What can you do with a Elementary Education degree?

First, some facts. Of the Elementary Education graduates we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:


These are estimates based on AI analysis of 2500 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Significantly above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 80%, Elementary Education graduates have a much higher likelihood (+13%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 80%
Average relevance score across all fields: 67%

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

× Chart

Also, after graduating, 37% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests you may need more than just a Bachelors degree to be competitive as a Elementary Education graduate.

See the details:

View a random Elementary Education graduate and our analysis:


Relevance score: 78%

We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2016 from Florida International University with a Bachelor of Applied Science - BASc in Elementary Education. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Teacher
Miami-Dade County Public Schools
Apr 2016 - Jun 2018
Teaching at Miami-Dade County Public Schools directly utilizes the educational theories and practices learned in an Elementary Education degree, making it highly relevant.

Teacher
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
Aug 2018 - Apr 2021
As a teacher at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, this position requires utilizing the specific pedagogical approaches and knowledge gained from an Elementary Education degree, therefore it is highly relevant.

Outreach Specialist
Ally Lending
Apr 2021 - Dec 2021
The role of Outreach Specialist at Ally Lending may involve some skills related to communication and community engagement, but it is not directly tied to the core qualifications of Elementary Education.

Manager of Lead Generation
Ally Lending
Dec 2021 - Jul 2022
A Manager of Lead Generation at Ally Lending may involve skills such as team management and communication, which could be indirectly related to the teaching experience, but it does not primarily require knowledge from an Elementary Education background.

Manager of Inside Sales and Lead Generation
Ally Lending
Jul 2022 - Mar 2024
The Manager of Inside Sales and Lead Generation at Ally Lending is only indirectly related since it may utilize some transferable skills from teaching, yet it does not require educational methodologies or knowledge from an Elementary Education degree distinctly.

Manager of Inside Sales and Lead Generation
Synchrony
Mar 2024 - Jun 2024
The role of Manager of Inside Sales and Lead Generation at Synchrony could use skills such as leadership and communication, which may be applicable from a teaching perspective, but it largely focuses on sales rather than education itself.

Director of Sales- Home Improvement
Synchrony
Jun 2024 - Present
The position of Director of Sales - Home Improvement at Synchrony does not require the educational knowledge or skills related to Elementary Education, since it is primarily focused on sales and managerial competencies unrelated to teaching.

ABOUT

Ally Lending is on a mission to give our service providers the most straightforward, easy, and efficient consumer financing solutions in the game. Our business-to-business-to-consumer financing program was designed with both service providers and consumers in mind, making it easy for both sides. Our exceptional products give consumers the option to pay overtime for the products and services that they want or need, which keeps them coming back.Ally Lending is a business line of Ally Bank, a subsidiary of Ally Financial Inc. As a whole, Ally Financial Inc. has over 11,000,000 customers who trust us to help with a range of financial needs. For over 100 years, Ally Financial has been known for our relentless dedication to customers, commitment to innovation, and simple, smart experiences.

What jobs can you get with a Elementary Education degree?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:


After analyzing the career paths of various graduates in Elementary Education across different institutions, it's evident that most individuals with this degree tend to pursue jobs primarily related to teaching and education. The most common job title among these graduates is 'Elementary School Teacher,' indicating a clear alignment between their education and their professional roles. For instance, many have taken up positions as 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th Grade Teachers in various school districts, engaging in core teaching responsibilities that rely heavily on the methodologies and strategies learned during their college education. This shows a strong relevance of the degree to their day-to-day work.

Additionally, there are quite a few individuals who have taken on roles such as Special Education Teachers, Reading Specialists, and Math Coaches—positions that also utilize the principles acquired during their Elementary Education training. These roles highlight the adaptability of the degree, allowing graduates to focus on specialized areas within the field of education, which require in-depth knowledge and skills in teaching diverse learners and implementing tailored instructional strategies.

On the flip side, a significant portion of graduates has ventured into roles that are only somewhat relevant to their educational background. For example, positions in marketing, administration, and other non-education-specific jobs—like customer service and management—account for a fair number of profiles examined. These roles may sometimes draw on soft skills like communication and organization, which can be developed in both educational and non-educational settings, but they do not rigorously apply the core competencies acquired through an Elementary Education degree.

Overall, the data reflects that while a large number of graduates remain closely connected to the field of education, a notable portion diverges into unrelated fields. This divergence could be attributed to various factors, such as job availability, personal interests, or opportunities that might have arisen outside the traditional educational trajectory. Nevertheless, the data strongly supports that the most common types of jobs for individuals with a degree in Elementary Education are indeed teaching roles, which are generally relevant to their academic background.

