Job Description, Pay, and Career Outlook
The day-to-day operations of schools at all levels are overseen by educational administrators: preschools and daycare centers, elementary and secondary schools and colleges and universities. They are able to provide leadership during times of crisis and set optimistic visions for the future.
An educational administrator is a role that may suit you if you are passionate about improving educational institutions and have the ability to lead.
Education administrators: A quick overview
Job description for educational administrator
Education administrators work in schools but are not teachers. They oversee all aspects of school administration, from pre-school to post-graduate. A school administrator is responsible for creating a learning environment that is safe and productive for students and faculty.
Educational administrators are responsible for budgets, logistics, schedules and evaluations. Administrators make sure teachers have the resources and equipment they need to provide an educationally sound curriculum. They are also involved in planning and implementing curriculum.
Educational administrators are leaders who set goals and visions for their institutions. They are responsible for ensuring that the school follows all regulations, whether they be federal, state, or local. Everyone who works in schools, from custodial workers to teachers, must report to an educational administrator.
Common Duties
- Standardize and evaluate curriculum and teaching methods
- Employ, train, fire, and dismiss staff
- Communicate with your families
- High academic standards require leaders to lead practices
- As well as federal, state, local and local agencies, meet with superintendents and administrative communities.
- Monitoring financial affairs, including budgets as well as purchasing school expenses
- To ensure that curriculum is being implemented correctly, teacher and staff evaluations should be conducted
- Maintain and represent the school’s image and reputation
- Adjudicate appropriate discipline for delinquent students
- Faculty support with enrichment, training, and goal-setting
- You can complete job functions online using online communication, spreadsheets, word processing, and other automated tools
- Talk to parents about failing grades and disciplinary issues
- Assure safety and quality of care for the facility
- Respect local, state and federal standards
- Participate in school-related events on weekends or evenings
- Preparation for the next school year is possible during the summer
Who is a good educator administrator?
Someone who is:
- Attentive to details
- Caring and compassionate
- Sociable and empathic
- Highly diplomatic
- Be knowledgeable about school policies
- You are a skilled planner and organizer
- Expert in problem identification and brainstorming possible solutions
- Excellent in oral and written communication
- Comfortable working both independently and in collaboration
- Passionate about connecting to students and teachers
- Experienced in classroom education
In-depth education administration
Education administrators at various levels
There are many options for educational administrators when it comes to the level of education and faculty they will be supervising. The position and the institution where you work will determine which responsibilities and what expertise you have.
Child care administrators/directors
Pre-kindergartens, day care centers, preschools, Head Start programs, and nursery schools are all managed by child care administrators. They oversee the teachers and caregivers at child care centers and preschools. They oversee the curriculum, hiring, budgets and all other aspects of child care centers that provide care for children younger than five years old.
K-12 administrators
K-12 education administrators can work in private or local schools systems. They may be the principal, assistant, vice principal, technology administrator or curriculum administrator or school district superintendent.
The school’s daily operation and success are the responsibility of its principals and assistants. They manage teachers and support staff, budgets, curricula and other administrative tasks in elementary and secondary schools.
Superintendents supervise all schools and staff in a school district. They work on a much larger scale than principals, but they interact more with state officials and the school board than principals.
Administrators of postsecondary institutions
College-level educators have many options for where they can work. These range from small private schools to large universities. Postsecondary administrators can be provosts and deans.
University educational administrators provide guidance on almost every aspect of student’s professional and social lives. The following are some of the most popular administrative jobs:
- Admissions – Attracting new students and deciding who gets admitted.
- Registrar assists students in scheduling and registering; prepares transcripts and diplomas.
- Student affairs – Developing non-academic programs, resolving student housing, security and other issues.
- Development and Fundraising: Attracting donors for the school’s key programs.
Postsecondary education administrators often have to travel, especially if their job is in admissions or fundraising. They often travel to high schools across the country to meet prospective students and establish relationships with alumni.
Educational and certification requirements for educational managers
- Education: Master’s, Bachelor’s and Doctorate degrees
- A typical study time is 4-10 years
The requirements for educational administration vary from one institution to the next.
Administrators of childcare and preschool
A bachelor’s degree is necessary to work as a child-care administrator. A minimum of five years experience in child care administration or another related field is preferred.
