Secondary School Teachers
O*NET title: Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Also called: Secondary School Teachers
Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level.
Also called: Accounting Teacher, After School Teacher, Algebra Teacher, Art Educator, Art Instructor, Art Teacher
Median pay
$72,040
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$48,780 – $107,600
People employed
1,065,210
Holland code
SAC
Social · Artistic · Conventional
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you want variety, with new tasks often?
- 2.Do you prefer a steady pace without constant deadlines?
- 3.Are you happy talking and working with people most of the day?
- 4.Do you want to lead or coordinate other people’s work?
- 5.Do you want the same hours every week?
Secondary School Teachers pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (50 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What secondary school teachers do
- 01Prepare students for later grades by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.
- 02Instruct through lectures, discussions, and demonstrations in one or more subjects, such as English, mathematics, or social studies.
- 03Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among students.
- 04Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.
- 05Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests.
- 06Prepare, administer, and grade tests and assignments to evaluate students' progress.
Skills that matter most
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Learning Strategies
- Speaking
- Monitoring
- Critical Thinking
Knowledge
- Education and Training
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
- Computers and Electronics
- Psychology
Work styles that stand out
- Cooperation
- Achievement Orientation
- Social Orientation
- Self-Control
- Stress Tolerance
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a bachelor's degree (O*NET Job Zone 4).
- Related work experience: none.
- On-the-job training: over 1 month, up to and including 3 months.
- A professional certification is often expected.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from secondary school teachers
- Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors92% · −15%
- English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary81% · +9%
- Instructional Coordinators81% · +7%
- Education Teachers, Postsecondary80% · +5%
- Training and Development Specialists79% · −4%
Change into secondary school teachers
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors95% · $61,540
- Substitute Teachers, Short-Term92% · $41,670
- Tutors88% · $43,350
- Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary86% · $75,870
- Self-Enrichment Teachers86% · $46,800
Majors that lead here
- Bilingual and Multilingual Education
- Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching
- Secondary Education and Teaching
- Teacher Education, Multiple Levels
- Montessori Teacher Education
- Waldorf/Steiner Teacher Education
- Online Educator/Online Teaching
- International Teaching and Learning
- Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Educational Methods
- Art Teacher Education
- Driver and Safety Teacher Education
- English/Language Arts Teacher Education
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.