How to Become an Education Consultant: Career Advice & Information
Overview & Salaries
Overview
Educational consultants connect families with schools and colleges. They help families find the right school, program, or financing for their children’s education, often working with kids who need extra help, such as those with learning disabilities. Consultants also work for schools, helping them adjust their curriculum, financial support and policies so as to attract the best possible students—or in some cases, federal funds. Educational consultants mostly work for private firms or are self-employed.
Salary
Annual salaries for educational consultants will vary depending on your experience, education level, and expertise.
For more information on what parts of the country have the most opportunity for educational consultants, click through to our Best Places to Work tab for information on the number of people employed and the average salary in each state.
Discover the Best Cities and States to Work in Educational Consulting
California is the number one employer of educational consultants in the nation, where professionals in this area make an annual average salary of $63,250. Texas is second in employment for educational consultants, where those serving in the southern state can make an average salary of $54,730.
Why Become An Educational Consultant?
It’s a delicate task working with schools and children—parents who hire a consultant will want the very best, and there’s pressure to show you know your stuff. But the job is also rewarding for many reasons:
- Growing profession. Broadly similar professions, like career and vocational counseling, are expected to grow by 12% between 2012 and 2022—easily in line with the average of all U.S. jobs.
- Help children. Whether it’s by securing additional funding for a good school or helping a child with a disability find the right environment, you can make a real difference to children’s lives.
- Be your own boss. A significant number of educational consultants are self-employed.
Educational Consulting: What You Need To Know
An educational consultant in an area has to know the schools available to students—what they offer, what they don’t, the strengths and possible weaknesses of each. They need to understand how schools are run. A working knowledge of these skill sets will help to set you apart from other candidates.
- Knowledge of Local Schools
- Knowledge of School Administration
- Knowledge of School Financing
- Client Management
- Communications
Feel like you’ve got a lot to learn? Get more information about educational consulting careers, degrees, and applicable courses from one of the schools below.
Degree Options for Educational Consulting Careers
Bachelor’s degree
Most employers will require those who have earned at least a bachelor’s degree in an area of education, such as teaching, curriculum design, education administration. Degrees in business administration, business operations, or project management may also be valuable.
Master’s degrees
Many employers may also be looking for candidates that have earned master’s degrees in education or business administration, as the role requires a strong understanding of practices of educational institutions, as well as new innovations and trends.
In either case, candidates who have had previous positions as teachers, education administrators or curriculum designers will likely stand out among those applying for a position.
There are also a number of certifying bodies that give credentials to those who are able to prove experience in the field.