How Much Can I Earn with an Online Teaching Degree?

Salaries in the education field vary widely depending on what career path you choose. Broadly speaking, occupations in postsecondary teaching and education administration offer the highest average salaries; such jobs often also require advanced training such as a master's or doctoral degree.

College- and university-level professors usually have an advanced degree in the subject they teach. Administrators such as school principals often hold a specialized master's or doctorate in education administration. An in-person or online teaching degree can help make a wider array of jobs accessible to you, and improve your salary prospects. Consider this: a high school principal with a degree in education administration can earn twice as much as a high school teacher.

Education Salaries by Job Type

As a teacher or education professional, your experience matters—those with five or more years of experience can make nearly $10,000 more annually than entry-level workers who have just graduated with an online teaching degree. However, entry-level salaries are increasing, according to the American Federation of Teachers. The AFT cited a 2008 report by the National Association of Colleges and Employers in which salary offers for recent graduates ranged from $25,000 to $40,000 for teachers and $30,000 to $40,000 in educational services.

Education Salaries by Years Experience

Location has a significant effect on median annual salaries throughout the education industry. The primary reason for this is cost-of-living differences. Below is a breakdown of some of the highest-paying U.S. states in terms of median annual salary for teachers and for education careers overall.

Education and Teaching Salaries by Geographic Location