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Distributive Education

Types of Degrees Distributive Education Majors Are Earning

People majoring in Distributive Education have the option of earning degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Bachelor’s Degree	9

What Distributive Education Majors Need to Know

Programs in Distributive Education emphasize a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Distributive Education graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

This major prepares you for careers needing Distributive Education emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Education and Training — Importance 4.5 / 5; level 5.7 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 4.3 / 5; level 5.1 / 7.
• Psychology — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Administration and Management — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.7 / 7.
• Computers and Electronics — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

The skill set developed in a Distributive Education program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Speaking — Importance 4.3 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Instructing — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Reading Comprehension — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
• Learning Strategies — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.

Abilities

Abilities most relevant to Distributive Education careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Oral Expression — Importance 4.3 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Speech Clarity — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Written Comprehension — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Written Expression — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Distributive Education graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Training and Teaching Others	4.7 / 7
Getting Information	4.5 / 7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	4.4 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.3 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.2 / 7
Coaching and Developing Others	4.2 / 7
Thinking Creatively	4.2 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.2 / 7
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships	4.1 / 7
Working with Computers	4.1 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Distributive Education professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	—
Image scanning software	Optical character reader OCR or scanning software	—
Blackboard Learn	Computer based training software	—
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	—
iParadigms Turnitin	Information retrieval or search software	—
Google Docs	Word processing software	—
Email software	Electronic mail software	—
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Learning management system LMS	Computer based training software	✓
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Course management system software	Computer based training software	—
Calendar and scheduling software	Calendar and scheduling software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Distributive Education graduates include:

• Instructor
• Educator
• Business Education Teacher
• Teacher
• Industrial Arts Teacher
• Vocational Trainer
• Business Teacher
• Faculty Member
• Adjunct Instructor
• Professor
• Assistant Professor
• Associate Professor
• Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher (FACS Teacher)
• Carpentry Teacher
• Industrial Technology Teacher

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Distributive Education graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Doctoral degree	39.7%
Bachelor’s degree	24.8%
Master’s degree	15.8%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	7.2%
Postsecondary certificate	3.9%
Post-baccalaureate certificate	3.7%
High school diploma or equivalent	2.8%
Some college courses	1.9%
First professional degree	0.1%
Post-master’s certificate	0.1%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Distributive Education?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly female, with women earning 66.7% of Distributive Education degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	6	66.7%
Men	3	33.3%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Distributive Education graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	8	88.9%
Two or More Races	1	11.1%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Distributive Education Graduates Earn?

Federal data tracks median earnings of Distributive Education graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$49,919
4 years	$50,204
5 years	$56,331

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $56,331 — roughly 13% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Is a Degree in Distributive Education Worth It?

On the earnings side, the federal earnings tracker, Distributive Education graduates earn a median of $50,204 four years after completion — roughly 32% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	CIP Code
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas	13.13
Agricultural Teacher Education	13.1301
Art Teacher Education	13.1302
Biology Teacher Education	13.1322
Business and Innovation/Entrepreneurship Teacher Education	13.1303
Chemistry Teacher Education	13.1323
Communication Arts and Literature Teacher Education	13.1339
Computer Teacher Education	13.1321
Drama and Dance Teacher Education	13.1324
Driver and Safety Teacher Education	13.1304
Earth Science Teacher Education	13.1337
English/Language Arts Teacher Education	13.1305

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.