Become An Educator

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Working As An Educator

Making Decisions and Solving Problems
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
Getting Information
Training and Teaching Others
Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings

Deal with People
Make Decisions
$87,600
Average Salary

What Does An Educator Do

An Educator provides instruction or education to others. They are responsible for creating and distributing educational content, such as notes, summaries, and assignments.

How To Become An Educator

Educational requirements vary with the subject taught and the type of educational institution. Most commonly, postsecondary teachers must have a Ph.D. However, a master's degree may be enough for some postsecondary teachers at community colleges. In career and technical schools, work experience may be important for getting a postsecondary teaching job.

Education

Postsecondary teachers who work for 4-year colleges and universities typically need a doctoral degree in their field. Some schools may hire those with a master’s degree or those who are doctoral degree candidates for some specialties, such as fine arts, or for some part-time positions.

Doctoral programs generally take multiple years after the completion of a bachelor’s degree program. They spend time completing a master’s degree and then writing a doctoral dissertation, which is a paper presenting original research in the student’s field of study. Candidates usually specialize in a subfield, such as organic chemistry or European history.

Community colleges or career and technical schools also may hire those with a master’s degree. However, in some fields, there are more applicants than available positions. In these situations, institutions can be more selective, and they frequently choose applicants who have a Ph.D. over those with a master’s degree.

Postsecondary teachers who teach career and technical education courses, such as culinary arts or cosmetology, may not be required to have graduate-level education. At a minimum they must hold the degree of the program in which they are teaching. For example, the teacher must hold an associate’s degree if they teach a program that is at the associate’s degree level. In addition, work experience or certification may be just as important as education for getting a postsecondary teaching job at a career or technical school.

Other Experience

Some institutions may prefer to hire those with teaching or other work experience, but this is not a requirement for all fields or for all employers.

In health specialties, art, or education fields, hands-on work experience in the industry can be important. Postsecondary teachers in these fields often gain experience by working in an occupation related to their field of expertise.

In fields such as biological science, physics, and chemistry, some postsecondary teachers have postdoctoral research experience. These short-term jobs, sometimes called “post-docs,” usually involve working for 2 to 3 years as a research associate or in a similar position, often at a college or university.

Some postsecondary teachers gain teaching experience by working as graduate teaching assistants—students who are enrolled in a graduate program and teach classes in the institution in which they are enrolled.

Some postsecondary teachers, especially adjunct professors, have another job in addition to teaching.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

Postsecondary teachers who prepare students for an occupation that requires a license, certification, or registration, may need to have—or they may benefit from having—the same credential. For example, a postsecondary nursing teacher might need a nursing license or a postsecondary education teacher might need a teaching license.

Advancement

A major goal for postsecondary teachers with a doctoral degree is attaining a tenure—a guarantee that a professor cannot be fired without just cause. It can take up to 7 years of moving up the ranks in tenure-track positions. The ranks are assistant professor, associate professor, and professor. Tenure is granted through a review of the candidate’s research, contribution to the institution, and teaching.

Tenure and tenure track positions are declining as institutions are relying more heavily on part-time faculty.

Some tenured professors advance to administrative positions, such as dean or president. For information on deans and other administrative positions, see the profile on postsecondary education administrators. For more information about college and university presidents, see the profile on top executives.

Important Qualities

Critical-thinking skills. To challenge established theories and beliefs, conduct original research, and design experiments, postsecondary teachers need good critical-thinking skills.

Interpersonal skills. Most postsecondary teachers need to be able to work well with others and must have good communication skills to serve on committees and give lectures.

Resourcefulness. Postsecondary teachers need to be able to present information in a way that students will understand. They need to adapt to the different learning styles of their students and teach students who have little or no experience with the subject.

Speaking skills. Postsecondary teachers need good communication skills to give lectures.

Writing skills. Most postsecondary teachers need to be skilled writers to publish original research and analysis.

