Career field
Education Jobs in the USA
Education jobs cover early childhood centers, K-12 public, charter and private schools, colleges and universities, and corporate and online learning. Classroom teachers in public schools need a state teaching license or certificate, and requirements differ by state and subject; many states offer alternative certification routes for career changers with a bachelor's degree. Schools also hire paraprofessionals, substitute teachers, special education aides, counselors, librarians, coaches and administrative staff, several of which need less formal training. Higher education employs faculty, advisors, admissions counselors, financial aid officers and student services staff, and corporate and edtech employers hire instructional designers, trainers and curriculum developers. Hiring for K-12 teaching is seasonal, with many openings posted in spring and summer for the following school year, so start early and watch district job boards. HigherEdJobs and university career pages are the main sources for college roles. Read each listing for certification, background check and start-date requirements.
Updated
Latest education job openings
Common education job titles
Select a title to search current openings.
Skills employers ask for
Skills that appear often in postings for this field. Check each posting for its exact requirements.
- Lesson planning
- Classroom management
- Differentiated instruction
- Special education and IEP basics
- Learning management systems (Canvas, Google Classroom)
- Assessment and grading
- Communication with families
- Instructional design (ADDIE)
- Patience and adaptability
- State certification requirements
Education pay: how to check what a job pays
Public school teacher pay usually follows a published district salary schedule based on degree and years of experience, so look up the district's schedule directly. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook covers teachers by level, and university job ads often list a salary range.
We do not publish salary averages of our own. Read the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook and our salary negotiation guide.
Education jobs by city
Explore major US job markets, or search remote openings.
Watch out for job scams
Real employers never charge you to apply. Walk away if you see any of these:
- You are asked to pay for training, equipment, a background check or an application fee.
- They send a check and ask you to buy equipment from their vendor or send part of it back.
- The 'job' is receiving money into your account, or packages at home, and forwarding them.
- You get an offer without a real phone or video interview, often after a chat-only exchange.
Education jobs: frequently asked questions
Can I teach without a teaching degree?
Many states offer alternative certification for people with a bachelor's degree in another field, and private schools and some charter schools set their own requirements. Substitute teaching often needs fewer credentials. Check your state education department's certification page.
When do schools hire teachers?
Most K-12 hiring happens from late winter through summer for the next school year, with some mid-year openings. Watch district websites and state education job boards.
What does an instructional designer do?
Instructional designers plan and build training and courses, often online, for companies, universities and edtech firms. Many former teachers move into this field.
Are online tutoring jobs real?
Many are, through established tutoring platforms and schools. Be careful with offers that ask you to pay for placement or certification, or to accept payments and forward money.
Job search guides
Plain-English guides for job seekers in the US.
- Spot job scamsLearn the warning signs of fake job offers in the US: fake check and equipment scams, pay-to-train schemes, reshipping and task scams, and how to report them to the FTC and IC3.
- US resume guideA practical guide to the American resume: one or two pages, no photo, the sections recruiters expect, how applicant tracking systems read it, and how to tailor it to each job.
- Interview preparationPrepare for phone, video and in-person interviews in the US: research the employer, answer common and behavioral questions with the STAR method, ask good questions and follow up.
- Salary negotiationHow to research fair pay in the US, answer salary expectation questions, compare total compensation and negotiate a job offer politely, with sample wording.
Free career tools
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