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Job outlook for senior education specialists in the United States
Are senior education specialist jobs in demand?
Senior education specialist job and salary trends over time
Senior education specialist jobs over time
Senior education specialist job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 454 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 430 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 422 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 394 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 379 | 0.00% |
Average senior education specialist salary over time
Senior education specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $93,924 | $45.16 | +2.4% |
| 2024 | $91,692 | $44.08 | +0.6% |
| 2023 | $91,183 | $43.84 | +0.8% |
| 2022 | $90,419 | $43.47 | +2.3% |
| 2021 | $88,412 | $42.51 | +1.4% |
Senior education specialist jobs by state
Most common states for senior education specialists
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 243 | 35% |
| 2 | Delaware | 961,939 | 155 | 16% |
| 3 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 88 | 15% |
| 4 | Vermont | 623,657 | 90 | 14% |
| 5 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 894 | 13% |
| 6 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 179 | 13% |
| 7 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,008 | 12% |
| 8 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 676 | 12% |
| 9 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 369 | 12% |
| 10 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 227 | 12% |
| 11 | Alaska | 739,795 | 88 | 12% |
| 12 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 684 | 11% |
| 13 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 631 | 11% |
| 14 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 377 | 11% |
| 15 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 115 | 11% |
| 16 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 84 | 11% |
| 17 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 1,252 | 10% |
| 18 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 700 | 10% |
| 19 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 299 | 10% |
| 20 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 209 | 10% |
Most common cities for senior education specialists
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bethesda | 1 | 2% | $115,810 |
| 2 | Downers Grove | 1 | 2% | $109,310 |
| 3 | Lawrence | 1 | 1% | $85,807 |
| 4 | Rochester | 1 | 1% | $119,570 |
| 5 | Glendale | 1 | 0% | $80,156 |
| 6 | Riverside | 1 | 0% | $113,377 |
Senior Education Specialist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of senior education specialist experts
University of Richmond
University of Denver
Colorado State University
Rocky Mountain College
Alverno College
Monmouth University
Montclair State University
American University
ETSTech-Ops
Allison Brenning
Director of Special Education and Elementary InstructionUniversity of Richmond
Teacher Education And Professional Development, Specific Levels And Methods
What general advice would you give to a Senior Education Specialist?
Allison Brenning: One of the greatest skills needed in schools today and in the future is adaptability. Our student population is changing every year, and with that comes a wider variety of strengths and needs for teachers to address.
What Senior Education Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Allison Brenning: My first piece of advice pertains to the process of searching for a teaching position. I would advise recent graduates to approach career searching with an open mind as they consider their options.
What will help Senior Education Specialists increase their earning potential?
Allison Brenning: My first piece of advice pertains to the process of searching for a teaching position. I would advise recent graduates to approach career searching with an open mind as they consider their options. I see quite often recent graduates who enter the job market with a very specific position in mind, often within a single grade level and/or school building. For example, a new elementary teacher might have their heart set on teaching Kindergarten at the school near where they live, or a new secondary English teacher might wish to teach only seniors. While there is currently a plethora of openings in schools across the country, the perfect opportunity might fall in a different grade level, school, or district than anticipated. For what it’s worth, I never pictured myself as a 5th grade teacher when I entered the teaching force. I started my career in 2nd grade (which I wanted at the time) and I was eventually forced to move to 5th grade after my fourth year of teaching. To say I was terrified is an understatement. I thought for sure these “big kids” would eat me alive. It took only a few weeks into that fifth year of teaching for me to realize how wrong I was. I absolutely loved and appreciated their humor, intelligence, and their desire for independence while still wanting to be treated like a kid. I ended up staying in 5th grade for the remainder of my teaching career before moving to higher education and if I ever go back to the classroom, that is undoubtedly where I want to be.
Second, I would encourage all new teachers to give themselves plenty of grace as they navigate their first year. The first year in the classroom is exciting and many new teachers are eager to apply all they have learned during their preparation. On the flip side, the first year of teaching is time-intensive and stressful because you are doing everything for the first time…gathering resources, planning lessons, collaborating with colleagues, communicating with parents, figuring out how to best manage the classroom, determining how to differentiate for and accommodate a variety of student needs, etc. Accept that as a new teacher, you simply cannot do it all. You will be tired. You will have moments where you feel frustrated and want to throw in the towel. You will also have moments that reaffirm your decision to become a teacher. To me, there is nothing better than seeing something click with a child and realizing that moment is, in large part, due to your commitment and dedication. Embrace those moments and use them as fuel during the more stressful times because they will keep your positivity and momentum going. You will make mistakes, and that’s okay. No teacher is perfect! It’s not about avoiding mistakes, but about how you reflect on and respond to those mistakes that really matters
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Senior Education Specialists?
