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8 Careers You Can Pursue with a Doctorate in Education

Industry Advice Education

By earning a Doctor of Education (EdD) degree, you’re preparing yourself for a career with lasting impact—on students, on the future of a college or university, on your community, or on the trajectory of a nonprofit trying to improve other communities locally and abroad.

You’re also positioning yourself for advancement. Professionals who earn an EdD are qualified for roles leading and operating schools at the elementary, high school, or college level. They learn to lead in a way that can be transferred to the front of a classroom or at the ground level of an organization.

An EdD signals to employers that you’re a thought leader; that you’re someone who’s demonstrated the capacity to identify a problem, examine issues from multiple perspectives, and offer relevant insights for practical solutions. With your doctorate in hand, you’re prepared to take on a leadership role across a variety of industries.

Here’s a look at the types of positions EdD graduates pursue and eight of the top careers available in the field. 

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What Type of Positions Do EdD Students Pursue?

Northeastern’s EdD students cultivate their leadership skills in the program by integrating practice and insights from experienced faculty and high-achieving peers . They come from diverse fields, including business, criminal justice, healthcare, military, human services, and the nonprofit sector. Their job titles and careers are just as diverse, with students working as policymakers, systems analysts, and administrative leaders within higher education institutions, nonprofit organizations, and governmental agencies.

Top Careers for Doctor of Education Graduates

1. college president.

Average Annual Salary: $272,203

Presidents are the top leaders of a college or university. They establish and execute on their school’s strategic vision, spearhead fundraising, attend student events, and deliver speeches to a variety of constituents, such as donors, lawmakers, government, and faculty, to raise the profile of the institution both locally and abroad. They also collaborate with senior administrators, faculty, and staff to devise new ways to support students and improve their learning environment while maintaining high academic standards. Depending on the type of public or private institution they lead, college presidents can earn impressive seven-figure salaries . 

2. Chief Learning Officer

Average Annual Salary: $152,225

In education, top executive roles include positions like “chief learning officer”—a senior-level professional who develops and drives strategies that help his or her college or university meet critical business goals. Chief learning officers (CLOs) focus on creating strategies for training, learning, and development, and typically oversee an institute’s latest technologies, such as its online learning platform.

Average Annual Salary: $148,783

A provost—or vice president, depending on the college or university—is a senior-level academic administrator who tends to be second in command after the president. Provosts work closely with deans and department heads, and help determine their institution’s academic goals and priorities, as well as how to allocate the resources necessary to support those initiatives. They often oversee daily operations and work to hire and retain a diverse faculty. 

4. School Superintendent

Average Annual Salary: $116,931

Superintendents are the top executives of a school district. They’re responsible for establishing and overseeing their district’s budget, staffing, infrastructure, and spending. Superintendents collaborate closely with a school board to develop and implement new policies and programs in line with the district’s short- and long-term goals, as well as allocate the financial and human resources necessary to achieve the district’s overarching vision.

5. Elementary, Middle, and High School Principal

Average Annual Salary: $95,310

Principals oversee the daily operations of an elementary, middle, or high school. They hire teachers and staff, manage the budget, and enforce disciplinary rules when necessary. Principals also develop and assess educational programming aimed at achieving student learning outcomes, all while striving to create and maintain a positive learning environment. More than 11,000 principal positions are expected to emerge by 2028, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics .

A principal’s salary might differ depending on whether he or she works at an elementary, middle, or high school. The mean wages for principals at each level, according to PayScale are:

• Elementary School : $81,095
• Middle School : $87,989
• High School : $92,197

6. Academic Dean

Average Annual Salary: $90,339  

Deans work at the senior administrative level of a college or university. The role varies depending on the institution, but deans often manage faculty and staff, set academic goals, implement strategic planning, oversee their department’s budget, help fundraise, support research initiatives, and foster student development. Some departments you might find them in are:

• Admissions : Those working in admissions develop and lead recruitment initiatives for a college or university. They evaluate applications, decide the number of students who should be admitted to the school, who those students should be, and communicate with prospects and their families.
• Research : A dean of research often oversees faculty and collaborates with them to create a strategy for developing short- and long-term research initiatives. They also work to secure research funding, oversee the research budget, and establish key industry partnerships.
• Student Affairs : The student affairs office typically oversees a variety of different departments, such as residence life, athletics, student support services, and diversity and inclusion. A dean of student affairs typically establishes and evaluates nonacademic programs that foster and enrich the student experience, as well as handle disciplinary issues and communicate with students’ parents or legal guardians.
• Advancement : The advancement office—also known as “development” or “alumni relations” depending on the school—is responsible for securing funding for the college or university from potential donors, including alumni, government policymakers, corporations, and foundations. They nurture and maintain those relationships, ensuring all gifts received are being used as intended.

