Curriculum specialist jobs are important to our educational system, although the average person probably does not know much about this job. The curriculum specialist job description is basically to assess the effectiveness of a school’s curriculum in order to best meet the needs of the students. These well-educated professionals must be able to meet with advisory committees, work alongside school staff, review or recommend textbooks and related equipment or tools, direct instructional materials, develop curriculum and more.

The curriculum specialist salary varies depending on the location, type of school or district, education level and experience. The median expected salary for curriculum specialists in the United States is $64,743, but it will be lower in the beginning of one’s career and higher as one gains additional experience. In most cases, curriculum specialist jobs require a master’s degree. Public school systems also require that the individual is licensed to hold this job, either as a teacher or as an educational administrator. The required training in curriculum development and instruction, as well as training in a particular subject area in some cases, is why the curriculum specialist salary is higher than that of a typical schoolteacher.

Since the curriculum specialist job description includes so many skills, tasks and knowledge areas associated with the teaching job, many of the curriculum specialists currently working are former teachers. Educational administrators, even principals, often choose to take this career path when they are ready for a new challenge or just looking to step into a different role.

About 40 percent of all curriculum specialists work for public schools, 20 percent work for private schools, and the rest work for consulting agencies, family service providers and state governments. It is a challenging job requiring a level head and good critical thinking and analysis skills, as well as people skills. Many curriculum specialists also have technology knowledge and various language skills, as two of the fastest growing segments of this career are in the technology and English as a Second Language curriculum. If you choose this educational career, you will have many options available to you.