Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Job outlook for education deans in the United States
Education dean job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected education dean job growth rate is 7% from 2018-2028.
About 15,500 new jobs for education deans are projected over the next decade.
Education dean salaries have increased 7% for education deans in the last 5 years.
There are over 15,955 education deans currently employed in the United States.
There are 11,506 active education dean job openings in the US.
The average education dean salary is $101,686.
Are education dean jobs in demand?
Education dean job and salary trends over time
Education dean jobs over time
Education dean job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 15,955 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 14,410 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 14,819 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 14,671 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 14,541 | 0.00% |
Average education dean salary over time
Education dean salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $101,686 | $48.89 | +2.2% |
| 2025 | $99,507 | $47.84 | +1.1% |
| 2024 | $98,391 | $47.30 | +2.1% |
| 2023 | $96,326 | $46.31 | +1.8% |
| 2022 | $94,657 | $45.51 | +2.5% |
Education dean jobs by state
Most common states for education deans
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 78 | 11% |
| 2 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 74 | 6% |
| 3 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 325 | 5% |
| 4 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 192 | 5% |
| 5 | Vermont | 623,657 | 34 | 5% |
| 6 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 509 | 4% |
| 7 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 249 | 4% |
| 8 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 221 | 4% |
| 9 | Delaware | 961,939 | 38 | 4% |
| 10 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 285 | 3% |
| 11 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 222 | 3% |
| 12 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 186 | 3% |
| 13 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 66 | 3% |
| 14 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 46 | 3% |
| 15 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 33 | 3% |
| 16 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 28 | 3% |
| 17 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 20 | 3% |
| 18 | New York | 19,849,399 | 389 | 2% |
| 19 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 216 | 2% |
| 20 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 91 | 2% |
Most common cities for education deans
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Juneau | 1 | 3% | $75,682 |
| 2 | Redding | 1 | 1% | $134,092 |
| 3 | Atlanta | 1 | 0% | $75,847 |
Education Dean job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of education dean experts
Soka University of America
University of Toledo
Medaille College
West Virginia University
Bluefield State College
Chestnut Hill College
Council of Graduate Schools
What general advice would you give to an Education Dean?
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 Education Dean 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 Education Deans 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.
Melissa Gregory
Dean and ProfessorUniversity of Toledo
Liberal Arts And Sciences, General Studies And Humanities
What general advice would you give to an Education Dean?
Melissa Gregory: Melissa Valiska Gregory, Dean, College of Arts and Letters, University of Toledo, https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-gregory-193546290/, https://www.utoledo.edu/?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=PPC&utm_campaign=Gen-Enrollment&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwqpSwBhClARIsADlZ_TlC5r5c4-Sw7v9XW7tXvN3mlDs-TrgkdXuf8J8xwnvs7T-HF2gVPgoaAkYCEALw_wcB
What Education Dean skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Melissa Gregory: I'm copying some UToledo faculty on this message in case you want to reach out to them for quotes:
Dr. Barry Jackisch, History
Dr. Patrick Lawrence, Geography and Planning
Dr. Kim Nielsen, Disability Studies
What will help Education Deans increase their earning potential?
Melissa Gregory: Today's contemporary liberal arts degrees typically do two things:
(1) prepare you for a lifetime of career adaptation by cultivating deep infrastructure skills such as communication, analysis, creativity, quantitative abilities, and others, which prepares you to adapt to the jobs that don't even exist, yet; and (2) offer you real-life professional experience in the form of internships and other kinds of hands-on training that provide you with specific credentials for graduate school or the current job market.
In other words, the key to a liberal arts degree is its flexibility. A liberal arts degree isn't as explicitly career-aligned as, say, a degree in pharmacy or engineering. But that is the whole point: a liberal arts degree takes the long view of how a graduate might advance successfully through a lifetime of work where economic, political, and technological forces regularly close out old jobs and create new opportunities (e.g., "sustainability" did not used to be a job category - now it is!). When coupled with professional experience, a flexible degree that has rigorously trained you to be smart and adaptive prepares you to enter the workforce quickly and also sets you up for long-term success.