7. Professor

Average Annual Salary: $78,470

Postsecondary teachers, or professors, work at the college or university level, developing course curricula, instructing students in a specific area of study, and assessing their progress. When they’re not teaching, professors are often conducting research, writing scholarly papers, or attending conferences.

Professors’ salaries vary based on where they are on the tenure track and their area of expertise. The median salary for a professor based on rank, according to PayScale, is:

• Instructor : $49,510
• Lecturer: $51,101
• Assistant Professor : $67,021
• Associate Professor : $76,250
• Professor : $87,018

Salaries range further depending on the professor’s focus. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics , the top 10 highest-paying subjects—and what those subjects offer in terms of average annual wage—are:

• Law : $111,140
• Engineering : $101,720
• Economics : $101,720
• Health Specialties : $97,370
• Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Science : $90,860
• Physics : $90,800
• Architecture : $86,980
• Forestry and Conservation Science : $86,900
• Agricultural Sciences : $84,640
• Business : $83,960

8. Executive Director of Education

Average Annual Salary: $73,640

Executive directors are often the senior leaders of a nonprofit organization or business. They work closely with a board of directors but are the ones who make the daily operational decisions. Executive directors hire and manage staff, handle external relations, engage volunteers, oversee the budget—including all fundraising initiatives—and develop policies, programs, and strategies that guide the organization’s mission and purpose. 

What Can You Do with a Doctorate in Education from Northeastern?

When you earn your EdD from Northeastern , you’re not only advancing your own work, you’re joining a top-tier university and pursuing a rigorous education with an entrepreneurial orientation toward making our world a better place. You’re joining a vast network of students and alumni in the EdD, which spans more than 2,000 professionals across many domains of education. You’re gaining access to engaging faculty who understand the importance of professional experiences in a growing leadership capacity, and who are prepared to offer you personal attention to support your professional development.

With your EdD, you can make a difference in the lives of children, communities, and organizations, as you transform your problem of practice into a plan for change and action.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published in September of 2017. It has since been updated for accuracy and relevance. 

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Ed.D. Career & Salary Guide: What Can You Do With a Doctor of Education Degree?

Wondering whether an Ed.D. is worth the investment? Use this doctoral guide to explore real-world career advice & salary resources. Learn about top Ed.D. job titles . Consider possible Doctor of Education salary benefits . Compare Ed.D. vs. M.Ed. salaries and Ed.D. vs. Ph.D. vs. Ed.S. salaries . And decide whether a doctorate in education justifies the expense .

What Can You Do With a Doctorate in Education?

Consider earning a doctorate in education in order to qualify for educational leadership positions in PreK-12 schools & districts, university administration, and non-academic fields.

• Purpose: The Ed.D. is a practice-based degree, which means it’s focused on real-world applications of learning & research. You’ll be expected to tackle current educational challenges, explore ways to create change, and implement innovative solutions.
• Benefits: Some leaders earn the Ed.D. in order to apply for certain job titles ; others are interested in potential salary benefits . But you can also use a doctorate to deepen your knowledge of the field, network with educational peers, and become a more thoughtful leader.

Note: If you want to become a tenured faculty member in academia, a Ph.D. in Education may be a better bet.

State-Specific Ed.D. Career & Salary Advice

Looking for localized advice? In each one of our Ed.D. state guides , you’ll find a comprehensive career section. This contains a discussion of:

• Employment hotspots for PreK-20 educational leaders in your state
• State salary reports & resources (e.g. public school salary databases)
• Local educational leadership job boards (e.g. openings for district-level and school-level administrators)

Top Ed.D. Job Titles

Prek-12 ed.d. careers.