K-12 administrators
The requirements for K-12 administrators vary depending on state regulations and school policies. A bachelor’s degree is usually required, as well as a teaching credential. However, most K-12 positions require a masters degree in education and many years of teaching experience.
Administrators of postsecondary institutions
Many postsecondary administrators start their career as professors and then become deans or provosts. These individuals may be qualified to become educational administrators by having a doctorate in the field they are interested in and years of teaching experience. A master’s or doctoral degree in higher education is required to be considered for several positions.
Graduate education programs help students develop executive leadership skills such as critical thinking and creative problem-solving. Communication and collaboration are key components of coursework. Students learn how to embrace complexity, innovation, imagination and invention.
Licensing and Certification
Education administrators may need to be licensed according to state and school district regulations. A school administrator license is also required in some states.
Exams to assess administrative knowledge and background are part of most certification requirements. For more on specific state requirements, visit Teachingcertification.com.
Educational administrators can expect to be paid a range of salaries and projected employment.
The salary ranges of educational administrators are dependent on the state, school district and experience as well as the degree of the institution.
Administrators of childcare and preschool
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the median salary of preschool administrators is $47.940. The lowest 10% make less than $30,900 while the highest 10% earn over $83,730.
According to Recruiter.com, childcare administrators and preschool directors can start at $32,000 to $48,000 with an average salary of $46,100. The salaries of childcare administrators and preschool teachers can vary from $36,070 up to $60,150 depending on the state.
Here’s a quick snapshot of the salaries for childcare administrators and preschool teachers:
- Payscale.com: $39,464
- ZipRecruiter.com: $38,037
- Glassdoor.com: $47,442
K-12 administrators
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the median salary for K-12 administrators in the United States is $95,310. The 10% who earn the least are paid $61,490, while those in the top 10% make more than $144,000.
According to Recruiter.com, K-12 administrators can make $64,000-$96,000 with an average of $81,500. Starting salaries vary depending on where you live. They can range from $60,760 up to $109,850.
Here’s a quick snapshot of salaries for K-12 administrators:
- Teachercertificationdegrees.com: $90,410
- Payscale.com: $71,949
- Glassdoor.com: $118,986
Administrators of postsecondary institutions
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the median salary of college and university administrators in the United States is $94,340. Administrators of junior/community colleges earn on average $90,440 The 10% who earn the least are paid less than $54,680, while those who earn more than $190,000.600 earn more. On average, four-year university and college administrators make $95,910. The 10% who earn the least are paid less than $61,490, while those who earn the most earn more than $144,000.
According to Recruiter.com, postsecondary administrators can make $72,000-$108,00 annually with an average of $93,400 per year. The starting salary can be anywhere from $77,350 up to $116,930.
Here’s a quick snapshot of the salaries for university administrators:
- Teachercertificationdegrees.com: $88,580
- Payscale.com: $40,000 – $129,000
- Study.com: $111,210
The expanding education sector is expected to increase the demand for qualified educational administrators in the future. The BLS projects that there will be a variation in the education level’s growth between 2018 and 2028. Preschool administrators will increase by 7%. The growth of elementary and secondary administrators is expected to be 11%. The percentage of postsecondary administrators who will be promoted is 7%.
There are advantages and disadvantages
Pros
- Encourage faculty, staff, students and other stakeholders in meaningful ways
- Every day is unique
- Protect your children from harm
- Learn in a learning environment
- Find creative solutions to new challenges
- Leadership opportunities
- Travel opportunities for work
- Creative and innovative work environments
- Intellectually stimulating
- Benefits and job security
- Higher salaries than in other occupations
- Students are rewarded for their hard work
Cons
- A stressful environment is common
- Bureaucratic problems
- There is less opportunity to work with children one-on-one
- Responsible for making difficult decisions about disciplinary actions
- There is a lot of paperwork
- A lot of jobs require a high level education and advanced degrees.
- It is often necessary to attend activities on weekends and in the evenings.
For educational administrators, professional development
You have many options for professional development as an educator administrator. You can access professional associations for networking, training, conferences, etc. These organizations offer educational programs and opportunities for educators: