Preschool, Elementary, Middle, Secondary, and Special Education Teachers

How to become a Secondary School Teacher

Official title: Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

Also called: Art Teacher, English Teacher, Math Teacher (Mathematics Teacher), Music Teacher, PE Teacher (Physical Education Teacher), Science Teacher, Secondary Teacher, Social Studies Teacher, Spanish Teacher, Teacher

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

Main tasks

Prepare students for later grades by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.
Instruct through lectures, discussions, and demonstrations in one or more subjects, such as English, mathematics, or social studies.
Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among students.
Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.
Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests.
Prepare, administer, and grade tests and assignments to evaluate students' progress.
Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects, and communicate those objectives to students.
Observe and evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.

How to become one

High school teachers typically have at least a bachelor's degree. In addition, public school teachers must have a state-issued certification or license, which may require an academic background in the subject(s) they will be certified to teach.

Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

College: Education & Teaching degrees, Offered by 35 universities in the US
Licence: A licence is required in 47 states.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $72,040 a year The middle half earn $59,980 to $92,570.
About 1,087,500 people work in this job now, and about 1,085,000 are projected by 2035. (-0.2%)
People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Secondary School Teacher?

How much does a Secondary School Teacher earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $72,040 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $59,980 to $92,570.

Is a Secondary School Teacher a growing career in the US?

Employment is projected to stay about the same by 2035: about 1,087,500 people now and 1,085,000 later (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Secondary School Teacher?

Usually. 96% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Secondary School Teacher?

People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.