Secondary School Teachers
Overview
Introduction
Secondary school teachers teach students in grades seven through twelve. Specializing in one subject area, such as English or math, these teachers work with five or more groups of students during the day. They lecture, direct discussions, and test students' knowledge with exams, essays, and homework assignments. There are more than 1 million secondary school teachers employed in the United States.
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
Most teachers are contracted to work nine months out of the year, though some contracts are made for 10 or a full 12 months. (When regular school is not in session, teachers are expected to conduct summer teaching, planning, or other school-related work.) In most cases, teachers have the option of prorating their salary for up to 52 weeks.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the...
Work Environment
Although the job of the secondary school teacher is not overly strenuous, it can be tiring and trying. Secondary school teachers must stand for many hours each day, do a lot of talking, show energy and enthusiasm, and handle discipline problems. But they also have the reward of guiding their students as they make decisions about their lives and futures.
Secondary school teachers work und...
Outlook
The U.S. Department of Labor predicts that job opportunities for secondary school teachers will grow as fast as average for all careers through 2029, though opportunities will vary by region. Many teachers will reach retirement age over the next decade and will need to be replaced. Higher salaries will be necessary to attract new teachers and retain experienced ones, along with other changes su...