High School Teachers

Summary

High school teachers prepare students for life after graduation by teaching lessons and skills students will need to attend college or enter the job market.

Quick Facts: High School Teachers
2010 Median Pay	$53,230 per year
Entry-Level Education	Bachelor’s degree
Work Experience in a Related Occupation	None
On-the-job Training	Internship/residency
Number of Jobs, 2010	1,037,600
Job Outlook, 2010-20	7% (Slower than average)
Employment Change, 2010-20	71,900

What High School Teachers Do

High school teachers help prepare students for life after graduation. They teach academic lessons and various skills that students will need to attend college and to enter the job market.

Work Environment

High school teachers work in either public or private schools. Generally, they work school hours, which vary somewhat, but most also work evenings and weekends to prepare lessons and grade papers. However, most do not teach during the summer.

How to Become a High School Teacher

High school teachers must have a bachelor’s degree. In addition, public school teachers must have a state-issued certification or license.

Pay

The median annual wage of high school teachers was $53,230 in May 2010.

Job Outlook

Employment of high school teachers is expected to grow by 7 percent from 2010 to 2020, slower than the average for all occupations. Overall growth is expected due to declines in student-to-teacher ratios and increases in enrollment. However, employment growth will vary by region.

Similar Occupations

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of high school teachers with similar occupations.

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Contacts for More Information

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What High School Teachers Do About this section

High school teachers generally specialize in a subject, such as English, math, or science.

High school teachers help prepare students for life after graduation. They teach academic lessons and various skills that students will need to attend college and to enter the job market.

Duties

High school teachers typically do the following:

• Plan lessons in the subjects they teach, such as biology or history
• Assess students to evaluate their abilities, strengths, and weaknesses
• Teach students as an entire class or in small groups
• Grade students’ assignments to monitor progress
• Communicate with parents about students’ progress
• Work with individual students to challenge them, to improve their abilities, and to work on their weaknesses
• Prepare students for standardized tests required by the state
• Develop and enforce classroom rules
• Supervise students outside of the classroom—for example, at lunchtime or during detention

High school teachers generally teach students from the 9th through 12th grades. They usually teach one or two of the subjects or classes a student has throughout the day. For example, they may teach government and history.

In one class, high school teachers may work with students from different grades because, in many schools, students are divided into classes based on their abilities, not only their age. For example, a high school teacher of Spanish may have students from 9th through 12th grades in first-year Spanish and also have students from 9th to 12th grades in advanced Spanish—depending on how much language instruction the students have had.

High school teachers see several different classes of students throughout the day. They may teach the same material—for example, world history—to more than one class if the school has many students taking that subject.

Some teachers instruct special classes, such as art, music, and physical education. For more information, see the profile on career and technical education teachers.

Teachers use time during the day, when they do not have classes, to plan lessons, grade assignments, and meet with other teachers and staff.

In some schools, there are English as a second language (ESL) or English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) teachers who work exclusively with students who are learning English. These students are often referred to as English language learners (ELLs). These teachers work with students individually or in groups to help them improve their English skills and to help students with assignments for other classes.

Students with learning disabilities and emotional or behavioral disorders often are taught in traditional classes. Therefore, high school teachers may work with special education teachers to adapt lessons to these students’ needs and to monitor the students’ progress. For more information, see the profile on special education teachers.

Some teachers maintain websites to communicate with parents about students’ assignments, upcoming events, and grades. For students, teachers may create websites or discussion boards to present information and to expand a lesson taught in class.

Some high school teachers coach sports and advise student clubs and other groups, activities which frequently happen before or after school.

Work Environment About this section

High school teachers who specialize in science class may spend some of their day working in a lab.

High school teachers held about 1 million jobs in 2010.

Most high school teachers work in either public or private schools. Some teach in public magnet and charter schools. Others teach in private religious or secular schools.

Most states have tenure laws, which mean that after a certain number of years of teaching satisfactorily (the probationary period), teachers have some job security.

Seeing students develop new skills and gain an appreciation for knowledge and learning can be very rewarding. However, teaching may be stressful. Some schools have large classes and lack important teaching tools, such as computers and up-to-date textbooks. Most teachers are held accountable for their students’ performance on standardized tests, which can be frustrating. Occasionally, teachers must cope with unmotivated or disrespectful students.

In 2010, a large number of high school teachers belonged to unions—mainly the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association. 

Work Schedules

High school teachers generally work school hours, which vary somewhat. However, they often spend time in the evenings and on weekends grading papers and preparing lessons. In addition, they may meet with parents, students, and other teachers before and after school. Plus, teachers who coach sports or advise clubs generally do so before or after school.

Many work the traditional 10-month school year with a 2-month break during the summer. Although most do not teach during the summer, some teach in summer programs. Teachers in districts with a year-round schedule typically work 8 weeks in a row, are on break for 1 week, and have a 5-week midwinter break.

How to Become a High School Teacher About this section

High school teachers need to explain difficult concepts in terms students can understand.

High school teachers must have a bachelor’s degree. In addition, public school teachers must have a state-issued certification or license. For information about teacher preparation programs and certification requirements in your state, contact the U.S. Department of Education.

Education

All states require public high school teachers to have at least a bachelor’s degree. Most states require high school teachers to have majored in a content area, such as chemistry or history. While majoring in a content area, future teachers typically enroll in their higher education’s teacher preparation program and take classes in education and child psychology, as well.

