
Highest and lowest paying education jobs in Grand Rapids
Highest and lowest paying education jobs in Grand Rapids
Whether you picture hard-working teachers buying school supplies for their students or genius professors shaping future leaders, it’s fair to say education encompasses a wide variety of jobs. So much so that there’s room to specialize and pursue your passion.
Historically, teachers’ pay is a rather contentious topic. The median annual salary across all teaching professions is $57,949—about $3,000 below the median annual salary of all working professionals with a bachelor’s degree or higher. Despite this, many of these jobs are rewarding in more ways than one. In other words, education can be very lucrative—particularly within specialty fields.
Stacker compiled a list of the highest- and lowest-paying education jobs in Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2019 annual mean wage. Keep reading to discover the highest- and lowest-paying education jobs in your city.

#37. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $28,490
- #144 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,080
National
- Annual mean salary: $29,640
- Employment: 1,346,910
- Entry level education requirements: Some college, no degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($41,810)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($41,430)
--- New Bedford, MA ($41,360)

#36. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Annual mean salary: $29,890
- #142 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,040
National
- Annual mean salary: $32,460
- Employment: 587,120
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salisbury, MD-DE ($58,740)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($53,870)
--- Salinas, CA ($49,790)

#35. Teaching assistants, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $32,830
- #44 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $36,460
- Employment: 137,500
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ ($59,650)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($57,670)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($57,330)

#34. Library technicians
- Annual mean salary: $35,560
- #119 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 310
National
- Annual mean salary: $36,950
- Employment: 88,720
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($58,980)
--- Iowa City, IA ($54,140)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($52,650)

#33. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Annual mean salary: $36,370
- #83 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,010
National
- Annual mean salary: $34,650
- Employment: 431,350
- Entry level education requirements: Associate’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ ($55,430)
--- Laredo, TX ($50,350)
--- Waterbury, CT ($49,840)

#32. Museum technicians and conservators
- Annual mean salary: $38,490
- #44 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $48,030
- Employment: 13,190
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($68,320)
--- New Haven, CT ($63,900)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($63,240)

#31. Self-enrichment teachers
- Annual mean salary: $38,990
- #175 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,220
National
- Annual mean salary: $46,120
- Employment: 252,780
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($65,570)
--- Warner Robins, GA ($65,340)
--- Fairbanks, AK ($64,710)

#30. Curators
- Annual mean salary: $47,870
- #65 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $59,130
- Employment: 12,890
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Ann Arbor, MI ($82,280)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($81,640)
--- Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY ($76,200)

#29. Criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $53,210
- #56 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $72,980
- Employment: 14,070
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fresno, CA ($141,190)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($138,130)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($102,150)
#28. Librarians and media collections specialists
- Annual mean salary: $53,550
- #234 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 270
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,920
- Employment: 135,690
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA ($89,880)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($89,390)
--- Merced, CA ($87,800)
#26 (tie). Adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors
- Annual mean salary: $57,270
- #48 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,980
- Employment: 51,950
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($94,920)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($92,360)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($90,000)

#26 (tie). Special education teachers, secondary school
- Annual mean salary: $57,270
- #148 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300
National
- Annual mean salary: $65,710
- Employment: 143,170
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($98,500)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($93,280)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($93,110)

#25. Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
- Annual mean salary: $59,800
- #151 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,910
National
- Annual mean salary: $65,930
- Employment: 1,035,850
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bakersfield, CA ($97,680)
--- Fresno, CA ($93,410)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($93,350)
#24. Career/technical education teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $60,180
- #75 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170
National
- Annual mean salary: $60,420
- Employment: 112,210
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($92,930)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($90,500)
--- San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA ($89,100)

#23. Kindergarten teachers, except special education
- Annual mean salary: $60,340
- #94 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210
National
- Annual mean salary: $60,210
- Employment: 124,290
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Merced, CA ($97,220)
--- Modesto, CA ($91,230)
--- Kingston, NY ($89,850)

#22. Elementary school teachers, except special education
- Annual mean salary: $61,160
- #146 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,610
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,930
- Employment: 1,430,480
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kingston, NY ($92,090)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($90,270)
--- Merced, CA ($89,910)