• Superintendent
• District-Level Educational Leader
• Director of Education
• Teacher-Leader
• Instructional Coordinator
• Curriculum Specialist

Higher Education Ed.D. Careers

• University/College President
• University Administrator
• Adjunct Professor

Non-Academic Ed.D. Careers

• Public Policy Analyst
• Education Lobbyist
• Education Consultant
• Education Researcher
• Teaching Coach
• Director of a Research Center
• C.E.O. of an Educational Organization or Company

Note: This is just a sample of Ed.D. job opportunities! For more ideas, check out the careers section in your chosen Ed.D. specialty/subject (e.g. Educational Technology, Early Childhood Education, Counseling & Psychology, Higher Education, etc.). And if you’re interested in college-level teaching, check out our guide to becoming a professor .

Salary Benefits of Earning a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) Degree

Ed.d. salaries: what to know.

Salaries for Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) graduates are heavily reliant on circumstances:

• Top-level educational leadership positions like Superintendent, Director of Education, or University President will usually require a doctorate. These kinds of jobs tend to pay graduates well.
• But the Ed.D. is often an “optional” degree in the field of education—many employers are happy to consider candidates with an M.Ed. or Ed.S. and appropriate certification/licensure.

So you’ll need to do some digging to find out whether the doctorate in education will actually lead to a salary bump in your field. Wage numbers will also depend on your location (e.g. city vs. rural), job title, and day-to-day leadership responsibilities.

Ed.D. Salary Data

For Ed.D. salary data, have a look at these resources from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). We particularly love the employment & wage maps—regions with the highest annual mean wages are shaded in dark blue.

• Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary
• Education Administrators, Postsecondary
• Education Administrators, All Other
• Instructional Coordinators
• Training & Development Managers

You may wish to compare these educational leadership salary numbers with:

• Payscale’s cumulative data for Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) Degree Salaries . Payscale also allows you to view salary data by job title (e.g. Elementary School Principal vs. School Superintendent vs. Higher Education Administration ).
• The AASA’s Superintendents Salary and Benefits Survey, which is published with a summary of major findings in the AASA’s Research Papers section.

State-Specific Ed.D. Salary Data

Interested in state-specific data? Use the BLS’s section on State Occupational Employment & Wage Estimates .

• Choose your state.
• Select your job category. Educational administrator & specialist jobs (e.g. School Psychologist) can be found under “Management Occupations.”
• Find your job title. Beside each entry, BLS provides data on mean hourly wages and annual mean wages.

If you’re in PreK-12 realms, you can also explore salary schedules for your district (e.g. Salary Schedules for LACOE Employees ) and possibly your state (e.g. North Carolina Department of Public Instruction: Compensation for Public School Employees ). In addition, our Ed.D. state guides have lots of local salary advice.

Ed.D. vs. Master of Education (M.Ed.) Salary

M.ed. salary data.

An M.Ed. or a relevant master’s degree is usually the baseline qualification for educational leadership positions at the school level (e.g. Principal, Instructional Coordinator, Curriculum Developer, etc.). Employers will also be interested in your work experience and any necessary licenses or certifications.

• Principal Salaries: For ballpark salary figures, take a look at Payscale’s Master of Education (M.Ed.) Salaries . It includes numbers for leadership positions such as Assistant Principal and Elementary School Principal.
• Teacher Leadership Salaries: If you’re a teacher, check out the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) Teacher Contract Database . It contains salary data on 145+ of the largest school districts in all 50 states. 88% of these districts offer additional pay to teachers who have a master’s degree.

Potential Ed.D. Salary Increases

A doctorate in education may lead to an increase in salary for educational leaders—it depends on the job, choice of degree subject, and your location. For example:

• A graduate with an Ed.D. in Curriculum & Instruction and limited work experience may have to compete with seasoned M.Ed. candidates for the same jobs & salaries.
• But a doctoral graduate with an Executive Ed.D. in Higher Education will be able to demand a hefty salary from hiring committees.

In the PreK-12 realm, salary policies can vary from district to district. However, a number of places will reward you for the Ed.D. For instance, in North Carolina, a doctorate and advanced certification are often required for the highest pay levels for public school employees. Check with your local district.

Ed.D. vs. Ph.D. vs. Ed.S. Salary

Ed.s. salary data.

