Occupation · SOC 11-9032
Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary
Plan, direct, or coordinate the academic, administrative, or auxiliary activities of kindergarten, elementary, or secondary schools.
Median wage
$104,070
$72,400–$165,820
Projected growth
-1.6%
Declining
Annual openings
-510
per year
Employed (US)
319,630
Job Zone 5
Typical preparation
Extensive preparation
Stackable credential programs
676 mapped
Core skills
SpeakingActive ListeningJudgment and Decision MakingLearning StrategiesCritical ThinkingWritingReading ComprehensionMonitoring
Knowledge areas
Education and TrainingAdministration and ManagementEnglish LanguageAdministrativeMathematics
Technology & tools
Enterprise resource planning ERP softwareData base management system softwareData base user interface and query softwareDesktop communications softwareComputer based training software
Representative tasks
Counsel and provide guidance to students regarding personal, academic, vocational, or behavioral issues.Confer with parents and staff to discuss educational activities, policies, and student behavior or learning problems.Determine the scope of educational program offerings, and prepare drafts of course schedules and descriptions to estimate staffing and facility requirements.Observe teaching methods and examine learning materials to evaluate and standardize curricula and teaching techniques and to determine areas for improvement.Collaborate with teachers to develop and maintain curriculum standards, develop mission statements, and set performance goals and objectives.Enforce discipline and attendance rules.Recruit, hire, train, and evaluate primary and supplemental staff.Direct and coordinate activities of teachers, administrators, and support staff at schools, public agencies, and institutions.Plan and lead professional development activities for teachers, administrators, and support staff.Set educational standards and goals, and help establish policies and procedures to carry them out.Evaluate curricula, teaching methods, and programs to determine their effectiveness, efficiency, and use, and to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.Create school improvement plans, using student performance data.Determine allocations of funds for staff, supplies, materials, and equipment, and authorize purchases.Prepare and submit budget requests and recommendations, or grant proposals to solicit program funding.Plan and develop instructional methods and content for educational, vocational, or student activity programs.Participate in special education-related activities, such as attending meetings and providing support to special educators throughout the district.Recommend personnel actions related to programs and services.Prepare, maintain, or oversee the preparation and maintenance of attendance, activity, planning, or personnel reports and records.Teach classes or courses to students.Meet with federal, state, and local agencies to stay abreast of policies and to discuss improvements for education programs.Review and approve new programs, or recommend modifications to existing programs, submitting program proposals for school board approval as necessary.Write articles, manuals, and other publications, and assist in the distribution of promotional literature about facilities and programs.Coordinate and direct extracurricular activities and programs, such as after-school events and athletic contests.Organize and direct committees of specialists, volunteers, and staff to provide technical and advisory assistance for programs.Establish, coordinate, and oversee particular programs across school districts, such as programs to evaluate student academic achievement.Mentor and support administrative staff members, such as superintendents and principals.Collect and analyze survey data, regulatory information, and data on demographic and employment trends to forecast enrollment patterns and curriculum change needs.Advocate for new schools to be built, or for existing facilities to be repaired or remodeled.Plan, coordinate, and oversee school logistics programs, such as bus and food services.Review and interpret government codes, and develop programs to ensure adherence to codes and facility safety, security, and maintenance.Develop partnerships with businesses, communities, and other organizations to help meet identified educational needs and to provide school-to-work programs.Direct and coordinate school maintenance services and the use of school facilities.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Student behavior and attendance records — review and document under the guidance of a supervising administrator in a K–12 school setting.Established discipline and attendance policies — apply consistently under direct supervision when addressing routine student infractions.Parent and staff communications — participate in and summarize key points during scheduled conferences led by senior administrators.Curriculum materials and course descriptions — examine and compile preliminary notes on alignment gaps under the direction of a department lead.Candidate application files — screen and organize using school HR protocols when supporting recruitment efforts for instructional positions.Professional development session logistics — coordinate scheduling and resource preparation under the supervision of lead administrators.Student counseling referrals — identify and route appropriately by recognizing early indicators of academic or behavioral concern.ERP and student information system software — enter and retrieve data to support enrollment, scheduling, and attendance tracking tasks.Mission statements and performance goal drafts — contribute suggested language during collaborative curriculum planning sessions.Standardized evaluation rubrics — apply to classroom observation notes when assisting experienced administrators with instructional reviews.
