Evaluators: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of evaluators about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for evaluators to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of evaluators expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for evaluators.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Evaluators?
Do evaluators need a degree? What kind of experience do evaluators typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for evaluators to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Evaluators
Jobs Postings for Evaluators By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 508 (36%)
- No Education Listed: 372 (27%)
- Master's degree: 361 (26%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 102 (7%)
- High School or GED: 51 (4%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of evaluators. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 36% of positions. In 27% of job listings no education level was listed and in 26% of postings a master's degree was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Evaluators
Jobs Postings for Evaluators By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 71 (13%)
- 2-3 Years: 112 (21%)
- 4-6 Years: 118 (22%)
- 7-9 Years: 67 (13%)
- 10+ Years: 162 (31%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for evaluators. In 31% of job postings for Evaluators, employers were looking for candidates with 10+ years of experience. In 22% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience, while 2-3 years of experience was sought in 21% of job postings for evaluators.
What Kind of Degree Do Evaluators Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for evaluators, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 24 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective evaluators, and in 2021 a total of 87,713 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective evaluators.
Top Degree Programs for Evaluators
Top 5 Degree Programs for Evaluators (2021)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Sociology, General. | 38,336 |
| Social Sciences, General. | 18,699 |
| Criminology. | 10,904 |
| International/Globalization Studies. | 7,362 |
| Women's Studies. | 2,868 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Sociology, General. | 38,336 |
| Social Sciences, General. | 18,699 |
| Criminology. | 10,904 |
| International/Globalization Studies. | 7,362 |
| Women's Studies. | 2,868 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies, Other. | 2,142 |
| Urban Studies/Affairs. | 1,507 |
| African-American/Black Studies. | 1,196 |
| Hispanic-American, Puerto Rican, and Mexican-American/Chicano Studies. | 883 |
| Ethnic Studies. | 673 |
| Sociology and Anthropology. | 541 |
| American Indian/Native American Studies. | 527 |
| Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies. | 482 |
| Disability Studies. | 348 |
| Deaf Studies. | 297 |
| Medical/Health Humanities. | 281 |
| Research Methodology and Quantitative Methods. | 235 |
| Asian-American Studies. | 139 |
| Gay/Lesbian Studies. | 85 |
| Demography and Population Studies. | 77 |
| Applied/Public Sociology. | 49 |
| Folklore Studies. | 44 |
| Rural Sociology. | 32 |
| Applied Demography. | 6 |
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What Skills Do Evaluators Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by evaluators to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for evaluators, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Evaluators
Based on 1,056 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Evaluators
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Project Management | 137 | 13% |
| Finance | 133 | 13% |
| Accounting | 109 | 10% |
| Human Services | 109 | 10% |
| Regulatory Compliance | 109 | 10% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Evaluators
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Management | 429 | 41% |
| Communications | 345 | 33% |
| Leadership | 329 | 31% |
| Research | 296 | 28% |
| Writing | 289 | 27% |
Based on 1,056 job postings related to evaluators, project management was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 13% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for finance, accounting, human services, regulatory compliance and bidding were also highly sought.
As for common skills, management was the most desired skill found in job postings for evaluators, followed by communications, leadership, research, writing and operations.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Project Management | 137 | 13% |
| Finance | 133 | 13% |
| Accounting | 109 | 10% |
| Human Services | 109 | 10% |
| Regulatory Compliance | 109 | 10% |
| Bidding | 92 | 9% |
| Management Consulting | 91 | 9% |
| Performance Analysis | 87 | 8% |
| Auditing | 83 | 8% |
| Marketing | 81 | 8% |
| Data Analysis | 55 | 5% |
| Financial Statements | 50 | 5% |
| Behavioral Health | 46 | 4% |
| Psychology | 46 | 4% |
| Billing | 39 | 4% |
| Economics | 39 | 4% |
| Data Collection | 38 | 4% |
| Process Improvement | 37 | 4% |
| Procurement | 35 | 3% |
| Data Entry | 34 | 3% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Management | 429 | 41% |
| Communications | 345 | 33% |
| Leadership | 329 | 31% |
| Research | 296 | 28% |
| Writing | 289 | 27% |
| Operations | 218 | 21% |
| Planning | 209 | 20% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 203 | 19% |
| Mentorship | 162 | 15% |
| Decision Making | 156 | 15% |
| Strategic Planning | 153 | 14% |
| Self-Motivation | 135 | 13% |
| Problem Solving | 128 | 12% |
| Coordinating | 127 | 12% |
| Customer Service | 124 | 12% |
| Microsoft Office | 121 | 11% |
| Detail Oriented | 117 | 11% |
| Presentations | 107 | 10% |
| Microsoft Excel | 104 | 10% |
| Enthusiasm | 100 | 9% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about evaluators? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for evaluators.
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