Education is one of the largest industries in the world. This is not a surprise as there is always demand for educational services. In fact, the education industry (government as well as private) is often a country’s biggest employer. Although jobs in education are generally not the best paid, they are the most prominent and stable. Education jobs range from teachers and principals to bus drivers and computer technicians. Like any other industry, some jobs are more preferred than others. In this article, I will offer a list of the best jobs in education and discuss how to obtain them.
In terms of pay, school administrators are generally the highest paid. Among these jobs are principals, chancellors, deans, provosts, and research supervisors. The main responsibility of school administrators is to be the face of their schools, in board meetings and at public events. Their other responsibilities are to oversee day-to-day operations of their institutions, to optimize academic performance, to manage personnel, and to prepare budgets. The latter activities are usually done by the administrator’s assistants, at the person’s instructions. In many aspects, the job of a school administrator is similar to that of a corporate CEO.
Candidates for school administrator jobs are usually people who already have a long career in the education industry. Many started out as a teacher or school counselor and continue to move up the ranks. In fact, most school principals are former vice principals. This is understandable as it would be extremely difficult to manage an established institution like a school without considerable industry knowledge and earned respects. Consequently, the position of school administrator is often viewed as the pinnacle of an educator’s career.
Teaching careers are typically ones with high job security. Job security is seen as a good compensation for the fact that most teachers don’t get paid as much as workers in other industries. Unfortunately, the sense of job security has taken somewhat of a hit as many schools are letting teachers go in an attempt to cut costs. Yet, there is one teaching position that remains high in demand. Special education teachers are wanted in almost every part of the country. The number of special needs children is growing rapidly, and currently there is a shortage of qualified teachers.
How do you become a special education teacher? In addition to having a teaching license, candidates will also need to take part in rigorous trainings which prepare them on how to best deal with special-needs children. These preparations are necessary as the work of a special education teacher is physically and mentally draining. For example, a typical teacher spends 70% of his or her time on teaching and 30% on babysitting. A typical special education teacher spends 70% of her time babysitting and only 30% on teaching.
Another good education job is tutoring. Since parents and schools are constantly looking to give their children and students a competitive edge, there is always strong demand for tutors. As tutors are mostly independent contractors, they are exempt from possible downsizing associated with educational institutions. Moreover, tutors can set their own schedule and pick their work. Tutor jobs range from full-time work to part-time gig. Tutoring experience is also a valuable asset for aspired educators who are seeking a teaching career.
