What Salary Can Someone With a Master’s in Education Administration Expect?

A master’s degree in education administration is one of the few education degrees that can set you up for a high-earning career. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual income for education administrators at primary and secondary institutions is around $98,500. Those at the postsecondary level earn a similar amount.

Education administration job titles include:

• Principal
• Vice principal
• Assistant principal
• Superintendent
• Dean

Education graduate degrees are popular among teachers, whose median annual pay hovers around $68,000. Educators earning a promotion to administration take on more responsibility but also receive more income.

Earning a master’s in education administration means returning to school—even if you’ve already earned a teaching-focused master’s degree. It’s essential to consider not only what you can expect to earn with a master’s in education administration but also the cost. That includes the time and effort as well as the financial expense.

This article discusses the salary someone can with a master’s in education administration expect It covers the financial aspects of earning this degree, including:

• Do master’s in education administration degrees have a good ROI?
• What high-paying jobs can a master’s in education administration lead to?
• Other opportunities a master’s in education administration can lead to
• What other factors can influence a master’s in education administration salary?

Do master’s in education administration degrees have a good ROI?

Most master’s in education administration degrees fall under the title of Master of Education (MEd). However, an MEd in education administration isn’t the only graduate degree that prepares you for an administrator’s role. Earning an MEd with a concentration in curriculum and instruction, education policy and leadership, or school leadership can lead to many of the same jobs. Alternatively, you could earn a Master of Arts in educational leadership. Course requirements vary among these degrees. They all require about two years of full-time study to complete. Part-time degree programs can take three or more years.

You’ll often hear the term return on investment in conjunction with master’s degrees. If a degree costs more than the resulting income boost, some may not consider it worthwhile. Taking two years off work to study full-time is not feasible for many people, and attending part-time for more years while working is a grind, too—and that’s not even considering the actual cost of your degree.

The typical tuition for an online MEd is somewhere between $10,000 and $35,000, according to US News & World Report. Schools typically charge similar, if not identical, tuition for their in-person and online programs.

Of course, you may not end up paying sticker price for your degree. Fellowships and other funding opportunities offer students ways to offset the cost of a degree. Schools like Texas Christian University and Merrimack College offer partial or fully funded opportunities to those pursuing education administration.

You can also save money by attending a local public university that offers in-state tuition rather than an expensive private institution. Michigan State University, the seventh-ranked school in the nation for education administration, costs the average Michigan student $14,144 per year in tuition to attend full-time. For out-of-state students, that number climbs to $27,792.

There are quite a few state institutions on US News & World Report‘s list of best education administration programs, including:

• Ohio State University – Main Campus
• Pennsylvania State University – Main Campus
• University of Michigan – Ann Arbor
• The University of Texas at Austin
• University of Virginia – Main Campus
• University of Washington – Seattle Campus
• University of Wisconsin – Madison

ROI depends on the job you get after school, but betting on an education administration degree isn’t a bad idea, especially if you can reduce costs.

What high-paying jobs can a master’s in education administration lead to?

Jobs you can get with a master’s in education administration, and their expected salaries, include:

Assistant principal

Assistant principals earn an average salary of $75,000; the top ten percent make over $10r,000 annually. These professionals help with day-to-day operations in the school, including discipline. Experience as an assistant principal is also a great resume booster if you want to lead your own school one day.

Principal

School principals earn a median income of $98,500 per year; the top 10 percent make over $150,000. The job differs depending on education level. Elementary school principals interact with parents and teachers more frequently than secondary school principals, who deal more with student affairs and school administration.

Associate superintendent

As an associate (or assistant) superintendent, you work with the superintendent to run the school district. Large districts can have more than one associate superintendent, which could involve taking on a specific role, such as developing education programs.

The median salary for associate superintendents who help oversee small school districts (between 300 and 1,000 students) is $101,000. Those who work in districts of over 100,000 students earn over $180,000 on average. Those managing districts of 5,000 to 10,000 students earn, on average, $144,500 per year.

Superintendent

Superintendents frequently hold a doctoral degree, although it is possible to reach the position with an educational administration master’s. Superintendents oversee principals the way principals oversee teachers. They are the face of a school district, which means they also work for parents, teachers, and principals. The most effective superintendents work in tandem with those below them to create a nurturing learning environment.

Those lucky enough to run a district earn great money. The median salary for a superintendent who oversees just 300 to 999 students is $125,000. Supervising between 5,000 and 9,999 students garners a median salary of $193,700. Superintendents of districts with 100,000 students earn a median salary of $229,000.

Dean

University deans earn an average salary of just over $100,000, with the top 10 percent earning over $169,000.

Universities employ multiple deans. As a dean, you may oversee the English department or even an entire college. Although you can become a dean with a master’s only, many deans have doctoral degrees and teaching experience at the collegiate level.

Other higher education administration and leadership positions

A master’s in education administration can lead to other administrative positions in higher education.

You may find management roles in sectors like:

• Academic advising
• Admissions
• Residential life
• Outreach programs
• Financial aid
• Student activities

Postsecondary administrators’ median pay hovers around $95,000.

Other opportunities a master’s in education administration can lead to

It’s worth mentioning doctoral degree programs in any discussion about master’s in education administration salary expectations. A Doctor of Education (EdD) or PhD can advance a career even further than a master’s—meaning more responsibility and better pay. So, why is a master’s in education administration relevant here? Firstly, those who stop at a master’s may still compete with doctoral degree-holders—especially for roles like superintendent, dean, and principal. Also, EdD and PhD program admissions requirements frequently include a master’s. If you’re considering that terminal degree, you’ll likely need a master’s somewhere along the way.

Some jobs above the master’s level include:

• Chief learning officer: organize a company’s training and education opportunities. These executives earn an average annual salary close to $150,000.
• College president: the highest leadership position in a university. They earn a median income of over $320,000.
• College provost: help presidents make academic decisions for a university, garnering an average salary of around $170,000.
• Professor: teach at the highest level. Postsecondary teachers earn a median income of just under $80,000, though this number can fluctuate based on factors like tenure and where you teach.

What other factors can influence master’s in education administration salary?

Even if you already have your Master of Education Administration, other issues impact salary—beyond years of experience.

Location is a primary factor that impacts salary. According to the BLS, the highest-paying states for education administrators are:

• New York—$142,800
• Washington—$140,000
• Connecticut—$139,200
• New Jersey—$136,600
• California—$134,500

Keep in mind that living expenses—not to mention licensure requirements—differ significantly between states. Do your research before planning a cross-country move.

Who you work for can also impact your salary. As a rule, private institutions pay less than public schools. For instance, public elementary and secondary school principals earn $98,800 annually, while those at private schools earn $79,800, according to the BLS.

Wherever they work, professionals with a master’s degree in education administration earn a high salary while improving learning environments for thousands of children.

(Last Updated on February 26, 2024)

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