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Educator jobs

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Educator Career Paths

Educator

Coach Teacher And Coach

Assistant Principal

10 Yearsyrs

Program Manager Marketing Manager Operations Manager

Assistant Vice President

7 Yearsyrs

Admissions Coordinator Director Of Admissions

Campus Director

7 Yearsyrs

Adjunct Instructor Instructor Case Manager

Career Manager

6 Yearsyrs

Project Manager General Manager Property Manager

Communications Director

7 Yearsyrs

Adjunct Instructor Assistant Professor Chairperson

Dean

5 Yearsyrs

Coach Operations Manager Assistant Director

Director Of Admissions

7 Yearsyrs

Adjunct Faculty Clinical Supervisor Nursing Director

Director Of Clinical Operations

13 Yearsyrs

Education Coordinator Assistant Director Nursing Director

Director Of Health Services

11 Yearsyrs

Clinical Supervisor Nursing Director

Director Of Staff Development

8 Yearsyrs

Case Manager Program Manager

General Manager

7 Yearsyrs

Service Coordinator Registered Nurse Occupational Health Nurse

Health Services Manager

7 Yearsyrs

Home Health Aid Phlebotomist Radiologic Technician

Imaging Services Director

10 Yearsyrs

Adjunct Professor Faculty Assistant Professor

Medical Director

9 Yearsyrs

Project Manager Product Manager Business Manager

Practice Administrator

10 Yearsyrs

Case Manager Program Coordinator

Program Manager

8 Yearsyrs

Program Coordinator Program Manager General Manager

Property Manager

6 Yearsyrs

Program Coordinator Assistant Director General Manager

Regional Director

9 Yearsyrs

Program Manager General Manager Account Executive

Sales Manager

5 Yearsyrs

Site Coordinator Preschool Teacher Kindergarten Teacher

School Director

7 Yearsyrs

Average Length of Employment

Elementary Educator 5.6 years
Public School Teacher 5.0 years
Art Educator 4.3 years
Professional Educator 4.3 years
Exceptional Children's Teacher 3.8 years
Teacher 3.8 years
Classroom Instructor 3.6 years
Adult Educator 3.5 years
Special Educator 3.4 years
Family Educator 3.4 years
Parent Educator 3.3 years
High School Teacher 3.0 years
Educator 3.0 years
Para Educator 2.9 years
Education Coordinator 2.9 years
Educational Technician Lead 2.6 years
Mentor Teacher 2.6 years
Personal Development Educator 2.5 years
Class Teacher 2.4 years
Mentor 1.6 years
Education Internship 0.6 years

Top Careers Before Educator

Top Careers After Educator

Educator Demographics

Gender

Female
70.3%
Male
27.7%
Unknown
2.0%

Ethnicity

White
80.4%
Hispanic or Latino
10.5%
Asian
6.8%
Unknown
1.7%
Black or African American
0.7%

Languages Spoken

Spanish
57.1%
French
12.3%
German
3.9%
Italian
3.5%
Portuguese
3.5%
Chinese
3.0%
Arabic
2.4%
Mandarin
2.3%
Russian
2.2%
Japanese
2.1%
Korean
1.3%
Greek
1.1%
Vietnamese
0.9%
Hebrew
0.9%
Cantonese
0.8%
Hindi
0.7%
Tagalog
0.6%
Czech
0.6%
Polish
0.6%
Dakota
0.4%

Educator

Unfortunately we don’t have enough data for this section.

Educator Education

Schools

University of Phoenix
19.3%
Walden University
8.3%
Liberty University
7.7%
Grand Canyon University
7.6%
Capella University
5.8%
Michigan State University
4.5%
Texas State University
4.1%
Nova Southeastern University
3.9%
University of Central Florida
3.5%
Arizona State University
3.5%
University of Arizona
3.4%
University of South Florida
3.4%
New York University
3.4%
Texas A&M University
3.3%
Pennsylvania State University
3.2%
San Diego State University
3.2%
Temple University
3.0%
University of Florida
3.0%
Georgia State University
3.0%
George Mason University
2.9%

Majors

Degrees

Bachelors
35.2%
Masters
34.4%
Other
15.1%
Associate
5.2%
Doctorate
4.9%
Certificate
4.0%
Diploma
0.7%
License
0.6%

Educator

Unfortunately we don’t have enough data for this section.

