EdD Careers: What Can You Do with an EdD?
Updated 10/22/2026
Strong organizational leadership is essential for all organizations, from nonprofits and government institutions to businesses and schools. However, according to DDI's Global Leadership Forecast 2025, a leadership consulting firm, only 20% of HR professionals felt confident in their organization's leadership bench in 2024, leaving 80% of organizations uncertain about their leadership pipelines.
Current and future organizational leaders can elevate this confidence level by earning a Doctor of Education (EdD) in Leadership. EdD candidates learn to apply leadership theory and research to address real-world organizational issues effectively.
What can you do with an EdD? Professionals with an EdD degree are prepared to provide effective organizational leadership across industries.
PhD vs. EdD: What's the Difference?
Professionals who want to grow their organizational leadership with a doctorate should understand the differences between PhD and EdD programs.
While the PhD and EdD are terminal degrees, they have different career outcomes. PhD in Leadership programs focus on leadership theory to prepare candidates for careers in research and academia. EdD in Leadership candidates primarily study leadership practice and prepare for careers in applied leadership.
Another difference is the final program project. PhD programs require a dissertation, while EdD programs typically require a capstone project. A dissertation is a multi-year effort focused on contributing original research to a field of study. A capstone project allows candidates to apply their research and leadership skills to address a real-world organizational challenge.
PhD programs are also longer and primarily delivered in person. EdD candidates can complete their degrees in less time, either online or in person. For context, research doctorate recipients took a median of 5.7 years to finish after starting their doctoral programs in 2024, and 5.5 years in education, according to the National Science Foundation's Survey of Earned Doctorates. Accelerated formats can shorten that timeline: Spalding's online EdD in Leadership can be completed in two years.
|
PhD in Leadership |
EdD in Leadership |
|
|
Focus |
Leadership Theory |
Leadership Practice |
|
Career Path |
Research and Academia |
Applied Leadership |
|
Final Project |
Dissertation |
Capstone |
|
Coursework |
Research |
Research and Practical Leadership Skills |
|
Length |
4 to 7 years |
2 to 5 years |
|
Delivery |
Primarily In Person |
In-Person or Online |
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What Will I Learn in an EdD Program?
The EdD degree prepares professionals for effective organizational leadership across industries. The specific curriculum varies by program, but candidates generally cultivate leadership skills and knowledge across four themes of study:
- Leadership Theory and Practice: Analyzing the various leadership styles and learning how to adapt leadership characteristics and behaviors to guide, influence and motivate others.
- Systems Thinking and Cultural Competence: Developing a sophisticated awareness of cultural differences and the cause-and-effect relationships within systems to lead effectively in a diverse world and economy.
- Organizational Change: Using proven methods to facilitate innovation and influence organizational transformation, creating lasting, positive change.
- Research Methods and Inquiry: Learning to think systematically yet creatively about inquiry to support impactful, data-driven decisions.
By gaining a deep understanding of leadership theory, research and practice, candidates can navigate the complexities of leadership in today's rapidly changing world.
What Are EdD Degree Career Paths?
EdD graduates have the competencies to provide organizational leadership in the public and private sectors. They are qualified for leadership roles in business, human resources, nonprofits, government and education.
Business Leadership
Through effective organizational leadership, successful businesses adapt to ever-changing economic and market conditions. To achieve enduring success, company leaders build positive workplace cultures, drive transformation and foster collaborative relationships.
Successful business leaders apply their educational and professional backgrounds, diverse perspectives and new ideas to address organizational issues. Earning an EdD provides a formal pathway to building advanced leadership skills for today's workplace.
The lessons learned in an EdD program are especially valuable during business transformation, which is necessary to maintain a competitive edge. A McKinsey study on business transformations found the most successful change initiatives featured high staff engagement. EdD programs reinforce the value of team building and sustainable growth in any business.
Human Resources Leadership
Successful human resources (HR) leaders have strong ethics, solid communication skills and agility. Current and aspiring HR leaders learn to develop and apply these attributes during EdD programs. Earning an EdD degree also encourages innovative thinking about HR challenges.
Motivated and talented employees drive organizational success. With an EdD degree, HR professionals can more effectively identify right-fit employees, develop them and ensure their engagement in the workplace.
