What kind of master’s degree should a teacher get?
The answer is both complex and simple, but let’s take a look at it from a financial perspective.
As an educator, getting a master’s degree can put a major dent in your finances.
I constantly hear teachers voice their concerns regarding less-than-stellar salaries, yet we invest more and more of our time doing things without being compensated financially in some way.
One area we should think about is the type of masters degrees we pursue. You want it to be worth your time and money.
Unlike you, I didn’t think through this decision too well (I assume you’re actually thinking this through since you’re reading this post).
So I’m here to help you not make that same mistake.
*Disclaimer: This post represents my opinions and experiences and are for educational purposes only. I am not a financial advisor, and this post does not represent formal financial advice.
Related: If you’re an ambitious professional looking to stretch your paycheck and talents in the teaching profession, see our complete resource page of career tips and money advice just for educators.
What kind of master’s degree should a teacher get?
The type of master’s degree one pursues as a teacher depends on a number of factors. Consider your professional and personal goals. Also think about whether you want a higher salary, options outside of the classroom, leadership opportunities, or to deepen expertise in a specialized area.
This post helps you think through what kind of master’s degree will be right for you as a teacher.
I cover the topic from the perspective of cost and income potential.
I’m going to detail the pros and cons of various education-related master degrees.
6 Questions To Ask About Your Desired Outcomes…
1. Do I want the potential to earn more money?
2. Am I interested in career options outside of the classroom or in other sectors such as higher education?
3. Are leadership opportunities important to me? (Not all master degrees lend themselves to helping you “move up”).
4. Will simply improving my skills to become a more effective teacher be enough for me?
5. How will this degree keep me competitive professionally?
6. Is this particular master’s degree worth the money?
Let’s dive into the most common master’s degrees that teachers usually receive.
We’ll rate each – VERY GOOD, DECENT CHANCE, FAIR, POOR – according to how well they measure up in terms of these questions…
- Greater Earning Potential?
- Career Options Outside of Classroom?
- Leadership Opportunities?
- Makes Me More Competitive?
- Ability to Work in Higher Education?
These are my well-thought out OPINIONS (based on first and second-hand experiences), but of course, things vary based on other factors unique to each school and individual.
Thoughts are my own, so please don’t take these opinions as professional advice.
Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction
Greater Earning Potential? FAIR
Career Options Outside of Classroom? DECENT CHANCE
Higher Education? FAIR
Leadership Opportunities? VERY GOOD
Competitive? FAIR
With a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction, you could be a math coordinator, reading specialist, or curriculum coordinator.
This type of master’s degree isn’t the most lucrative, but some Reading and Math Specialists do very well.
In some schools, specialists are on the same pay scale as teachers or receive a stipend.
Master’s Degree in Bilingual Education/ESL
Greater Earning Potential? POOR
Career Options Outside of Classroom? DECENT CHANCE
Higher Education? FAIR
Leadership Opportunities? DECENT
Competitive? POOR
Yours truly has her master’s degree in bilingual studies.
Honestly, it’s not the most useful degree.
It’s a “passion” degree for sure. I studied this area because I LOVE bilingual education and working with second language learners.
I’ve had great opportunities to teach and lead within many schools, but this master’s degree was not a prerequisite for those positions.
I’m sure it was considered a plus, but money-wise, it wasn’t the best investment of my time.
My verdict? A masters in bilingual education is not cost-efficient unless you know specifically want you’ll do with it.
And upon further investigation, you may discover that you don’t necessarily have to have this type of master’s degree to get the position you want.
Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership
Greater Earning Potential? VERY GOOD
Career Options Outside of Classroom? VERY GOOD
Higher Education? VERY GOOD
Leadership Opportunities? VERY GOOD
Competitive? DECENT CHANCE
If you want to become a principal, this is the degree for you! You get a respectable return for your money, and it affords you additional professional opportunities.
As far as competition, remember that you’ll be competing with other administrators and not teachers.
If you already have a master’s degree in another field and have taught for a number of years, some programs allow you to get an educational leadership certificate in lieu of another masters degree.
Master’s Degree in Library Science (Librarian)
Greater Earning Potential? FAIR
Career Options Outside of Classroom? VERY GOOD
Higher Education? FAIR
Leadership Opportunities? FAIR
Competitive? FAIR
Many librarians in K-12 settings are paid similar to teachers.
The ones I know love books, reading, and all that jazz.
While they do have options outside of the classroom, librarians often plan and teach lessons to various grade levels in addition to their primary duties.
With a master’s degree in library science, you may have more options to work in settings other than K-12.
Master’s Degree in Your Subject Area (e.g. Elementary Education, Spanish, Math)
Greater Earning Potential? POOR
Career Options Outside of Classroom? POOR
Higher Education? FAIR
Leadership Opportunities? POOR
Competitive? FAIR
Getting a master’s degree in the same field as your undergraduate usually leads to lateral employment moves.
Inching up on the pay scale just a bit may be the only extra compensation you receive.
You may be able to hold leadership roles such as grade level or department chair, but the potential this degree offers is pretty limited.
Those in STEM fields tend to fair much better.
Master’s Degree in Counseling
Greater Earning Potential? DECENT
Career Options Outside of Classroom? VERY GOOD
Higher Education? DECENT
Leadership Opportunities? VERY GOOD
Competitive? DECENT
If you love helping students with their problems, counseling is for you.
Be mindful that high school counselors do a lot of career and college prep paperwork.
To my knowledge, counselors are paid more than teachers, so if you’re in search of more moolah, this may be an option.
Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education
Greater Earning Potential? POOR
Career Options Outside of Classroom? POOR
Higher Education? POOR
Leadership Opportunities? DECENT
Competitive? DECENT
Early childhood education is a little more unique. In many states, preschools are regulated differently than grade schools.
In some education circles, preschool teachers aren’t required to possess a teaching license or four-year college degree, though most public schools require it.
Are you considering becoming a preschool director?
Great! … but you don’t need a masters degree in early childhood to do this.
It will, however, make you more competitive.
Master’s Degree of Education/Teaching
Greater Earning Potential? POOR
Career Options Outside of Classroom? POOR
Higher Education? POOR
Leadership Opportunities? POOR
Competitive? POOR
Individuals who study for this master’s degree are usually second-career folks with an undergraduate degree in something totally different.
In this regard, this degree makes perfect sense for them, as it’s a way to get a foot in the door to the teaching profession without acquiring another bachelor’s degree.
For those already teaching, though, this master’s degree is not the best investment of time or money.
Master’s Degree in Higher Education
Greater Earning Potential? DECENT
Career Options Outside of Classroom? VERY GOOD
Higher Education? VERY GOOD
Leadership Opportunities? DECENT
Competitive? DECENT
Want to work at a community college or university? Then a master’s degree in higher education may get you there.
But this one is tricky.
The requirements to work in a post-secondary setting depend on the position sought, and a good number of full-time teaching gigs require a PhD.
When deciding what master’s degree to get as a teacher, this is one that you should research thoroughly.
Think about exactly what you want to do in a university setting, and then go from there.
Your background in K-12 teaching may not be enough.
What Kind of Master’s Degree Should a Teacher Get? Other Factors to Consider
Time and Cost
If you’ll be paying for your own master’s degree, research to see if your school has any tuition-reduction programs.
Also look into available scholarships or grants.
Many years ago in the school district in which I taught, graduate school grants were available for teachers seeking to study in high-need areas such as Bilingual Education.
All costs were paid, and the only stipulation was a certain grade-point average.
I only knew about it because I asked around.
Education-related master’s degrees are usually two years in duration tops, so think about your timeline and future goals.
Is the time and cost of getting a master’s degree really worth the investment?
If you have a “passion” for a certain subject but it won’t potentially net you more money or career opportunities, consider free online courses.
You don’t need to spend a lot of money to learn more about your passion.
Public vs. Private Schools
K-12 private schools don’t normally follow a linear professional progression like public schools.
Many specialists and principals in private schools may not have a master’s degree or even a teaching certification.
Where you graduated from and who you know play a bigger role in these academic settings.
So know the norms in your academic circles because a master’s degree may not be the best option.
Personal Factors
Do you have history and/or longevity at your school? Do you have a good professional reputation?
Why is this important?
Politics my friend!
You could have a master’s degree, years of teaching experience, great references, and still not get the job simply because you don’t know the “right” people or you’re not part of a particular “circle”.
This is especially true in private (aka independent) schools.
Hiring boards look at so many factors, and what’s on paper is just a snippet.
So it’s important to know the rules of the game before you invest time and money into a master’s degree that you may or may not need.
Conclusion
So, what kind of master’s degree should a teacher get?
As you can see, it depends on several factors.
I hope this article helped you to weigh all considerations.
Research thoroughly, think about your future goals, and don’t take this decision lightly.
And don’t compromise your financial health.
Make sure the master’s degree you invest in is worth the money plus contributes to you living comfortably as an educator.
Best