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Elementary Education graduates:

What kind of career trajectories do Elementary Education graduates have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

So, you’ve been diving into LinkedIn and you’ve got tons of profiles from people with degrees in Elementary Education. Let’s break down what their career paths tend to look like. Generally speaking, these graduates often kickstart their careers in education as classroom teachers or support educators, usually right after graduation. The first job after graduating often varies a bit depending on their circumstances – but roles like full-time substitutes, assistant teachers, or student teachers are pretty common among recent graduates. For instance, we see newer grads like the one from James Madison University getting started as a full-time substitute before continuing on to become an associate teacher.

Looking a bit further down the line, say five or ten years after graduation, things can get interesting. Many of these grads appear to continue climbing the educational ladder, with plenty of people moving into roles like lead teachers, educational coordinators, or even principals. For example, a graduate from Charleston Southern University is now an elementary school principal after having worked as a regular teacher and assistant principal; that’s a pretty solid progression. However, not everyone stays on the straightforward teaching path. Some go off into other sectors or different roles like curriculum specialists or even marketing positions. We’ve also seen notable shifts, where educators take a detour into roles that seem completely unrelated to teaching, such as administration or project management, which can sometimes be a bit confusing. It’s clear that while many stick to teaching, others sample some different areas before possibly returning to education.

So all in all, graduates in Elementary Education often do start strong, securing relevant positions early on and progressing in their field. However, there are also quite a few that veer off into unrelated jobs or move around in ways that may not seem like a traditional educational trajectory. It’s a real mixed bag, and it highlights how varied and unpredictable career paths can be, even for those who start off with the same foundational education. If education is your passion, these examples show that there’s room for a lot of growth and opportunity, but it might also lead you in unexpected directions!

How hard is a Elementary Education degree?

Honestly, a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education is pretty manageable compared to some other fields, but that doesn't mean it's a walk in the park. You’ll have your share of readings, assignments, and projects, especially if you're diving into subjects like child psychology or teaching methods. Plus, the real challenge is developing your teaching skills and learning how to engage kids, which takes practice and creativity. If you’re passionate about working with younger students, you'll probably find it rewarding, but it does require commitment and a bit of hard work! Just expect some late nights and maybe a bit of stress around exam times, like any degree, but overall, it’s definitely on the easier side compared to more technical fields.

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Elementary Education.

Do Elementary Education graduates tend to make good money?

Alright, so checking out the job histories of these Elementary Education grads gives us a lot to talk about when it comes to their financial outcomes. Many of them started off in entry-level roles like substitutes or aides, which typically don’t pay well. But as they gained experience, many advanced into more solid positions—like full-time teachers and even administrators like principals and instructional coaches. Those roles tend to offer better salaries, especially in districts that invest in education. For instance, the ones that took on leadership roles, like assistant principals, likely see a noticeable salary bump compared to classroom teaching.

However, it’s also clear some of these graduates are still navigating the early stages of their careers. For those who graduated more recently, their financial situation might still be in the "getting established" phase, working substitute jobs or part-time positions while trying to land something more stable. In general, while some of these folks are likely making a decent living, others might still be inching up the pay scale as they build their careers. Overall, it seems like they have solid potential, especially in stable positions like permanent teaching roles, but it's a mixed bag depending on how far they've advanced in the profession.

What buzzwords do Elementary Education graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Elementary Education. This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Elementary Education?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Elementary Education (ordered by the average relevance score of their Elementary Education graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College Score Count
Northern Illinois University 95 13
University of Arizona 94 10
University of Iowa 93 14
Kansas State University 91 12
Michigan State University 89 30
Florida International University 89 14
Utah State University 89 10
Ball State University 88 14
Central Washington University 87 13
Western Governors University 84 44
Eastern Michigan University 84 14
Arizona State University 83 25
East Carolina University 83 26
Towson University 82 17
Indiana University Bloomington 80 15
Liberty University 80 16
Illinois State University 80 28
Appalachian State University 80 16
University of North Florida 80 13
Oklahoma State University 79 14
Penn State University 78 18
Brigham Young University - Idaho 78 13
Western Illinois University 78 11
University of Central Florida 77 41
Northern Arizona University 77 19
University of Nebraska-Lincoln 77 12
University of Northern Iowa 77 12
University of Florida 75 10
Utah Valley University 75 11
University of Northern Colorado 75 16
University of North Carolina at Charlotte 74 14
Florida Atlantic University 73 19
University of Mississippi 73 10
West Chester University of Pennsylvania 72 12
Grand Canyon University 71 20
Brigham Young University 70 17
Western Kentucky University 69 12
University of Phoenix 67 31
University of Missouri-Columbia 62 10