Secondary School Teacher

Explore Careers Secondary School Teacher O*NET-SOC: 25-2031.00 Education Teaches one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level. Instructs through lectures, discussions, and demonstrations; prepares course materials; designs and grades assessments; and manages classroom behavior. See your fit Take the quiz to see how you match Take the Quiz $65K Median Salary +1% Stable Bachelor's Degree Min. Education Good Balance Work-Life Balance 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 SpreadsheetsMicrosoft ExcelOffice SuitesMicrosoft OfficePresentationsMicrosoft PowerPointDocument ManagementMicrosoft SharePointWord ProcessingMicrosoft WordLearning PlatformsCommon CurriculumMoodleSchoology Salary Details Salary Distribution Salary distribution for Secondary School Teacher: 10th percentile $47K, 25th $58K, median $65K, 75th $83K, 90th $105K Median $47K $58K $65K $83K $105K Most professionals earn between $58K and $83K Secondary School Teacher salary percentile distribution Percentile Salary 10th $47K 25th $58K 50th (Median) $65K 75th $83K 90th $105K Salary by State Secondary School Teacher salary by state map Secondary School Teacher salary by state State Median Salary Salary Range 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 Secondary School Teacher salary by state State Median Salary Salary Range 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 Lower ($49K-$74K)Middle (~$74K)Higher ($74K-$100K) Highest Paying States 1.Washington$100K2.California$99K3.New York$98K4.Rhode Island$89K5.Massachusetts$89K Lowest Paying States 1.Oklahoma$49K2.Mississippi$49K3.South Dakota$50K4.Missouri$51K5.North Carolina$55K Certifications, Training & Memberships Essential State Secondary Teaching License State Department of Education Certification Authorizes teaching specific subjects at the secondary level after completing an approved teacher preparation program and meeting assessment and background check requirements. Praxis Subject Assessments (where required) Educational Testing Service (ETS) Certification 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 Certification A voluntary advanced credential earned through portfolio submissions, assessments, and classroom evidence demonstrating accomplished teaching practice. TESOL/ESL endorsement Universities or state education agencies Certification Provides specialized training to support multilingual learners, focusing on language development strategies within subject teaching. Professional Memberships Professional teacher association membership National Education Association Membership Offers 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 physical activity Social Interaction Highly collaborative — frequent team interaction Schedule Standard work hours Your Skills & Attributes Skills & Competencies Matches (44) 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. Find Secondary School Teacher Jobs Google Jobs (opens in new tab) Aggregated listings from across the web Search Secondary School Teacher jobs Indeed (opens in new tab) One of the largest job search engines Search Secondary School Teacher jobs LinkedIn (opens in new tab) Professional network job listings Search Secondary School Teacher jobs Related Careers Use arrow keys or swipe to scroll through related career cards Education Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselor Advises and assists students and other individuals on educational issues such as course and program selection, class scheduling, school adjustment, and career planning through individual and group counseling sessions. Education Elementary School Teacher Teaches students in public or private elementary schools in a range of core subjects including reading, mathematics, science, and social studies, adapting instructional methods to meet the developmental needs of young learners. 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