Edtech’s growth has skyrocketed over the last few years, a trend that’s likely to continue well into the future. Since 2020, edtech use in K-12 schools has increased by 99%, while roughly 70% of colleges expect to launch at least one online program in the next three years. Corporate edtech is booming, too, and is a $22 billion industry as of 2022.
That industry growth means there’s a lot of demand for qualified employees, and while these companies often use cutting-edge technology, they don’t only need tech talent. Edtech companies also need professionals with a background in education, and can usually offer a higher salary and more competitive benefits than other places hiring teachers. If you’re considering a career in edtech, the websites and companies below are an ideal place to start your search.
The Different Types of Edtech Companies
All edtech companies engage with technology used in education, but there is a lot of variety within that category. There are different ways you can further break down the edtech industry. One way to consider them is by the end user of their products. Some edtech companies sell their products directly to schools for use by teachers and students. A separate category is corporate edtech, or companies that make training and learning tools for companies and their employees. There are also edtech companies whose end users are individual consumers, such as online course sites like Coursera or learning apps like Duolingo.
Another way you can separate edtech companies is by the type of products they produce. Some companies are focused on learning management systems, while others focus on educational apps, software programs, online courses, or immersive learning like VR. You can also categorize them based on the type of knowledge they teach, with the most common subjects including STEM topics, language learning, coding and programming, and social-emotional learning, such as wellness and mental health apps.
Roles Within an Edtech Company
Just like there’s a lot of variety in edtech companies, the roles you’ll find within them show similar variation. Many of the most in-demand roles are those involved with creating the products, like programmers, developers, and instructional designers.
There are also a lot of positions that engage with edtech products after they’re completed. This includes sales and marketing teams who connect the edtech company with their end users. Their work includes things like giving presentations on the product to school districts, doing cold outreach to institutions, or running ad campaigns to connect with individual end users. Customer and technical support is another key role on this side of the process. Other roles are more educational, like virtual instructors, online tutors, testing administrators or graders, or subject experts who write lessons and study guides.
This is why there’s no one set of must-have skills for a career in edtech. The qualities that will make someone an ideal sales outreach candidate aren’t the same things companies look for when they’re hiring a coder or curriculum designer. The one consistent trait successful edtech candidates share is a passion for education and learning.
5 Places to Find Edtech Jobs
All of this leads to the question: where does one find these roles? While some people have success just searching for edtech jobs on Google, there are more targeted ways to go about your search. Here are some of the best places to look.
1. EdSurge
EdSurge is an excellent resource for educators who want to transition into the edtech space. On their Jobs Board, you can search by job category, experience level, or type of company, or use the search function to find job openings in a specific location or a job type like remote offerings. They also have news, information, and events to help edtech candidates advance their careers, as well as a weekly newsletter to keep you informed about the latest opportunities and industry developments.
2. Teacher Career Coach
Teacher Career Coach provides resources for teachers who want to explore a new role outside the classroom. On their job board, you’ll find a plethora of roles that are ideal for former educators, and you’ll find positions ranging from curriculum and product design to sales and marketing to virtual learning on their list. They also have a listing of companies hiring edtech professionals that includes everything from startups to universities, a great option if you’re looking for a certain type of employer.
3. ISTE
The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) is a non-profit that promotes the integration of technology to benefit both teachers and students. Members get access to professional development tools like webinars and certification courses, but you don’t need to be a member to find an opportunity on their site. The ISTE job listings are an excellent place to find technology openings in institutions like schools and libraries. Some of these are teaching positions, but others are non-classroom roles like program director or business intelligence team members for these educational organizations.
4. Built In
Built In is an online community for tech companies and startups. They have services to connect these companies to the talent they need, and edtech is one of their areas of focus. This is an especially great place to find remote jobs in the education technology world, or to learn more about companies currently hiring in this sector. Their job listing has filters for locations, experience level, and job category, and the website also has knowledge resources like typical salaries for popular roles and other helpful data.
5. LinkedIn
While it’s not specific to the edtech industry, LinkedIn is still a powerful tool for people who want to find a role in this field. They list thousands of edtech jobs across the United States, with new ones added daily. It’s smart for anyone who’s searching for a job to create an account and fully set up their profile. Employers and recruiters also use this platform to find employees with the skills and work experience they need for their workforce, making LinkedIn a great way to add a passive element to your search.