High School Teachers

At a Glance

Teach students who are between 13 and 18 years old
Work in both private and public schools
Use audio-visual aids, computers, lectures, and presentations
Work with teenagers, parents, and other teachers
Often supervise clubs and sports and social events
Training usually takes five to six years after high school
Public school teachers need a license
Often belong to unions

Career summary

High school teachers teach specific subjects to students who are between 13 and 18 years old.

#link with 8456 Secondary Teachers

High school teachers use the methods of lecture and presentation to teach subjects such as:

English
History
Math
Science
Foreign languages

High school teachers take attendance, keep track of textbooks and other supplies, and establish classroom rules so students can work and learn.

High school teachers develop lesson plans to teach subjects according to the school or district curriculum. They assign and grade homework. They give tests to check students' progress. They record test scores. They analyze the scores to create progress reports and final grades.

High school teachers may supervise student activities after school or during lunch breaks. High school teachers may also supervise school dances, sports events, or other school activities.

High school teachers participate in faculty meetings. They discuss school and class issues with school administrators. They may also participate in local or national conferences where teachers share ideas and teaching methods.

High school teachers may provide advice to students with behavioral or academic problems. They may meet with students, parents, and administrators to try and resolve problems. High school teachers may also provide general academic advising to students so they know what classes to take.

Related careers

This career is part of the Education and Training cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to high school teachers.

Teach high school students using methods such as lecture, group work, and demonstration.
Prepare class lessons according to school curriculum and state or local requirements.
Assign and correct homework.
Create and give tests to check students' progress.
Record and report grades that indicate students' progress.
Take care of daily tasks such as attendance records and general classroom supervision.
Inventory classroom supplies and equipment.
Confer with students, administrators, and parents to resolve behavioral and academic problems.
Provide academic advising to help students choose courses.
Help students prepare for the next grade through counseling and assigning more challenging work.
Participate in faculty and professional meetings, educational conferences, and teacher training workshops.
Advise or sponsor organizations or clubs.
Attend workshops and conferences to update skills.
Create and enforce behavior expectations for students.

Common work activities

High school teachers perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

Organize, plan, and prioritize work
Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
Teach others
Coach others
Update and use job-related knowledge
Think creatively
Establish and maintain relationships
Make decisions and solve problems
Schedule work and activities
Get information needed to do the job
Develop goals and strategies
Use computers
Document and record information
Identify objects, actions, and events
Resolve conflicts and negotiate with others
Monitor events, materials, and surroundings
Coordinate the work and activities of others
Explain the meaning of information to others
Analyze data or information
Process information
Assist and care for others
Develop and build teams
Evaluate information against standards
Guide, direct, and motivate others
Judge the value of objects, services, or people
Communicate with people outside the organization
Perform for or work with the public
Perform administrative tasks
Provide advice and consultation to others

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, high school teachers:

Interpersonal relationships

Have a high level of job-related social interaction with students.
Speak in front of a classroom on a daily basis.
Communicate by phone, e-mail, and in person on a daily basis. They also write letters and memos, but less often.
Are often placed in conflict situations where students and occasionally parents might become angry or unpleasant.
Are responsible for the health and safety of students.
Work as part of a team of teachers and other education staff.
Are somewhat responsible for the work done by others.

Physical work conditions

Often work indoors. May work outdoors to teach physical education or sports.
May occasionally be exposed to noise levels that are distracting.
Work near others, often within a few feet.

Work performance

Must be sure all work is done accurately. Errors could cause students to receive the wrong grades.
Often repeat the same activities, such as planning class and grading assignments.
Regularly make decisions that affect others. They rarely consult a supervisor before deciding a course of action.
Set nearly all their daily tasks and goals without consulting a supervisor first.
Must meet strict daily and weekly deadlines.

Hours/travel

Work regular school hours. Lunch, evening, or weekend hours may be required to supervise clubs and organizations.
May work overtime to complete grading.