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Real Educator Salaries

Job Title	Company	Location	Start Date	Salary
Herbal and Nutraceutical Educator	Australian Herbal Solutions LLC	Hillsborough, CA	Jul 27, 2016	$208,700 - $730,450
Herbal and Nutraceutical Educator	Australian Herbal Solutions LLC	Hillsborough, CA	Jun 03, 2014	$208,700 - $521,750
Education Specialist	Creative Solution Services Inc.	Ossining, NY	Oct 02, 2015	$135,000
Education Specialist	Creative Solution Services Inc.	Ossining, NY	Sep 15, 2015	$135,000
Education Specialist	Creative Solution Services Inc.	Ossining, NY	Apr 08, 2016	$135,000
Education Specialist	Creative Solution Services Inc.	Ossining, NY	Oct 01, 2015	$135,000
Education Specialist	Creative Solution Services Inc.	Ossining, NY	Aug 15, 2016	$135,000
Education Specialist	Creative Solution Services Inc.	Ossining, NY	Jun 01, 2015	$135,000
Neuroanesthesia Educator	Duke University and Medical Center	Durham, NC	Dec 28, 2016	$121,913
Math Curriculum Educator	K-5 Math Teaching Resources LLC	New York, NY	Aug 25, 2014	$90,000
Education Specialist II-Dlmp	Mayo Clinic	Rochester, MN	Apr 01, 2015	$66,435
Public Education Specialist	University of California, Berkeley	Berkeley, CA	Jun 15, 2015	$66,100
Corporate Educator	H Mart West Inc.	Diamond Bar, CA	Sep 19, 2015	$65,574
Program Coordinator-Education Specialist	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	Chapel Hill, NC	Jan 07, 2016	$64,000
Extended Education Specialist II, Senior Program C	California State University, San Bernardino	San Bernardino, CA	Jul 01, 2013	$63,600
Herbal and Nutraceutical Educator	Australian Herbal Solutions LLC	Hillsborough, CA	Jun 03, 2014	$62,610 - $626,100
Extended Education Specialist I	Cal POLY Pomona Foundation, Inc.	Pomona, CA	Jan 06, 2014	$50,088
Engineering Educator	Wichita State University	Wichita, KS	Jul 27, 2015	$50,000
Engineering Educator	Wichita State University	Wichita, KS	May 26, 2013	$50,000
Engineering Educator	Wichita State University	Wichita, KS	Jul 16, 2015	$50,000
China Project Educational Specialist	California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS)	San Francisco, CA	Oct 25, 2016	$49,754
Extended Education Specialist I	California State University, Long Beach	Long Beach, CA	Apr 02, 2015	$48,648
Education Specialist	Educational Partners International, LLC	Black Mountain, NC	Feb 25, 2014	$48,000
Education Specialist	Educational Partners International, LLC	Swannanoa, NC	Nov 30, 2013	$48,000

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Top Skills for An Educator

Top Educator Skills

Classroom Management
Curriculum Development
Weekly Lesson Plans

You can check out examples of real life uses of top skills on resumes here:

Collaborate with and successfully utilize 3 classroom paraprofessionals in behavior management skills, classroom management skills and teaching styles.
Provided individual assessment and curriculum development for autistic students and adults.
Prepared weekly lesson plans to enhance student's confidence, and to increase student achievement.
Facilitated and taught Thermodynamics, Internal Combustion Engines, and Mathematics subjects for the Engineering program.
Featured in video taping by Palm Beach County School District Department of Education for Language Arts and Social Studies.