What You Can Do with a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction?
Earning a master’s degree while working full-time requires a financial and emotional investment, so it’s important to make sure it’s the right choice. For those who choose this path, a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction is a rewarding pursuit that broadens their scope of knowledge and helps them further their careers.
Many teachers who earn a master’s degree continue to teach in the classroom, but they do so empowered by the ability to apply the new concepts and theories they learned in their graduate program. As a result, furthering education in this way can make a great teacher even better.
In most school districts, a master’s degree also has a significant impact on a teacher’s salary. Teachers with a master’s degree can expect to earn more than their counterparts who only hold bachelor’s degrees. For example, according to the New York City Department of Education, a new teacher in New York City with a bachelor’s degree earns approximately $61,070 per year, while a new teacher with a master’s degree earns approximately $68,252. Specific salaries vary quite a bit, depending on the district, but most districts offer a salary bump to their teachers who earn advanced degrees and continue to teach in the classroom.
Graduates of a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction online program may also choose to pursue different positions that are related to their new degree. For instance, a graduate of this program may choose to become an instructional coordinator who oversees the development of curriculum at a school or on a district-wide level. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median salary for instructional coordinators was $63,740 in 2021.