Educational Services Employment and Wages in 2024

In 2024, the Educational Services industry employed over 13.7 million people in the United States, reflecting an increase of 2.6% from 2023. The annual mean wage in 2024 was $67,700, and the median wage was $59,440. Compared to the national average, the wages in this industry group were lower by 0.3%.

Industry Sub-Groups

Among the industry sub-groups, Elementary and Secondary Schools held the largest number of jobs within the Educational Services industry, employing over 8.8 million people in 2024. The annual mean wage in this sub-group was $61,980, with a median wage of $57,730. There was a decrease in wage variance to the national average compared to 2023, with the variance shifting from -5.9% to -8.7%, indicating industry wages lagged national wage trends.

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools accounted for a substantial employment share, with 3.2 million people employed in 2024. The annual mean wage for this sub-group was $83,210, and the median wage was $65,900. In terms of wage variance to the national average, there was a decrease compared to 2023, with the variance shifting from 24.5% to 22.5%.

The sub-group of Junior Colleges also had considerable industry employment, with approximately 640 thousand people employed in 2024. The annual mean wage in this sub-group was $77,530 and the median wage was $63,760. The wage variance to the national average experienced a decrease compared to 2023, with the variance shifting from 17.7% to 14.1%.

Highest Employment Occupations

When we examine the top occupations in terms of employment within the Educational Services industry, we find that Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary had the highest annual mean wage in 2024, at $113,410, and a median wage of $104,070. The industry variance to the national average was 0%. Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education had an annual mean wage of $73,740 and a median wage of $64,610. The industry variance to the national average was 0.1%. Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education had an annual mean wage of $70,070 and a median wage of $62,980. The industry variance to the national average was 0%.

Conversely, notable occupations with lower wages within the Educational Services industry included Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary, with an annual mean wage of $36,150 and a median wage of $35,430. The industry variance to the national average was 0.5%. Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners had an annual mean wage of $39,910 and a median wage of $37,540. The industry variance to the national average was 6.5%. Office Clerks, General had an annual mean wage of $42,360 and a median wage of $39,330. The industry variance to the national average was -6.8%.

Summary

In 2024, the Educational Services industry employed over 13.7 million individuals across the United States, growing by 2.6% from the previous year. While the industry’s annual mean wage of $67,700 and median wage of $59,440 were just 0.3% below the national average, wage performance varied notably by sub-sector. Colleges and universities offered significantly higher wages than K-12 institutions, with annual mean wages exceeding $83,000. Meanwhile, the largest employment group—elementary and secondary schools—saw wages decline relative to national trends. The highest-paid roles included education administrators and secondary school teachers, both near or above national norms. However, support roles such as teaching assistants and janitors continued to earn considerably less. Overall, while the sector offers stable employment and competitive wages for certain roles, wage disparities remain, particularly in support positions.