Table of Content
- Jessica Robinson
- Sep 03,2026
When you were still in school, you probably didn’t have a full understanding of how vast the education system is. Your world was made of teachers and, on occasion, principals and administrative staff. However, as you got older, you slowly realized just how vast and complex the world of education can be.
More importantly, you realize how big an impact good leadership has in this field. The Inter Press Service highlights data in a UNESCO report, which shows that leadership has an impact of 27% in terms of student outcomes variation. Yet, half of the principals in high-income countries didn’t prepare before taking their posts.
That said, schools and principals are only one aspect of education. In this article, we’ll look at three key reasons why you should consider a career in this field.
If you’re reading this article, it probably means that on some level, you’re still thinking about which career path you want to go down. A career in education can be a great option and gives you the chance to make a difference in the world. Sure, it may not be the highest-paying career out there, but trends show that salary isn’t the biggest priority for many young Americans today.
According to one Deloitte survey, only 6% of Gen Z are focused on reaching a leadership position. 89% of Gen Z also value a sense of purpose as being important to their job satisfaction and well-being.
So, if you are Gen Z and part of the 6% that want to climb up to the top, you’re in the perfect generation to do so. You don’t have to deal with as much competition, which means aspiring to get a doctorate in leadership can be a realistic and legitimate plan. You can choose to work either in leadership positions at schools or colleges, or even port over to positions where you play a role in shaping education policy.
Now, you may wonder, ‘Why go all the way with a doctorate?’ Well, as we mentioned, people don’t go into education for the pay. There are easier careers out there that pay much more.
That said, it never hurts to have a little more at the end of the month. According to Spalding University, holding a doctorate results in a 28% pay increase compared to just having a master’s degree. That’s something worth thinking about if money is important to you.
If there’s one thing that this field suffers from, it is long-standing issues that still need good solutions. For instance, reports confirm what people already know about the lack of funding. Public schools, for instance, only receive the equivalent of about 3.68% of taxpayer income. Meanwhile, the UNESCO benchmark for minimum funding for basic education is 4% to 6% of a country’s GDP.
Likewise, there are other issues that education leadership is still tackling. These include inner-city high school dropout rates or even burnout rates among teachers. While many would be afraid of even going near these problems, there are some who look forward to solving them. Perhaps you’re someone who has interesting ideas and strong beliefs about the way things are.
If so, you can leverage a career in education leadership to solve some of these problems; the positive impact on society can be massive.
One of the best aspects of going into this field is the sheer number of opportunities that exist. Starting from K-12 and district-level leadership, you can apply for positions like director of student services, head of school, data and assessment director, and more.
If the school atmosphere isn’t your thing, you could focus on colleges and academia. You can be a dean, provost of academic affairs, or even a director of institutional research. On a grander scale, government roles exist but can be a little more difficult to enter. However, with some experience, you could get selected to be an education policy analyst or advisor.
Likewise, state and federal education administrator roles are key positions to keep an eye on. These are those roles where you’re in charge of implementing large-scale programs related to curriculum standards or changes to teacher qualifications. For students preparing for the future, AI tools for students can also help with research, learning, writing, and staying organized while adapting to the evolving education landscape.
All things considered, if you’re looking for a versatile career that offers purpose and challenges, it doesn’t get better than education leadership. It may not be the best role for introverts, and it may not pay as well as tech, but you know that now.
If you’re still not sure, speak to a career counselor to learn about the different roles in this field. You may find it insightful to hear what the day-to-day activities involve for some of these positions.
Education leadership involves guiding schools, colleges, districts, or education organizations while helping improve learning outcomes, programs, policies, and educational systems.
Education leadership can provide a strong sense of purpose, opportunities to solve complex educational challenges, and access to a wide range of leadership positions.
Career options include director of student services, head of school, data and assessment director, dean, provost, institutional research director, education policy analyst, and education administrator.
A doctorate can support advancement into senior leadership, administrative, policy, and other high-level positions within education, depending on the specific career path.
Education leaders benefit from problem-solving, communication, decision-making, strategic thinking, collaboration, and the ability to manage complex challenges and lead change.
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