If you believe that careers in the education sector don’t pay well, you’re not alone. This is particularly true for teachers — 62% of Americans say teachers are paid too little. The research supports it, too — teachers earn 27% less than their college-educated peers.
But this isn’t true for all careers in the education sector either. In fact, you don’t have to suffer the effects of a low salary with a career in education. You’ll find online education degrees that lead to jobs with six-figure salaries.
Plus, these online programs make career transitions easier than ever. You’ll love the flexible schedules, self-paced learning, and anytime, anywhere LMS access.
So, if you’re interested in high paying education careers, read on. Here, you’ll know about the top degrees, their salaries and ROI, and remote career options.
Related:
- Teaching & Education Certificates You Can Earn Online
- AI in Online College: How ChatGPT and Adaptive Tools Are Changing Learning
- Accredited Online Colleges For Early Childhood Education
- How Online Degrees Affect Salary Growth Over Time
Quick Answer: Which Online Education Degrees Pay the Most?
Here are the highest-paying online education degrees today.
| Degree | Median Annual Salary (BLS, May 2024) | Annual Salary Range |
| Educational Leadership | $104,070 | $72,400 – $165,820+ |
| Instructional Design | $74,720 | $46,560 – $115,410+ |
| School Administration | $104,070 | $72,400 – $165,820+ |
| Special Education | $66,600 | $45,000 – $100,000+ |
| Educational Technology | $74,720 | $46,560 – $115,410+ |
| Curriculum and Instruction | $74,720 | $46,560 – $115,410+ |
| Higher Education Administration | $99,940 | $60,000 – $160,000+ |
What Makes an Education Career “High Paying”?
So, you searched for education degrees that pay well. You probably wanted to understand why certain education roles offer higher salaries. Again, not surprising — education careers are often seen as offering lower pay overall.
Certain careers that offer significantly higher salaries. Consider these factors that influence the earning potential of careers in education.
- Administrative vs classroom roles: Principals, superintendents, and other administrative roles usually earn more. This is because their roles involve system-wide leadership that goes beyond day-to-day teaching.
- Specialized certifications: Education professionals in high-demand areas (e.g., STEM or SPED) have specialized competencies. Their higher pay reflects their higher contributions and value to the workplace.
- Graduate-level credentials: Most, if not all, higher-paying roles require a master’s or doctoral degree. These also signal more advanced competencies necessary for leadership or specialized roles.
- Geographic salary differences: Urban areas usually have higher salary offers than rural areas.
- Public vs private sector compensation: Public schools often provide higher pay, better benefits, and more job stability.
Here’s how salaries compare in education careers:
| Role | Typical Salary Range |
| Classroom Teacher | $50,000 – $70,000 |
| Special Education Teacher | $55,000 – $75,000 |
| Instructional Coordinator | $65,000 – $90,000 |
| School Principal | $90,000 – $130,000 |
| Superintendent | $120,000 – $200,000+ |
High-Paying Online Education Degrees
With that said, here are our top choices for the highest-paying online education degrees.
Online Master’s in Educational Leadership
The potential careers with a master’s degree in educational leadership are:
- Principal
- Assistant principal
- District administrator
The online master’s in education salary range is $72,400 – $165,820+ per year.
The degree ranks well because of the following:
- High intent with licensed teachers seeking leadership roles, using it for career advancement
- High CPC keywords (e.g., education administration degree) attract more advertiser competition
- Clear route toward administrative roles
Online Instructional Design Degree
With it, you can pursue education careers outside the classroom, including:
- Corporate instructional designer
- E-learning developer
- Learning experience designer
The salary range for these roles is $46,560 – $115,410+ per year.
This degree also leads to remote-friendly careers in the education and non-education sectors. There’s a strong search growth due to workforce upskilling and online learning trends.
Online Special Education Degree
The SPED degree is among the best online teaching degrees because it has:
- High demand – 8% projected job growth (BLS, 2022-2032)
- Higher pay differential in many districts – SPED teachers can earn $2,300+ per year in base salary, more than general teachers.
You can also pursue traditional and alternative careers with an education degree, such as:
- Special education teacher
- Behavior specialist
- Intervention specialist
Their online education degree salary range is $45,000 – $100,000+ per year.
Online Educational Technology Degree
With an EdTech degree, you can pursue the highest paying jobs in education, like:
- EdTech specialist
- LMS administrator
- Technology integration coach
These roles earn $46,560 – $115,410+ per year. Their growing demand is due to the digital transformation in schools and corporate training.