Maria Salazar Ph.D.: The coronavirus will have an enduring impact on higher education graduates. In the field of education, graduates have experienced first hand the deep and lasting inequalities that the coronavirus has had on youth and families from Communities of Color. The have seen educational gaps widen into education chasms. They have witnessed the struggles, successes, and resiliency of families as they navigate the impact of the virus. Graduates leave education programs with their eyes wide open to the systemic racism and other isms that impact youth and their families, from education, to healthcare, and beyond.
In teacher education programs, our graduates have had a front row seat to inequality. They have witnessed children and adolescents disengage from schooling and life. They have struggled to support their students' mental and physical health. They ache to be with their students in classrooms, yet fear the repercussions of close contact due to the virus. Yet, they persist, and they keep believing they can make a difference.
What's a day at work look like for a Senior Education Specialist?
Maria Salazar Ph.D.: A day at work for a recent graduate in the field of education is unknown, yet it is known. Schools will certainly change. We will definitely see greater use of technology. Innovation may impact the school day and approach to schooling. Yet, traditional schools may eventually revert to what is known. The factory model of schooling is engrained in U.S. Society. The school enterprise may eventually go back to the "normal" disengaging and alienating model that existed before the virus. And yet, a work day may look radically different. Innovative options for schooling may arise that push beyond the boundaries of what is known. The potential for change is everywhere, in all sectors of the economy. Why not education?
What technical skills for a Senior Education Specialist stand out to employers?
Maria Salazar Ph.D.: Technical skills that stand out to employers in the education sector during and after the time of COVID include interpersonal skills, ability to navigate change and challenges, and commitment to educational equity. Interacting with colleagues, students, and families online is challenging. This requires a set of interpersonal skills that involve a tolerance for uncertainty, risk-taking, creativity, and innovation. The ability to navigate change and challenges is essential during uncertain times. In schools, the landscape is alway changing, and more so in a global pandemic.
It is important to foster a growth-mindset in oneself, and also in one's school community. Employers are also looking for a commitment to educational equity. With emerging consciousness of racial inequality and the need for systems that promote racial justice, employers want to hire people who are culturally competent and can move beyond statements of the value of diversity, to the enactment of educational environments that promote equity for those who are marginalized. This skill set includes: cross-cultural communication, culturally responsive teaching, and strength-based practices.
Dr. Ann Sebald
Assistant Professor, Co-DirectorColorado State University
Center for Educator Preparation
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Senior Education Specialists?
Dr. Ann Sebald: Not sure what is meant by 'enduring'. However, if you are asking if there will be a long/longer term impact of the pandemic on recent graduates entering the teaching profession, I would say yes. As the state continues to work through the fiscal impact of the pandemic, schools will need to identify their priorities. As it relates to in-person learning, educators have done an amazing job at continuous adjustments during the past year. Teacher candidates have learned along-side veteran educators how best to adapt the learning environment for all students and their needs. What we've learned over this past year is being applied in schools around the globe moving forward.
What will help Senior Education Specialists increase their earning potential?
Dr. Ann Sebald: Within the field of P-12 education, the question that should be asked is what will help people in our field improve student learning. Professional development opportunities, supported by what we have learned from recent and on-going research, is what will support teachers and leaders within the field of P-12 education. The goal remains the same, how can we best prepare future children and youth to be well prepared to address the challenges and opportunities they will face as they graduate and move out into the workforce and world.
Dr. Stevie Schmitz
Director of EducationRocky Mountain College
Leadership and Distance Education Program
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Senior Education Specialists?
Dr. Stevie Schmitz: I believe that there will be an enduring impact on the entire education system due to the pandemic. Students may experience gaps in their education due to remote learning which will have to be addressed by educational leaders and their faculty members as well as parents. Social emotional stress is bound to be a factor as students return to school. Leaders need to support students and staff with this transition. Educational technology will occupy a new role in public education and we need to embrace and support it. Financial impact will also be a reality for newly graduated educational leaders. Money spent or needing to be spent on safety measures will continue as more students return to school. All of these situations (and others not yet imagined) will impact new leaders.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Senior Education Specialists?
