Doctor of Education Salary and Career Outlook

1. Education Administrator Jobs – $97,500 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 $97,500 in 2020 and the outlook for this occupation is 8% growth in jobs between 2020 and 2030.

2. Training and Development Manager Jobs – $115,640 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 carry out training to help improve effectiveness and productivity of the employee workforce.

The training and development manager aligns the training function with the immediate situation 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 2020, training and development managers earned median annual pay of $115,640, according to BLS pay data. When it comes to job outlook, employment of training and development managers is projected to grow 11%  from 2020 to 2030.

3. HR Director Jobs – $121,220 median annual salary¹

Certain human resources positions require at least a master’s degree and some experience or a doctoral degree. The EdD may be a viable qualification for an HR director. Managing human assets is the core of 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 who oversees HR functions designed to support all other organizational operations.

The median annual wage for human resource managers was $121,220 in 2020. The BLS estimates HR director jobs will increase 9% from 2020 to 2030.

4. Instructional Coordinator Jobs – $66,970 median annual salary

One of the typical work environments for an instructional coordinator is an educational institution, but this role also exists in private institutional settings. Instructional coordinators may also take on leadership roles in state and local governments, where they will be responsible for the quality of education in school systems. These education coordinators ensure that school curricula and teaching standards meet their expected levels of quality.

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 2020, with a median annual wage of $66,970. The BLS job outlook for instructional coordinators from 2020 through 2030 is growth of about 10%.

5. Nonprofit Director Jobs – $69,600 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 the field of education, nonprofits often exist for public benefit and use education and information as part of their missions.

Both from the aspect 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 2020 was $69,600. The BLS projects a 15% increase in social and community service manager jobs between 2020 and 2030. That is much faster than the 8% average for all occupations.

6. Education Technology Jobs – $62,700 median annual salary

Educational and training programs are increasingly delivered through computers, tablets or other handheld devices. Training and development specialists who focus on education technology can be found in a number 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 $62,700 in 2020. It’s important to note that salary for education technology jobs varies from position to position. The BLS projects the job market for training and development specialists will grow 11% between 2020 and 2030.

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 revolves around the chain of command, and leaders have responsibility for their assigned areas of duty. Whether by military units or designated personnel, leaders carry out plans and programs for 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 – $185,950 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 the training and knowledge-base levels of employees. 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 find ways to make education more effective.

The median annual salary for top executives in 2020 was $185,950. BLS projects employment of top executives is expected to rise 8% between 2020 and 2030.

9. Education Lobbyist Jobs – $125,350 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 2020 was $125,350. According to the BLS, political scientist jobs are projected to grow 9% between 2020 and 2030.

10. Elementary, Middle School, or High School Principal Jobs – $98,490 median annual salary

School principals are in charge of all the 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 the hiring and recruiting of teachers, and monitoring students’ test score performance. 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 grow 8% between 2020 and 2030. 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 2020, the median annual salary for elementary, middle and high school principals was $98,490.