Zone 5: Extensive Preparation

Education Administrator

Education Administrator earn $105,870 nationally at the median. The middle 50% of workers fall between $86,040 and $134,630. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and experience.

About Education Administrator

Plan, direct, or coordinate the academic, administrative, or auxiliary activities of kindergarten, elementary, or secondary schools.


Median Wage
$105,870
Employed Nationally
328K
Openings / Year
20,800
Entry Education
Master's degree
Job Zone
Zone 5: Extensive Preparation

Also known as:

Assessment Coordinator Athletic Coordinator Athletic Director Commission for the Blind Director Curriculum and Instruction Superintendent

How Much Do Education Administrators Make?

Education Administrator earn $105,870 nationally, well above the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $86,040 and $134,630. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.

$105,870
National Median (Annual)

Well above average for college graduates.

$86K–$135K
Middle 50% Range

25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.


Earnings Range

What Do Education Administrators Do?

O*NET data identifies 5 core activities and 5 measurable skills for Education Administrator roles. Use this section to judge whether the day-to-day reality aligns with what you actually want to spend time doing.

What You'll Do

  • Counsel and provide guidance to students regarding personal, academic, vocational, or behavioral issues.
  • Confer with parents and staff to discuss educational activities, policies, and student behavior or learning problems.
  • Determine the scope of educational program offerings, and prepare drafts of course schedules and descriptions to estimate staffing and facility requirements.
  • Observe teaching methods and examine learning materials to evaluate and standardize curricula and teaching techniques and to determine areas for improvement.
  • Collaborate with teachers to develop and maintain curriculum standards, develop mission statements, and set performance goals and objectives.

Core Skills Employers Look For

Speaking Active Listening Learning Strategies Judgment and Decision Making Reading Comprehension

Who Thrives Here

S
Social

Working closely with people, teaching, advising, or helping others navigate challenges is a defining feature of this career's daily work.

E
Enterprising

Leadership, influence, and business acumen are rewarded here, where managing teams, driving decisions, or persuading others shapes career outcomes.

C
Conventional

Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.

Where Do Education Administrators Work?

What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.

Work Setting
Mixed

Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.

Physical Demands
Light

Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.

Stress Level
Low

Low time pressure. Work pace is typically steady and self-directed.

What Is the Job Outlook for Education Administrators?

The BLS projects -1.5% employment change for Education Administrator through 2034, a declining trend, below the national average of +5%. About 20,800 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.

↘ -1.5%
10-Year Growth (2024–2034)

Declining employment projected.

20,800
Annual Openings

New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.

328K
Currently Employed

Total US employment as of BLS May 2024.

Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024.

Where the Jobs Are

The five states below employ the most Education Administrator professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $105,870 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.

# State Jobs Median Wage vs. National
1 Texas 35,900 $86,330 -18.5%
2 California 33,400 $151,890 +43.5%
3 New York 19,300 $137,870 +30.2%
4 Florida 15,900 $87,780 -17.1%
5 Illinois 15,050 $108,560 +2.5%

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →

How to Get Here

Most Education Administrator positions require a master's degree to qualify. The program below is the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.

Master's degree
Zone 5: Extensive Preparation

Extensive education (usually a master's or doctoral degree) plus years of field experience is required to qualify for most positions.


Degree Programs That Lead Here

# Program Graduates/yr 4yr Median Colleges
1 Educational Administration 43,921 $47,433 929

Top Colleges for Aspiring Education Administrators

Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.

# College UCD Score Net Price Salary 10yr
1 CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, NY 93 $3,033 $75,971
2 University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA 93 $12,548 $82,511
3 University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA 93 $13,481 $92,446
4 University of Florida Gainesville, FL 93 $6,541 $71,588
5 University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI 91 $13,138 $83,648
6 Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN 90 $15,846 $91,565

Plan Your Path

Once you've sized up Education Administrator, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.

Education Administrator Pros & Cons

Education Administrator has real financial strengths, but declining employment projections deserve careful consideration. The 3 upsides and 2 concerns below are all data-sourced.

PROS
  • Very high median salary The national median of $105,870 places this career well above average for college graduates, with significant upside at the 75th percentile.
  • High earning ceiling Top earners (75th percentile) reach $134,630 annually. Strong performers, specialists, and those in high-cost markets have significant upside beyond the median.
  • Wide job market 328K professionals are employed in this field, large enough to offer geographic flexibility and multiple entry paths.
CONS
  • Declining employment The BLS projects -1.5% employment change through 2034. This field is expected to shrink. Automation, offshoring, or structural industry change are likely factors.
  • High education requirement Most employers require a master's degree, typically 6 to 10+ years of higher education before earning full wages. Factor tuition costs into your ROI calculation.

Education Administrator Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Education Administrator professionals earn?
The national median annual wage for Education Administrator is $105,870, well into the top quartile of US wages. The middle 50% of earners fall between $86,040 and $134,630. Pay varies by employer size, industry sector, specialization, and geography. National figures are a starting point, not a guarantee.
Is Education Administrator a good career?
With realistic expectations. The BLS projects -1.5% employment change through 2034. This field is shrinking, not expanding. The $105,870 median wage is competitive, but most openings come from retirements and exits rather than new positions. If you're drawn to this work, differentiate through a specialized niche or adjacent certification that keeps you relevant as the broader field contracts.
How long does it take to become a Education Administrator?
Plan on 8 to 12 or more years of combined education and supervised training before qualifying for career-level roles. A master's degree is the typical minimum credential. Degree programs like Educational Administration are typical entry paths. Early-career pay during this ramp-up period will be meaningfully below the $105,870 national median. Factor that gap into any program ROI calculation.
Is a master's degree worth it to become a Education Administrator?
For in-state public programs, generally yes. The margin tightens significantly at private schools with heavy debt loads. A $105,870 median may take 15 to 20 years to recover at high-cost programs. School choice (specifically tuition cost and your expected local job market) matters as much as the credential itself.
Why are Education Administrator jobs declining?
The BLS projects -1.5% employment change for Education Administrator through 2034. Declining occupations typically face some combination of automation, industry consolidation, offshoring, or reduced consumer demand, rarely a single cause. Despite the overall decline, about 20,800 openings per year are still projected, mostly replacements for workers who retire or leave, not new positions. 328K people currently work in this field, so while it's contracting, active hiring still occurs. Specialization in high-value segments of the role gives the strongest protection.
What skills do Education Administrator professionals need?
O*NET data identifies the core skills employers consistently prioritize for Education Administrator roles: Speaking, Active Listening, Learning Strategies, Judgment and Decision Making, and Reading Comprehension. These develop through formal education and hands-on work. Programs with internship or co-op requirements give you a meaningful head start on the ones that take time to build.

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