Teacher Education (by subject)
Education · federal classification: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
Median earnings by degree level
| Degree | Median earnings | Typical range | Schools | Clear the bar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | $44,558 | $29,386 to $44,774 | 5 | 80% |
| Associate's Degree | $34,552 | $30,667 to $36,771 | 21 | 43% |
| Bachelor's Degree | $49,807 | $46,622 to $54,048 | 386 | 98% |
| Post-baccalaureate Certificate | $58,570 | $54,098 to $63,676 | 8 | 100% |
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | $72,100 | $60,173 to $80,196 | 12 | 100% |
| Master's Degree | $61,855 | $56,320 to $68,122 | 305 | 100% |
| Doctoral Degree | $90,518 | $77,865 to $102,300 | 10 | 100% |
| Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification) | $60,126 | $56,764 to $71,049 | 8 | 100% |
"Clear the bar" is the share of programs whose graduates out-earn a typical high-school graduate (the federal earnings-premium test). Typical range is the 25th to 75th percentile of program medians.
Job outlook
Projected employment growth +2% (2025 to 2035), about 413,400 openings a year across the occupations this field commonly leads to.
| Occupation | Median pay | Growth | Openings/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $63,970 | -0.4% | 87,500 |
| Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors | $47,160 | +7.3% | 68,000 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $72,040 | -0.2% | 63,500 |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $64,370 | -0.4% | 38,800 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $47,320 | +6.1% | 36,400 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $107,310 | +17.9% | 24,900 |
Occupation pay and outlook: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wages, Employment Projections). A field maps to several occupations, and the same occupations serve many majors, so these are the jobs this major commonly leads to, not positions reserved for its graduates; the openings should not be added up across majors.
Where this is studied
The 8 colleges where the most students complete a teacher education (by subject) program, of 1,099 that report one. Ordered by number of completions only: this is where people study it, not a judgement about where to.
- Western Governors University
- Grand Canyon University
- American College of Education
- CUNY Queens College
- University of Louisville
- Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College
- State University of New York at Cortland
- Virginia Commonwealth University
Earnings source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (release 2026-06-10), median earnings of graduates measured up to four years after completing. Figures describe past graduates and are never a promise. Method: methodology. Report an error.