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Job outlook for continuing education directors in the United States
Are continuing education director jobs in demand?
Continuing education director job and salary trends over time
Continuing education director jobs over time
Continuing education director job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 320 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 289 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 297 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 294 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 292 | 0.00% |
Average continuing education director salary over time
Continuing education director salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $71,939 | $34.59 | +2.2% |
| 2024 | $70,397 | $33.84 | +1.1% |
| 2023 | $69,607 | $33.46 | +2.1% |
| 2022 | $68,146 | $32.76 | +1.8% |
| 2021 | $66,966 | $32.19 | +2.5% |
Continuing education director jobs by state
Most common states for continuing education directors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 177 | 20% |
| 2 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 119 | 17% |
| 3 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 751 | 15% |
| 4 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 275 | 15% |
| 5 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 537 | 11% |
| 6 | Louisiana | 4,684,333 | 528 | 11% |
| 7 | Oklahoma | 3,930,864 | 452 | 11% |
| 8 | Vermont | 623,657 | 43 | 7% |
| 9 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 222 | 6% |
| 10 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 77 | 6% |
| 11 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 640 | 5% |
| 12 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 370 | 5% |
| 13 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 311 | 5% |
| 14 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 271 | 5% |
| 15 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 263 | 5% |
| 16 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 339 | 4% |
| 17 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 78 | 4% |
| 18 | Delaware | 961,939 | 41 | 4% |
| 19 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 23 | 4% |
| 20 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 46 | 3% |
Most common cities for continuing education directors
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Council Bluffs | 1 | 2% | $62,657 |
Continuing Education Director job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of continuing education director experts
Soka University of America
Medaille College
West Virginia University
Bluefield State College
What general advice would you give to a Continuing Education Director?
Ryan Allen: Education goes beyond teaching in a classroom or school. Often people hear 'Educational Leadership' and they think of some kind of school principal or other administrator. These are certainly important careers for the space, but they are only a part of a broader range of possibilities. There are a range of careers in the EdTech space, for instance, that need good people who understand various aspects of what happens in classrooms. Likewise, educational development and the NGO world are full of amazing opportunities that offer exciting careers that are rewarding. These jobs might see a lot of travel and broader global connections that you don't often see in the traditional K-12 space.
What Continuing Education Director skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Ryan Allen: I don't think there is any one skill that will prepare students for even the next 3-5 years. Things are changing so fast in our sector. Think back to just five years ago, there was no global COVID-19 pandemic nor Chat-GPT. Things are fluid, especially in the field of education right now. The main thing I want my students to understand in my classes is that they should be learning to learn. This means that they might not always have an answer to every questions, but they also have the confidence to find an answer out there somewhere. I don't think this concept can be categorized as just one skill, but rather a broader ethos that I hope my students attain after our program.
What will help Continuing Education Directors increase their earning potential?
Ryan Allen: I think being willing to move to a new location, even sometimes across the world, can be one of the things that helps propel a career. In the educational leadership space, someone may end up at a place they like, but career advancement is limited because the person above them also likes that place. Depending on the location or institution, these can be desirable roles. One way to overcome these issues is to move to another institution, sometimes even in a lateral move with an eye moving up. There is no shame in getting more experience elsewhere and then moving back later. In fact, I think seeing a wider range of different schools, organization, or other educational institutions can be a great way to bring fresh ideas back with you if you do return. I understand moving (especially abroad) is not always an option for people, but it might even just be moving to a different school down the road. Grow through your options.
Colleen Wilkinson
Associate Professor, Program DirectorMedaille College
Department of Education
What soft skills should all Continuing Education Directors possess?
Colleen Wilkinson: Teaching is not a silo profession. We are in constant communication and collaboration with many stakeholders. Teacher Candidates need to be flexible in order to work well with all the different players in the game to make sure the student wins!
Stephanie Lorenze
Service Associate Professor, Coordinator for Teacher EducationWest Virginia University
Department of Curriculum and Instruction/Literacy Studies
What's a day at work look like for a Continuing Education Director?
Stephanie Lorenze: They wish they knew, honestly. This uncertainty is challenging. We are supporting them as they approach this time with support in self-care and professional strategies for sustainability in the emotional and academic work of teaching.
What will help Continuing Education Directors increase their earning potential?
Stephanie Lorenze: Legislators and communities who value their work through actions.
What experience really stands out on Continuing Education Director resumes?
Amanda Banks Ph.D.: Adaptability and expertise in teaching diverse students in inclusive classrooms are growing focal points of many school districts nationally. With recent changes in federal education legislation (Every Student Succeeds Act, 2015), there has been a growing need for educators to universally design effective learning opportunities for a wide range of learners (Universal Design for Learning) to ensure students' academic progress regardless of their socioeconomic background or learning ability. Identifying potential teachers who can help students and schools successfully meet state and federal accountability standards is paramount to hiring committees.
Candidates should showcase any firsthand experiences they have in working with students within and outside of the classroom, especially diverse student populations (e.g., special education, bilingual education). Strong collaboration skills, content expertise, and instructional flexibility are three professional qualities that definitely set a candidate apart from the rest. Recent graduates who anticipate entering the job market in the near future should actively search for such volunteer opportunities if they didn't have these types of experiences in their preparation program.