Secondary School Teacher

About This Role

Secondary school teachers guide students, typically aged 11 to 18, through subject-specific learning while also helping them develop study skills, confidence, and independence. They usually arrive before students, review the day's lesson plans, and adapt them based on how previous classes went, upcoming assessments, or school events. In the classroom they introduce new concepts, model worked examples, facilitate discussions or group work, and move around the room to check understanding, redirect off-task behavior, and give quick, targeted help.

A Day in the Life

• 7:00 AM: Arrive and set up classroom — unlock the room, arrange desks or materials, write the day's agenda and starter question on the board, and power up the projector or interactive whiteboard.
• 7:45 AM: Review lesson plans and resources — scan today's lesson plans, tweak timing or examples based on yesterday's progress, and print or upload any last-minute worksheets or slides.
• 8:30 AM: Teach morning classes — lead one or two class periods, introduce new content, facilitate practice activities, and check for understanding with quick quizzes or targeted questions.
• 10:30 AM: Form group or duty time — register a tutor group, check attendance, share announcements, or supervise corridors or playground areas during break.
• 11:00 AM: Continue teaching and support — teach another class, adapt explanations to that group's needs, and note students who might need extra help after school or in the next lesson.
• 12:30 PM: Lunch and quick marking — eat in the staff room or classroom, then use remaining time to mark a stack of exercise books or enter grades into the online system.
• 1:15 PM: Afternoon lessons — teach remaining classes, manage energy levels, run a practical or group activity if relevant, and handle any behavior issues that arise.
• 3:30 PM: Planning, admin, and meetings — respond to emails from parents and colleagues, attend a department meeting, plan upcoming lessons or assessments, and prepare materials for the next day before leaving school.

Tools & Technologies

• Spreadsheets — Microsoft Excel
• Office Suites — Microsoft Office
• Presentations — Microsoft PowerPoint
• Document Management — Microsoft SharePoint
• Word Processing — Microsoft Word
• Learning Platforms — Common Curriculum, Moodle, Schoology

Salary Details

Median salary: $65K. Most professionals earn between $58K and $83K. Percentile distribution: 10th — $47K, 25th — $58K, 50th (median) — $65K, 75th — $83K, 90th — $105K.

Salary by state:

• Washington: $100K ($63K–$123K)
• California: $99K ($62K–$133K)
• New York: $98K ($56K–$133K)
• Rhode Island: $89K ($49K–$100K)
• Massachusetts: $89K ($60K–$109K)
• New Jersey: $80K ($62K–$105K)
• Oregon: $80K ($48K–$116K)
• District of Columbia: $79K ($44K–$123K)
• Pennsylvania: $78K ($50K–$99K)
• Alaska: $78K ($62K–$96K)
• Connecticut: $77K ($50K–$108K)
• Maryland: $77K ($51K–$101K)
• Illinois: $77K ($48K–$130K)
• Ohio: $77K ($47K–$100K)
• Delaware: $75K ($51K–$90K)
• Utah: $74K ($50K–$97K)
• Georgia: $73K ($49K–$94K)
• New Hampshire: $69K ($47K–$97K)
• New Mexico: $67K ($52K–$87K)
• Michigan: $64K ($46K–$95K)
• Minnesota: $64K ($47K–$100K)
• Virginia: $64K ($49K–$104K)
• Vermont: $64K ($48K–$87K)
• Colorado: $64K ($48K–$98K)
• Wyoming: $63K ($50K–$79K)
• Nevada: $63K ($51K–$82K)
• Maine: $62K ($47K–$80K)
• Texas: $62K ($49K–$76K)
• Nebraska: $62K ($46K–$76K)
• Hawaii: $62K ($47K–$78K)
• Wisconsin: $62K ($47K–$84K)
• South Carolina: $61K ($45K–$78K)
• Idaho: $61K ($46K–$91K)
• Alabama: $61K ($46K–$73K)
• Indiana: $60K ($47K–$94K)
• Kentucky: $60K ($44K–$80K)
• Tennessee: $60K ($47K–$77K)
• Arizona: $60K ($45K–$101K)
• Florida: $59K ($47K–$79K)
• North Dakota: $59K ($46K–$80K)
• Louisiana: $59K ($46K–$79K)
• Iowa: $59K ($40K–$77K)
• Kansas: $59K ($47K–$73K)
• Montana: $59K ($37K–$78K)
• Arkansas: $57K ($47K–$73K)
• West Virginia: $56K ($45K–$63K)
• North Carolina: $55K ($40K–$64K)
• Missouri: $51K ($38K–$80K)
• South Dakota: $50K ($45K–$61K)
• Mississippi: $49K ($40K–$65K)
• Oklahoma: $49K ($41K–$80K)

Highest paying states: 1. Washington ($100K), 2. California ($99K), 3. New York ($98K), 4. Rhode Island ($89K), 5. Massachusetts ($89K)

Lowest paying states: 1. Oklahoma ($49K), 2. Mississippi ($49K), 3. South Dakota ($50K), 4. Missouri ($51K), 5. North Carolina ($55K)

Certifications, Training & Memberships

• Essential — State Secondary Teaching License: State Department of Education certification authorizing teaching specific subjects at the secondary level after completing an approved teacher preparation program and meeting assessment and background check requirements.
• Essential — Praxis Subject Assessments (where required): Educational Testing Service (ETS) standardized exams that measure content knowledge in subjects such as mathematics, English, or science, commonly required for licensure in many U.S. states.
• Helpful — National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT): National Board for Professional Teaching Standards voluntary advanced credential earned through portfolio submissions, assessments, and classroom evidence demonstrating accomplished teaching practice.
• Helpful — TESOL/ESL endorsement: Universities or state education agencies certification providing specialized training to support multilingual learners, focusing on language development strategies within subject teaching.
• Professional Memberships — Professional teacher association membership: National Education Association membership offering professional development, classroom resources, and advocacy for teachers at the secondary level.

Work Environment

• Remote work: Mostly on-site
• Work setting: Traditional office / indoor
• Physical activity: Moderate
• Social interaction: Highly collaborative — frequent team interaction
• Schedule: Standard work hours

Skills & Competencies

• Reading Comprehension — Strong match
• Speaking — Strong match
• Learning Strategies — Strong match
• Critical Thinking — Good match
• Monitoring — Good match

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Secondary School Teacher a good career? Secondary School Teacher can be a rewarding career choice. Based on current data, the median salary is $65K and job outlook is stable (1% projected growth). Whether it's a good fit depends on your skills, interests, and values — take our quiz to find out how well you match.

What degree do you need to become a Secondary School Teacher? The typical education requirement for a Secondary School Teacher is a Bachelor's Degree. However, requirements can vary by employer and specialization. Some professionals enter the field with alternative credentials or relevant work experience.

How long does it take to become a Secondary School Teacher? Becoming a Secondary School Teacher typically requires about 4 years of undergraduate study. Additional time may be needed for certifications, internships, or on-the-job training depending on the specific role and employer requirements.

What is the work-life balance like for a Secondary School Teacher? The work-life balance for a Secondary School Teacher is generally considered good, with reasonable hours and manageable workloads. Individual experiences vary based on employer, specialization, seniority level, and geographic location.

What is the job outlook for Secondary School Teacher? The job outlook for Secondary School Teacher is stable. Employment is projected to grow by 1% over the coming decade. Labor market conditions can vary by region and specialization.

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