Education administrator
Also known as: administrator in education, higher education administrator, education secretary, school secretary, school administrator, specialist administrator in education
About this occupation
Education administrators organise and manage the administration, support systems and (student) activities of an education institution. They perform a range of administrative, secretarial, financial and otherwise supportive tasks to enable the efficient and cost-effective running of the school. They may assist in student recruitment, alumni relations, funding, work on committees including academic boards and quality insurance.
A specialisation of administrative assistant.
Essential skills and knowledge
- office software
- maintain records of financial transactions
- trace financial transactions
- electronic communication
- budgetary principles
- education administration
- handle financial transactions
- communicate by telephone
- manage school budget
- manage budgets
- customer service
- manage educational institution's administration
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary (O*NET 11-9032.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Counsel and provide guidance to students regarding personal, academic, vocational, or behavioral issues.
- Confer with parents and staff to discuss educational activities, policies, and student behavior or learning problems.
- Observe teaching methods and examine learning materials to evaluate and standardize curricula and teaching techniques and to determine areas for improvement.
- Determine the scope of educational program offerings, and prepare drafts of course schedules and descriptions to estimate staffing and facility requirements.
- Enforce discipline and attendance rules.
- Recruit, hire, train, and evaluate primary and supplemental staff.
- Preparation
- Job Zone 5 of 5
- Interests
- Social, Enterprising, Conventional
Top skills: Active Listening, Learning Strategies, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Judgment and Decision Making, Writing
US median pay: US$105,870 a year (2025), 328,330 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- Business Studies or EntrepreneurshipO*NET: Administration and ManagementVery important (4.2)
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageVery important (4.0)
- PsychologyO*NET: PsychologyImportant (3.3)
- Mathematics or StatisticsO*NET: MathematicsImportant (3.2)
- Computer StudiesO*NET: Computers and ElectronicsImportant (3.2)
- Media StudiesO*NET: Communications and MediaImportant (3.0)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
- Special Education Teachers, Secondary School
- Education Administrators, Postsecondary
- Instructional Coordinators
- Special Education Teachers, Elementary School
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
- Education Teachers, Postsecondary
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
- Training and Development Managers
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.