Doctor of Education Salary and Career Outlook

1. Education Administrator Jobs – $103,960 median annual salary

Education administrators oversee the teaching and learning processes at educational institutions. Their work ensures high-quality education that meets the standards for academics, admissions, student development services, academic advancement and applicable federal rules for financial aid to students. Education administrators may also hold responsibilities in the learning environment at their institutions, including educational policies, co-curricular activities and research opportunities.

Education administrators may have titles such as registrar, dean or provost. Others have titles such as academic dean of a department or school in which they have overall responsibility for a significant part of a college or university; for example, a dean of the school of law.

According to the BLS, postsecondary education administrators earned a median annual salary of $103,960 in 2024, and the outlook for this occupation is 2% growth in jobs between 2024 and 2034.

2. Training and Development Manager Jobs – $127,090 median annual salary

Training and development management involves planning, directing, and overseeing education and learning programs to refresh, improve, or instill high levels of knowledge and skills in an organization’s employees. Training and development executives can be managers, directors or more senior officers who oversee a staff of managers and training specialists. Individuals in this role plan and deliver training to improve employee effectiveness and productivity.

The training and development manager aligns the training function with immediate needs and long-term organizational goals, and makes effective use of resources. Training occurs at multiple levels of employment, including unit trainers and staff-level supervisors. In 2024, training and development managers earned a median annual pay of $127,090, according to BLS pay data. Regarding the job outlook, employment of training and development managers is projected to grow 6%from 2024 to 2034.

3. HR Director Jobs – $140,030 median annual salary¹

Certain human resources positions require at least a bachelor’s degree and some experience or a doctoral degree. The EdD may be a viable qualification for an HR director. Managing human capital is core to some businesses. HR directors may oversee hundreds or thousands of employees in large corporations, or smaller workforces in small and medium organizations.

The functions of HR leadership roles encompass multiple aspects of the employee-organization relationship, including tenure, recruiting, salary, benefits, performance, reward systems and more. The overall education and training levels of employees may also be a focus for a human resources executive overseeing HR functions that support other organizational operations.The median annual wage for human resource managers was $140,030 in 2024. The BLS estimates HR director jobs will increase 5% from 2024 to 2034.

4. Instructional Coordinator Jobs – $74,720 median annual salary

One common work environment for an instructional coordinator is an educational institution, but this role also exists in private institutions. Instructional coordinators may also assume leadership roles in state and local governments, where they are responsible for the quality of education in school systems. These education coordinators ensure that school curricula and teaching standards meet expected quality standards.

Instructional coordinator responsibilities may include developing instructional materials, coordinating implementation of changes and new programs and assessing the overall effectiveness of education within their organizations.

Instructional coordinators earned above-average salaries in 2024, with a median annual wage of $74,720. The BLS job outlook for instructional coordinators from 2024 through 2034 is growth of about 1%.

5. Nonprofit Director Jobs – $78,240 median annual salary

The executive director function in the nonprofit setting has a wide range of applications. Some community-based organizations have large staff, significant resources and a competitive salary structure, while others may struggle to meet their operational goals. Some nonprofits exist in the social organization space and perform fundraising, education and political action. Particularly in education, nonprofits often operate for public benefit and use education and information as part of their missions.

From both the perspectives of managing people and managing education and information, the EdD may be a viable educational qualification for aspiring nonprofit executive directors and other social and community service managers.

According to BLS data, the median annual wage for social and community service managers in 2024 was $78,240. The BLS projects a 6% increase in social and community service manager jobs between 2024 and 2034. That is much faster than the 3% average for all occupations.

6. Education Technology Jobs – $65,850 median annual salary

Educational and training programs are increasingly delivered through computers, tablets or other handheld devices. Training and development specialists who focus on educational technology are found across a range of industries, delivering digital learning support and developing services. EdD graduates with a concentration or specialization in educational technology may find careers as training and development specialists—helping to create, administer and deliver programs for schools, businesses and organizations.

Training and development specialists earned a median annual salary of $65,850 in 2024. It’s important to note that salaries for education technology roles vary by position. The BLS projects that the job market for training and development specialists will grow 11% between 2024 and 2034.

7. Leader in the Armed Services Jobs

A leader in the armed services may be a training and development specialist or they may be commissioned officers serving in one or more branches of the armed services. They may also be civilian employees of one or more of the armed services. Education in the armed services contributes to readiness and adaptation to technology and innovation. The level of education and training generally aligns with the chain of command, and leaders are responsible for their assigned areas of duty. Whether by military units or designated personnel, leaders implement plans and programs to advance educational attainment.

Pay varies based on rank. You may refer to pay tables provided by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service as you research leadership positions in this field. The outlook for this type of occupation is strong as innovation helps to drive military demand for higher levels of education.

8. Chief Academic Officer/Chief Education Officer Jobs – $105,350 median annual salary

Top executives (or C-suite officers) in small, medium and large corporations are often responsible for achieving organizational goals. A top academic or education executive may be responsible for employees’ training and knowledge-base levels. This includes the management and oversight of the training and development staff, supervisory personnel and other employees—such as directors, managers, team leaders, and project leads. The EdD, as a course of study, prepares graduates to identify ways to make education more effective.

The median annual salary for top executives in 2024 was $105,350. BLS projects employment of top executives is expected to rise 4% between 2024 and 2034.

9. Education Lobbyist Jobs – $139,380 median annual salary

Education lobbyists work within the framework of national and state government, as well as other policy-making organizations and structures. Political organizations and lobbying firms rely on the knowledge of political scientists and education lobbyists to manage legal issues and regulatory policies. Lobbyists are needed to analyze policies relating to education systems and to champion desired policy outcomes on local, state and federal levels.

Education lobbyists work to advance the interests of educational institutions, private corporations and public nonprofit organizations engaged in various school policies, services and functions.

While the BLS doesn’t provide salary data for education lobbyists, it does report on pay for political scientists. The median annual wage for political scientists in 2024 was $139,380. According to the BLS, political scientist jobs are projected to decline by 3% between 2024 and 2034.

10. Elementary, Middle School, or High School Principal Jobs – $104,070 median annual salary

School principals oversee all operations at their schools. This includes managing faculty and staff, coordinating curriculum programs, planning and managing school events, upholding good parent and community relations, maintaining a budget and keeping the environment safe and conducive to learning. In addition, principals are responsible for upholding state and federal standards, overseeing teacher hiring and recruitment, and monitoring students’ test scores. Unlike their teaching staff, principals may work year-round, making the position both stimulating and visible to the public. In most cases, schools require elementary, middle and high school principals to have advanced degrees in education administration or leadership, as well as teaching experience.

The BLS projects elementary, middle school and high school principal positions will decline by 2% between 2024 and 2034. This is on par with the average for all occupations. Since there are a limited number of principals and vice principals per school, the BLS notes that the employment outlook for the field depends heavily on student enrollments in districts and whether new schools will be opening to meet population demands. As of 2024, the median annual salary for elementary, middle and high school principals was $104,070.