What are the Top Career Options After Getting an Ed Specialist Degree?

Are you looking for an Education Specialist (EdS) degree? This degree is somewhere between a Master’s and a doctoral degree and occupies a special place in academic advancement. It is a non-doctorate, post-master’s program that is aimed at teachers who want to get more refined. Find out more about this degree program and the top career options available for you after having it.

Who is this Degree Program For?

It is for those who would like to take up more advanced leadership roles without opting for the longer doctorate programs. The curriculum for this degree program covers topics like educational policy, instructional leadership, curriculum design and specialized teaching methodologies.

Many professionals like to go for this degree after completing their Education Master’s program, which lays the basis for areas like educational policy analysis, curricular planning and classroom leadership. Then this degree builds upon this basis. Professionals can get the insights and skills that they need to accept roles that can shape the lives of not only a class of students but learners of entire schools, districts or even academic systems. They can provide students with deeper knowledge and a strategic direction that can make their lives more meaningful.

Career Paths in K–12 Education

For professionals in the K–12 space, an Ed Specialist degree can open doors to a variety of leadership and administrative positions.

• School Principal or Assistant Principal – You can ensure the success of students, support teachers, shape the culture of schools that you work in, and manage daily operations. Principles have to also oversee compliance with educational policies and standards, which make it important to have strategic vision and leadership.
• Instructional Coordinator – You have to develop and assess curricula, work with teachers closely to improve classroom strategies and make sure that instructional methods satisfy national standards.
• School Superintendent – As a school superintendent, at the district level, you have to guide the implementation of educational policies in academic institutions, manage multiple schools and lead the way with leadership. You need to have a strong ability to balance student outcomes, budgetary concerns and policy.

Institutions like National University, American College of Education, and University of Washington offer EdS specializations. These make educators directly ready to handle such leadership positions, blending theoretical concepts with real-world application.

What are the Roles in Higher Education?

In the domain of higher education, an EdS can be equally valuable. Many graduates pursue:

• Academic Advisor or Director of Student Affairs – You have to guide students through their academic journey, foster engagement, and make sure that they have proper access to resources.
• University Administration – You can get positions in admissions, student services, or academic affairs. It can let you shape the overall student experience and make universities more effective in imparting education.
• Postsecondary Education Administrator – Your role will depend on overseeing the hiring process of faculty members, influencing curriculum development, and ensuring that programs meet accreditation requirements.

As seen in programs at Northwest Missouri State University and National University, the EdS equips higher education professionals with advanced policy knowledge, leadership skills, and program development expertise. You need these abilities to drive institutions to growth and improve student outcomes.

Ed Specialist Programs and Specializations

Choosing the right specialization can directly influence career opportunities. Examples include:

• American College of Education

• 1. Ed.S. in Curriculum and Instruction
  2. Ed.S. in Early Childhood Education
  3. Ed.S. in Instructional Technology
  4. Ed.S. in Leadership
  5. Ed.S. in Second Language Instruction
  6. Ed.S. in Special Education

• National University

• 1. Educational and Organizational Leadership (EOL)
  2. Leadership in Curriculum and Teaching (LCT)
  3. Social Emotional Learning (SEL)
  4. Trauma-Informed Educational Practices (TRA)
  5. Leadership in Higher Education (LHE)
  6. Special Education (SE)
  7. School Safety, Security, and Emergency Management (SEM)

• University of Washington
  • Ed.S. in School Psychology (with certification)

Each program typically takes about 18 months to complete and is designed to be accessible for working professionals, with many offered fully online.

Salary Potential and Job Market Outlook

According to Lightcast labor market data, EdS graduates can expect competitive salaries and a wide range of openings:

• Instructional Coordinators – Median salary: $75,146; over 23,000 openings in the past year.
• Education Administrators (K–12) – Median salary: $103,482; over 25,000 openings.
• Postsecondary Education Administrators – Median salary: $103,544; nearly 19,000 openings.
• Training and Development Specialists – Median salary: $65,891; over 47,000 openings.

These figures highlight the strong demand for professionals with advanced educational leadership and curriculum expertise.

Where to Find Education Specialist Jobs?

Graduates can explore opportunities on both general and education-focused job boards. Current postings, as seen on ZipRecruiter, VirtualVocations, and other popular career portal pages, include:

• Educational Specialist II – Student Support Section at Hawaii State Department of Education ($114K–$161K/year)
• Remote Education Specialist for California-based charter alliances ($69K–$80K/year)
• Special Education Specialist roles in schools like Port View Preparatory ($69K–$115K/year)
• Corporate and Customer Education Specialist positions in technology and service industries

Remote roles are also getting increasingly common. You can get the flexibility and the ability to work with diverse institutions and organizations across the country.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are various education specialist degree programs to pursue from many reputed universities out there. Once you pass out, you can find excellent job positions to take up by browsing various prestigious job portals that advertise such positions out there. When you get the degree of an Education Specialist, you can take up leadership roles with more confidence. You can have specialized expertise that will help you inside as well as outside traditional school ambience. It will help you to shape the lives and educational journey of students, introduce more innovation in higher education curriculum, make the academic journey easier for weaker students and improve institutional facilities for imparting advanced education, which can make learners ready for the future.