Masters in Elementary Education

Elementary school teachers work in public and private schools instructing students on matters academic, personal, and social. These teachers, in many ways, are the foundation layers of society as they guide students during their most impressionable ages. A master’s in elementary education enables elementary school teachers to move up the career ladder, with this degree they can work as counselors and administrators or as mentors for new teachers. A master’s degree will also open up additional teaching opportunities. In some states, a master’s degree in education is a basic qualification for a teaching job.

According to The Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a master’s in elementary education you can make $200 more every week as against a bachelor’s degree. This translates into around $12K extra for a year. Public school teachers tend to earn higher salaries as compared to private school teachers.

As a general rule, administrative jobs usually pay better than teaching ones – for instance an assistant principal can draw an average salary of around $61K as against the average salary of an elementary school teacher that is around $43.6K.

The average salary increase for years of experience is not very high, this means you have to plan your career moves and choose job opportunities judiciously. It is a good idea to first get your bachelor’s in elementary education, get some work experience, analyze the work scenario, and then go for a master’s degree. The average salary for elementary school teachers that teach students with special needs is impressive.

The coursework, your subjects of specialization, past experience, the size of the school you work in are all important influencers of the salary you will draw. The cost of living in your city will also make a difference. The overall prospects for a master’s degree holder in elementary education are good.