10
Top-Paying Careers
Pay issues
Occupation
Average Entry-Level Experienced
Wage Wage Wage
Because children’s lives are often changed by great teachers, many
law Teacher, postsecondary $53.04 $19.52 $69.80
students are attracted to careers in education. “Education is not for
Health specialties Teacher, postsecondary $44.61 $21.87 $55.98
everyone, though,” says Desjean-Perrotta. While wages for careers
anthropology and archeology Teacher,
in education “have gotten better, there are other jobs that pay more.”
postsecondary
$41.95 $28.40 $48.72
For many educators, however, the job security, health insurance, and
education administrator, retirement benefits are a plus, she adds. However, teachers often say
elementary and High school
$41.39 $32.54 $45.81
enlightening students is their biggest reward.
library science Teacher, postsecondary $34.96 $25.40 $39.74
The Texas Education Agency says the average starting salary
art, drama, and music Teacher, postsecondary $33.57 $18.09 $41.31 for teachers in the state is $33,100. Average salaries for teachers in
communications Teacher, postsecondary $32.15 $19.32 $38.57
kindergarten through grade 12 (K–12) range from $35,000 to $45,000.
criminal justice and
Corporate trainers earn an average of $47,773.
law enforcement college Teacher
$30.98 $18.08 $37.42
Administrators earn the most money in this cluster. K–12
foreign language and
administrators average $64,266, while those at the college and university
literature Teacher, postsecondary
$30.88 $18.16 $37.24
level average $93,140. Law
career and Technical education Teacher,
secondary school
$29.64 $22.91 $33.01
school professors earn about
$110,000, but generally they
THe average
This is a chart of hourly wages for 10 of the top-paying careers in the Education & Training cluster in Texas.
Note how entry-level wages are often much lower than pay for the average worker and experienced workers
are trained and practicing
in each profession. Source: Texas Workforce Commission. k–12 TeacHer
attorneys with significant
income in addition to their
salarY In Texas
teaching salaries.
Is $38,857, accordIng
“Our jobs are becoming so sophisticated and so role Models
To THe Texas
technically oriented that you have to have a degree Because educators are workforce commIssIon.
to qualify for these jobs.” entrusted with the huge
Such sophisticated jobs also require employers responsibility of influencing lives and society, they must be of high
to provide more job training for adults, creating a “integrity and character,” says Desjean-Perrotta. School districts do
higher demand for educators outside the schools background checks on potential employees.
and colleges. Corporate trainers, who specialize The bottom line, says Desjean-Perrotta, is “teachers have to be the
in teaching specific skills to professionals at their type of person to whom you would entrust your children.” Whether
place of business, need to have “a lot of flexibility, you’re a teacher, principal, support worker, college professor, or
knowledge of adult learning, and an understanding corporate trainer, you will be a role model. “People will look up to
of business” to be successful, says Linda Farley, you,” she says.
owner of Farley Training in San Antonio.
A variety of Opportunities
You are not limited to standing in front of a
10
Fast-Growing Careers
classroom if you’re interested in a career in
education. “There are a multitude of opportunities,”
occupation
% Growth New Jobs Created
(2002–2012) (2002–2012)
says Desjean-Perrotta. Administrators such as
school principals and superintendents of school
library science Teacher, postsecondary 100.0% 50
districts make decisions on spending and hiring
special education Teacher, middle school 48.7% 2,800
teachers that have far-reaching effects. Phyllis special education Teacher, pre-k through elementary 48.6% 6,150
Ramsey, principal of West High School in West,
special education Teacher, secondary school 47.1% 2,850
says that as an administrator, “you influence more
law Teacher, postsecondary 46.7% 350
lives—both teachers and kids.”
Other educators, including counselors, speech-
kindergarten Teacher, except special education 43.7% 5,900
language pathologists, and school psychologists,
fitness Trainer and aerobics Instructor 42.0% 4,300
choose to serve students one-on-one. Linda Hughes self-enrichment education Teacher 41.1% 5,750
of the Georgetown Independent School District says
art, drama, and music Teacher, postsecondary 39.5% 1,600
she left teaching to become a guidance counselor
foreign language and literature Teacher, postsecondary 39.4% 650
because she wanted to help students with “social
skills, emotional concerns, and exploring careers.”
This is a projection of 10 fast-growing careers in Education & Training in Texas from the year 2002 to 2012
and the number of new jobs created in each occupation. Note that while the percentage of growth in jobs may
be high, the actual number of jobs created may be low. Source: Texas Workforce Commission.
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