We explore the ins & outs of the Education Specialist degree in our guide to Ed.S. vs. Ed.D. Programs .

• The Ed.S. is often set up to help students achieve specific leadership certifications & licenses (e.g. Principal, Superintendent, School Psychologist, etc.).
• With these qualifications in hand, you’ll often be able to earn similar salary numbers to an Ed.D. graduate.
• However, name recognition can vary from region to region. In some areas, the Ed.D. may have more “clout” than an Ed.S.

Payscale has a section on Education Specialist Salaries , but it’s pretty broad. You’ll have more luck if you look at district & state salary schedules. For example, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction: Compensation for Public School Employees contains a category for Advanced (Sixth Year) candidates.

Ph.D. in Education Salary Data

If you’re in any doubt about which degree to pick, check out our guide to Ed.D. vs. Ph.D. in Education Programs . You’ll notice that most Ph.D. graduates end up in academia or high-level research positions. So you can’t really compare Ed.D. and Ph.D. salaries—it’s like comparing apples to oranges.

The BLS provides detailed wage data on Education Teachers, Postsecondary . Mean wages tend to be best in New England, California and nearby states, the DC area, and a few states in the south. Keep in mind that the cost of living in many of those areas can also be high.

Other useful sources of higher education salaries include:

• Higher Ed: CUPA-HR Salary Data
• AAUP Faculty Compensation Survey
• Chronicle of Higher Education Salary Data

Is a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) Worth the Investment?

• Cost-Benefit Analysis: The cost of a doctorate in education should be weighed with potential salary increases and opportunities for promotion. If an Ed.D. can help you qualify for your dream position, then it’s an obvious pick. But you may find that a master’s degree will work just fine.
• Perception in Your Field: For example, a Ph.D. in Education is the standard requirement for academic positions—if you’re applying to be an Assistant Professor of Education, you’ll have to fight pretty hard to prove to a hiring committee that your Ed.D. and work experiences are equal in weight. In contrast, an educational company may prefer Ed.D. candidates.
• PreK-12 Considerations: If school districts have to compensate doctoral employees at the highest pay scale, an Ed.D. can sometimes be a discouragement to hiring committees. They don’t want to pay you more. This is a tricky topic, so chat to district peers about the possible downsides of a doctorate.
• Licensure & Certifications: For some jobs, the degree will take a back seat to other qualifications. For instance, if you wish to become a School Psychologist, employers may be more interested in your state license and NCSP credential than whether you chose an Ed.S. or Ed.D.
• Quality of the Doctorate: The Ed.D. is a bit of an upstart in the doctoral world, so it doesn’t always command the same respect as a Ph.D. When employers look at the Ed.D. listing on your résumé, they’ll also be considering name recognition and the quality of the College of Education. Check out our Rankings section for ideas on the best Ed.D. programs in the country.
• Job Outlook: Are top-level educational leadership jobs available in your area? What degrees do successful job applicants have? Are big-scale changes taking place (e.g. higher education institutions closing)? Can you pivot from one field into another? Ask yourself the hard questions before applying.
• Real-World Input: The best advice we can give you is to talk to mentors, peers, and recent Ed.S., Ed.D. & Ph.D. in Education graduates before you make a decision. They will give you honest perspectives about their experiences. They may even be able to help you avoid financial pitfalls.

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PhD Salaries and Lifetime Earnings

PhDs employed across job sectors show impressive earning potential:

“…[T]here is strong evidence that advanced education levels continue to be associated with higher salaries. A study by the Georgetown Center on Education and the Workforce showed that across the fields examined, individuals with a graduate degree earned an average of 38.3% more than those with a bachelor’s degree in the same field. The expected lifetime earnings for someone without a high school degree is $973,000; with a high school diploma, $1.3 million; with a bachelor’s degree, $2.3 million; with a master’s degree, $2.7 million; and with a doctoral degree (excluding professional degrees), $3.3 million. Other data indicate that the overall unemployment rate for individuals who hold graduate degrees is far lower than for those who hold just an undergraduate degree.” - Pathways Through Graduate School and Into Careers , Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) and Educational Testing Service (ETS), pg. 3.

