People who work in the education career cluster help others learn new concepts, build skills, and explore careers—from early reading programs to workforce training to community education for older adults. Most often these roles are in public or private schools or colleges, but education professionals also work in corporations, libraries, and community organizations.
Important skills and knowledge for educators include classroom management, leadership skills, lesson planning, and de-escalation techniques. People with bilingual or multilingual skills, CPR or Emergency Response certification, and awareness of cultural responsiveness and trauma-informed practices are also in demand.
Many careers in this cluster have a bright outlook over the next ten years.
Careers that require a high school diploma or less include childcare workers, library assistants, self-enrichment workers, and information or record clerks in schools.
Some careers require community college-based training lasting from a few months to two years. These include teaching assistants and preschool teachers.
Careers that usually require a bachelor’s degree include teachers—from elementary to high school; child, family, and school social workers; and instructional designers.
Roles in educational leadership or teaching at a college or university generally require a graduate degree. Librarians and social workers also need advanced degrees.
Some careers have specific requirements based on the particular job or employer. These include tutors, literacy and English as a Second Language teachers, coaches and scouts, kindergarten teachers, interpreters, and translators.
Is a career in Education for you? Keep these points in mind:
- Careers in education offer a deeply rewarding path where you can inspire growth, build confidence, and shape the future for one learner at a time.
- Challenges include managing large or diverse classrooms, evolving curriculum standards, addressing students’ emotional and academic needs, and balancing administrative responsibilities with limited resources.
- Public school teachers must earn a license to teach in their state—and if they move, they will need to meet the requirements for licensure in their new state.
- Growth is expected particularly in teaching and support careers in special education and multilingual learning, along with corporate training and development.
- Many educators’ schedules follow the academic calendar, with early start times, summer breaks, and after-hours commitments like grading, parent meetings, and extracurricular supervision.
Whatever your career direction, you can find options that fit. Keep exploring at CareerOneStop.org/ExploreCareers
