There are a host of settings and roles where an educational technology degree can be useful. Graduates who earn one of these degrees will have a variety of options for their career.

As a result, the expected salary for an ed tech professional depends largely on where that professional chooses to specialize.

Opportunities for specialization vary by school. Visit our rankings for the Best Master's in Educational Technology Degrees and Best Online Master's in Educational Technology Degrees to see which schools might fit your career goals.

Many, but not all, individuals who earn a master’s degree in ed tech will remain working in K-12 classrooms as teachers. These educators can take the skills that they gain from a master’s degree program and apply it to their subject area. Doing so allows them to put their technology skills into practice in a very immediate and direct way.

Based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), here are the average salaries for classroom teachers:

• Elementary School Teacher: $55,490 per year
• Middle School Teacher: $56,720 per year
• High School Teacher: $58,030 per year

Remaining at the classroom level is just one of numerous options, however. Ed tech graduates may also work on a larger scale, at the building or district level. Common job titles in K-12 or collegiate settings and their corresponding average salaries are shown below.

• Instructional Coordinator: $62,460 per year
• Postsecondary Education Administrator: $90,760 per year
• Librarian or Media Specialist: $57,680 per year

Some graduates of an instructional technology program may not work in a K-12 setting at all. This is especially true of students who earned a Master of Arts or a Master of Science in Instructional Technology, as opposed to a Master of Education. (We cover the different degrees you can earn in educational technology in another FAQ: “What kinds of degrees are available in educational technology?”)

For ed tech grads in a corporate or nonprofit setting, these are common job titles and their salaries (again per BLS data):

• Training and Development Specialist: $59,020 per year
• Training and Development Manager: $105,830 per year
• Social and Community Service Manager: $64,680 per year

Many of these occupations can be broken down into more specialized roles. For example, an Instructional Coordinator might also be identified as eLearning Director, Curriculum Developer, Technology Integration Specialist, or Distance Learning Coordinator. Roles that are related to Training and Development Specialist include Performance Support Specialist, Interface and Multimedia Designer, or Director of Leadership and Development.

It’s worth noting that degrees in educational technology aren’t commonly available below the master’s degree level. As is the case in many industries, simply having a master’s degree can lead to a higher salary. Holding an ed tech master's degree gives you a better chance of earning a salary above the occupational average.