Randa Suleiman Ph.D.: The pandemic had an impact on all of us including our students. In education, the shift from face to face teaching to online pushed our teacher candidates to show their skills. As an Alverno graduate, our teachers tend to be ore versed in technology integration and comfortable teaching in multi-media classrooms.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Senior Education Specialists?
Randa Suleiman Ph.D.: Are you asking about my job as a faculty? If yes, here is my answer: As a faculty, I worked diligently to model best practices teaching in a virtual environment. I believe in modeling my expectations. As education faculty, we have to walk the talk. I created effective learning environment for my teacher candidates that they can take ideas and strategies to implement in their own teaching.
What will help Senior Education Specialists increase their earning potential?
Randa Suleiman Ph.D.: As more teachers are leaving the field, there is a teacher shortage. All teaching licenses are needed. Some of the areas with immediate needs are special education and bilingual
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Senior Education Specialist job market given the pandemic?
Antonio Estudillo Ph.D.: A range of considerations come to mind, all of which are interconnected and speak to sustainability in the field of education. Generally speaking, there is a teacher shortage where specific endorsements are concerned (e.g., STEM, Special Education, ESL/working with Multi-Lingual Leaners as well as historically underrepresented students). Of immediate interest is the recruitment and retention of our teaching force that cannot simply pivot how they approach teaching pedagogy, but actually how prospective teacher-educators can change their practices to be more learner-centered, equity-minded, and intentional moving forward (i.e., namely, concentration in quality of technology applications and usage; online learning/blended learning/hybrid intruction).
Specific to the pandemic, this is perhaps most pressing when considering how to better differentiate within and across learning environments/spaces to offer a personalized student experience-facilitating and cultivating meaningful engagement, especially having incoming teachers bring with them an increased/enhanced sense of self and awareness-knowledge of the backgrounds and representation of children of color (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) and in particular Latinx and Black/African-American students. In addition too, per job market and the current pandemic, there is still a tremendous need to increase and diversify the ethnic-racial representation of the teaching force.
What's a good job out of college for Senior Education Specialists?
Antonio Estudillo Ph.D.: One where an individual out of college has the opportunity to gain access to critical mentorship, professional learning (e.g., professional development), a greater sense of autonomy, and the presence of a community (e.g., sense of belonging as a professional). These combined considerations may be aspirational, but in the context of schools, a recognition for school leadership also matters. Therefore, those seeking a position should aim to consider the present and ongoing investments that are in motion/developing within an institution and how these investments may become increasingly comprehensive, forward-thinking, and accessible over time and after one is hired.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Senior Education Specialist job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Nicole Barnes: Although the abrupt changes that occurred to K-12 schooling in the Spring of 2020 have given way to more detailed reopening plans and a vaccine is now available, the use of hybrid and remote learning remains with the ongoing influence of COVID-19. Therefore, it seems essential that teacher educators, researchers, and K-12 school districts rethink what good teaching looks like for K-12 education's changed landscape. Teachers more then ever will need to be prepared to teach in virtual environments and garner the same academic, social, and emotional student outcomes that they would face to face.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Senior Education Specialists?
Dr. Nicole Barnes: The two areas where current teachers appear to be struggling are how to motivate and assess students in a virtual environment. In our Certificate Program in Educational Assessment at MSU, for example, we provide teachers will the knowledge and skills to do this well, and administrators with the tools to scaffold their teachers' development in these areas.
What's a good job out of college for Senior Education Specialists?
Dr. Nicole Barnes: Our graduates are obviously looking for teaching, counseling, or administrative positions in K-12 schools. What I hope for them is that they are in an environment that supports their future learning, and puts kids (all kids) at the forefront of their decision making processes.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Education Specialist?
Raina Gandhi: First impressions matter and will stay with you, so remember to bring your most professional self to work, maintain a positive attitude, and put in the hours. When you make mistakes, learn from them.
Also, take the time to get to know your colleagues and workplace norms, make sure you understand how performance is measured, and don't be afraid to ask for feedback. As you get comfortable with your role, look for ways to take on additional responsibilities to expand your skillset and build your reputation within the company.
You may not land your dream job right away, but this first job is critical for building your experience and gaining transferrable skills. Stay current in your field by reading articles, subscribing to email newsletters, and following relevant people and companies on LinkedIn
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Senior Education Specialists to find work opportunities?
Nola Pearce: Depending on your chosen career scope, there are opportunities across the United States - urban, suburban, rural. If you have a wide range of interests and career experience, geographic possibilities are endless. If you are very specific within an industry, material, or application, there are pockets of locations that might be better than another. I recommend that you reach out to professionals within the industry or profession that you have interest in.