developing
Student counseling sessions — conduct independently to address personal, academic, or behavioral concerns within a defined school-level scope.Parent-teacher conference agendas — facilitate and lead with reduced oversight to address learning problems and communicate school policies.Course schedule drafts and staffing estimates — prepare by analyzing enrollment data and facility capacity for the upcoming academic term.Classroom instructional practices — observe and evaluate against established curriculum standards using structured walkthrough protocols.Discipline cases of moderate complexity — adjudicate by applying school policy and documenting outcomes in the student information system.New instructional staff onboarding — coordinate and deliver orientation programming covering school culture, expectations, and core procedures.Professional development workshops — design and facilitate for teacher cohorts based on identified instructional improvement priorities.Curriculum alignment data — analyze using analytical software to identify trends and recommend targeted areas for instructional adjustment.Staff performance evaluations — complete using district rubrics and provide structured feedback during post-observation conferences.Calendar and scheduling software — use to manage and communicate school-wide activity calendars, deadlines, and staffing assignments.
proficient
Academic program scope and course offerings — determine independently by synthesizing student outcome data, community needs, and resource availability across a full school.Multi-stakeholder conferences involving parents, counselors, and teachers — lead to resolve complex student behavioral or learning challenges with a trauma-informed approach.School-wide curriculum standards — develop and maintain collaboratively with instructional staff to ensure coherence, rigor, and alignment to state frameworks.Non-routine discipline situations including appeals and legal considerations — adjudicate by applying nuanced judgment and district policy in a secondary school context.Full instructional staff recruitment cycles — manage end-to-end, including job design, candidate evaluation, and hiring decisions for both core and supplemental positions.Multi-year professional development plans — design and lead for all staff categories, integrating adult learning strategies and data-driven instructional priorities.Teaching methodology and learning material quality — evaluate systematically across subject areas and grade bands to standardize and continuously improve instruction.Mission statements and strategic performance objectives — author and refine in collaboration with staff, aligning them to district goals and school improvement plans.Cloud-based data platforms and ERP systems — leverage to generate actionable reports on student performance, staffing efficiency, and operational compliance.Student support systems including counseling, intervention, and referral pathways — oversee comprehensively to ensure equitable access for all learners.
advanced
District-wide educational program strategy — set direction by leading cross-school teams to evaluate program effectiveness, close equity gaps, and plan multi-year curriculum investments.Organizational mission and performance goal frameworks — establish and champion across an entire school district, aligning administrator, teacher, and community stakeholders.Principal and administrator talent pipelines — build by designing succession planning programs, coaching emerging leaders, and setting performance standards at scale.District professional development infrastructure — architect and govern to ensure continuous improvement across all schools, embedding evidence-based learning strategies system-wide.Policy development for discipline, attendance, and student welfare — lead by translating legal mandates, community values, and research into enforceable school board policy.Labor relations and negotiation with teacher unions and bargaining units — conduct to reach agreements that balance staff equity with district educational priorities.Systemic curriculum and instructional quality evaluation — direct by commissioning program audits, interpreting longitudinal data, and recommending structural reforms to the board.Cross-agency partnerships with mental health, social service, and higher education entities — forge to expand student support resources and vocational pathways across the district.Enterprise technology ecosystems including ERP, database, and communication platforms — sponsor and govern to ensure data integrity, operational efficiency, and regulatory compliance.Organizational culture of integrity, cooperation, and high expectations — model and institutionalize by leading with consistent values, transparent communication, and distributed accountability across all school communities.
Also known as
89 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Education And Training Superintendent (Air Force 3F291)Director, Educational ProgramUSMA, Professor of Law (Army 47E)Student Services DirectorPupil Personnel Services DirectorLeadership/Management Training Program Officer (Navy 3220)USMA, Professor (Army 47A)Religious Program Specialist (Navy RP)SPED Admin (Special Education Administrator)USMA, Professor of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership (Army 47L)USMA, Professor of Mathematical Sciences (Army 47N)Title I DirectorAcademic AdvisorDirector, Commission for the BlindUSMA, Professor of Physical Education (Army 47S)Assessment CoordinatorUSMA, Professor of Army Cyber (Army 47V)USMA, Professor and Associate Dean (Army 47Q)Training Officer (Navy 3290)Educational Program DirectorK-12 Principal (Kindergarten Through Twelfth Grade Principal)Professional Military Education Instructor (Air Force 8T000)Elementary School PrincipalDirector, Special EducationCurriculum and Instruction SuperintendentSecondary School PrincipalSchool Administrator (Navy 3283)SuperintendentCommission for the Blind DirectorUSMA, Professor of Physics (Army 47H)HeadmasterK-12 School Principal (Kindergarten Through Twelfth Grade School Principal)Director, Vocational TrainingAfloat Training Officer (Navy 3292)Curriculum DirectorUSMA, Professor of Geography and Environmental Engineering (Army 47P)USMA, Professor of Systems Engineering (Army 47F)PrincipalEducation SupervisorTraining and Education Officer (Marine Corps 8802)