Average salaries by educational level and degree (data from the US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2009-2011, courtesy of the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce):

The Bureau of Labor and Statistics reports higher earnings and lower unemployment rates for doctoral degree holders in comparison to those with master’s and bachelor’s degrees:

According to national studies, more education translates not only to higher earnings, but also higher levels of job success and job satisfaction:

“Educational attainment – the number of years a person spends in school – strongly predicts adult earnings, and also predicts health and civic engagement. Moreover, individuals with higher levels of education appear to gain more knowledge and skills on the job than do those with lower levels of education and they are able, to some extent, to transfer what they learn across occupations.” - Education for Life and Work (2012), National Research Council of the National Academies, pg. 66.

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M.D.-Ph.D. and M.D. Degrees, Salaries and What They Really Cost

Whether you're obtaining a Ph.D. or an M.D. degree in medicine, it is no easy undertaking . Years of intensive study, research and internships yield a degree that not only allows you to put those two little letters in front of your name, but usually comes with an impressive starting salary as well. However, what is the difference between an M.D.-Ph.D. and an M.D.?

The difference between the degrees

Before you compare salaries, you should understand the difference between the degrees themselves. Someone who receives an M.D. is licensed to practice medicine and participate in patient care. Someone who receives an M.D.-Ph.D. works in research and development, such as biomedical research, immunology or biochemistry, etc., but can also practice clinical medicine. A nonmedical Ph.D. can be in just about any subject, including the sciences, and varies as widely in cost and salary as it does in subject matter. For the purposes of this cost and salary comparison, we'll stick to M.D.-Ph.D.'s and M.D.'s.

You also must make sure you compare apples to apples. Before taking salary into consideration, measure other factors, such as the cost of each degree and subsequent school debt , living expenses, and potential stipends and funding offered.

According to the AAMC, the average cost of four years of medical school is $228,006 (that's averaging together public vs. private schools and resident vs. nonresident). Of course, that's not taking into consideration the cost of living and other expenses, which will vary depending on where you go to school, for example, New York City, N.Y. vs. Bloomington, Ind.

While physicians shoulder some of the highest school debt of any profession, they also enjoy some of the highest salaries, which is helpful when they are making mortgage-sized payments for their school loans. The national average for annual physicians' salaries in the U.S. is $209,044. However, not all costs to train a medical doctor fall on the medical student. The costs that a university and society expend on each medical student are fairly exorbitant as training excellent medical professionals is highly valued in this country.

While students pay for medical school, the university hospital foots the bill for the student's residency, which includes expenses such as hospital call rooms, administrative costs and salaries for the student and supervising faculty. For specialties that take longer to train for, the costs are in excess of $1,000,000. Where tax paying citizens come in is that most university hospitals receive federal funding, some of which is used to pay for students' residencies.

M.D.-Ph.D. costs

Falling into the category of medical scientists, M.D.-Ph.D. recipients are trained in both clinical medicine and research. This type of dual degree is ideal for conducting clinical trials, as both intensive research skills and patient care involvement are required. Because this is a dual degree, the time it takes to complete it is considerably longer than the four years for just medical school. An M.D.-Ph.D. typically takes seven to eight years to complete due to the student having to attend both medical and graduate schools.

The major difference between an M.D. and an M.D.-Ph.D. is the cost of tuition. While medical school tuition and costs will run well into six figures over four years, M.D.-Ph.D. students will find that their costs are largely reduced or even eliminated through waivers and stipends.₁ The National Institute of General Medical Sciences currently funds forty-nine M.D.-Ph.D. programs through the Medical Scientist Training Program. 2

Many universities also offer full funding to M.D.-Ph.D. candidates as they leverage the exorbitant cost of educating these students against the expected scientific breakthroughs and accomplishments they'll make in the medical field. The state of health care and the increasing need to study and treat numerous diseases affecting the population have contributed to a faster than average job growth rate for medical scientists. 3

Salary is a different story, as it's very dependent on what type of work the M.D.-Ph.D. pursues. Working in just the scientific research field will yield a median annual salary of $91,510, considerably less than the mid-six-figure salaries of practicing physicians; however, those who practice medicine as well as medical research will see their salaries increase accordingly.

The application process

Both degrees carry a high level of competitiveness, and the application process can be an intensive one. There are no test-optional choices here. MCATHs are a given requirement , so start preparing as soon as you've made the decision to apply to these programs.

