Education Degrees and Programs

Though one might not immediately think of six-figure salaries when considering education careers, they're out there. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the top 25 percent of elementary and secondary school education administrators--jobs that require a master's or doctoral degree--earned mean annual wages of more than $107,220 in 2010. In a 2011 survey by Chicago's Daily Herald, the 150 highest-paid teachers responding to their salary query earned mean annual wages of $141,327.

Though one might not immediately think of six-figure salaries when considering education careers, they're out there. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the top 25 percent of elementary and secondary school education administrators--jobs that require a master's or doctoral degree--earned mean annual wages of more than $107,220 in 2010. In a 2011 survey by Chicago's Daily Herald, the 150 highest-paid teachers responding to their salary query earned mean annual wages of $141,327.

Many teachers work more than 40 hours a week and supplement their income with a second job during the summer or with coaching or extracurricular work during the school year.

Education degree cheat sheet: what you need to know

Teacher training typically requires a four-year bachelor's degree in education plus certification, though some districts require teachers to eventually complete a graduate education program. Education courses for prospective teachers include a solid general education as well as specific courses in topics such as pedagogy, testing and assessment, lesson design and curriculum development. Teachers may also take courses in they area in which they plan to specialize such as English or mathematics. Administrators may take courses in organizational management, psychology, leadership and management principles as well.