Career profile · SOC 11-9032

Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary

Plan, direct, or coordinate the academic, administrative, or auxiliary activities of kindergarten, elementary, or secondary schools.

Median salary
$104,070
per year
Growth outlook
Little Or No Change
BLS 10-yr
Education
Master's degree
AI exposure
5.2/10
automation risk

Salary distribution (US)

Real salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The p10–p90 spread tells you more than the median alone.

Bottom 10%
$65,980
25th %ile
$82,090
Median
$104,070
75th %ile
$130,600
Top 10%
$159,380

Top skills

Active Listening Speaking Critical Thinking Social Perceptiveness Coordination Judgment and Decision Making Monitoring Management of Personnel Resources Complex Problem Solving Reading Comprehension

Knowledge you'll build

  • Education and Training
  • Administration and Management
  • English Language
  • Personnel and Human Resources
  • Psychology
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Law and Government
  • Mathematics

A day in the life

You arrive before the first buses and start the day greeting students at the entrance, setting the tone for a positive school climate. By mid-morning you are observing a teacher's classroom lesson and writing feedback notes, then pivoting to a budget meeting with the district office about next year's staffing allocations. Lunch is spent walking the cafeteria and hallways, being visible and approachable for students and staff. Afternoons might include mediating a parent concern, reviewing discipline referrals, leading a professional development session for teachers, or planning a school improvement initiative based on state test data. The job is a nonstop marathon of decisions big and small, and the reward is shaping a school culture where every student and teacher can thrive.

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