Quick Highlights
A master’s in educational leadership can lead to roles ranging from department chair and instructional coach, which often keep you in or near the classroom, up through principal, district administrator and superintendent. Reported pay across these roles ranges from a small stipend on top of a teaching salary to over $150,000 for a district’s top executive, depending on the specific role, district size and location.
A master’s in educational leadership can lead in many directions, and not every one of them means leaving the classroom. Some graduates take on a formal administrative title, while others use the same coursework to lead from inside their current role. The online Master of Science in Education (MSE) in Educational Leadership at Arkansas State University (A-State) prepares graduates for both paths, aligning to Arkansas Building-Level Administrator licensure for those pursuing a formal administrative role while building the same instructional-leadership and data-analysis skills that support coaching and department-level leadership.
12 Jobs You Can Get With a Master’s in Educational Leadership
Some of these roles require only a master’s degree and relevant experience. Other roles, such as principal or superintendent, typically require a state administrator license earned alongside or after the degree. The table below lists each role with a one-sentence definition, sorted by pay in descending order.
Important Note: The salary figures below come from third-party sources such as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, AASA, PayScale and the NCTQ Teacher Contract Database, not from Arkansas State University or any employer guarantee.
Actual pay varies by state, district size, experience and local salary schedules. Completing a master’s degree does not by itself guarantee a raise, a promotion or a specific job title. In many states outside Arkansas, a master’s degree still moves a teacher up the salary schedule, so check your own state and district’s current pay scale rather than assuming Arkansas’s rules apply everywhere.
| Role | What the Role Involves | Typical Pay |
| Superintendent | Serves as a district’s top executive, accountable to the school board for budget, policy and strategy | $165,773 median |
| Assistant Superintendent | Supports the superintendent in overseeing a specific district function, such as academics or operations | $150,000 average |
| Principal | Leads a single school’s instructional program, staff and daily operations | $104,070 median |
| District Administrator | Leads a central-office function, such as operations, human resources or federal programs, across a district | Varies by district; comparable education administrator roles earn $103,460 |
| Assistant Principal | Supports the principal with daily operations, discipline and instructional oversight | $84,114 average |
| Curriculum Director | Leads curriculum development and instructional strategy at the district level | $83,370 average |
| Instructional Coordinator | Aligns curriculum, coaches teachers and evaluates instructional programs across a school or district | $74,720 median |
| Special Programs or Title I Coordinator | Manages a district’s federally funded or specialized program, such as Title I or special populations services | Varies by district; comparable coordinator roles average $74,720 |
| Instructional Coach | Mentors teachers on instructional practice, usually without formal supervisory authority | Often paid on a teacher schedule plus a stipend; comparable coordinator roles average $74,720 |
| Athletic Director | Oversees a school’s athletics programs, budgets and coaching staff | $74,257 average |
| Dean of Students | Oversees student conduct, culture and support services within a school | $73,724 average |
| Department Chair or Grade-Level Lead | Coordinates a subject department or grade level, usually alongside continued classroom teaching | $70,980 average |
The salary data above is current as of August 2026. Special programs/Title I coordinator and instructional coach figures are also drawn from the BLS page linked above at instructional coordinator, the closest comparable classification, since BLS does not track these titles separately. NCTQ Teacher Contract Database, linked above at department chair/grade-level lead, reflects stipend clauses from collective bargaining agreements across large districts rather than a single wage survey.
Leading From the Classroom: Department Chairs, Grade-Level Leads and Instructional Coaches
Not every graduate wants to leave the classroom, and a master’s in educational leadership does not require that trade-off. Department chairs and grade-level leads keep teaching while taking on added coordination responsibilities, usually in exchange for a stipend rather than a full administrative salary. Instructional coaches step further into leadership, mentoring other teachers on instructional practice, but typically without the formal supervisory or evaluative authority of a principal.
Both paths let a graduate apply leadership training without a full move into administration, which makes each a realistic option for teachers who value classroom relationships and are not ready, or do not want, to leave direct instruction behind. For many teachers, that combination offers a way to grow into leadership without stepping away from the students and colleagues they already work with every day.
Is a Master’s in Educational Leadership Useful for Department Chairs and Grade-Level Leads?
Yes. The coursework in instructional leadership, data-informed decision-making and adult learning applies directly to coordinating a department or grade level, even without a move into a formal administrative role.