Submitting a strong and effective statement of purpose , personal statement and letters of recommendation are critical to getting that coveted acceptance letter from your choice schools. It’s important to keep track of what you've submitted and when, as well as deadlines and communications with program recruiters or advisors.

Choosing your path

Entering the medical field, in any capacity, is a noble and stressfully intensive undertaking. However, the effect you'll have on patients' lives or future treatments and cures for diseases makes the investment of the student, university and government well worth it. Once you've decided which medical career path you want to take, your options will become clearer.

1 MD PhD vs MD: Which is best for you? | BeMo ® (bemoacademicconsulting.com)

2 Medical Scientist Training Program (nih.gov)

3 Medical Scientists: Occupational Outlook Handbook: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (bls.gov)

DHSc vs. Ph.D.: What Path Should You Take?

Earning a Doctor of Health Science (DHSc) or a Ph.D. in Health Science can lead to jobs at the pinnacle of the healthcare profession. When choosing between a DHSc vs. Ph.D., it’s important to understand that the degrees target people with different career ambitions.

Typically, a Ph.D. focuses on original research and a dissertation. A DHSc provides current health professionals the skills they need to become innovative leaders in healthcare administration, education, and research positions.

Graduates from Touro University Worldwide’s online DHSc program apply theory to solving complex challenges in leadership roles. Earning the degree opens the door to a wide range of jobs, including hospital administrators, research team leaders, health information managers, and health education specialists.

Comparing a DHSc vs. a Ph.D.

Both doctoral degrees can fulfill the ambitions of professionals motivated to work in the upper echelons of healthcare. However, there are key differences between the two. Deciding which degree to pursue depends on your career aspirations.

Similarities: DHSc vs. Ph.D.

Both degrees build on job experience and knowledge gained at the master’s level. Health science is a multidisciplinary field. Graduates from either program go on to research life-saving medicines, develop tech-driven medical devices, or improve the management of clinics and hospitals.

Health science is so vast that doctoral graduates can approach their jobs from different perspectives , including STEM, social care, mental health, physical health, and medicine.

Differences: DHSc vs. Ph.D.

A Ph.D. is a traditional academic and research-focused degree that often focuses on a specific area of healthcare research. A Ph.D requires a dissertation to graduate.

A DHSc is an applied doctorate, just like a Doctor of Physician Assistant.  Students learn the skills and tools needed to develop evidence-based solutions in health science in various settings. Under the guidance and mentorship of a faculty member, students also create a research project that applies to their area of interest.

Career Options: DHSc vs. Ph.D.

A Ph.D. program graduate may pursue research and teaching jobs in an academic setting or private company. They lead research in their area of expertise and provide education for the next generation of health scientists.

DHSc graduates enjoy a wide variety of options. Students in the program are often graduates from health science degree programs . Others come from fields across healthcare, including nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and mental health. They may focus on population health, hospital operations, or guiding community clinics.

Three examples of Doctor of Health Science salaries and careers include the following (all salary and job projection numbers from the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics ):

Medical and health services managers . These administrators plan and direct healthcare operations. The median salary reached $104,280 in May 2020. Projections call for a 32% in jobs between 2019 and 2029.

Medical scientists . They conduct research to find ways of improving human health. The median salary reached $91,510 in May 2020. Projections call for a 6% increase in jobs between 2019 and 2029.

Health education specialists . They develop health education programs that support individuals, families, and communities to improve their health. The average salary reached $62,120 in May 2020. Projections call for a 13% increase in jobs between 2019 and 2029.

TUW’s Doctor of Health Science Degree

Students in the 48-credit TUW DHSc program begin with core courses that cover a range of healthcare topics.

• History of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
• Theoretical Foundations in Health Science
• Ethics and Professional Leadership in Health Science
• Health Informatics
• Program Development and Evaluation for Health Professionals
• Epidemiology
• U.S. and Global Health Policy
• Introduction to Biostatistics
• Occupation and Environmental Health
• Quantitative Research and Analysis
• Qualitative Research and Analysis
• Survey Design for Health Science

Students then work with the program chair and committee to develop a doctoral research proposal. Once approved, students then complete the doctoral research project, culminating with a successful oral defense of their project before the committee.

