How to become an education administrator, kindergarten through secondary
Plan, direct, or coordinate the academic, administrative, or auxiliary activities of kindergarten, elementary, or secondary schools.
Steps to get there
Most employers expect most of these occupations require graduate school. for example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a ph.d., m.d., or j.d. (law degree)..Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
What education administrators, kindergarten through secondary do
- Counsel and provide guidance to students regarding personal, academic, vocational, or behavioral issues.
- Observe teaching methods and examine learning materials to evaluate and standardize curricula and teaching techniques and to determine areas for improvement.
- Determine the scope of educational program offerings, and prepare drafts of course schedules and descriptions to estimate staffing and facility requirements.
- Enforce discipline and attendance rules.
- Recruit, hire, train, and evaluate primary and supplemental staff.
- Collaborate with teachers to develop and maintain curriculum standards, develop mission statements, and set performance goals and objectives.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Learning Strategies
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Monitoring
Is education administrator, kindergarten through secondary a good career?
On the numbers, this job pays above the typical job. Median pay is 108% above the all-occupation median. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, the schooling you are willing to do and where you want to live.
Where it pays most
- Washington $166,590
- California $159,950
- Connecticut $156,240
- New York $138,830
- District of Columbia $137,470
Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary salary by state and city
Sources: O*NET® 31.0 (CC BY 4.0, USDOL/ETA) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025.