Physical demands

High school teachers frequently:

Stand for long periods of time.

It is important for high school teachers to be able to:

Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
Understand the speech of another person.
See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for high school teachers to be able to:

Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.
See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.
Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.
Use one or two hands to grasp, move, or assemble objects.
Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.

Skills and abilities

High school teachers need to:

Communicate

Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
Understand spoken information.
Understand written information.
Read and understand work-related materials.
Listen to others and ask questions.
Write clearly so other people can understand.

Reason and problem solve

Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
Recognize the nature of a problem.
Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
Understand new information or materials by studying and working with them.
Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
Think of new ideas about a topic.
Think of original, unusual, or creative ways to solve problems.
Develop rules that group items in various ways.
Concentrate and not be distracted while performing a task.
Identify what must be changed to reach goals.
Recognize when important changes happen or are likely to happen in a system.
Remember information such as words, numbers, pictures, and procedures.

Use math and science

Choose a mathematical method or formula to solve problems.

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

Check how well one is learning or doing something.
Manage the time of self and others.

Work with people

Teach others how to do something.
Use several methods to learn or teach new things.
Be aware of others' reactions and understand the possible causes.
Change behavior in relation to others' actions.
Look for ways to help people.
Solve problems by bringing others together to discuss differences.
Persuade others to approach things differently.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

Other programs of study to consider

Training

To work as a high school teacher, you typically need to:

have a high school diploma or equivalent;
have at least a bachelor's degree;
complete an approved teacher training program;
complete a student teacher internship; and
pass a state licensing exam.

Education after high school

To work as a public high school teacher, you need at least a bachelor's degree from an approved teacher education program. You also need to complete 24 to 36 hours of college work in the area you wish to teach.

The trend in this field is moving toward teachers having a master's degree in education. This usually involves one additional year of course work beyond a bachelor's degree.

To renew your teaching license, you need to take additional courses in education. Many teachers do this during the summer months.

Private schools may not require a bachelor's degree in education.

On-the-job training

Before graduating from a teacher education program, you work as a student teacher. Student teachers work in high school classrooms with experienced teachers. In the beginning, you observe the teacher and classroom. Later, you teach classes on your own.

Helpful high school courses

In high school, take classes that prepare you for college. A college preparatory curriculum may be different from your state's graduation requirements.

You should also consider taking some advanced courses in high school. This includes Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses if they are available in your school. If you do well in these courses, you may receive college credit for them. Advanced courses can also strengthen your college application.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

Child Development
Computer Applications
Psychology
Public Speaking
Teacher Assisting

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Employers look for high school teachers who are licensed. They also look for high school teachers who are confident and knowledgeable in their subject. High school teachers should be able to deal with many different kinds of personalities and age groups. Employers look for high school teachers who are organized, dependable, patient, and creative.

Private schools may not require a degree or teaching license. If based on a religion, a school may require that teachers have a background in a particular faith. Other schools may require teachers to have some training in their philosophy of education.

Some employers look for teachers who are bilingual.

Tips

Gain as much experience as possible working with teenagers. Volunteer work as a teacher aide or tutor may be helpful. If you are in school, keep notes about good ideas and assignments used by your teachers. If possible, spend at least two months in a classroom in which you would like to teach. Talk to as many different experienced teachers as you can.

Willingness to relocate may improve employment prospects. Take course work in more than one teaching area. A double major can be helpful. Ability to supervise at least one extracurricular activity will improve job opportunities. College activities that provide good training and experience include intercollegiate and intramural sports, journalism, art, drama, band, and student government. A sense of humor, a positive attitude, and the ability to be flexible are important.

Costs to workers

Some teachers may be required to join a union and pay quarterly dues. Teachers usually pay for their own continuing education or advanced degree classes.

Licensing/certification

All public and private school teachers must be certified by the Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. The certification for a new teacher who is completing or has completed an in-state teacher training program is the residency first issue teacher certificate.

