phd in education job opportunities

What Careers Are Possible With a Ph.D. in Education?

A Ph.D. in education will prepare you for an advanced teaching career or a career in education administration. Most people who pursue a doctorate in education have prior teaching experience and a master's degree. Brigham Young University's School of Education website states that its Ph.D. graduates find work with educational foundations, school districts, educational testing companies and curriculum development companies.

Post-Secondary Teacher

Many teachers who obtain a Ph.D. teach at the college or post-secondary level. College professors teach in public, private, community and vocational schools. Some professors advance to administrative positions, such as provost or dean. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the number of post-secondary teaching jobs is expected to grow by 17 percent between 2010 and 2020. According to the BLS, the average salary for a post-secondary teacher was $62,050 as of May 2010. The BLS cautions that many institutions are expected to hire more adjunct and part-time faculty than tenure-track professors. More growth is expected at for-profit colleges and in specialty subjects, such as engineering.

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Obtaining work as a school psychologist is an option for someone with a Ph.D. in school or educational psychology. Most states also require a school psychologist to obtain a license or professional certification. School psychologists help students with emotional, mental or behavioral issues. The average annual pay for clinical, counseling and school psychologists was $66,810 as of May 2010. According to the BLS, employment for clinical, counseling and school psychologists is expected to grow 22 percent between 2010 and 2020. Due to a limited candidate pool, the outlook is expected to remain strong for doctorate-holders who seek school psychologist positions.

School Principals

Some doctorate-holders go on to obtain administrative roles in elementary, middle, or high schools. Principal, assistant principal and dean of students are positions that exist in both public and private schools. Principals and assistant principals manage a school's staff and operations. While a master's degree is usually all that's required, some of these positions go to candidates who hold a Ph.D. They may eventually advance to a superintendent role. Superintendents often hold a Ph.D. in education. The average salary for elementary, middle, and high school principals was $86,970 as of May 2010. Future growth will be strongest in the southern and western regions of the country.

Curriculum Coordinators

Besides designing and deciding the curriculum that is taught in schools, some curriculum designers may create standardized testing materials. College and graduate school entrance exams are examples. In a school system, curriculum coordinators actively work with teachers and administrators. The job of the curriculum coordinator is to determine what learning materials and lessons need improvement. According to the BLS, the average annual salary of a curriculum coordinator was $58,830 as of May 2010. Employment of curriculum coordinators is expected to grow 20 percent between 2010 and 2020. The BLS says that state and local budget restraints could impact future growth.

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook: Postsecondary Teachers
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook: Postsecondary Education Administrators - What They Do
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook Postsecondary Teachers: Job Outlook
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook: Elementary, Middle, and High School Principals
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook: Instructional Coordinators
• Brigham Young University: Career Opportunities for Education PhD Graduates
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook: Elementary, Middle, and High School Principals Job Outlook
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook: Instructional Coordinators Job Outlook
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook: Psychologists Outlook
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook: Psychologists Pay
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook: Psychologists How to Become One

Helen Akers specializes in business and technology topics. She has professional experience in business-to-business sales, technical support, and management. Akers holds a Master of Business Administration with a marketing concentration from Devry University's Keller Graduate School of Management and a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from Antioch University Los Angeles.