Teacher Education (K-12) graduates earn $47,382 four years out. The middle 50% of earners fall between $38,431 and $56,096. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and how far you advance in the field.
This page covers Teacher Education (K-12) as a course of study: what it costs, where it is taught, and what graduates go on to earn. It sits inside the wider field of Education and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.
Teacher Education (K-12) is a focused area of study within Education. Pick this and you can expect to earn around $47,382 four years out, a modest return for a focused credential. You will not have trouble finding it: 1,894 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 106,652 students complete it each year, most walking away with a bachelor's. Coursework pairs research methods with the applied study of people and institutions.
Median Earnings · 1yr
$41,934
Median Earnings · 4yr
$47,382
Colleges Offering
1,894
Graduates / Year
106,652
Avg Net Price / yr
$14,674
How Much Do Teacher Education (K-12) Graduates Earn?
Four years after finishing Teacher Education (K-12), a typical graduate earns $47,382, below average for bachelor's degree holders. Half of earners land somewhere between $38,431 and $56,096, so where you end up depends on the job and the employer. Source: College Scorecard.
Earnings in this field tend to be stable early on. Expect the four-year median to closely reflect your long-term starting point.
$47,382
4-Year National Median
Below average for bachelor's degree holders.
$47,746
4-Year Institutional Median
Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.
Earnings Range
Not every Teacher Education (K-12) graduate ends up in the same place. Earnings spread out a moderate amount, so know what pushes people to one end or the other. Degree level and sector drive the gap. Graduate-level government and research roles anchor the top; entry-level social services and nonprofit roles anchor the bottom.
$38,43125th pct.
$47,382Median
$56,09675th pct.
A Solid Financial Return
Solid ROI. At median 4-year earnings of $47,382 and an estimated $58,696 four-year net cost, the typical graduate reaches earnings breakeven in roughly 3.4 years.
Based on outcomes from 1,223 schools.
Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.
Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown
Of the 106,652 students who complete Teacher Education (K-12) programs each year, the majority (51%) earn a bachelor's degree.
The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.
51%28%
Bachelor's51%
Master's28%
Associate's12%
What Can You Do With a Teacher Education (K-12) Degree?
This degree does not lock you into one job. Teacher Education (K-12) graduates show up in 8 different occupations, and Education Teachers pay the most at $75,350/yr median. Expand any card below to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.
Teach courses pertaining to education, such as counseling, curriculum, guidance, instruction, teacher education, and teaching English as a second language. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
Design or conduct work-related training and development programs to improve individual skills or organizational performance. May analyze organizational training needs or evaluate training effectiveness.
Present information with a variety of instructional techniques or formats, such as role playing, simulations, team exercises, group discussions, videos, or lectures.
Obtain, organize, or develop training procedure manuals, guides, or course materials, such as handouts or visual materials.
Evaluate modes of training delivery, such as in-person or virtual, to optimize training effectiveness, training costs, or environmental impacts.
Teach or instruct out-of-school youths and adults in basic education, literacy, or English as a Second Language classes, or in classes for earning a high school equivalency credential.
Observe and evaluate students' work to determine progress and make suggestions for improvement.
Observe students to determine qualifications, limitations, abilities, interests, and other individual characteristics.
Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects and communicate those objectives to students.
Teach or instruct individuals or groups for the primary purpose of self-enrichment or recreation, rather than for an occupational objective, educational attainment, competition, or fitness.
Instruct students individually and in groups, using various teaching methods, such as lectures, discussions, and demonstrations.
Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests.
Prepare students for further development by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.
Top Colleges for Teacher Education (K-12)
Not sure where to study Teacher Education (K-12)? These 20 colleges graduate the most students in it each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.
Ranked by Teacher Education (K-12) graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats.
Read our methodology →
Related Education Programs
Teacher Education (K-12) is not the only path through Education: 14 other specializations sit alongside it. The comparison below ranks them by 4-year median earnings so you can see where this one lands.
Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page
into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Teacher Education (K-12) program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find
schools that match your profile.
Teacher Education (K-12) carries financial trade-offs prospective students should weigh carefully. The 3 strengths and 4 concerns below are drawn from College Scorecard earnings, BLS job growth data, and IPEDS completion counts.
PROS
Fast-growing fieldRelated careers are projected to grow up to +10.8% over the next decade, with Training & Development Specialist among the fastest-growing roles.
Strong hiring volumeRelated occupations generate more than 306,800 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.
Wide availabilityOffered at 1,894 colleges nationwide, with options at every price point and institution type.
CONS
Modest median earningsFour-year median of $47,382 lags STEM and business fields, affecting ROI at higher-cost programs.
Advanced degree often expectedTop roles in this field typically expect a master's degree or higher. A bachelor's may be a starting point rather than a terminal credential for the most competitive positions.
Declining roles in some areas5 related careers show negative 10-year employment projections. Research specific roles before committing.
Highly competitive market106,652 students graduate from this program every year, one of the higher volumes nationally. Entry-level competition can be stiff.
How much do Teacher Education (K-12) graduates earn?
$47,382 four years after finishing the program. Half of graduates land between $38,431 and $56,096, so employer, role, and location move that number more than the degree itself. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the starting salary for a Teacher Education (K-12) degree?
$41,934 in the first year out. That grows to $47,382 by year four, so do not judge this field on the entry-level number alone. Most of the gain shows up once you clear the first few years and move past entry-level roles. Source: College Scorecard.
What jobs can you get with a Teacher Education (K-12) degree?
Education Teachers are one path, and it pays a median of $75,350 a year. It is not the only one: the Career Paths section below lists every occupation graduates actually go into, with wages and 10-year growth for each.
How long does a Teacher Education (K-12) program take?
Four years of full-time study for a Teacher Education (K-12) bachelor's degree, the standard timeline for this field. If you want a faster route into the workforce, community colleges offer a two-year associate option instead.
How many colleges offer Teacher Education (K-12)?
1,894 colleges and universities, so you are not short on options. That range runs from community colleges granting certificates and associate degrees to research universities with full doctoral tracks. Source: IPEDS.
Is a Teacher Education (K-12) degree worth it?
$47,382 median earnings four years out against $14,674 a year in average net price. That is a reasonable payback window, best at lower-cost schools and in high-demand roles. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific schools before deciding. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the difference between Teacher Education (K-12) and Education?
Teacher Education (K-12) is the narrower of the two: Education covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to Teacher Education (K-12)-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. Pick the specialization once you already know this is the direction you want; it gets you a more targeted credential, not a broader one.
What skills do employers look for in Teacher Education (K-12) graduates?
Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Teacher Education (K-12) graduates consistently look for research methodology, interpersonal communication, and policy understanding. Experience with surveys, qualitative interviews, or statistical tools is often a differentiator in government, nonprofit, and research roles. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.
What is the job outlook for Teacher Education (K-12) graduates?
Outlook is slow overall: related occupations average +0.2% projected job growth over the next 10 years. Training & Development Specialist is among the strongest-growth roles at +10.8%. That average hides real differences by role and location, so check the Career Paths section below for the projection on each specific occupation before you count on any single number.
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