Education Degree Jobs Outside the Classroom: High-Paying Alt-Ac Careers 2026

Not everyone with an education degree wants to be a professor. These “alt-ac” jobs often pay more than professor positions.

Top 10 Education Degree Jobs Outside the Classroom

1. Instructional Designer: Design online courses. Salary: $70k-$100k.

2. Educational Consultant: Advise schools or companies. Salary: $80k-$150k.

3. Education Policy Analyst: Research for government or think tanks. Salary: $65k-$120k.

4. Program Evaluator: Evaluate education programs. Salary: $70k-$110k.

5. Ed-Tech Product Manager: Lead ed-tech product development. Salary: $100k-$160k.

6. Corporate Trainer: Train employees. Salary: $60k-$100k.

7. Grant Writer: Write proposals for funding. Salary: $55k-$85k.

8. Academic Advisor: Advise college students. Salary: $45k-$65k.

9. Textbook Author or Editor: Create educational content. Salary: $60k-$120k.

10. Standardized Test Developer: Create test questions. Salary: $65k-$95k.

How to Transition from Academia to Alt-Ac

Your research skills apply to analyst roles. Your teaching skills apply to instructional design. Your project management applies to product management.

Where to Find Alt-Ac Jobs

HigherEdJobs.com, Idealist.org, LinkedIn, USAJobs.gov, Versatile PhD.

Preparing Your Resume

Create a 1-2 page resume focusing on skills and outcomes. Use action verbs. Translate academic jargon into business language.

Final Advice

Leaving academia can feel scary, but many people are happier outside. You can still use your education degree to make a difference.