Reasons to Earn a Master's Degree in Education

by Alison Green

A master’s degree in education provides an opportunity for professionals working in educational settings to advance their studies and gain more knowledge. Earning this degree enhances your desirability to employers, affords you the opportunity to make an impact on students and qualifies you for more income. You also can specialize in a specific aspect of education, such as school counseling, education policy and management and higher education.

Increasing Wages

Professionals with master’s degrees generally receive bigger salaries than those with just bachelor’s degrees. In 2012, master’s degree holders earned a weekly average salary of $1,300, while bachelor’ degree holders earned a weekly average salary of $1,066, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In the same period, the unemployment rate for people with a bachelor’s degree was 4.5 percent and 3.5 percent for master’s degree holders. A master’s degree in education gives you better chances of getting a job with higher pay.

Increasing Possibilities

Irrespective of your area of specialization, a master’s degree in education enhances the number of careers you can pursue. For instance, if you fancy being your own boss, you can become an educational consultant and join private practice. To get started, open a company or set up an office where you can offer consultancy services to clients. A master’s degree also qualifies you for employment in government agencies at the state or federal level, where you can work as an educational policy developer.

Enhancing Influence

A master’s degree in education equips you with the management and leadership skills to work in administrative positions in colleges, professional schools and universities. For example, a university can hire you as a dean of students or head of departments. Unlike working as an instructor, where your influence is limited to the students in your classroom, working as a dean of students enables you to serve all students in the institution. You can positively impact their lives of students by making policies that promote their interests.

Getting Closer

Higher education also can stimulate your desire to achieve more educational attainment. A master’s degree in education moves you closer to pursuing a doctoral degree in education, which largely focuses on creating educational researchers. Earning a master’s degree can also gain you respect from your colleagues and workmates.

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