Elementary Education Careers
Find out what careers you can achieve with an Elementary Education degree from MBU, and how you can get there!
Elementary Education Careers
These are just some of the many careers an Elementary Education BA can prepare you for. Select a career to learn about the job, average salary, employment outlook, required education level, and more.
Teaching & Administration
Use the resources below to find more career profiles on these and hundreds of other jobs you could achieve with an Elementary Education BA.
Career Spotlights
Elementary School Teacher
Instructs young students in foundational educational subjects as well as basic behavior management and other life skills.
Education: Bachelor’s degree (and teaching licensure for public school teachers)
Workplaces: Public, private, and charter schools, child daycare, and afterschool centers
Median Pay: $62,310/year
Job Outlook: -2% (decline)
Librarian
Manages physical and digital libraries of books and resources and assist students and scholars conduct research.
Education: Master’s degree (and possible teaching licensure for schools)
Workplaces: Schools, universities, town libraries
Median Pay: $64,320/year
Job Outlook: 2% (slower than average)
Curriculum Developer
Designs educational content and curriculum materials for schools and corporations that align with the organization’s values.
Education: Bachelor’s degree (though some require a master’s as well)
Workplaces: Schools, universities, nonprofits, businesses, state and local governments
Median Pay: $66,706/year
Job Outlook: 1% (slower than average)
MBU Alumni Employers
Our Elementary Education majors have gone on to build impactful careers with local and national school districts, innovative curriculum designers, large public libraries, and more!
- Albemarle County Public Schools
- Anchorage School District
- Augusta County Public Schools
- Career Source Central Florida
- Catapult Learning
- Chesterfield County Public Schools
- ERP Training Development
- Explore Learning
- Greensville County Public Schools
- Houston Independent School District
- Liberty Point Behavioral Healthcare
- LexisNexis Legal
- NBC Universal
- QBS Learning
- Queens Library
- Richmond County Public Schools,
- Rockingham County Public Schools
- Roanoke County Public Schools,
- Staunton City Public Schools
- Waynesboro City Public Schools
- WorldStrides
Alumni Story: Madison Sweitzer, ’25
Madison Sweitzer graduated from Mary Baldwin University with a bachelor’s degree in December 2023 and went on to earn a Master’s in Authentic Learning and Leadership from MBU in December 2025. Along the way, Madison long-term subbed in a third-grade classroom, learning the Virginia Standards of Learning firsthand, before taking a position as a second-grade teacher in Waynesboro Public Schools to stay close to Staunton.
Those first two years brought real growth, from leaning on colleagues to picking up extra training like a Responsive Classroom course and mentoring a student teacher on the team. Now, Madison is moving to Floyd, VA to teach fourth grade, where she’ll carry forward what she learned at Mary Baldwin about teaching and managing a classroom with confidence.
What’s your path?
MBU offers dozens of complementary minors, majors, clubs and more to enhance your study of elementary education and put you on the right path to your dream career.
Consider pairing your Elementary Education major with…
A minor in:
- Applied Behavior Analysis & Autism Studies
- Communication
- English
- History
- Leadership Studies
- Mathematics
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Subject-specific Education minors
A double-major in:
- Applied Behavior Analysis & Autism Studies
- Business
- English
- History
- Mathematics
- Psychology
- Social Work
- Strategic Communications
- Special Education (Add-On Endorsement)
Build one of these Skill Stacks to gain an edge in the job market:
- Creativity
- Communication
- Data Fluency
- Inclusivity
- Leadership
- Problem-Solving
Join one of these MBU clubs or professional organizations for connection and networking:
- Sociology Club
- Social Work Club
- Psychology Club
- A Brighter Tomorrow
- Student Government Association
- Baldwin Program Board
- MBU Honor Council
- National Education Association (Virginia Chapter)
- Association of American Educators
- American Education Research Association
- National Association for Multicultural Education
- Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society
Gain course-required work experience:
- 60 hours of in-classroom observation
- 12 weeks of student-teaching with MBU-provided site placement
Consider one of our outstanding MBU MEd graduate programs:
- Elementary Education PK-6*
- Special Education General Curriculum K-12*
- Special Education, Non-Licensure
- Gifted Education*
- Reading Education*
- English as Second Language*
- Curriculum and Instruction*
- Leadership Through Authentic Learning*
*We offer Accelerated Pathways in these programs. Earn two degrees faster!
Consider pairing your Elementary Education major with…
A minor in:
- Applied Behavior Analysis & Autism Studies
- Communication
- Leadership Studies
- Psychology
- Public Health
- Sociology
A double-major in:
- Applied Behavior Analysis & Autism Studies
- Business
- Psychology
- Social Work
- Strategic Communications
- Special Education (Add-On Endorsement)
Build one of these Skill Stacks and gain an edge in the job market:
- Creativity
- Communication
- Data Fluency
- Inclusivity
- Leadership
- Problem-Solving
Join one of these MBU clubs for connection and networking:
- Sociology Club
- Social Work Club
- Psychology Club
- A Brighter Tomorrow
- Student Government Association
- Baldwin Program Board
- MBU Honor Council
- National Education Association (Virginia Chapter)
- Association of American Educators
- American Education Research Association
- National Association for Multicultural Education
- Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society
Consider one of our outstanding MBU MEd graduate programs:
*We offer Accelerated Pathways for these programs. Earn two degrees faster!
Explore Internships
No matter your major, an internship is a chance to explore your interests, build real-world skills, and give you a real competitive edge in the job market. The McCree Center for Career Success can help find the right opportunity for you.
Planning for Graduate School
Many Special Education majors pursue graduate school to deepen their knowledge, strengthen teaching skills, or advance licensure. Programs include MEd and MAT degrees, with concentrations such as teaching, curriculum, educational leadership, and school psychology. Consider your career goals when choosing a program that fits your interests.
Some graduate programs in teaching require incoming students to possess state-approved teaching licensure in a particular subject for admission.
As an Elementary Education major, you can seek licensure during your undergraduate degree by applying to MBU’s Teacher Education Program (TEP) with a 2.5 GPA or better. Upon completion of your degree program and TEP requirements, you’ll be prepared to obtain a teaching license in Elementary Education by Commonwealth of Virginia standards.
Some states may require additional standards to be met in order to obtain licensure.
Some graduate programs require entrance exams such as the GRE (Graduate Record Examinations). Like the SAT or ACT, the GRE assesses general knowledge and skills, and preparation can take weeks or months. Check program requirements early so you have plenty of time to study and practice.
See what graduate programs Mary Baldwin has to offer!
McCree Center for Career Success
The McCree Center for Career Success helps students connect their education to their future careers. Services include:
- Career exploration and planning
- Resume and cover letter support
- Interview preparation
- Internship and job searches
- Networking and professional development
- Graduate school preparation
Visit us to learn more!
