By obtaining a master's degree in education, teachers and students alike increase their core content knowledge. Core content knowledge applies to the area of the study that the teacher will be teaching. More content knowledge assists teachers in feeling more comfortable and knowledgeable about a class's curriculum material. Often times, students may have questions that go beyond the curriculum guidelines so it is important for teachers to have a deep understanding of their subject area.
Receiving a graduate level study of education strengthens a teacher understanding of and experience in developing and implementing lesson plans. Especially for students who have not taught before, gaining experience in drawing up lesson plans and presenting them to an audience is crucial to teaching. Moreover, certified teachers who are seeking masters' degrees will find innovative ways of creating new lesson plans to appeal to students.
Teachers with masters' degrees may have mixed experiences when it comes to finding a teaching job. For instance, teachers who are already in a tenured position will not need to look for a teaching job. In fact, they will receive an increased salary because of their graduate-level degrees. Those who have not taught before may be more likely to be hired because they have studied education at an advanced graduate level of study.
A teacher's salary is directly affected by her level of education. In most school districts, a teacher will automatically receive an increase in pay once she obtains her master's degree. Furthermore, newcomers to teaching will also receive higher starting salaries than those with undergraduate degrees. The average teacher without a master's degree starts at $33,227, as of the date of publication. Obtaining additional education with a master's degree increases this figure.