Customize Your Journey
For Educators: Military Resources
Customize Your Journey
For Educators: Military Resources

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career / Technical Education

Median Salary
64,580
Job Outlook
-2%

Overview

What are the responsibilities of this role?

Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level.

What sectors do they work in?

No data available for this section.

What is the job outlook?

Employment of high school teachers is projected to decline 2 percent from 2024 to 2034. About 66,200 openings for high school teachers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Compensation

What is the typical salary range?

$36,830

10%

$64,580

Median

$99,640

90%

How does location impact how much salary?

Education

What level of education do professionals in this role have?

Education Level

  • Bachelor's degree

    76%

  • Post baccalaureate

    7%

  • Post-master's certificate

    7%

  • Master's degree

    3%

  • Associate's degree

    3%


Which college majors best prepare you for this role?

  • Secondary Education and Teaching
  • Physical Education Teaching and Coaching
  • Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General
  • English Language and Literature, General
  • Biology/Biological Sciences, General
  • Mathematics, General
  • Chemistry, General
  • Physics, General
  • Political Science and Government, General
  • Art/Art Studies, General
  • Music, General
  • Art Teacher Education
  • Reading Teacher Education
  • Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor
  • Foreign Languages and Literatures, General
  • History, General
  • Teacher Education, Multiple Levels
  • Music Teacher Education
  • Russian Language and Literature
  • German Language and Literature
  • Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General
  • French Language and Literature
  • Spanish Language and Literature
  • Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Other
  • Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General
  • Biological and Physical Sciences
  • Economics, General
  • Social Sciences, General
  • Physical Sciences, General
  • English/Language Arts Teacher Education
  • Foreign Language Teacher Education
  • Mathematics Teacher Education
  • Science Teacher Education/General Science Teacher Education
  • Social Science Teacher Education
  • Social Studies Teacher Education
  • Biology Teacher Education
  • History Teacher Education
  • Chemistry Teacher Education
  • Ancient/Classical Greek Language and Literature
  • Latin Language and Literature
  • Spanish Language Teacher Education
  • Japanese Language and Literature
  • American Indian/Native American Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
  • Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Other
  • Earth Systems Science
  • Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching
  • East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General
  • Italian Language and Literature
  • Political Science and Government, Other
  • Health Teacher Education
  • Arabic Language and Literature
  • Drama and Dance Teacher Education
  • Bilingual and Multilingual Education
  • Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Educational Methods
  • Physics Teacher Education
  • Earth Science Teacher Education
  • American Government and Politics (United States)
  • Family and Consumer Sciences/Home Economics Teacher Education
  • Computer Teacher Education
  • French Language Teacher Education
  • American History (United States)
  • Speech Teacher Education
  • American Sign Language (ASL)
  • Technology Teacher Education/Industrial Arts Teacher Education
  • Chinese Language and Literature
  • Korean Language and Literature
  • East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Other
  • Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General
  • Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Other
  • Hebrew Language and Literature
  • Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Other
  • History and Language/Literature
  • Environmental Geosciences
  • Montessori Teacher Education
  • German Language Teacher Education
  • Geography Teacher Education
  • Latin Teacher Education
  • Psychology Teacher Education
  • Environmental Education
  • Linguistics of ASL and Other Sign Languages
  • Hawaiian Language and Literature
  • Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language, Other
  • Driver and Safety Teacher Education
  • Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature
  • Communication Arts and Literature Teacher Education
  • Online Educator/Online Teaching
  • Social Sciences, Other

Skills and Interests

Which skill sets are the most valuable to possess?

  • Verbal Skills

    High

  • Leadership

    High

  • Math and Science Skills

    High

  • Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

    High

  • Technology Design and Control

    Mid

  • Equipment Operation and Maintenance

    Low


What knowledge should you bring to the table?

  • Education and Training
  • English Language
  • Computers and Electronics
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Psychology

What challenges will you likely face in the workplace?

  • Physical Activity

    Mid

  • Exposure to Job Hazards

    Low

  • Time Pressure

    Low

  • Repetitiveness

    Low

  • Decision Making

    Low

  • Level Of Competition

    Low


What personality traits help people thrive in this role?

Social

You love connecting with people, helping others and making a difference in your community.

RIASEC represents six broad interest areas—Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising and Conventional—helping individuals identify careers that match their skills and preferences.

Take the RIASEC Test

Data supplied by Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Center of Education Statistics, Defense Manpower Data Center (View our update schedule). Contact any business, college or military service branch to answer additional questions.