You love learning, and you want to commit your life to help others see the beauty and wonder of education.
But you don’t want to be a teacher. Perhaps you have already spent time as the head of a classroom, or perhaps you have heard too many horror stories to envision yourself happy in a teaching role.
Fortunately, by pursuing a Ph.D. in Education, you can unlock a number of exceedingly rewarding career options outside of the classroom.
Here are a few of the most exciting, lucrative, and impactful jobs you can qualify for with a PhD in Education:
1. Education Consultant
Education consultants work with school administrators, school boards, government officials, teachers, and families to help improve the ways in which students are taught.
With advanced knowledge and skill in the art and science of teaching, PhDs in Education are immensely qualified for this role, which requires an understanding of the processes required to build curricula and identify issues within classrooms and school systems.
Most often, education consultants work for private consulting firms, though they can function as independent contractors.
2. School Principal
Elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools in the United States are managed by principals, who ensure that daily operations are organized and effective at delivering education to students.
Principals have all manner of responsibilities, from hiring staff and managing school budgets to enforcing disciplinary rules and developing educational programming.
There is a great need across the country for high-quality principals, and for education PhDs, this is an excellent position for putting academic knowledge and skill to work in the real world.
3. District Superintendent
A step above the school principal, a district superintendent is a chief executive in charge of all the schools within a district.
Superintendents have many of the same responsibilities as principals but expanded to cover multiple schools, which means their budgeting and staffing concerns are much broader.
Often, superintendents work closely with members of school boards to develop short- and long-term visions for the district and individual schools.
In some areas, superintendents are elected positions, and in others, they are selected by school boards, but in either case, this is not an easy job to obtain.
Education PhDs might need to work toward this career goal by garnering other job experience that demonstrates their effectiveness in education leadership.
4. Academic Dean
Deans are senior administrative staff at colleges and universities.
There are all sorts of different kinds of deans, but all are responsible for setting goals, managing staff, overseeing the budget, and other key administrative duties.
Education PhDs are especially qualified for faculty and department dean positions within colleges of education, but they can also function effectively as student deans, who are tasked with organizing and assisting students through their academic careers.
Many deans begin their careers as professors, so you may need to spend some time in classrooms before you can reach this position, even with a Ph.D.
5. School Provost
The term “provost” is academic speak for vice president.
College and university provosts report directly to school presidents, helping them implement academic plans effectively to achieve major and school-wide goals, and provosts supervise deans and other department heads to achieve success.
Larger universities can have many provosts with discrete tasks, such as marketing, finance, fundraising, and recruitment, but smaller schools may have one or two provosts who assume many diverse responsibilities.
A Ph.D. is an essential qualification for provosts, and teaching experience is also often expected.
6. College President
The most senior leader at a college or university, the college president, functions as the CEO of a high-level educational institution.
Presidents develop and execute strategic visions alongside other senior administrators like provosts and deans.
Because presidents have ultimate power over the direction of their schools, they have the potential to radically improve outcomes for students and staff alike.
Because presidents typically earn a healthy seven-figure salary, education PhDs might set this as an ultimate career goal.
7. Chief Learning Officer
More and more businesses are recognizing the power of professional development, which can improve staff morale and loyalty while also giving the organization access to enviable knowledge and skills.
A popular trend amongst business leadership is the creation of high-level executive positions dedicated to the education of the workforce.
Chief learning officers (CLOs) work with management staff and HR to create strategies for training and development.
If you are looking for a career opportunity fully outside the sphere of education, this might be an excellent job for you.
Takeaway
You can respect and promote education as incredibly valuable for society without wanting to participate in teaching directly.
With a Ph.D. in Education, you qualify for a number of exceedingly important jobs that can positively impact many more lives, and you can do it without working inside a classroom.
