Master’s in Education Degree in Nebraska
Nebraska’s licensing process includes a ten-year professional teaching certificate – an optional certificate that’s reserved only for educators who have earned a master’s degree (or above) in curriculum and instruction or in an area related to their teaching certificate.
While not required for licensure in the state, the master’s in education a frequent pursuit among Nebraska educators with their eye on rising in the profession and enjoying more and varied opportunities (not to mention a larger paycheck).
It’s a well-rounded degree that packs a punch in Nebraska! Keep reading to learn more about what a master’s in education can do for you and your teaching career:
Earning Your Master’s in Education in Nebraska – Why Get a Master’s?
A bachelor’s degree within an approved teacher certification program is the minimum educational requirement to earn an Initial Teaching Certificate in Nebraska. After five years, you’ll advance to a five-year, renewable Standard Teaching Certificate.
You may also earn an optional Professional Teaching Certificate in Nebraska, which is reserved for educators who have earned a master’s degree in education (in either curriculum and instruction or in an area related to your certificate), National Board Certification, or a doctorate degree or six-year specialist certificate.
Depending on their structure, master’s in education programs may serve as a pathway to an initial teaching certificate in Nebraska; to a second endorsement on your teaching certificate; or to advanced study in areas like education policy, literacy, administration, teaching leadership, and more.
A growing number of colleges and universities have also begun offering specialized master’s in education programs to career changers with a bachelor’s degree in another field. These programs serve as an accelerated path to an initial teaching certificate in Nebraska.
Online Master of Education (MEd) and MAT Programs in Nebraska
In addition to offering a fantastic selection of master’s in education programs for both aspiring and existing educators, Nebraska’s colleges and universities also offer programs in either a hybrid or online format for the best in flexibility and convenience.
In Nebraska, public colleges and universities offering hybrid and/or online master’s in education programs include:
- Peru State College
- University of Nebraska at Omaha
- University of Nebraska at Kearny
- Chadron State College
- Wayne State College
Nebraska is also home to a nice selection of private colleges and universities offering hybrid and/or online master’s in education programs:
- Creighton University
- Bellevue University
- Concordia University – Nebraska
- York College
- Midland University
- Doane University
Jobs and Salary Benefits with a Master’s in Education in Nebraska
According to the Nebraska Department of Labor, jobs among the state’s K-12 educators are projected to increase by 5.6% between 2018 and 2028 – much faster than the national growth rate of 3.6% during this time for this profession.
During this ten-year period leading to 2028, the state expects to see about 920 annual job openings among elementary school teachers and about 680 annual job openings among secondary education teachers due to a combination of new job growth, retirements, and natural job turnover.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that Nebraska’s elementary school teachers earned a median salary of $60,300 and its secondary school teachers earned a median salary of $62,090 as of May 2020.
The BLS also provides the salary range for the state’s highest earning teachers (75th – 90th percentile) which, as of May 2020, was $73,170 – $86,340 for elementary school teachers and $73,760 – $81,730 for secondary school teachers. These top salary ranges reflect what teachers with extensive experience and/or advanced degrees like the master’s in education are earning in Nebraska.
According to the salary schedules published by the Nebraska State Education Association, a master’s degree always results in a higher salary.
In some school districts, the difference in pay between master’s and bachelor’s educators can be substantial. According to the National Council on Teacher Quality, master’s teachers in the Omaha Public Schools earn, on average, $6,984 more annually than teachers with a bachelor’s degree as their highest degree. This equates to $209,510 over the course of a teaching career.
May 2020 Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and job growth data for kindergarten and elementary school teachers, middle school teachers, and high school teachers. Figures represent national data, not school specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed April 2021.
Job growth projections sourced from the Nebraska Department of Labor and reported in the U.S. Department of Labor-funded Long Term Occupational Projections (2018-2028) database – https://projectionscentral.com/Projections/LongTerm.
Masters in Education Programs in Nearby States