Nonprofit Leadership
Nonprofit organizations enrich and improve the lives of individuals and communities. Religious, social service and educational organizations often fill gaps in public services. As demand for their services rises alongside operational costs, nonprofits need strong organizational leadership for enduring success. In the Nonprofit Finance Fund's 2025 State of the Nonprofit Sector Survey, 85% of respondents expected demand for their services to increase in 2025, and 36% ended 2024 with an operating deficit, the highest share in 10 years of the survey's data.
Nonprofit leaders identify new opportunities for fundraising, community engagement and partnerships to serve their clients. They also collaborate with various stakeholders to execute organizational programs effectively. Advanced leadership makes this balancing of daily operations and long-term goals possible.
While there isn't one route to nonprofit leadership roles, EdD programs offer a formal pathway to developing the advanced leadership skills needed to thrive.
Public Leadership
A commitment to public service and an EdD degree can lead to a fulfilling career path. EdD programs promote ethical and data-driven decision-making alongside innovation and change management, preparing professionals to thrive in public service. Local, state and federal agencies serve the public within strict budgets and regulations. Innovation in the public sector is key, and the most effective organizational leaders find creative ways to maximize resources for the public good.
MissionSquare Research Institute notes that state and local government work offers the opportunity to serve the community, find personal fulfillment and see the results of one's efforts, motivations many employees cite for choosing a public sector career. Public-sector leaders get to see their contributions in daily life, from improved roads to better treatment for military veterans.
Educational Leadership
Today's educational leaders can address numerous pressing issues. Colleges and universities face uneven enrollment: total postsecondary enrollment grew 1.0% in fall 2025, but graduate enrollment stayed flat and private colleges saw declines, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. In K-12, average reading scores fell 2 points for both 4th and 8th graders on the 2024 Nation's Report Card, and just 32% of Americans are satisfied with the quality of K-12 education, the lowest in Gallup's 27-year trend. Educational leaders who complete an EdD program are prepared to bring innovative, evidence-based solutions to their current and future roles.
A master's degree in education or leadership is the entry point into many educational leadership roles. BLS reports that principals typically need a master's degree. Earning an EdD degree can help aspiring K-12 leaders stand out with advanced leadership skills because only 11% of K-12 public school principals held a doctorate or first-professional degree in 2020–21, the most recent year of federal data.
Higher education also needs doctorally prepared leaders. College and university leaders need the knowledge and skills to deliver on daily operational needs and long-term strategic plans across administration, admissions, student affairs and beyond.
10 Job Opportunities for Professionals with an EdD Degree
EdD graduates have countless opportunities for leadership roles across industries, from school principals and college professors to healthcare administrators and chief executives. The EdD degree prepares professionals to navigate the complexities of these roles, make a meaningful difference and advance in their careers.
The table below summarizes typical pay for each role. BLS figures are May 2025 median annual wages; the superintendent range reflects AASA's 2025–26 median base salaries by district size.
|
EdD job |
Typical pay |
Source |
|
School principal |
$105,870 |
|
|
School superintendent |
$117,850 to $295,000, by district size |
|
|
College professor |
$85,330 |
|
|
Curriculum designer (instructional coordinator) |
$77,440 |
|
|
Educational consultant (management analyst benchmark) |
$101,860 |
|
|
Training and development specialist |
$69,280 |
|
|
Healthcare administrator |
$123,860 |
|
|
Policy analyst (political scientist) |
$142,080 |
|
|
Sports coach |
$47,320 |
|
|
Chief executive |
$213,990 |
1. School Principal
School principals are vital to academic success. They oversee the entire operation of elementary, middle and high schools. An EdD degree equips them with the highest level of knowledge and skills in organizational leadership, enhancing their ability to address challenges and foster change.
School principals set academic goals and ensure staff have the resources to achieve them. They may also implement curriculum standards, manage staff and their professional development and serve as the public representative of their school.
With a median salary of $105,870 in May 2025, school principals can be well-compensated for their educational leadership. Although BLS projects little or no change in principal employment from 2025 to 2035, it expects about 20,600 openings each year, mostly to replace principals who retire or change occupations.
2. School Superintendent
School superintendents oversee entire school systems, which requires advanced leadership skills attained through an EdD degree. Earning an EdD equips superintendents to drive systematic improvements through strategic planning, evaluation and advocacy. A doctorate is common among superintendents: in AASA's 2025–26 study of 1,951 superintendents, 44% held a doctorate. The EdD was by far the most common (37%), compared with 6% who held a PhD.