If you are already chairing a department or leading a grade level, the degree gives you firmer footing in the parts of the job you are already doing: facilitating team meetings, interpreting assessment data and mentoring newer teachers. The degree can also position a department chair for a future move into a formal administrative role later, without requiring that move immediately.
Can You Become an Assistant Principal With a Master’s in Educational Leadership?
Yes, in most cases, provided the degree program aligns with your state’s administrator licensure requirements. Most states require both the master’s degree and a state-issued administrator license before a teacher can move into an assistant principal role.
A-State’s online MSE in Educational Leadership degree aligns with Arkansas Building-Level Administrator licensure, the credential most districts require for an assistant principal role. Requirements vary by state, so confirm that any program you choose maps to your state’s licensure rules before enrolling.
Instructional Coach or Administrator: Is a Master’s in Educational Leadership the Right Move?
It depends on which of those two goals is the real target. If the goal is a formal administrative role such as assistant principal, principal or district administrator, a master’s in educational leadership with licensure alignment is the direct path. If the goal is coaching specifically, with less emphasis on formal supervisory authority, a reading-focused or instructional-specialist credential may be a closer fit. A-State’s Ed.S. in Reading guide covers that teacher-to-coach transition in more depth.
Many educators use a master’s in educational leadership as a bridge that keeps both options open, since the instructional leadership and data analysis coursework supports coaching work in the near term while also building toward licensure for a later move into administration. That overlap is part of why the same core coursework applies to nearly all 12 roles in the table above, regardless of which path a graduate ultimately chooses.
Frequently Asked Questions
What jobs can I get with a master’s in educational leadership?
Common roles include assistant principal, principal, dean of students, instructional coordinator, curriculum director, department chair, athletic director, district administrator, special programs coordinator, instructional coach, assistant superintendent and superintendent. However, several of these also require a state administrator license.
Is a master’s in educational leadership useful for department chairs and grade-level leads?
Yes. The coursework in instructional leadership and data-informed decision-making applies directly to coordinating a department or grade level, even without a move into a formal administrative title.
Can I become an assistant principal with a master’s in educational leadership?
Yes, in most cases, if the program aligns with your state’s administrator licensure requirements. A-State’s online MSE in Educational Leadership degree aligns with Arkansas Building-Level Administrator licensure.
I want to become an instructional coach or administrator. Is an educational leadership master’s the right move?
It depends on your target role. A master’s in educational leadership is the more direct path toward formal administrative roles, while a reading-focused Ed.S. may be a closer fit for coaching-specific goals. Many educators use the master’s as a bridge that keeps both paths open.
Does a master’s in educational leadership guarantee a raise or a promotion?
No. Completing the degree builds the qualifications for these roles, but pay and hiring decisions are set by individual districts and depend on open positions, local salary schedules and state licensure requirements.
Key Takeaways
- A master’s in educational leadership can lead to many roles, from a classroom-based department chair stipend to a superintendent position.
- Department chairs, grade-level leads and instructional coaches can apply leadership training without leaving the classroom.
- Becoming an assistant principal or principal typically requires both the degree and a state administrator license aligned to your state.
- Choosing between a coaching path and an administrative path depends on whether you want formal supervisory authority or a more instruction-focused leadership role.
- All salary figures are third-party market data, not an A-State promise, and actual pay varies by state, district size and experience.
- Whichever of these 12 roles fits your goal, the coursework underneath most of them covers the same core set of leadership, data and instructional skills.
- Arkansas State University’s online MSE in Educational Leadership degree is taught by faculty who have worked in these roles. Natalie Johnson-Leslie, who teaches in the program, puts it this way: “The information [students] learn will be practical and relevant to their teaching and administrative careers.”
Whether your goal is to remain in the classroom as a department leader, transition into school administration or pursue district-level leadership, a master’s in educational leadership can develop the leadership, instructional and organizational skills commonly required for these roles. A-State’s online MSE in Educational Leadership program runs 100% online in 7-week terms in fall and spring, with 5-week terms in summer, and can be completed in as few as 20 months. It is 33 credit hours at a flat $350 per credit hour, $11,550 in total, with all fees included and the same rate whether you live in Arkansas or out of state. Note that the tuition and admission information above is accurate as of August 2026 and is subject to change at A-State’s discretion. Students should check the program page for the most updated information
Explore A-State’s online MSE in Educational Leadership program to see how it aligns with the role you want next.