Educational Services Employment and Wages in 2023

In 2023, the Educational Services industry employed over 13.3 million people in the United States, reflecting an increase of 2.8% from 2022. The annual mean wage in 2023 was $67,020, and the median wage was $59,260. Compared to the national average, the wages in this industry group were higher by 2.4%.

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 8.6 million people in 2023. The annual mean wage in this sub-group was $61,640, with a median wage of $55,690. There was a decrease in wage variance to the national average compared to 2022, with the variance shifting from -5.1% to -5.9%, indicating industry wages lagged national wage trends.

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools accounted for a substantial employment share, with 3.1 million people employed in 2023. The annual mean wage for this sub-group was $81,530, and the median wage was $64,830. In terms of wage variance to the national average, there was an increase compared to 2022, with the variance shifting from 23.3% to 24.5%.

The sub-group of Junior Colleges also had considerable industry employment, with approximately 628 thousand people employed in 2023. The annual mean wage in this sub-group was $77,030 and the median wage was $63,830. The wage variance to the national average experienced a decrease compared to 2022, with the variance shifting from 19% to 17.7%.

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 2023, at $111,040, and a median wage of $103,460. The industry variance to the national average was 0%. Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education had an annual mean wage of $73,850 and a median wage of $65,260. 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 $71,480 and a median wage of $64,290. 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 $36,860 and a median wage of $36,050. The industry variance to the national average was 1.2%. Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners had an annual mean wage of $38,690 and a median wage of $36,770. The industry variance to the national average was 6.7%. Office Clerks, General had an annual mean wage of $41,360 and a median wage of $38,460. The industry variance to the national average was -5.1%.

Summary

In 2023, the Educational Services industry in the U.S. employed over 13.3 million people, a 2.8% increase from 2022, with an annual mean wage of $67,020 and a median wage of $59,260—2.4% higher than the national average. Elementary and Secondary Schools, the largest sub-group with 8.6 million employees, saw a slight decline in wage competitiveness, with wages lagging 5.9% behind national trends. Colleges and Universities, employing 3.1 million people, offered higher wages, with a positive wage variance of 24.5% compared to the national average. Junior Colleges employed 628,000 people, though their wage variance decreased to 17.7%. Top-paying roles like Education Administrators earned an annual mean wage of $111,040, while lower-wage positions such as Teaching Assistants and Janitors saw modest wage variances, reflecting the industry’s broad wage spectrum. Despite overall wage growth, some sub-groups and roles are facing challenges in keeping pace with national wage trends.

For more detailed industry insights, consider purchasing Aimiax’s 2023 Educational Services Industry Report.