The TUW program offers several unique features. All instructors are health science experts actively working with private companies, government agencies, and not-for-profit organizations. TUW offers the program 100% online, giving students the flexibility needed to earn their degrees while maintaining professional and personal schedules. All course content is designed to allow students to complete the process at their own pace.

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Doctorate in Healthcare Administration Salary: 8 Top-Paying Jobs

The U.S. healthcare system is large and complex, made even more complicated by pandemic-related challenges and aging Baby Boomers. From patient safety to risk management and service quality, there is ample room for innovation and improvement, and the people prepared to lead the charge have terminal degrees in healthcare, particularly doctorates in healthcare administration (DHA). 

Without question, the nation’s healthcare systems need fresh yet practical solutions to help solve real-world healthcare dilemmas, gaps and problems. Leaders with a DHA can amplify their careers, both in responsibility and lifetime earning potential. For example, a DHA qualifies professionals for C-Suite positions, which according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary for chief executives was $197,840 as of May 2020, with the potential to earn much more. 

The Current Demand for Professionals with a DHA

Job outlooks in healthcare administration are on the rise, with the BLS projecting the industry to increase 18% from 2016-2026. The growth is due to a variety of factors, including the COVID pandemic. 

“COVID shook up leadership in healthcare,” said Dr. Gail Frankle, DHA program chair at Franklin University. “The old-style leaders retired while people who were able to pivot were innovative and called on their teams to step up to the plate and weather the storm. Now those innovative leaders can see their own potential and are earning doctorate degrees.”

And that’s a good thing, considering healthcare administration is on the rise and earning a terminal degree prepares leaders to make logical, relevant connections between classroom learning and real-world efficiencies and effectiveness.  

Advance your career in Healthcare Administration while you advance patient care. Download your free career guide.

Income potential for professionals with a dha.

Financial compensation for healthcare professionals with a DHA can be substantial, with PayScale.com reporting the salary for the top-paid 10% of CEOs at $308,000 in 2021. Without question, earning a DHA can present sizable income opportunities compared to professionals with a bachelor’s or master’s degree alone. 

But while earning a DHA can present lucrative opportunities, the program isn’t a fit for everyone.

“You’re not a good fit for a doctor of healthcare administration program if you’ve never worked in healthcare. You need to come with some background,” said Frankle. “Earning a DHA is not a way to break into the industry. When I talk to a student, I want to know what they want to do for a career and what they’re willing to sacrifice. The program is not for everybody.” 

The Best-Paying Jobs for DHAs

What are the best-paying jobs a professional can get with a DHA? Fortunately, there are many. Let’s look at some of the top professions for DHA graduates and how much they can expect to make on a yearly basis.

Hospital CEO | Average Salary (Bureau of Labor and Statistics): $197,840

Hospital CEOs are responsible for everything that goes on within a hospital and are very management-oriented. CEOs meet frequently with other hospital executives and boards of directors to ensure things go as planned and on budget. 

Hospital CFO | Average Salary (Payscale): $198,000 

Hospital CFOs carry the primary responsibility for the quality of their institutions' financial reports, ensuring accuracy in financial statements and working with budgets to oversee how money is being spent.

Hospital COO | Average Salary (Payscale): $144,774 

As a liaison among executive personnel members of each hospital department, Hospital COOs ensure that one department's activities do not interfere with another and confirm adherence to stated missions and guidelines. 

Director of Operations | Average Salary ( Salary.com ): $176,885

A director of operations plans, directs, coordinates, and manages people and policies of a medical operation, which may include formulating policies, monitoring budgets, overseeing programs and assessing patient satisfaction. 

Professor | Top 10% of Earners ( EMSI ): $160,000

Professors share research-supported information with students in a variety of academic, medical or business settings with the goal to inform or instruct people in the healthcare field.

Consultant | Average Salary Plus Commission ( P ayscale ): $170,000

Consultant positions can vary greatly, but they typically act as an analyst, learning about a healthcare-related oranization’s operations to improve efficiencies by identifying problem areas and proposing solutions.

Adjunct Faculty | Top Earners ( Payscale ): $129,000

Public health is a rapidly growing field and colleges are seeking DHAs to become tenured professors of public health, healthcare administration and public policy.

