade from 6 through 12, in a variety of subjects. Whether you specialize in English, mathematics, science, or foreign languages – there will be an opportunity for you in this field.
As a secondary teacher, you will be responsible for planning lessons based on the required curriculum, delivering lessons to your students, providing feedback when necessary, creating and administering tests to monitor student progression, creating a community in your classroom, and attending staff meetings as they are held. For this role, you will need a skill set that will prepare you for what’s ahead and help your classroom run seamlessly all year long.
With a Bachelor’s degree, all the right certifications, and experience to help you out – you will be able to create a fruitful future as a secondary teacher. You will also be able to move up in your field and earn more as you gain seniority, making this a great job option.
ESL (English as a Second Language) Teacher 
If you have been looking for an opportunity to travel overseas and experience new, unique cultures, with a career as an ESL teacher you will be able to travel, teach, and enjoy the benefits of this job option.
In this role, you will be required to prepare lessons for your classes, evaluate student work, engage with students, display classroom management skills, and maintain standardized guidelines. It will also be important to communicate effectively with students and maximize their success by getting to know what works best for their learning capabilities.
This job position is a great opportunity, especially if you enjoy getting out of your comfort zone and visiting new places. While this position tends to earn a bit less than others listed, there will always be a chance to move up, earn a raise, and travel to a variety of places that you would not have been able to visit otherwise.
Professor
If you are interested in becoming a college professor, you will not only be in charge of providing higher education to your students but you will need to be able to prepare them for the workforce and what’s ahead.
With this job title, you will be responsible for developing a course curriculum, preparing a syllabus for your classes, presenting lectures, mentoring students, creating instructional materials, researching, presenting research, and staying up-to-date on new information in your subject of expertise.
There are multiple levels to becoming a professor, giving you the ability to earn more money as you gain leverage in your field. There are many levels that you can attain including a lecturer, senior lecturer, associate professor, and senior professor. With the right education, experience, and professional skills you can succeed.
Museum Education Officer 
If you enjoy museums, history, and informing others – becoming a museum education officer may be the perfect fit for you. With this job, you will be able to work in museums or public galleries to present visitors with accurate information, while providing an educational and enjoyable experience as well.
Your everyday tasks will include giving lectures, hosting tours, running workshops, and supervising educational seminars or demonstrations that take place in your museum. You will also need to be able to help with education responsibilities, maintaining exhibits, overseeing the storage of educational materials, and conducting promotional exercises as well.
With a Bachelor’s degree in either Archaeology, museum studies, History, Archival science, or Cultural studies – you will be equipped with the necessary education to pursue a career as a museum education officer. This career is a great option, especially if you enjoy learning and educating others on the importance of history.
School Guidance Counselor
If you are interested in becoming a school guidance counselor, you will be responsible for performing initial evaluations of students you see, providing mental and behavioral health counseling, recognizing how to properly care for individual students needs, and collaborating with other staff members to ensure each student’s needs are met in the classroom setting.
To take on this role, you will need to have a Master’s degree, knowledge of different counseling approaches, and over 3 years of experience as a counselor before applying for this position. With this job title, you will be able to have the chance to move up and expand your career even further.
Not only will you be able to gain new skills and expertise with this career, but you will be able to potentially change the lives of your students by helping them through anything they may face while attending school. Counselors are a vital part of the education system, providing students, teachers, families, and schools with support and guidance.
Finding the Right Job For You in 2021
While finding the right job for you may not be easy, with these options available in the education sector, there has never been a better time to find your niche and discover where you are meant to be. With a degree in education, anything is possible. Whether you want to take on a new role as a school counselor, a curriculum developer, a dean of students, or a researcher – there are plenty of opportunities awaiting you after you graduate.
To be successful and build a future for yourself, all you need is the right education under your belt and a job that will kickstart your career. With a degree in education, there is no limit to the possibilities that are out there. With the option to become a teacher, a museum education officer, a principal, or even a professor in higher education – you will be able to reach all of your goals and create the future you have always dreamed of.
With an education, a degree, previous experience, and the drive to be successful in your new job position, you will have everything it takes to create a fruitful future for yourself in the education sector.
