Jobs Similar to Middle School Teachers
Also called: Middle School Teachers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to middle school teachers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Kindergarten Teachers, Secondary School Teachers and Elementary School Teachers.
Middle School Teachers: $64,370 median pay · usual preparation: Bachelor's degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
- 1Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education
87% similar · $62,680 (−3%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 2Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
86% similar · $72,040 (+12%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 3Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
86% similar · $63,970 (−1%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 4Special Education Teachers, Middle School
84% similar · $66,810 (+4%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 5Special Education Teachers, Secondary School
84% similar · $74,260 (+15%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 6Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors
84% similar · $61,540 (−4%) · Bachelor's degree
- 7Substitute Teachers, Short-Term
82% similar · $41,670 (−35%) · Bachelor's degree
- 8English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary
81% similar · $78,760 (+22%) · Graduate degree
- 9Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary
81% similar · $80,260 (+25%) · Graduate degree
- 10Tutors
80% similar · $43,350 (−33%) · Training or associate
- 11Instructional Coordinators
80% similar · $77,440 (+20%) · Graduate degree
- 12Education Teachers, Postsecondary
80% similar · $75,350 (+17%) · Graduate degree
- 13Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
80% similar · $75,870 (+18%) · Graduate degree
- 14Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School
80% similar · $66,270 (+3%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 15Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School
79% similar · $65,030 (+1%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 16Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary
79% similar · $84,290 (+31%) · Graduate degree
- 17Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary
79% similar · $80,340 (+25%) · Graduate degree
- 18Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
79% similar · $38,140 (−41%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 19History Teachers, Postsecondary
79% similar · $83,820 (+30%) · Graduate degree
- 20Special Education Teachers, Preschool
79% similar · $64,830 (+1%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than middle school teachers.
- Special Education Teachers, Secondary School84% similar · $74,260 (+15%)
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education86% similar · $72,040 (+12%)
- Special Education Teachers, Middle School84% similar · $66,810 (+4%)
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School80% similar · $66,270 (+3%)
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School79% similar · $65,030 (+1%)
- Special Education Teachers, Preschool79% similar · $64,830 (+1%)
Similar jobs that need less preparation
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for middle school teachers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where middle school teachers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors (94)
- Substitute Teachers, Short-Term (89)
- Tutors (85)
- Self-Enrichment Teachers (83)
- Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary (83)
- Education Teachers, Postsecondary (79)
- Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary (78)
- English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary (77)
- Instructional Coordinators (77)
- Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary (76)
Questions about jobs like middle school teachers
What jobs are most similar to middle school teachers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Kindergarten Teachers (87% similar), Secondary School Teachers (86% similar), Elementary School Teachers (86% similar), Special Education Teachers (Middle School) (84% similar) and Special Education Teachers (Secondary School) (84% similar).
Which jobs like middle school teachers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Sociology Teachers ($84,290, +31%; usually a graduate degree), History Teachers ($83,820, +30%; usually a graduate degree) and Philosophy and Religion Teachers ($80,260, +25%; usually a graduate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with middle school teachers ($64,370). Without more preparation than middle school teachers usually need: Special Education Teachers (Secondary School), Secondary School Teachers and Special Education Teachers (Middle School).
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.