School superintendents set the vision and priorities for school districts, ensuring alignment with educational standards and community needs. They may also oversee daily operations, implement policy, conduct school evaluations, and lead local, state, and national advocacy.
Superintendent pay depends a lot on district size. According to AASA's 2025–26 Superintendent Salary & Benefits Study, salaries go up as enrollment grows. The median base salary was $117,850 in districts with fewer than 300 students and $295,000 in districts with 25,000 to 49,999 students.
3. College Professor
Demand for college faculty is growing. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 7% employment growth for postsecondary teachers from 2025 to 2035. The median salary for postsecondary teachers was $85,330 in May 2025, and faculty in law ($128,500), economics ($123,920) and health specialties ($107,310) earned more.
The EdD is an asset for educators seeking to excel in academia. Postsecondary teachers at 4-year colleges and universities typically need a Ph.D. or other doctorate in their field, according to BLS.
4. Curriculum Designer
Curriculum designers oversee school curricula and teaching standards. They collaborate with staff and principals to create, implement and analyze the effectiveness of educational content. This can involve training staff in new content, recommending teaching techniques and analyzing student performance data. Also known as curriculum specialists and instructional coordinators, curriculum designers can specialize in a specific grade level or subject.
This educational leadership role typically requires at least a master's degree. Curriculum designers can benefit from an EdD because it equips them with the strategic planning and decision-making skills needed for goal setting, data analysis and continuous improvement in curriculum development.
Curriculum designers (classified by BLS as instructional coordinators) had a median salary of $77,440 in May 2025.
5. Educational Consultant
Educational consultants provide expert advice and support across various aspects of education. Whether working independently or as part of a consulting firm, they may serve educational institutions, organizations or individuals. Their earning potential varies widely depending on expertise, location and client base. BLS doesn't track educational consultants as a separate occupation. The closest BLS benchmark is management analysts, who recommend ways to improve an organization's efficiency; they earned a median of $101,860 in May 2025, and BLS projects 10% employment growth from 2025 to 2035.
An educational consultant's responsibilities vary by client type. They may support colleges and universities with strategic planning, developing goals to achieve desired outcomes and action plans. Other possible duties include assessment and evaluation. Educational consultants can evaluate the effectiveness of education programs or interventions. When educational consultants work with individuals, they typically help students and families navigate the college admissions process.
Earning an EdD enhances educational consultants' expertise and credibility. The degree equips them with the leadership skills to inspire and motivate others, analyze complex challenges and draw evidence-based conclusions, amplifying their impact.
6. Training and Development Specialist
Training and development specialists, or corporate trainers, enhance employee skills and knowledge within organizations. They plan, administer and evaluate training programs. Their duties involve assessing training needs, developing training materials, delivering training programs and measuring their effectiveness.
This leadership role typically requires a bachelor's degree, but candidates with an EdD degree have the advanced creativity, communication and analytical skills needed to maximize their impact. Training and development specialists must continually implement new approaches, collaborate with diverse stakeholders and make evidence-based decisions to succeed.
Training and development specialists work across industries for organizations or consulting firms and earned a median salary of $69,280 in May 2025. The highest 10 percent earned more than $123,250, and BLS projects 11% employment growth from 2025 to 2035, much faster than average.
7. Healthcare Administrator
Healthcare administrators plan, direct and coordinate services within healthcare facilities and public health organizations. They may manage an entire facility, department, program or initiative. Responsibilities range from strategic planning and legal compliance to budgeting and staff supervision.
Healthcare administrators with an EdD degree have advanced knowledge and skills in strategic thinking, change management and policy analysis. Through their studies, they have also gleaned interdisciplinary perspectives from fields such as education, business and public health.
The demand for healthcare administrators is high. Because of the healthcare needs of the growing aging population, BLS projects employment of medical and health services managers to grow 24% from 2025 to 2035, about eight times the 3% average for all occupations, with about 62,300 openings each year.
Earning potential is also high, with a median salary of $123,860 in May 2025. Healthcare administrators in hospitals and government organizations earn considerably more, making an EdD degree a valuable asset for those seeking advancement.
8. Policy Analyst
Policy analysts work for government agencies, labor unions, political groups and other organizations concerned with public policy. They are vital to helping these organizations develop, implement and influence effective policy. They evaluate current and past policies to anticipate the effects of new ones.
