Kansas teachers with a master’s degree earn more at every stage of their career — from their first paycheck to the highest administrative roles in public education. The degree raises the classroom salary ceiling and opens the door to principal and superintendent roles that pay significantly more.
Earning a master’s degree doesn’t just satisfy a state credential requirement. In Kansas, educators who pursue an online master’s (MS) in educational administration program, like the one at Emporia State University, raise their starting salary, extend their earning ceiling and open the door to principal and superintendent roles that pay significantly more than classroom positions. The data makes the case clearly — here’s what to expect at each step.
Does a Master’s Degree Increase Teacher Pay in Kansas?
Yes — the salary advantage starts the moment you’re hired. According to the National Education Association (NEA), Kansas teachers with a master’s degree start at $47,237 per year, compared to $44,163 for teachers with a bachelor’s degree only — a $3,074 annual advantage from the first contract. The gap grows at the top of the salary schedule, where master’s-prepared teachers earn $61,082 versus $49,881 for those at the bachelor’s maximum.
Beyond the classroom, a master’s in educational administration is the primary credential for moving into school leadership. Principal and superintendent roles pay significantly more than classroom positions and require graduate-level education as a baseline — most Kansas districts require a master’s specifically for building administrator licensure.
Average Teacher Salary in Kansas
Kansas teacher salaries have grown steadily but continue to trail the national average. The NEA’s 2024-25 Benchmark Report shows Kansas starting salaries rank 40th nationally at $44,163 for bachelor’s-level teachers. The national average starting salary across all states is $48,112 — a gap of nearly $4,000.
That context matters. The Economic Policy Institute found that Kansas teachers earn 27.1% less per week than other college-educated workers in comparable roles — placing Kansas among the top 20 states for teacher pay penalty, and slightly worse than the national gap of 26.9%. In that environment, maximizing every available salary advantage becomes more important, not less.
A master’s degree is one of the most direct ways to move the needle. Kansas teachers with a master’s can expect:
- Starting salary: $47,237 (vs. $44,163 for bachelor’s — a $3,074 annual premium)
- Top of schedule: $61,082 (vs. $49,881 for bachelor’s — an $11,201 annual premium)
- Highest schedule statewide: $68,051
These figures represent the state-level salary schedule data. Individual district ranges vary — base contracts in Kansas districts span from below $40,000 to above $80,000 depending on location, seniority and district size.
Principal Salary in Kansas
Moving from the classroom to a principal role typically represents the largest single salary increase available in a K-12 education career. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports a national median salary of $104,070 for elementary, middle and high school principals, with those in public schools earning a median of $106,040 as of May 2024. The entry-level educational requirement for the role is a master’s degree.
Kansas principal salaries align closely with national figures. The Kansas State Department of Education reports that Kansas principals earned a median contracted salary of $101,728 in the 2024-25 school year — an increase of 3.87% over the prior year.
BLS tracks the broader K-12 education administrator category in Kansas, which includes principals and assistant principals at all grade levels. That group — roughly 2,520 positions statewide — earns a mean annual salary of $98,480.
For a teacher at the top of the Kansas bachelor’s pay scale ($49,881), earning a master’s degree and moving into a principal role can represent a compensation increase exceeding $50,000 per year. The credential requirement and the compensation increase point in the same direction.
Superintendent Salary in Kansas
The superintendency represents the highest rung on the K-12 career ladder, and compensation reflects the scope of the role. The School Superintendents Association (AASA) surveyed 1,951 district leaders across 49 states for its 2025-26 study and found a national mean base salary of $178,111.
Compensation varies significantly by district size. AASA reports a median base salary of $117,850 for leaders of the smallest districts (fewer than 300 students) and $295,000 for leaders of large suburban systems enrolling 25,000 to 49,999 students. Most Kansas districts fall in the small-to-mid enrollment range. AASA reports median salaries of $144,342 for districts enrolling 300 to 999 students and $173,163 for districts enrolling 1,000 to 2,999 students — the tiers where most Kansas superintendents operate.
Credential level also affects compensation within the superintendency. AASA data shows that superintendents with a master’s degree earn a median of $153,235, while those holding a doctorate earn a median of $196,875. Advanced education continues to reward at every level of school administration — the degree ladder doesn’t flatten once you leave the classroom.
Career Pathway: From Classroom to School Leadership
The path from teacher to school administrator follows a consistent progression in Kansas: classroom instructor, department lead or instructional coach, assistant principal, building principal, district-level director and superintendent. Each step requires or strongly favors advanced credentials, and the compensation at each rung reflects it.
An online master’s degree in educational administration provides the graduate coursework in curriculum leadership, school law, finance and organizational management that Kansas principal licensure boards and hiring committees evaluate. Earning this credential while teaching gives candidates the qualifications to move into assistant principal roles and, from there, into full principal positions.
The financial picture across the career arc is consistent: a Kansas teacher with a bachelor’s degree starts at $44,163; a master’s-prepared teacher starts at $47,237; a principal earns a median of roughly $101,000–$104,000; and a superintendent at a mid-size Kansas district earns $150,000 or more. Each step up the ladder adds meaningful compensation — and each step requires the credential that comes before it.
Earning Your Master’s Degree Online
Emporia State University’s MS in Educational Administration prepares educators for school leadership while allowing them to remain in the classroom. The fully online, asynchronous program meets Kansas principal licensure requirements, covers core areas of educational leadership, and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
For Kansas teachers weighing whether an advanced degree pays off, the salary data is consistent across every data source and every career stage: it does. The Emporia State online MS in Educational Administration puts that career path within reach.
About Emporia State University’s MS in Educational Administration
Emporia State University’s MS in Educational Administration features 100% online coursework in a graduate program designed for working K-12 educators seeking school leadership roles in Kansas and beyond. The 33-credit-hour program can be completed in as few as 12 months and meets Kansas state requirements for building-level principal licensure. Graduates are prepared to serve as principals, assistant principals and athletic directors at PreK-12 grade levels.
Core coursework covers school leadership theory, educational law and regulations, supervision and evaluation, and organizational management — the foundational competencies evaluated by Kansas licensure boards and hiring committees. Emporia State is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission; its Teachers College holds accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
The program’s fully asynchronous format allows full-time teachers to complete their degree without leaving the classroom. Graduates qualify to pursue principal licensure in Kansas, advance into district-level leadership and build the academic foundation for doctoral study in educational leadership. Learn more about Emporia State’s online MS in Educational Administration.