Requirements for a residency first issue certificate for entry-level teachers include:

being age 18 or older;
evidence of good moral character and personal fitness;
passing a background check which requires submitting two fingerprint cards (waived if applicant has had record check within two years of applying);
a bachelor's degree from regionally accredited college or university;
completion of an approved college/university teacher education program, which includes teaching methodology, content, and an internship;
completion of a major (60-quarter hours or 40-semester hours) in one of six broad endorsement areas (the arts, English/language arts, health-fitness, mathematics, science, or social studies);
passing a basic skills test;
passing a content test on the subject matter for each endorsement; and
submission of an application and paying a fee.

The first issue certificate is good for five years. Teaching must take place at a state approved public or private school. To renew the residency certificate, 100 hours of approved continuing education, including 10 hours of STEM related training, must be completed every five years.

School districts may require a background check and fingerprinting for employment, even if the applicant has a certificate granted by the State. Fingerprinting is available at any of the nine regional Educational Service District (ESD) offices. Each ESD may add an additional processing fee.

#Modified licensing text content based on rewrite done spring 2018. If want to see/use prior content it is stored at W:\IA\Occupations\Pre Aug 2018 Licensing Content for Teachers, 8/22/18 cj.

#under second level of cert for professional certification (which was removed 8/22/18 by cj)

For more information on certification, contact:

Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
Professional Education and Certification (external link)
Old Capitol Building
PO Box 47200
Olympia, WA 98504-7200
360.725.6400

#Checked licensing section & made some changes to requirements (added basic skills test which is now required of all, not just out-of-state teachers), "content" as part of teacher ed program requirement, etc. Details are in application form for residency cert and the Washington Certification Handbook on OSPI web site, 3/30/06, CJ.

#minor change to URL, 4/20/09 lh

#Legislature passed bill in April 2009 that changes way teachers earn professional cert ( http://www.k12.wa.us/certification/Teacher/ProCert-NewRegsFAQ.aspx). (external link) These changes to not go into effect until Sept. 1, 2011 so don't need to modify our licensing content until spring 2011 update. Info ok for 2010 update. Cj, 3/29/10. Checked this section 4/4/12 cj. No changes 3/13 lh. Licensing info okay, 3/18/14, 4/25/16 cj. no changes noted 3/27/17 lh

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website (external link) .

Wages

The average base salary for high school teachers, working about 180 days per year in Washington public schools, is $54,900 per year.

#Updated OSPI wage (OSPI report 13/14 table 7) 4/19/17 lh, need to update 2019 lh

Career/technical education teachers, secondary school (SOC 25-2032)

Location	Pay Period
Location	Pay Period	10%	25%	Median	75%	90%
Washington	Hourly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Monthly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Yearly	$49,260	$57,810	$69,160	$78,420	$88,070
Bellingham	Hourly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Monthly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Yearly	$54,786	$64,461	$75,680	$85,996	$97,934
Bremerton-Silverdale	Hourly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Monthly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Yearly	$47,938	$57,126	$69,819	$81,375	$93,827
Kennewick-Richland	Hourly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Monthly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Yearly	$52,062	$61,523	$72,302	$80,827	$90,871
Longview	Hourly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Monthly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Yearly	$44,064	$54,299	$63,248	$78,139	$92,824
Mount Vernon-Anacortes	Hourly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Monthly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Yearly	$49,284	$61,707	$71,850	$78,499	$82,490
Olympia-Tumwater	Hourly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Monthly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Yearly	$50,488	$59,201	$70,154	$78,615	$84,343
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue	Hourly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Monthly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Yearly	$52,701	$60,731	$71,675	$80,689	$91,499
Spokane-Spokane Valley	Hourly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Monthly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Yearly	$52,354	$59,692	$71,342	$81,590	$93,663
Vancouver	Hourly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Monthly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Yearly	$44,273	$53,373	$65,516	$77,723	$89,697
Walla Walla	Hourly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Monthly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Yearly	$46,940	$54,565	$63,527	$75,119	$82,768
Wenatchee	Hourly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Monthly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Yearly	$44,144	$52,898	$65,667	$76,586	$83,038
Yakima	Hourly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Monthly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Yearly	$48,302	$58,047	$69,431	$77,952	$83,143
United States	Hourly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Monthly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Yearly	$41,250	$49,220	$60,250	$74,930	$91,190

(1) Wage estimate is not available.

Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education (SOC 25-2031)

Location	Pay Period
Location	Pay Period	10%	25%	Median	75%	90%
Washington	Hourly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Monthly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Yearly	$47,770	$57,140	$68,740	$78,240	$87,770
Bellingham	Hourly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Monthly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Yearly	$44,575	$57,839	$71,326	$80,926	$91,239
Bremerton-Silverdale	Hourly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Monthly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Yearly	$50,040	$59,183	$71,169	$80,800	$90,993
Clarkston-Lewiston	Hourly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Monthly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Yearly	$31,860	$47,549	$56,841	$63,552	$76,025
Kennewick-Richland	Hourly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Monthly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Yearly	$47,240	$57,734	$70,746	$80,418	$90,693
Longview	Hourly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Monthly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Yearly	$49,491	$58,135	$69,146	$79,310	$90,520
Mount Vernon-Anacortes	Hourly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Monthly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Yearly	$54,701	$63,451	$72,128	$78,924	$83,013
Olympia-Tumwater	Hourly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Monthly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Yearly	$49,600	$58,566	$69,358	$77,746	$83,054
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue	Hourly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Monthly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Yearly	$52,302	$59,841	$70,943	$80,790	$92,405
Spokane-Spokane Valley	Hourly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Monthly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Yearly	$42,527	$54,804	$69,561	$79,568	$90,355
Vancouver	Hourly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Monthly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Yearly	$47,520	$61,526	$78,702	$98,418	$116,415
Walla Walla	Hourly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Monthly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Yearly	$42,490	$55,103	$68,448	$77,816	$85,102
Wenatchee	Hourly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Monthly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Yearly	$47,025	$57,039	$69,383	$77,489	$82,365
Yakima	Hourly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Monthly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Yearly	$42,286	$50,358	$65,449	$75,557	$81,529
United States	Hourly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Monthly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Yearly	$39,740	$47,980	$60,320	$77,720	$97,500

(1) Wage estimate is not available.

High school teachers who coach sports or supervise other extracurricular activities may be paid extra for their work.

Teachers who work full time usually receive benefits. Common benefits include sick leave, health insurance, and a retirement plan.

Over half of all public school teachers belong to unions -- mainly the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association. These unions negotiate with employers regarding wages, hours, and conditions of employment.

Because teachers usually work a ten-month year, their wages are reported annually.

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

In Washington, the outlook will depend on replacement of those teachers currently employed, expansion of the student population, and federal and state financial support.

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Vocational Education (SOC 25-2031)

		This occupation	All occupations
Location	Current employment	Growth over 10 years		Annual openings
Washington	16,622	16.3%	16.1%	1,764
Adams, Chelan, Douglas, Grant, and Okanogan Counties	822	16.8%	13.4%	88
Asotin, Columbia, Ferry, Garfield, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Stevens, Walla Walla, and Whitman Counties	970	2.6%	8.6%	72
Benton and Franklin Counties	560	17.7%	15.0%	61
Clallam, Jefferson, and Kitsap Counties	798	11.3%	11.9%	75
Clark, Cowlitz, and Wahkiakum Counties	1,111	17.6%	15.2%	121
Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, and Thurston Counties	1,327	18.6%	14.1%	147
Island, San Juan, Skagit, and Whatcom Counties	816	17.8%	14.6%	89
King County	4,271	18.9%	19.6%	479
Kittitas, Klickitat, Skamania, and Yakima Counties	876	18.3%	13.8%	97
Pierce County	1,634	17.1%	15.2%	177
Snohomish County	1,478	18.9%	12.4%	165
Spokane County	1,186	7.8%	13.9%	102
United States	1,072,500	3.6%	5.2%	80,300

