Are you an education major nearing graduation? A worker bee passionate about education and considering a return to school? A teacher already, thinking about changing your employer or career focus?
If any of these are the case for you, you are most likely uncertain about what the future holds. Maybe even worried. After all, the job market for educators is challenging right now as school districts across the country “right-size” (that is, shrink) and federal funding for school programs begins to dry up.
Is it even worth pursuing your dreams of becoming (or continuing to be) an educator? The short answer to this question is “yes,” but you’ll need to think carefully about how you proceed.
One of the early choices you’ll need to make is whether you want to work for a traditional public school or an independent institution like Delphian School, a K-12 day and boarding school in rural Oregon. There are hundreds of private, co-ed institutions like Delphian School scattered across the United States, and they’re different in important ways from the public schools you might be more familiar with.
As you think about the educational setting and approach that best fits your skills and preferences as an educator or educational support professional, you’ll also need to think about the specific role or roles you’d like to play in developing tomorrow’s leaders.
You’re in the right place for that. Read on for a look at the most popular education jobs right now, and keep going for an overview of possible alternative pathways that honor your skills as an educator.
Top Education Jobs in 2024
1. Elementary School Teacher
If you enjoy working with smaller children, you’re a good fit for teaching elementary school.
Many elementary school teachers are generalists who focus on a wide range of subjects and skills. Some specialize in electives such as music, theater, or physical education, however, which allows elementary school educators to follow their passions.
2. Middle School Teacher
Middle school teaching is more specialized. In larger schools, students tend to rotate between classrooms, where they learn different subjects (various math and science disciplines, social studies, electives, and so on). Middle school students can be challenging to work with — they’re “tweens,” after all — but rewarding as well.
3. High School Teacher
High school teaching is an excellent choice for educators passionate about specific subjects and eager to empower older children to find their strengths. It can be a stepping-stone for post-secondary teaching as well, if that’s a longer-term goal of yours.
4. School Counselor (Guidance Counselor)
Guidance counselors play a special role in students’ lives as they prepare to transition to university or the workforce. If you enjoy working with children and young adults but prefer not to spend all your time in a classroom, helping them decide on their next steps in life could be your calling.
5. School Administrator
Many if not most school administrators begin their careers as teachers before transitioning into administration roles. So it’s not as if you can’t do both. However, if you aspire to work in leadership, consider seeking the appropriate credentials (often a master’s degree or even Ph.D) before seeking out opportunities.
6. School Librarian
Despite ongoing changes in educational technology, school librarians will be needed long into the future, according to the Center for American Progress. And like guidance counselors, they play an important — sometimes transformational — role in students’ lives.
7. Curriculum Designer/Educational Resource Developer
If you’ve ever opened a textbook or digital learning model and thought, “I could improve on this,” you should consider developing curriculum and/or educational resources. Like guidance counselors and librarians, these tireless professionals touch the lives of countless students, albeit in a less direct way.
Top Alternative Careers For Education Majors
If you’re discouraged by the results of your search for teaching jobs or simply want to explore options outside the classroom or school office, you might consider these popular alternative careers for education majors and former educators.
1. Education Policy Professional
Education policy professionals work in a variety of settings, including nonprofit advocacy organizations, “think tanks” that supply research and analysis to legislators and policymakers, and in local, state, or federal government.
There aren’t as many education policy professional jobs in the world as there are teaching jobs. But, frankly, not as many people aspire to become education policy wonks. So the path is open if you choose to take it.
2. Subject Matter Tutor
Artificial intelligence might have generalist tutors squarely in its sights, but subject matter experts still reign supreme. If you’re good at a particular specialty, such as advanced calculus or physics, you’ll find no shortage of work in one-on-one and small-group tutoring. Standardized test prep is an especially lucrative field for aspiring tutors.
3. Paralegal
Looking for a clean break with the education sector? Try the legal profession, no law school required!
Paralegals don’t earn as much money as lawyers, but they also don’t spend as long in school and don’t work as hard. Becoming a paralegal is surprisingly easy, and the profession is a good fit for educators because it requires organization, patience, proactiveness, and an ability to clearly communicate complicated concepts to people unfamiliar with them.
4. Educational Technologist
If you have a knack for writing code, or are willing to learn, you’d thrive as an educational technologist. Working alongside education resource developers, IT specialists, and others in the digital realm, you’ll help deliver customized learning to students far and wide.
Find Your Path Forward
The education field is vast, diverse, and full of possibilities. That’s a good thing if you’re an aspiring educator or education support professional.
Maybe too much of a good thing. With so many choices, finding your path forward might not be easy.
Hopefully, you’ve come away from this read with more information about the challenges and opportunities of the most popular paths, as well as the alternatives outside the walls of your local school.