Online Curriculum and Instruction Degree
The degree can lead to high-paying careers, including:
- Curriculum coordinator
- Academic coach
- Assessment specialist
These roles earn $46,560 – $115,410+ per year. But note that these roles often require a master’s degree due to their leadership aspect. If you’re a teacher looking for non-administrative advancement, consider it.
Higher Education Administration (Online)
The degree usually leads to leadership roles in college and universities, such as:
- College administrator
- Admissions director
- Student affairs director
These roles earn between $60,000 – $160,000+ per year. Their strong demand is due to the steady popularity of college degrees for life advancement.
Remote Education Careers That Pay Well
Did you know that 12% of new job postings as of Q3 2025 are fully remote? Then, about 21-22% of the workforce in the US – or about 34.3 million workers – work remotely or in a hybrid model (2026).
This is proof that, indeed, remote work is the new norm, not the niche it was before the pandemic. For this reason, the number of postings for remote education jobs is also on the rise. Today, about 25% of all higher education job postings are remote roles.
This is possible, too, because of the rising number of education careers outside classroom settings, like:
- Instructional designer
- Online course developer
- Corporate trainer
- Education consultant
- Academic advisor, especially with remote roles growing steadily.
But it isn’t just the rising demand that you can look forward to in remote jobs. In post-2020 times, these have also shown stronger salary resilience and stability. Remote jobs closely track, even match, in-office salaries in certain areas.
| Degree | Typical Role | Median Salary | Remote-friendly? | Growth Outlook |
| Instructional Design | Instructional designer | $74,000 | Yes | Strong growth due to e-learning expansion |
| Educational Technology | Online course developer | $75,000 | Yes | Rapid growth due to increasing demand for digital courses |
| Training & Development | Corporate trainer | $63,000 | Yes | Steady growth due to the popularity of workforce upskilling |
| Education / Consulting | Education consultant | $70,000-$100,000 | Yes | Growing demands via schools and EdTech demand |
| Higher Education / Counseling | Academic advisor | $50,000-$65,000 | Increasingly | Moderate growth from online universities |
How to Choose an Accredited Online Education Program
We cannot overemphasize the importance of choosing only from accredited online education programs. Accreditation matters because it:
- Ensures that your degree has credibility and recognition among schools and employers
- Qualifies you for professional certification or licensure
- Protects your time and money investment in earning your degree
When looking at accreditation, look for these types of accreditation:
- Regional accreditation is the gold standard and applies to the entire university. National accreditation is also accepted, especially for career-focused programs. Rule of thumb: No recognized accreditation, no industry recognition, no access to federal financial aid.
- Programmatic accreditation applies to the degree program only. The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) is the leading accrediting body for educator preparation programs.
Beyond accreditation, also look for these crucial aspects.
- The program must offer student teaching experience or practicum hours. This is required for real-world readiness and teacher certification.
- The program’s curriculum must align with state licensure requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the highest paying job in education?
District and school leadership roles, such as superintendents and principals, are usually the highest-paid roles.
Can you make six figures with an education degree?
Yes, you can. But you must be in specialized fields, leadership jobs, or higher administration roles to do so. Examples include corporate training and instructional design.
Are online education degrees respected?
Yes, but you must ensure that your education degree was awarded by an accredited institution. Regional accreditation and CAEP accreditation are widely considered the gold standard.
What education degree is best for remote work?
Choose degrees that emphasize digital learning and tools. These include educational technology and instructional design.
Is a master’s degree in education worth it?
Yes, it can be worthwhile if it leads to required licensure, career growth, and/or higher-paying roles.
ROI: Are Online Education Degrees Worth It?
In conclusion, online education degrees are worth it if you:
- Consider your long-term career goals and passions
- Earn one in an accredited program
- Target remote or hybrid positions to expand your career opportunities
- Use it to land high-demand, high-paying roles aligned with your interests and goals
- Leverage graduate or specialized credentials to boost your earning potential
| Factor | Bachelor’s Degree | Master’s Degree |
| Total Tuition and Fees | $40,000–$120,000 (Varies depending on school and residency) | $20,000–$60,000 total (Varies by school and duration) |
| Time to Complete | 4 years full-time | 1-2 years full-time |
| BLS Median Weekly Pay | $1,543/week ($80,236/year) | $1,840/week ($95,680/year) |
| ROI Notes | Covers diverse careers | Often increases earnings above an undergraduate degree. High-demand fields usually bring in higher ROI. |