Colleen Wilkinson
Associate Professor, Program DirectorMedaille College
Department of Education
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Education Dean job market given the pandemic?
Colleen Wilkinson: Given the pandemic, I believe Teacher Candidates will need to highlight any technology skills they have acquired during schooling on their resumes and be comfortable speaking, during interviews, about how they incorporate technology into their instruction. Hiring committees, specifically parents on these committees, are also going to want to hear about engagement practices the Teacher Candidate plans to use. The pandemic saw a lot of passive learning taking place. This isn't best practice, it isn't what is best for children, specifically those with special needs. There are many high-engagement practices that can occur virtually and on-ground. Hiring committees are going to want to hear about these practices from the Teacher Candidate. They want to know what the Teacher Candidate will do differently in the same situation.
What soft skills should all Education Deans 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!
How have salaries changed over time for Education Deans?
Colleen Wilkinson: While salaries have increased with the cost of living and inflation, New York State still has the highest average salary for teachers. Most districts increase teacher salaries based on Educational opportunities individual teachers participate in. Teachers are constantly learning, and the more learning you do, the higher your salary will go. For those looking to teach out of NYS, make sure to look into moving expenses and such. Some districts in different states will pay moving expenses due to the high needs they have for highly qualified teachers, specifically with a Special Education degree.
Stephanie Lorenze
Service Associate Professor, Coordinator for Teacher EducationWest Virginia University
Department of Curriculum and Instruction/Literacy Studies
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Education Deans?
Stephanie Lorenze: Certainly all of us who have experienced the pandemic will move forward having been impacted. As future teachers, our candidates will have gained the experience of learning and teaching in remote environments. This could prove to be significant as teachers in the field rarely have the remote learning experience that these graduates will have. Their perspective in this role has potential to positively impact their online teaching and learning strategies for future school children. Additionally, these graduate are going into the field with a greater awareness and aptitude for quick shifts in the mode of their instruction and delivery. I look for these folks to be resilient as the future of schooling in the US evolves post-pandemic.
What's a day at work look like for an Education Dean?
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 Education Deans increase their earning potential?
Stephanie Lorenze: Legislators and communities who value their work through actions.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Education Deans?
Amanda Banks Ph.D.: Pressing Covid-related concerns for upcoming graduates are twofold. The first relates to the quality of the student teaching experience. In a number of cases, the pandemic has significantly decreased or even eradicated the ability of cooperating teachers and university supervisors to effectively mentor student teachers. Due of the threat of Covid transmission, a number of university supervisors are no longer permitted in schools, which can dramatically decrease their ability to provide essential, on-site support to student teachers. Covid has also exacerbated teacher and substitute teacher shortages, which has led some state departments of Education to offer student teachers paid substitute teaching positions in lieu of traditional placement in classrooms with a cooperating teacher. These paid alternatives may be attractive in the short-term but participants lose the chance to be mentored by seasoned teachers and critical opportunities to plan instruction. Additionally, teacher induction may be disrupted by Covid for some time, which means that novice teachers may not have access to the level of support from colleagues that they might have had in the absence of Covid. Notwithstanding all of these realities, novice teachers will be expected to hit the ground running as they enter their eventual classrooms.
In the long-term, the Covid pandemic might also affect the job outlook for new teachers. A number of economists have compared the current Covid recession to the recession of 2008, suggesting that the present economic downturn could lead to eventual teacher workforce downsizing. Typically, when teacher layoffs occur novices are the first to be cut. Upcoming or recent graduates looking to secure a job in the classroom should consider diversifying their credentials as a way to increase their marketability or job security. Ironically, districts that eventually lay off teachers may simultaneously struggle to fill specialized teaching positions such as bilingual services and special education.
What type of skills will young Education Deans need?
