Master’s in Education Jobs That Aren’t Teaching

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When you think about jobs that need a master’s in education degree, the first thing that probably comes to mind is teaching, right? Well, it turns out there are several jobs you can do with a master’s in education besides teaching. So, what can you do with a master’s in education?

With a master’s in education, you have tons of non-teaching career options at your disposal. You could become a school principal, a career counselor, or a corporate trainer. Other options include education careers like consulting and nonprofit management.

Check out these seven careers you can pursue with an education degree that aren’t teaching and learn about their earning potential, growth rates, and job duties.

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below

If you aspire to become an educational leader while still working with students, a role as a school principal could be an ideal fit.

Principals are the school’s representatives at the district level and the public face of the school. Their duties include academic leadership, strategic planning, community building, student support, and school budgeting.

To become a school principal, you need a master’s in education, such as a master’s in educational leadership or a master’s in educational administration. You also need several years of teaching and leadership experience, such as working as a department head.

Looking to step away from the classroom and have a little more influence behind the scenes? As an instructional designer, you’ll create teaching materials, monitor learning outcomes, and set teaching standards.

Instructional designers operate in a variety of sectors, such as kindergarten to college education, business, government, and the military. They design curriculums that are effective, efficient, and fit the requirements of distinct student groups.

As an instructional designer, you may need to understand the fundamentals of eLearning or have in-depth knowledge of a certain subject. Having a master’s degree is important for academic or government roles, but it’s not always a must for corporate jobs.

If you want to remain in a school setting — just not as a teacher — then consider becoming an educational consultant.

Educational consultants provide training and guidance to teachers and other faculty on emerging technologies, teaching techniques, and curriculum implementation. Regular tasks consist of analyzing student test scores, suggesting policy and program upgrades, and leading workshops for teachers and staff.

To become an educational consultant, you’ll need a graduate degree education, like a master’s in educational technology or curriculum instruction and design. You’ll also need teaching or instructional leading experience, as well as strong project management, communication, and technology skills.

If you enjoy working with students one-on-one and helping them along their educational and professional journeys, career counseling could be a great career path for you. In this role, you’ll recommend careers to high schoolers, college students, and adults and help them take the steps they need to get started.

Career counselors analyze students’ scholastic progress and professional goals and help them find the right education pathways, equipping them with skills in resume writing, job hunting, and interviewing.

To become a career counselor, you’ll need a master of education in school counseling. You’ll also need to meet all the state licensure prerequisites for counselors in your preferred state of practice.

If you’re aiming to play a high-level role as an educational leader in academia and be responsible for the academic, managerial, and financial success of your school, working as a dean might be right for you.

Deans are responsible for guaranteeing high-quality teaching, upholding academic honesty, conferring degrees, and supervising student enrollment, admission, and progression at colleges and universities. They also oversee sponsored program administration, fiscal management, and conflicts of interest to ensure alignment with federal, state, local, and university regulations.

To work as a dean, you’ll likely need a Ph.D. or an Ed.D., which a master’s in education can prepare you for. Deans also often have several years of experience working as a professor or instructor.

Not all jobs with a master’s in education have all that much to do with actual education. You can also work in a corporate setting.

Corporate trainers are responsible for evaluating training needs, leading training sessions and workshops, and creating training materials. They also have the charge of fostering leadership growth and advancing employees’ career opportunities.

To become a corporate trainer, you need a bachelor’s degree in business or a related field. However, a master’s in education or curriculum design and teaching experience can give you a leg up in your job search, as there are many transferable skills between teaching and training.

Nonprofit organizations focused on education work for their communities to make sure students gain valuable skills, train teachers for the classroom, and educate the public. Nonprofit educational directors lead these organizations.

To become a nonprofit educational director, you’ll need at least a bachelor’s degree. However, some roles require a master’s degree in education, social work, or another related field. Teaching experience would also be helpful.