Alternative Jobs in Education

Schools need people in other jobs besides teaching in order to run smoothly.The University of Evora image by inacio pires from Fotolia.com

Education can be a rewarding career if you like to help students, and you do not have to be a teacher to find a job in this field. There are alternative jobs available in education. Colleges and universities, as well as K through 12 schools need people to work in different areas to keep the institution running smoothly. Explore some alternative jobs in education.

K Through 12 Library Media Specialist

Library media specialists teach students how to use multimedia equipment. They may also purchase and catalog a variety of multimedia such as films, videos, DVDs, music CDs and interactive CD-ROMs. Library media specialists may also assist teachers in choosing, purchasing and using teaching aids to improve reading speed, educational software and other teaching materials. A library media specialist is usually required to have a bachelor's degree in multimedia or instructional technology. A K through 12 library media specialist can expect to earn an average annual salary between $34,469 and $54,980 as of 2010.

Colleges and universities admit students one or more times a year, and they need admissions officers to recruit applicants and to examine student applications to determine admission eligibility. An admissions officer may be responsible for setting up a college recruitment program in a specific geographic location. He may plan college student recruitment events at high schools and community centers. He may also conduct applicant interviews and campus tours. Spring is usually the busiest time for college admissions officers, and there may be a lot of travel required to promote recruitment programs at this time. Most college admissions officer jobs require a bachelor's degree. The average annual salary for a college admissions officer as of 2010 was between $29,887 and $38,971.

University students need help in deciding on careers and finding internships and jobs. Career counselors provide counseling, resources and programs that assist students in these areas. A career counselor may spend several hours per day in student counseling appointments, staff meetings and planning career events such as job workshops or career exploration panels. She may liaison with university alumni to invite them to speak on campus about their careers. A career counselor may also assist in planning annual on campus career fairs. A bachelor's degree in counseling is usually required for these jobs, with a master's degree often preferred. A university career counselor can expect to make a median annual salary of $44,226 as of 2010.