Amanda Banks Ph.D.: Working knowledge of traditional and innovative instructional technology is essential for those entering teaching. Graduates should be familiar with a wide range of technology-based tools for effectively planning and delivering of instruction in a variety of formats, from in-class to synchronous and asynchronous learning. Fortunately, a number of preservice teachers consistently use or are at least exposed to a myriad of technology as students in higher ed. Familiarity with LMS platforms, audio/video recording and presentation apps, school-to-home communication modalities, and assistive technology are absolutely essential for every graduate planning to enter the classroom.
Additionally, developing innovate approaches to engaging and maintaining student interest and teaching the unwritten curriculum (e.g., basic citizenship skills, personal organization, punctuality, work quality, and honesty) are critical. Brief or protracted periods of virtual teaching can make this especially challenging. Another essential skillset is fostering student-parent-school partnerships. Research indicates parent involvement significantly impacts academic success for all students. For students with exceptional learning needs, parent involvement is the single most powerful predictor of their academic performance. New teachers should make it a top priority to build rapport with their students, and become familiar with their personalities and life circumstances as well as their learning strengths and needs.
What experience really stands out on Education Dean 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.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Education Deans?
Marie Leahy: Yes, I think the coronavirus pandemic will have an enduring impact on college graduates in ways that will continue to unfold. One of the biggest impacts right now is the loss of the "typical college experience" that many of them feel. For example, many colleges and universities had to postpone last year's graduation and the long-awaited activities that accompany the end of senior year. Many courses have been moved to either an online or a hybrid format, resulting in students opting to live at home rather than on campus or in off campus housing with friends. In regard to Education majors, a large portion, if not all, of their practicum experiences as well as their student teaching experiences have been virtual. Even though it was challenging to create a rich experience in a virtual setting, the students responded extremely well. They were able to understand first-hand the importance of patience, flexibility, and creativity, and that will be an asset for them as educators for sure.
What's a day at work look like for an Education Dean?
Marie Leahy: Recent graduates in the teaching profession are going to experience a very similar situation as they had in student teaching since schools are still a mixture of being virtual, hybrid, and in-person. Recent graduates will need to accommodate different learning modalities at once since in-person and hybrid models typically have an online option; consequently, a teacher who is teaching children in-person will also have students streaming the class and participating virtually. At the risk of stating the obvious, recent graduates in the field of education will certainly have to face the fear of being exposed to COVID-19 as they venture into the classroom. They will also need to use their creativity and ingenuity to foster a warm and caring classroom environment as they foster relationships in an environment where everyone is wearing a mask and staying six feet apart. That's challenging.
What technical skills for an Education Dean stand out to employers?
Marie Leahy: The suddenness of the onset of the pandemic made all employers realize that it is absolutely critical for their workers to be able to mobilize quickly and adapt to an entirely new situation with relative ease. Recent graduates in the field of education will need to be able to use Microsoft Office and be able to use interactive whiteboards and maintain a classroom website. In addition, they will need to be able to utilize learning management systems, live streaming, and document cameras/visual presenters. Each school/district has its own learning management system, but if someone is experienced in using a learning management system, then getting accustomed to a different one is pretty seamless. The same is true for live streaming services and document cameras/visual presenters.
What type of skills will young Education Deans need?
Suzanne T. Ortega: Young graduates entering the workforce will need to be highly adaptable to a changing environment. This isn't a new trend, but the pandemic has made it even more important. They will also need to be able to work collaboratively. The workplace has become increasingly team-based, even in a college setting, and knowing how to work with people from other backgrounds and across disciplines is imperative. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, young graduates will need to keep their "learner mentality." The workforce is changing, and employees need to be ready to expand upon existing knowledge and learn new skills throughout the course of their careers; this includes proficiency in new learning technologies and teaching pedagogies that meet the needs of online and hybrid classrooms. It is highly likely that the flexibility in course content and methods of delivery will continue for years to come.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Education Deans to find work opportunities?
Suzanne T. Ortega: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, projected job growth for postsecondary teachers over the next decade is about 9 percent, which is much faster than the average, although there are differences in the academic field. Job growth is likely to occur in those regions and states with the most rapidly growing populations.