Vocational Education Teachers, Secondary School (SOC 25-2032)

		This occupation	All occupations
Location	Current employment	Growth over 10 years		Annual openings
Washington	3,478	16.3%	16.1%	369
Adams, Chelan, Douglas, Grant, and Okanogan Counties	233	16.7%	13.4%	25
Asotin, Columbia, Ferry, Garfield, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Stevens, Walla Walla, and Whitman Counties	203	2.5%	8.6%	15
Benton and Franklin Counties	122	18.0%	15.0%	13
Clallam, Jefferson, and Kitsap Counties	161	11.2%	11.9%	15
Clark, Cowlitz, and Wahkiakum Counties	338	17.8%	15.2%	37
Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, and Thurston Counties	288	18.8%	14.1%	32
Island, San Juan, Skagit, and Whatcom Counties	148	18.2%	14.6%	16
King County	689	18.6%	19.6%	77
Kittitas, Klickitat, Skamania, and Yakima Counties	230	18.3%	13.8%	25
Pierce County	406	17.0%	15.2%	43
Snohomish County	300	19.0%	12.4%	33
Spokane County	179	7.8%	13.9%	15
United States	76,600	2.2%	5.2%	5,600

National employment

Major employers:

Public and private schools

National outlook

Growth in this occupation will be slower than for other kinds of teachers. Growth will occur as there are more high school students and the teacher-student ratio declines. The growth rate also varies by area of the country. States in the South and West will have a large increase in the number of students. However, states in the Northeast and Midwest may actually have fewer students. Budget cuts may slow growth.

Many job openings will occur as teachers retire. Job prospects may also be better for teachers who specialize in math, science, or special education.

Other resources

American Alliance for Theatre and Education
718 7th Street NW
Washington DC 20001
202.909.1194

American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences
400 North Columbus Street, Suite 202
Alexandria, VA 22314
800.424.8080
703.706.4600

American Association of Teachers of German

American Federation of Teachers
555 New Jersey Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20001
202.879.4400

American Historical Association
777 6th St NW, 11th floor
Washington, DC 20001
202.544.2422

American Literature Association

American String Teachers Association
4155 Chain Bridge Road
Fairfax, VA 22030
703.279.2113

Association of American Educators
25909 Pala Place, Suite 330
Mission Viejo, California 92691
800.704.7799

BLS 2018 Career Outlook for teachers

BLS Career Outlook: Interview with a�Chemistry Teacher

Education World

National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
1525 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 700
Arlington, VA 22209
703.465.2700

National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
1906 Association Drive
Reston, VA 20191
800.235.7566
703.620.9840

National Education Association
1201 - 16th Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
202.833.4000

National Science Teachers Association
1840 Wilson Boulevard
Arlington, VA 22201
703.243.7100

Service Employees International Union
1800 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20036
800.424.8592

Society of Health and Physical Educators
PO Box 225
Annapolis Junction, MD 20701
800.213.7193

Student Program Make It Happen - Teach
(National Education Association resource)

Washington Education Association
PO Box 9100
Federal Way, WA 98063-9100
800.622.3393
253.941.6700

Washington Federation of Teachers
625 Andover Park West, Suite 111
Tukwila, WA 98188
206.242.4777

References

Career cluster

Education and Training

Career path

Social

O*Net occupations

O*Net job zone

Job Zone 4 - Considerable preparation needed. A minimum of two to four years of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations.

DOT occupations

Strong Interest Inventory

Art Teacher
Business Education Teacher
English Teacher
Foreign Language Teacher
Mathematics Teacher
Physical Education Teacher
Science Teacher
Social Science Teacher

Holland occupational clusters

Social/Artistic/Enterprising
Social/Artistic/Investigative
Social/Enterprising/Artistic

COPSystem

Service Professional