Community Health Director | Average Salary ( Salary.com ): $140,000

A community health director may not make as much as other professions in the field; however, the role presents opportunities to make a difference and serve a community, providing a clear track to build a career in Washington, D.C., or as a manager of a federal team.

Earning a DHA Will Help You Land The Job and Salary You Want

While a professional’s salary is always determined by a combination of factors, earning a DHA clearly gives job candidates increased earning potential across their lifetime and access to a wider range of positions. A great place to start is Franklin University because the program is very student-focused, providing exemplary support so students achieve their goals.

“The student is always our focus at Franklin. Everyone who comes into this program is given a variety of advisors who stay with them throughout their coursework and our instructors are phenomenal,” said Frankle. “We want our students to graduate and have successful careers.” 

Franklin University’s program is 100% online and features a relevant curriculum plus a variety of electives that allows students to customize their program. Some students even complete their degree in three years, including dissertation. 

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• 25 April 2024

NIH pay raise for postdocs and PhD students could have US ripple effect

• Amanda Heidt 0

Amanda Heidt is a freelance journalist in southeastern Utah.

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Academic workers walk a picket line at the University of California, Los Angeles. Credit: Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times via Getty

Amid a reckoning over poor job prospects and stagnating wages for early career scientists, the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) said it will raise the salaries of thousands of postdoctoral researchers and graduate students who receive a prestigious NIH research fellowship. The move could boost pay for other scientists as well, because academic institutions often follow guidelines set by the NIH.

Beginning immediately, postdocs who hold one of the agency’s Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (NRSA) will now earn at least $61,008 per year — an 8% increase and the largest year-over-year increase the NIH has implemented since 2017. Postdocs’ salaries, which are adjusted for years of experience, are capped at $74,088 per year. Graduate students’ yearly salaries will rise by $1,000, amounting to a minimum annual salary of $28,224.

“This is a major step in the right direction and something that the majority will agree is widely needed to retain talent in the biomedical and academic research sectors,” says Francisca Maria Acosta, a biomedical engineer and postdoc at UT Health San Antonio in Texas who is herself funded through an NRSA.

Postdoc shortage

In 2022, the agency assembled an advisory group on how best to retain and cultivate postdoctoral talent following reports that principal investigators (PIs) were struggling to fill vacant postdoc positions . In December, the panel released recommendations that suggested a minimum salary of $70,000 for postdocs.

The NIH agreed that a salary increase is indeed needed for the more than 17,000 research trainees covered by the NRSAs. The agency will also provide an extra $500 in subsidies for childcare and $200 for training-related expenses. In this week’s announcement, the agency acknowledged that this increase falls short of the council’s recommendation, and cited its tight budget in recent years.

Canadian science gets biggest boost to PhD and postdoc pay in 20 years

It added that “pending the availability of funds through future appropriations,” the agency would increase salaries to meet the recommended $70,000 target in the next three to five years, while also suggesting that NIH-funded institutions could supplement salaries in other ways. That presents a challenge, according to Sharona Gordon, a biophysicist at the University of Washington in Seattle, when the NIH’s modular R01 grants — one of the primary research awards given to PIs to fund their labs — have remained at $250,000 since they were introduced in 1998. Such grants cannot be used to supplement salaries, meaning lab heads have to pull money from other sources to increase trainees’ pay.

Even scientists who approve of the NIH’s move say it could have unintended consequences. “For institutions such as ours, which mandate that the postdoc minimum salary be set to the NIH minimum, there are some concerns that this increase in personnel costs could be a barrier for labs based on funding levels,” Acosta says.

For some, the five-year timeline for the increase feels insufficient. Haroon Popal, a cognitive science postdoc at the University of Maryland in College Park whose work is funded by the NIH, says that while he understands the pressures on the agency, the new salary will not be enough to support him as he assumes multiple caregiving responsibilities. Even with the boost, postdoc positions in academia fall far short of what researchers could make in government, industry, or nonprofit positions. “This is an issue of diversity and equity for me,” he says. “The new postdoc salary is not allowing people like me to be in academia, which is counter to the NIH’s, institutions’, and our scientific community’s goals of increased diversity.”

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-01242-x

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