What Does an Educational Specialist or Learning Specialist Earn?
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There are so many specialist degrees and educational programs available in the field of education that it can be a challenging task to search for and find one's best career choice. You should consider the educational requirements to attain a certain job title. Does the program require a college or university degree? Do I have to take licensing exams? Another thing to consider is the time it takes to complete the training. Some educational programs take a matter of months, while others may take years to complete. Furthermore, one needs to think about whether the specialist position offers full-time or part-time employment as well as workable hours. Educational specialist positions frequently require professionals to work in the later afternoons and weekends to meet the needs of their employers or clients. These nontraditional working hours often accommodate traditional schooling hours but they may or may not fit well into your own life. Finally, one needs to evaluate the entry-level, base salary, average salary, and/or how much the specialist position typically pays per hour.
What are Some Specialist Jobs in the Field of Education and What Do They Pay?
Content Tutor Position and Salary:
A tutor usually has an undergraduate or master's degree in a particular academic area. Tutors reteach difficult subject matter to students after school. While some majored in education and have experience as an educator, others have not had teacher training.
These professionals can get approximately $20-$120 hourly, and the range depends on the educational background as well as one's business location. For example, tutors can expect a much higher salary if they are situated in New York City vs. Greenville, North Carolina.
Masters in a Field of Education
There a many master's degree educational program options that can earn one of the following degrees
- Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)
- Master of Education (M.Ed.).
- Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.)
- Master of Arts in Education (M.A.Ed.)
Master’s programs explore specific skills and allow teachers to focus on areas of development such as primary or secondary education, a specific subject area such as math, science, history, or language arts, or prepare one for school administration, curriculum, and teaching positions. Here are some possible areas of focus:
- Educational Leadership or Administration
- Curriculum and Instruction
- Teaching English Language Learners
- Educational Technology
- School Counseling
- Secondary Education
- Elementary Education
- English Education
- Environmental Science Education
- Mathematics Education
- Music Education
- Science Education
Acquiring a master's in education offers increased financial compensation and it is often the motivating factor. While some states require a master's degree in education to teach in public schools, others allow a bachelor's degree with the intent of further educational pursuits. Educators can expect range increases in their annual salary of about $5000-$25,000. The higher increase compensations are often based on experience level and state and local regulations.
Learning Specialist or Educational Therapist Position and Salary
These specialists are related and share similar responsibilities. Both educational positions usually require a master’s degree or doctoral degree and evaluate and support struggling learners on an individualized basis. They help to remediate areas of difficulty and support students to develop compensatory strategies.
An education specialist with this title can expect a salary range from $50-$200 hourly depending on their education and business locale. See our educational therapist course if you're interested in this position.
Educational Specialist Position and Salaries
First, one can consider getting an Educational Specialist or Specialist in Education degree (Ed.S. or S.Ed.). This post master's degree is not a doctoral degree. It requires about half the number of academic course hours as a doctorate and does not require a dissertation. Specialties usually define a concentration of study and may include educational leadership, training and development, school psychology, educational technology, counselor education, computing technology, curriculum, and instruction, or adult education to name a few.
An educational specialist salary or salaries can range from about $40,000 to 110,000 per year. If they take a consultant job, they may range from $50-$200 per hour. Both location and one's major emphasis of study impact the pay scale. Those that pick a technology or administrative emphasis tend to earn higher wages.
Doctor of Education Position and Salary
One can gain a doctorate in education with many areas of study. These degrees require many hours of curriculum-based instruction and a dissertation. The result is a Doctorate of Education (EdD) or a Doctorate of Philosophy in Education (Ph.D.). The typical distinction between these two designations is the type of dissertation the student completes. If it is qualitative in nature then one is granted an EdD. However, if the dissertation uses a quantitative approach, they earn a Ph.D. Some examples of doctoral programs include:
- Special Education
- Educational Administration
- Curriculum and Instruction
- Adult Education
- Educational Psychology
- Instructional Leadership
- School Psychology
A doctorate in any education field gains the most respect and the highest wages. Jobs can be university positions, consulting, or these specialists may open their own educational company and hire employees or private practice. They tend to get paid about $50,00-$150,000 per year in salary positions and can expect hourly wages for other jobs that range from $50-$250 per hour.
What are Some Other Ways to Increase a Salary in Education?
There are a number of ways to increase one's salary when working in educational employment or as a specialist in education.
- The higher the cost of living in a location the more you can expect to make. However, remember that even though you may increase your average salary, it will cost more to live in the location. For example, when you live in a high tax bracket, like I do, in the Westchester, NY area, property and schooling taxes can range from $5,000- $60,000 per year depending on the original cost of the home and the particular town in which one resides. In contrast, if you were to live in a state like Mississippi your yearly taxes could be as low as $1,000 per year. Granted, your hourly rate and yearly salary would decrease significantly, but your bills would be much more manageable too.
- The more years of work experience you have, the greater the base salary you can expect from employers, schools, and even when establishing a private practice.
- Your schooling is important, and many employers offer higher average salaries when employees have multiple degrees. Some employers will also offer more compensation if your schooling is from reputable institutions such as ivy league universities.
- You can also increase your salary as the cost of living goes up. Every few years I ask my clients to pay more to accommodate rising costs like office rent, taxes, electricity, gas, and more.
- Compare your average rates to your competitors. Look for professionals in the same or similar fields. If they are charging more than you and they have comparable expertise, experience, and degrees, consider increasing your pay or salary.
- Ensure you're always up to date with the latest techniques and resources.
Are You Looking For Courses?
I offer a number of courses that can help educational professionals expand their expertise. Come learn about all my courses here: www.learningspecialistcourses.com
Wrapping Up
Whether you wish to explore career opportunities in the educational industry, want to see the data on job salaries, or are considering relocating to one of many cities to increase your salary possibilities, I hope you found this blog helpful. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out.
Cheers, Dr. Erica Warren
Dr. Erica Warren is the author, illustrator, and publisher of multisensory educational materials at Good Sensory Learning. She is also the director of Learning to Learn and Learning Specialist Courses.
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