Specialization

Teacher Education (K-12)

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.

About Teacher Education (K-12)

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.

What that figure means in practice depends on what the degree cost to get, which is a matter of lifetime earnings against total outlay.

$41,934
1 Year After Graduation

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.


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.

Bachelor's 51%
Master's 28%
Associate's 12%

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.

The best-paid of these is what Education Teachers earn and how fast those roles are growing, though entry requirements vary across the list.

↗ +2.5% Zone 5: Extensive preparation
$75,350
$54K $98K 25th–75th pct.
Doctoral or professional degree 5,300 openings/yr 61K employed nationally
Speaking Reading Comprehension Learning Strategies Active Listening Instructing
Day-to-day responsibilities

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.
↘ -0.2% Zone 4: Considerable preparation
$72,040
$60K $93K 25th–75th pct.
Bachelor's degree 63,500 openings/yr 1.1M employed nationally
Instructing Reading Comprehension Active Listening Learning Strategies Speaking
Day-to-day responsibilities

Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level.

  • Prepare students for later grades by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.
  • Instruct through lectures, discussions, and demonstrations in one or more subjects, such as English, mathematics, or social studies.
  • Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among students.
↗ +10.8% Zone 4: Considerable preparation
$69,280
$50K $95K 25th–75th pct.
Bachelor's degree 46,000 openings/yr 458K employed nationally
Speaking Instructing Learning Strategies Social Perceptiveness Active Listening
Day-to-day responsibilities

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.
↘ -0.4% Zone 4: Considerable preparation
$64,370
$59K $80K 25th–75th pct.
Bachelor's degree 38,800 openings/yr 620K employed nationally
Instructing Learning Strategies Speaking Active Listening Reading Comprehension
Day-to-day responsibilities

Teach one or more subjects to students at the middle, intermediate, or junior high school level.

  • Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.
  • Observe and evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
  • Instruct through lectures, discussions, and demonstrations in one or more subjects, such as English, mathematics, or social studies.
↘ -0.4% Zone 4: Considerable preparation
$63,970
$58K $81K 25th–75th pct.
Bachelor's degree 87,500 openings/yr 1.4M employed nationally
Instructing Learning Strategies Speaking Active Listening Critical Thinking
Day-to-day responsibilities

Teach academic and social skills to students at the elementary school level.

  • Instruct students individually and in groups, using teaching methods such as lectures, discussions, and demonstrations.
  • Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among the students.
  • Guide and counsel students with adjustment or academic problems or with special academic interests.
↘ -0.3% Zone 4: Considerable preparation
$62,680
$52K $80K 25th–75th pct.
Bachelor's degree 11,900 openings/yr 109K employed nationally
Instructing Social Perceptiveness Active Listening Speaking Learning Strategies
Day-to-day responsibilities

Teach academic and social skills to kindergarten students.

  • Establish and enforce rules for behavior and policies and procedures to maintain order among students.
  • Prepare children for later grades by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.
  • Instruct students individually and in groups, adapting teaching methods to meet students' varying needs and interests.
↘ -13.9% Zone 4: Considerable preparation
$61,540
$49K $78K 25th–75th pct.
Bachelor's degree 3,800 openings/yr 37K employed nationally
Instructing Speaking Reading Comprehension Learning Strategies Active Listening
Day-to-day responsibilities

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.
↗ +3.5% Zone 3: Medium preparation
$46,800
$36K $63K 25th–75th pct.
High school diploma or equivalent 50,000 openings/yr 332K employed nationally
Speaking Instructing Learning Strategies Active Listening Critical Thinking
Day-to-day responsibilities

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 score, that list starts with the cost and outcomes at Grand Canyon University, and the rest follow the same measures.

# College Graduates Acceptance Net Price/yr Earnings 10yr
1 Grand Canyon University Phoenix, AZ · Nonprofit 3,099 78.9% $22,472 $42,186
2 Liberty University Lynchburg, VA · Nonprofit 1,203 99% $29,357 $44,813
3 Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ · Public 669 89.9% $14,967 $62,668
4 Georgia Southern University Statesboro, GA · Public 633 87.9% $15,267 $53,236
5 Washington State University Pullman, WA · Public 614 86.6% $14,971 $68,905
6 University of West Alabama Livingston, AL · Public 567 42.7% $12,684 $44,232
7 University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte, NC · Public 552 79.6% $15,435 $57,289
8 Missouri State University-Springfield Springfield, MO · Public 538 90.5% $17,613 $49,827
9 University of the Cumberlands Williamsburg, KY · Nonprofit 522 98.8% $14,107 $45,036
10 National Louis University Chicago, IL · Nonprofit 509 95.1% $12,641 $45,799
11 University of Central Florida Orlando, FL · Public 498 40.1% $10,411 $58,308
12 Illinois State University Normal, IL · Public 473 88.2% $19,398 $62,117
13 University of West Georgia Carrollton, GA · Public 464 51.6% $12,786 $49,587
14 California State University-Sacramento Sacramento, CA · Public 443 94% $9,338 $64,876
15 San Jose State University San Jose, CA · Public 430 84.6% $13,760 $78,988
16 University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls, IA · Public 430 92.7% $15,901 $55,177
17 California State University-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA · Public 417 91.3% $3,967 $59,211
18 Kennesaw State University Kennesaw, GA · Public 411 69.2% $15,048 $57,552
19 Texas State University San Marcos, TX · Public 410 89.3% $16,805 $56,906
20 California State University-Fullerton Fullerton, CA · Public 408 90.5% $6,555 $62,951

Ranked by Teacher Education (K-12) graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats. Read our methodology →

Plan Your Path

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) Degree: Pros & Cons

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 field Related careers are projected to grow up to +10.8% over the next decade, with Training & Development Specialist among the fastest-growing roles.
  • Strong hiring volume Related occupations generate more than 306,800 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.
  • Wide availability Offered at 1,894 colleges nationwide, with options at every price point and institution type.
CONS
  • Modest median earnings Four-year median of $47,382 lags STEM and business fields, affecting ROI at higher-cost programs.
  • Advanced degree often expected Top 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 areas 5 related careers show negative 10-year employment projections. Research specific roles before committing.
  • Highly competitive market 106,652 students graduate from this program every year, one of the higher volumes nationally. Entry-level competition can be stiff.

Teacher Education (K-12) Degree: Frequently Asked Questions

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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