A career in educational leadership generally means taking a position as a manager within an education system, either as a principal, assistant principal, academic dean, or as a department or district administrator. People who pursue this career field often have experience working directly with students as teachers, but that is not a requirement; however, it is necessary that educational leaders have an interest in providing the highest quality education available to the students they oversee.

Depending on which position an educational administrator takes on, they may be responsible for an entire school or school system, or they may handle one specific administrative area like budget, policy, or human resources. In a higher education setting at a college or university, the responsibilities of administrators are often even more far-reaching, including student housing and life services. Positions in this field can be very rewarding but require a significant amount of effort and commitment from the people who take them on. Many education leaders regularly work more than 40 hours a week, as well as on weekends and holidays.

Job prospects for people pursuing careers as educational leaders are expected to be excellent. This is due to upcoming retirements of older administrators and fewer applicants for their positions, given the stressful nature of the work. Additionally, the field is expected to expand because of growth in enrollment of students at all educational levels. Salaries vary widely within this field; lower-level administrators make median salaries around $40,000, but for higher education administrators, principals, and academic deans, salaries can reach near or above $100,000.

Career Specializations

• Preschool and Child Care: Leaders in this field manage daycare centers and other pre-kindergarten facilities.
• Elementary Education: Working as principals and vice principals primarily, leaders at this level ensure that elementary schools meet all state and national requirements and serve the needs of younger students.
• Secondary Education: Secondary school leaders manage junior and senior high schools, often dealing with larger systems than lower-level education administrators.
• postsecondary Education: Usually educational leaders at this level are called department heads, chairs, or deans; they may manage anything from student services to specific academic departments.
• Administration: Administrators at all levels are responsible for overall management of educational systems and usually oversee multiple schools within a central district.

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Degree Levels

• Master's Degree: 2 years to complete
• Doctorate Degree: 5-7 years to complete

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Education and Certification Requirements

Most people who currently work in educational leadership got there by first working as teachers or in other positions working directly with students. To work as a teacher, a bachelor's degree almost always a minimum requirement. As such, people who decide to advance their career by working at an administrative level usually go on to pursue master's degrees to qualify for those positions.

Administrators who manage and operate preschool and childcare facilities are the exception to this rule, as they often need only a bachelor's degree. However, for most elementary and secondary school principals and assistant principals, a master's degree in educational leadership or administration is necessary. Central office administrators at this level also hold master's degrees and sometimes doctoral degrees as well. Most states require school principals to achieve certification, for which they usually need to pass an exam and obtain a master's degree. Schools increasingly require a period of mentoring for new leaders as well, and many also require administrators to take continuing education courses throughout their careers.

For leaders of higher education, similar degree requirements apply. More candidates for these positions have achieved PhDs in their own academic field, educational administration, or both; most all have achieved master's degree at least. However, state regulations do not usually apply to postsecondary education administrators, so no exams or certifications are needed.

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Salary Information

Due to the complex nature of their work, educational leaders and administrators tend to make significantly more than teachers and other school officials. However, depending on the educational level at which they work (preschool, elementary, secondary, or postsecondary) and the size of the school or school system they oversee, salaries for these administrators can vary widely.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics breaks down salary information by education level and specific job title. Preschool and childcare facility leaders have median salaries of $39,940. Median salaries for principals by level are $85,907 for elementary, $91,334 for junior high, and $97,486 for senior high. Salaries for assistant principals are $71,192 at the elementary level, $75,053 for junior high, and $79,391 for senior high.

For postsecondary positions, salaries increase -- especially for upper-level positions. There are numerous positions at the postsecondary level, as these institutions are much larger. For academic deans, salaries vary between departments: $150,000 for deans of business, $128,550 for education, and $125,400 for nursing. Administrators at the university level make varying salaries as well. The median salary for chief academic officers is $158,000; for chief development officers the median is $141,712, and for registrars it is $71,764. (BLS)

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Job Outlook

Jobs in the educational leadership field are expected to grow faster than average, and job prospects for applicants should be excellent. There are fewer applicants for these positions than most because the work can be so challenging and the hours so long. Especially for principals and assistant principals, job prospects are expected to be very good; these positions are being given increased responsibility and accountability for student and school success, which makes them less desirable for teachers looking for advancement.

There are expected to be fewer applicants for non-academic administrative positions, especially at the postsecondary level, because of the degree requirements and lower salaries compared to other comparable positions. (BLS)

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Related Careers

Because so many educational leaders begin their careers as teachers, a teaching career is a good starting point for people who hope to end up in education administration. Working directly with students as an educator provides future administrators with practical experience for the systems they will later manage. 

People who are interested in learning materials and teaching methods may pursue a career in curriculum and instruction. These education workers help teachers and schools to make the most of their time spent with students to ensure student needs and state requirements are met.

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