7 Types of Education Degrees You Can Pursue to Advance Your Career

Earning an education degree prepares teachers for careers in the classroom. With a bachelor’s degree in education, graduates can qualify for licensure or certification as a teacher. But what’s the next step after a bachelor’s degree?

Educators can choose from several types of education degrees to advance their careers. Earning a Master of Education can boost teachers’ earning potential and lead to new job opportunities.

Why Earn an Education Degree?

Earning an advanced degree in education can help teachers improve their skills and prepare for career advancement. Some types of education degree programs are geared to classroom teachers who want to hone their pedagogical and assessment skills, while others are meant for educators interested in pursuing administrative roles.

Teachers with a master’s degree often increase their earning potential. According to the National Council on Teacher Quality, many of the largest districts in the country pay teachers with a master’s degree more than they pay those with a bachelor’s degree. For example, public school districts in Baltimore; Seattle; Montgomery County, Maryland; and Santa Ana, California, pay educators with a master’s degree an average of $20,000 more per year than they pay those with a bachelor’s degree as of 2024. In Georgia, the seven largest school districts pay educators with a master’s degree $6,000 to $9,000 more per year than they pay those with a bachelor’s degree.

Earning a Master of Education degree also can prepare educators for specialized roles, including as an instructional coordinator, K-12 administrator, school principal or instructional designer. As a result, a majority of public school teachers hold a master’s degree, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

7 Types of Education Degrees and Concentrations

What types of education degrees and concentrations can teachers pursue to advance their careers? A Master of Education (MEd) is a common option for career advancement. In an MEd program, students choose a specialization, such as curriculum and instruction, educational leadership, or special education.

Here is information on some common MEd focus areas, including the career opportunities and earning potential for those who earn a degree in that area.

Curriculum and Instruction

A master’s degree program in curriculum and instruction focuses on research-based curriculum development and delivery methods. Educators can enhance their understanding of how students learn and explore innovative instructional practices.

This degree program prepares educators for roles in the classroom or in administration. For example, with an MEd in curriculum and instruction, educators can apply their expertise in instructional theory as teachers at the elementary or secondary level.

The degree also can lead to opportunities as an instructional coordinator. These administrators oversee curriculum development for schools and districts. Instructional coordinators had a median annual salary of $66,490 in May 2022, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Special Education

Many states report a shortage of special education teachers, according to the U.S. Department of Education. An MEd program with a focus on special education prepares educators to add an endorsement in special education to their license.

During a master’s program in special education, students explore topics such as special education assessment, creating an inclusive learning environment and instructional management strategies. Special education teachers had a median annual salary of $62,950 as of May 2022, according to the BLS.

Educational Leadership

Earning an MEd in leadership or educational administration can prepare teachers for administrative roles. With this education degree, teachers can become school principals, higher education administrators or instructional coordinators.

During an MEd in leadership program, educators explore topics such as strategic planning, financial management and educational governance. Career advancement from teaching into administration often comes with a significant salary increase. For example, the BLS reports that K-12 principals had a median annual salary of $101,320 as of May 2022.

Educational Technology

School districts across the country are increasingly integrating technology into the classroom. An MEd program that focuses on educational technology trains educators in the theory and practice of using technology in educational settings. Educators explore student-centered methods designed to improve engagement and learn how to create individualized learning plans with technology.

With an educational technology master’s degree, teachers can advance their careers in the classroom or move into administrative or instructional design roles. For example, educators may work as technology coordinators or educational technology consultants. According to the compensation website Payscale, professionals with an MEd in educational technology had a median annual salary of around $71,000 as of October 2023.

Elementary Education

Elementary school teachers can enhance their professional development by pursuing an MEd in elementary education. Teachers in these programs can build on their classroom skills and expand their knowledge of educational research and theory.

Elementary education master’s programs cover diverse topics, including classroom assessment, learning strategies and differentiated instruction. Elementary school teachers had a median annual salary of $61,690 in May 2022, according to BLS data, with the highest-paid educators earning over $101,310.

Secondary Education

MEd in secondary education programs are designed to help middle and high school teachers strengthen their pedagogical skills. In these programs, educators examine data on effective teaching practices, classroom management and instructional technology.

Earning an MEd degree in secondary education can also prepare teachers for roles such as lead teacher or instructional coordinator. High school teachers had a median annual salary of $62,360 in May 2022, according to BLS data, with the highest-paid teachers earning more than $101,710.

What Can You Do With a Master of Education?

Earning a master’s degree can benefit educators by helping them gain advanced teaching capabilities and opening the door to many potential career advancement paths. Teachers can apply their graduate-level training in the classroom or take on additional administrative responsibilities. With a master’s degree, educators can become instructional coordinators, technology coordinators, school administrators or K-12 principals.

Educators with a master’s in education typically earn higher salaries than those with a bachelor’s degree. In many districts, teachers benefit from salary scale increases when they complete a master’s degree program. And educational administrators often have higher salaries than teachers.

Earn a Master of Education at Augusta University Online

You can advance your career by earning a Master of Education in Instruction from Augusta University Online. The flexible program, designed for working teachers, lets you customize your degree with a concentration in an area such as special education, elementary education or general pedagogy. You can also choose to specialize in art education, health and physical education, or music education.

The online MEd program explores pedagogical theory, assessment analysis and curriculum development. You’ll learn how to foster inclusive, student-focused learning environments while strengthening your teaching skills. Contact Augusta University Online to learn more about how an MEd can help you advance your career.

Sources:
Indeed, “10 Types of Teaching Degrees (Plus Education FAQs)”
Indeed, “FAQ: Why Should I Pursue an Education Degree?”
National Center for Education Statistics, Teacher Qualifications
National Council on Teacher Quality, “How Do School Districts Compensate Teachers for Advanced Degrees?”
National Council on Teacher Quality, Teacher Contract Database
Payscale, Master of Education (MEd), Educational Technology (EDT) Degree
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Elementary, Middle, and High School Principals
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, High School Teachers
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Instructional Coordinators
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Special Education Teachers
U.S. Department of Education, Teacher Shortage Areas