Most work in the federal government. Job opportunities also exist in educational organizations and professional, scientific and technical services. Across all workplaces, the median salary for political scientists was $142,080 in May 2025, and those in the federal government earned a median of $151,990. Competition can be strong: the occupation is small (about 6,100 jobs in 2025), and BLS projects a 2% decline in employment from 2025 to 2035.
Policy analyst employers typically prefer a master's or doctoral degree to carry out the analysis and critical thinking necessary to collect, evaluate, interpret and apply data. An EdD program enhances these skills, positioning policy analysts to meaningfully shape public policy.
9. Sports Coach
Earning an EdD degree prepares sports coaches with advanced interpersonal, communication and decision-making skills. These are vital to improving athletes' form, skills and stamina while growing sportsmanship, competitiveness and teamwork. Other responsibilities of sports coaches can include scouting potential athletes, negotiating player contracts and hiring coaching staff.
Sports coaches have diverse job opportunities. They can work with professional, amateur or student athletes, working on a full-time or part-time basis. Their salary is dependent on all of these factors. The median salary for coaches and scouts was $47,320 in May 2025 ($46,890 in educational services), and the highest 10 percent earned more than $98,860.
10. Chief Executive
Chief executives plan strategies and policies to help organizations achieve their goals. Many oversee entire organizations in leadership roles such as chief executive officer, executive director or president. Others manage specific departments as chief financial officers, chief information officers, chief operating officers and chief technology officers.
While leadership skills are often cultivated through work experience, earning an EdD degree offers a formal pathway. With a median salary of $213,990 in May 2025, chief executives rank among the highest-paid workers. Earning potential varies by industry; for example, chief executives in management of companies and enterprises earned a median of $358,310.
Preparing for EdD Careers with Spalding University
Many professionals who have wondered, "What can you do with an EdD?" are now making greater contributions to their fields after earning the degree. With Spalding University, working professionals can prepare to lead more strategically and ethically across all industries and roles through the online EdD in Leadership program.
The online EdD in Leadership program brings together a diverse, cross-section cohort of professionals. Through dynamic learning, cutting-edge research and collaborative study, candidates develop leadership skills across four themes:
- Advanced Leadership Concepts in Practice
- Global and Cultural Perspectives
- Organizational Innovation and Change
- Research-Informed Decision-Making
Online EdD in Leadership candidates demonstrate their research skills and leadership acumen during a capstone project. Through extensive research, a presentation to the capstone committee and submission to a peer-reviewed journal, candidates graduate with publication-worthy research.
Spalding University's commitment to service and regional reputation adds value to the online EdD in Leadership degree. Spalding infuses cultural understanding, diversity and dignity throughout its programs. Spalding is also accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and appears in U.S. News & World Report's Regional Universities South rankings, demonstrating its commitment to excellence.
At Spalding University, students can earn their EdD in two years of study, completing one eight-week course at a time so they can keep working; plan for 20 to 25 hours of coursework each week.
Spalding supports you wherever you are in your leadership journey. Connect with an enrollment advisor today to get started.
EdD careers: frequently asked questions
What jobs can you get with an EdD?
An EdD in Leadership prepares graduates for leadership roles such as school principal, superintendent, college professor or administrator, curriculum designer, training and development leader, healthcare administrator, nonprofit executive and chief executive.
How much can you earn with an EdD?
Pay depends more on the role than on the degree. In 2025, full-time workers with a doctoral degree had median weekly earnings of $2,307, compared with $1,876 for workers with a master's degree, according to the BLS. Among EdD-aligned roles, May 2025 median annual wages were $105,870 for principals, $123,860 for medical and health services managers and $213,990 for chief executives.
Do you need an EdD to become a superintendent?
Requirements vary by state and district, but a doctorate is common. In AASA's 2025–26 study, 44% of superintendents held a doctorate, and 37% held an EdD specifically.
Is an EdD only for careers in education?
No. An EdD in Leadership focuses on organizational leadership, which applies in business, human resources, healthcare, nonprofits and government, as well as in schools and colleges.
How long does it take to earn an EdD?
It depends on the program. Research doctorate recipients in education took a median of 5.5 years to complete their doctoral program after starting in 2024, according to the National Science Foundation. Spalding's online EdD in Leadership is designed to be completed in two years, one course at a time.
