Teacher Educationat University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Graduates earn $29,897/yr in their first year — about 28.0% below the national Teacher Education average. Base-case 10-year earnings $562K; scenarios range from $536K to $567K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
While a UNC Chapel Hill degree carries significant prestige, understanding this program's outcomes requires looking beyond the university brand. This curriculum primarily prepares graduates for roles within North Carolina's public education system, where teacher salaries are largely standardized and set by the state and local districts. Your earning potential in K-12 teaching, therefore, isn't as elastic to your elite alma mater as in other fields.
The "high AI risk" might seem counterintuitive for a human-centric profession, but it points to potential automation in administrative tasks, curriculum development, or even certain professional development roles. While direct classroom teaching demands human connection, aspects of instructional design or corporate training could see significant shifts. Many graduates find rewarding careers in local school districts like Chapel Hill-Carrboro, Durham, or Wake County, or move into training roles in the Research Triangle's corporate sector.
To maximize your return, actively explore paths beyond traditional K-12 teaching early on, such as pursuing specialized training development roles or combining your education degree with a high-demand subject area.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Teacher Education
How University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Teacher Education offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Teacher Education trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Teacher Education at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Teacher Education at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill?
A score of 47/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Teacher Education. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Teacher Education careers?
With 30% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $535,978 in decade earnings vs $566,771 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Teacher Education from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.