Teacher preparation—or teacher education—programs instruct how to present information to students and how to work with students of varying abilities and backgrounds. Programs typically include fieldwork, such as student teaching.

Some states require high school teachers to earn a master’s degree after earning their teaching certification.

Teachers in private schools do not need to meet state requirements. However, private schools typically seek high school teachers who have a bachelor’s degree and a major in a content area.

Licenses and Certification

All states require teachers in public schools to be licensed, which is frequently referred to as a certification. Those who teach in private schools are not required to be licensed.

High school teachers typically are awarded a secondary or high school certification. This allows them to teach the 7th through the 12th grades.

Requirements for certification vary by state. However, all states require at least a bachelor’s degree. States also require completing a teacher preparation program and supervised experience in teaching, typically gained through student teaching. Some states require a minimum grade point average.

States typically require candidates to pass a general teaching certification test, as well as a test that demonstrates their knowledge in the subject they will teach.

Often, teachers are required to complete annual professional development classes to keep their license. Most states require teachers to pass a background check, and some states require teachers to complete a master’s degree after receiving their certification.

All states offer an alternative route to certification for people who already have a bachelor’s degree but lack the education courses required for certification. Some alternative certification programs allow candidates to begin teaching immediately under the supervision of an experienced teacher. These programs cover teaching methods and child development. After they complete the program, candidates are awarded full certification.

Other programs require students to take classes in education before they can teach. Students may be awarded a master’s degree after completing either type of programs. For more information about alternative certification programs, contact the National Center for Alternative Certification.

Advancement

Experienced teachers can advance to be mentors or lead teachers. In these positions, they often work with less-experienced teachers to help them improve their teaching skills.

With additional education or certification, teachers may become school counselors, school librarians, or instructional coordinators. Some become assistant principals or principals. Becoming a principal usually requires additional instruction in education administration or leadership. For more information, see the profiles on school and career counselors, librarians, instructional coordinators, and elementary, middle, and high school principals.

Important Qualities

Communication skills. Teachers must collaborate with other teachers and special education teachers. In addition, teachers need to discuss students’ needs with parents and administrators.

Instructional skills. High school teachers need to explain difficult concepts in terms students can understand. In addition, they must be able to engage students in learning and adapt lessons to each student’s needs.

Patience. Working with students of different abilities and backgrounds can be difficult. High school teachers must be patient when students struggle with material.

Pay About this section

The median annual wage of high school teachers was $53,230 in May 2010. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $35,020, and the top 10 percent earned more than $83,230.

High school teachers generally work school hours, which vary somewhat. However, they often spend time in the evenings and on weekends grading papers and preparing lessons. In addition, they may meet with parents, students, and other teachers before and after school. Plus, teachers who coach sports or advise clubs generally do so before or after school.

Many work the traditional 10-month school year, with a 2-month break during the summer. Although most do not teach during the summer, some teach in summer programs. Teachers in districts with a year-round schedule typically work 8 weeks in a row, are on break for 1 week, and have a 5-week midwinter break.

Job Outlook About this section

Employment of high school teachers is expected to grow by 7 percent from 2010 to 2020, slower than the average for all occupations. Overall growth is expected because of declines in student-to-teacher ratios and increases in enrollment. However, employment growth will vary by region.

From 2010 to 2020, the student-to-teacher ratio is expected to decline. The student-to teacher-ratio is the number of students for each teacher in school. When this ratio declines, each teacher is responsible for fewer students, so more teachers are required to instruct the same number of students. The expected decline in the student-to-teacher ratio will increase demand for high school teachers.

Over the projections period, the number of students in high schools is expected to increase, and the number of classes needed to accommodate these students will also rise. As a result, more teachers will be required to teach these additional classes of high school students.

However, enrollment growth in high school is expected to be slower than enrollment growth in other grades. Therefore, employment of high school teachers is expected to grow more slowly than that of other education occupations.

Although overall student enrollment is expected to grow, there will be variation by region. Enrollment is expected to grow fastest in the South and West. In the Midwest, enrollment is expected to hold steady, but the Northeast is projected to have declines. As a result, employment growth for high school teachers is expected to be faster in the South and West than in the Midwest and Northeast.

Despite expected increases in enrollment, however, employment growth for public high school teachers will depend on state and local government budgets. When state and local governments experience budget deficits, school boards may lay off employees, including teachers. As a result, employment growth of high school teachers may be reduced by state and local government budget deficits.

Job Prospects

From 2010 to 2020, a significant number of older teachers is expected to reach retirement age. These retirements will create job openings for new teachers.

In addition to overall openings, many schools report having difficulty filling teaching positions for certain subjects, including math, science (especially chemistry and physics), English as a second language, and special education. As a result, teachers with education or certifications to teach these specialties should have better job prospects. For more information about high school special education teachers, see the profile on special education teachers.

There is significant variation by region of the country and school setting. Opportunities should be better in the South and West, which are expected to experience rapid enrollment growth. Furthermore, opportunities should be better in urban and rural school districts than in suburban school districts.

Contacts for More Information About this section

For more information about teaching and becoming a teacher, visit

U.S. Department of Education

American Federation of Teachers

National Education Association

For more information about teacher preparation programs, visit

National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education

Teacher Education Accreditation Council

For more information about alternative certification programs, visit

National Center for Alternative Certification