Is an EdD Worth It?

A doctorate asks a lot of a professional, particularly when balanced against the demands of a full-time career. Between the tuition costs and the hundreds of hours required for research, it is reasonable to ask: “Is an EdD degree worth the investment?”

To find the return on investment (ROI), one must first define the asset. An EdD is not a degree for “super-teachers”—it is a terminal leadership credential for executives shaping strategy across diverse sectors. For those looking to pivot from practitioner to organizational leader, the degree can offer a substantial return by refining high-stakes decision-making skills and positioning candidates for C-suite access.

While an EdD provides the theoretical depth of a doctorate, its value is rooted in its utility. This guide examines what the data suggests regarding leadership pathways, earning potential, and the structural advantages of the degree.

For many, the decision to pursue a doctorate is anchored in a financial question: “What does the salary of an EdD degree holder look like?” While individual outcomes vary, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data provides a credible benchmark for educational attainment and earnings.

In 2024, the BLS reported that median usual weekly earnings for workers with a doctoral degree were $2,278, compared to $1,840 for those with a master’s degree. This represents an approximate 24% increase at the median—a significant lift when viewed over the course of a career. The data also indicates a lower unemployment rate for doctoral holders (1.2%) than for those with a master’s (2.2%), suggesting a higher degree of professional security.

While a doctoral degree alone does not guarantee a raise, it strengthens candidacy for roles with broader scope and higher pay bands. By developing skills in evidence-based change management, an EdD opens pathways to senior influence.

These are national BLS figures. Actual pay can vary significantly by employer, location, and scope of responsibility.

It can take additional time and experience to reach higher levels of compensation. Upon immediate completion of a doctoral program, salaries tend to be lower than the national average. The median basic annual salary among 2024 doctorate recipients with definite employment postgraduation was $95,000, according to the 2024 Survey of Earned Doctorates.

The EdD is designed for professionals who want advanced leadership capability while remaining grounded in real-world challenges. These benefits reflect an applied focus that distinguishes the degree from traditional research doctorates.

The defining characteristic of an EdD is immediate applicability. Unlike a PhD, which often focuses on contributing to a body of theoretical literature, EdD candidates diagnose “problems of practice” to implement direct solutions.

This distinction matters even in a world where PhD pathways have diversified. Research shows that the traditional assumption, in which a PhD always equates to tenure-track academia, no longer reflects where doctoral graduates ultimately work. 

According to the 2024 Survey of Earned Doctorates, 24% of PhD recipients that year who had accepted jobs were headed to jobs in industry.

Through an EdD’s coursework in strategic change, learning design, and quantitative analysis, you learn to dismantle complex organizational issues. You replace intuition with rigorous data, testing interventions and measuring real-world results. This shifts the dissertation from a library exercise to a proof of concept—tangible evidence that you can translate research into actionable policy.

In senior leadership, eligibility is frequently shaped by degree requirements. Many top-tier roles prioritize or mandate a doctorate, creating a “paper ceiling” for qualified candidates.

Furthermore, modern recruitment often relies on algorithms that may trigger a rejection before a human ever reviews a portfolio. You may have the experience and strategy, but without the suffix, the system can render you invisible.

By mastering the scholar-practitioner model, you learn to back high-stakes decisions with evidence—a skill that separates true executives from mere managers. An EdD dismantles this structural barrier, ensuring your candidacy is visible and undeniable.

Though rooted in education, the EdD framework is sector-agnostic. The challenges of a university—culture, governance, and resource allocation—are mirrored in healthcare, nonprofits, and corporations.  As institutions increasingly prioritize talent development,  they require leaders who understand exactly how adults learn and systems evolve. 

Because the EdD coursework focuses on organizational intelligence and virtual collaboration, these high-level skills travel with you across industries. Whether you’re directing a workforce development initiative in a corporation or a patient education program in healthcare, this methodology provides a repeatable framework for leadership that travels across industries.

Both degrees represent doctoral-level expertise but serve different career trajectories.

For a more detailed comparison, read our deep dive: “PhD vs. EdD: Choose the Right Education Degree for Your Career”. You can also explore our guide to MSEDU vs. MAT vs. EdD if you are weighing master’s pathways alongside doctoral options.

The true price of a doctorate includes the opportunity cost of pursuing the degree. In a traditional residential model, that cost can stall career momentum. However, if you are facing a ceiling that only a credential can break, or if your goals require the strategic depth to lead at the highest levels, the calculation changes.

The online structure of a program like the Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership (EdD) from OnlinePsychology@Pepperdine removes the need to hit the “pause” button on professional life. By allowing students to remain fully employed, the academic experience transforms from a disruption into a dual-engine value generator. You continue to draw a salary while simultaneously acquiring the credentials to increase it. Because students apply their coursework in real-time, they often become more valuable to their current employer well before graduation.

Nevertheless, the degree is a multiplier, not a magic wand. Whether an EdD or a similar advanced degree is worth it depends on the scale of your goals and your industry’s realities. For those content with their current trajectory, the time and financial commitment may outweigh the benefits. 

The value of an EdD isn’t just in the title, but in the utility. If you see a gap between the leader you are and the executive roles you want to secure, the right program can help bridge that divide.

• Does an EdD Increase Salary?

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  An EdD does not guarantee a salary increase. However, BLS data shows that doctoral degree holders tend to earn more than those with a master’s degree. In 2024, full-time workers with a doctoral degree reported median weekly earnings of $2,278, compared with $1,840 for those with a master’s degree, a gap of roughly 24% at the median.

  An EdD can support access to leadership roles with higher compensation bands, especially in education administration, healthcare leadership, and organizational development. Actual outcomes vary based on numerous factors like role, industry, experience, and location.

• Can I Be a Professor With an EdD?

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  In many cases, yes. An EdD may qualify you for teaching-focused or practice-oriented faculty roles, particularly in professional programs. While tenure-track research positions often prefer a PhD due to its emphasis on original scholarship, many EdD holders teach as lecturers, adjunct faculty, or professors of practice. This is especially true for those who bring substantial leadership or field experience to the classroom.

• Is an EdD Respected?

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  Yes. An EdD is a terminal doctoral degree widely recognized across education, healthcare, nonprofit, and corporate settings. Its credibility stems from advanced research training and an applied focus on leadership and organizational change. In professional contexts, that respect is often reinforced by how effectively a leader uses evidence and communicates decisions.

• Is It Ever Too Late to Get an EdD?

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  There is no age limit for pursuing an EdD. Many candidates begin later in their careers, often after gaining significant professional experience. This background can actually strengthen applied research and leadership work, as it allows students to draw from a deep history of real-world experiences. What matters more than timing is whether the degree aligns with your current responsibilities, long-term goals, and capacity to commit time and energy to doctoral-level study.

• What Skills Will I Gain With an EdD?

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  An EdD can typically develop advanced skills in leadership, applied research, and organizational change. You learn to analyze complex problems, design and evaluate interventions, and make decisions grounded in evidence. Many programs also emphasize policy analysis, communication, and systems thinking. These skills are relevant wherever professionals are responsible for guiding programs or institutions through change.