#21. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $61,320
- #94 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
National
- Annual mean salary: $86,330
- Employment: 51,150
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($143,390)
--- Fresno, CA ($127,330)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($124,750)

#20. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $61,550
- #89 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 240
National
- Annual mean salary: $80,180
- Employment: 67,930
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($138,190)
--- Fresno, CA ($128,540)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($121,070)

#19. Special education teachers, middle school
- Annual mean salary: $61,990
- #73 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
National
- Annual mean salary: $65,740
- Employment: 85,840
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Worcester, MA-CT ($86,410)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($85,440)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($85,340)

#18. Special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school
- Annual mean salary: $63,770
- #89 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 260
National
- Annual mean salary: $64,420
- Employment: 193,830
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Merced, CA ($93,990)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($92,040)
--- Fresno, CA ($89,480)
#17. Psychology teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $64,540
- #91 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $87,530
- Employment: 37,480
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($129,120)
--- Bakersfield, CA ($128,700)
--- Fresno, CA ($127,520)

#16. Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $65,340
- #63 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $80,170
- Employment: 24,860
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($127,820)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($115,340)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($110,010)

#15. Instructional coordinators
- Annual mean salary: $65,930
- #148 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 290
National
- Annual mean salary: $69,180
- Employment: 176,690
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Jackson, MI ($117,990)
--- New Haven, CT ($111,750)
--- Warner Robins, GA ($103,980)

#14. Middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education
- Annual mean salary: $66,510
- #91 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,800
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,550
- Employment: 622,330
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kingston, NY ($91,610)
--- Bakersfield, CA ($91,350)
--- El Centro, CA ($89,610)

#13. Career/technical education teachers, secondary school
- Annual mean salary: $66,940
- #66 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $64,800
- Employment: 74,520
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fresno, CA ($102,780)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($87,500)
--- New Haven, CT ($85,740)
#12. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $66,980
- #92 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
National
- Annual mean salary: $83,160
- Employment: 59,680
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($120,980)
--- Rochester, NY ($108,480)
--- New Haven, CT ($107,320)

#11. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $67,190
- #81 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $98,430
- Employment: 31,800
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Tuscaloosa, AL ($151,520)
--- College Station-Bryan, TX ($149,560)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($142,520)

#10. Special education teachers, preschool
- Annual mean salary: $67,660
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $67,060
- Employment: 22,340
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($93,100)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($92,990)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($85,050)

#9. Recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $67,750
- #27 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $73,720
- Employment: 15,880
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($132,460)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($101,230)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($94,590)

#8. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $68,190
- #101 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
National
- Annual mean salary: $98,700
- Employment: 53,090
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($143,420)
--- Salt Lake City, UT ($142,610)
--- Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($140,810)

#7. Education teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $72,090
- #51 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $74,560
- Employment: 61,300
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Rochester, NY ($108,450)
--- Salt Lake City, UT ($107,300)
--- Toledo, OH ($106,940)

#6. Chemistry teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $72,670
- #69 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $92,650
- Employment: 21,380
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($137,130)
--- College Station-Bryan, TX ($135,530)
--- Salt Lake City, UT ($132,340)

#5. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $72,830
- #103 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
National
- Annual mean salary: $121,620
- Employment: 201,920
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Jacksonville, FL ($202,430)
--- Jackson, MS ($185,500)
--- Kalamazoo-Portage, MI ($184,130)

#4. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $73,100
- #106 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110
National
- Annual mean salary: $105,440
- Employment: 83,920
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- College Station-Bryan, TX ($177,360)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($154,210)
--- Tuscaloosa, AL ($141,870)

#3. Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $73,250
- #59 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220
National
- Annual mean salary: $83,220
- Employment: 94,060
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($119,250)
--- Rochester, NY ($114,810)
--- Provo-Orem, UT ($112,520)

#2. Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $76,680
- #42 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180
National
- Annual mean salary: $88,970
- Employment: 23,490
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($155,290)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($134,000)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($133,610)

#1. Engineering teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $90,920
- #35 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $112,110
- Employment: 36,080
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- College Station-Bryan, TX ($160,730)
--- Pittsburgh, PA ($143,600)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($140,020)



