A master's degree in education may not be required to teach most subjects. However, all the hard work that goes into earning a master's degree usually pays off, especially in terms of salary and opportunity.
Better Pay
Since one of the goals of primary education is to create a better-educated society, many school districts offer incentives to teachers for having higher learning degrees. Often, school districts will offer tuition assistance programs that cover some or all of the costs of attending a higher learning institution. On top of that, individuals with a master's degree are often paid more than their peers who only have a bachelor's degree. According to the Teacher.org website, a primary school teacher with a master's degree could expect an additional $7,000 yearly. While the average teacher's salary has gone up, the change is minimal, and teachers are still considered as one of the most underpaid groups of laborers in the country.
Many school systems have a tiered pay structure. Salaries and raises are based on factors such as years of teaching experience, school involvement and education, which means that coming in as a new hire with a master's degree will not automatically make you one of the highest paid teachers in the school. There will be colleagues who get paid more because they have longer work histories although they do not have higher learning degrees. However, having a master's degree will unlock a higher earning potential down the line. At the same level of experience, you will likely start off making more than a teacher without a master's, and your growth rate will likely increase faster, allowing you to earn substantially more over time.
More Opportunities
According to Education Degree, having a master's degree also opens up more job growth opportunities. Those with higher education degrees are more likely to be promoted, work in top administrative roles, design curricula or make legislative changes through the government. Having a master's degree gives you credibility as a decision-maker. Especially if you are coming in as a relatively new teacher, it can be difficult to make yourself heard over teachers who have been working for a lot longer. However, you can use your master's degree in education to maximum advantage in your academic institution.
More Class Options
For teachers looking to work with high school students, having a master's degree also opens the potential to teach more classes. Most high schools offer advanced classes like AP, Honors and IB. Many school systems require those teaching advanced classes to have advanced degrees (a master's or even a doctorate). Also, across all school systems, anyone teaching an AP class must have at least a master's degree. As a teacher, having a higher education degree may allow you to teach courses that your colleagues cannot, thereby increasing your value. Most post-secondary institutions like colleges and universities also require their teachers to have advanced degrees. So, if you have your sights set on teaching higher education someday, you will need at least a master's degree to do so.
* This article was originally published by the K12 Teaching Alliance and Tempesta Media
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