Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education earn a median of $72,040 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to fall 0.2% through 2035, with about 63,500 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 25-2031
- Educational Instruction and Library
- Last updated October 15, 2026
At a glance
High School Teacher in four numbers
- Median pay
- $72,040a yearBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $49KTop 10% $108K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- -0.2%DecliningBLS EP, 2025–2035This career−0.2%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career −0.2% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 63,5001,087,500 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 20251.1M
- Projected 20351.1M
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 1.1M Projected 2035 1.1M - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Associate's4%
- Bachelor's77%
- Post-bacc certificate7.8%
- Master's3.5%
- Post-master’s certificate7.8%
Highest education held by secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education Segment Value Associate's 4% Bachelor's 77% Post-bacc certificate 7.8% Master's 3.5% Post-master’s certificate 7.8%
Also advertised as: Art Teacher, English Teacher, Math Teacher (Mathematics Teacher), Music Teacher, PE Teacher (Physical Education Teacher), Science Teacher.
Pay
How much do high school teachers make?
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education earn a median of $72,040 a year (about $6,000 a month); the lowest-paid 10% earn less than $48,780 and the top 10% more than $107,600 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The best-paying state is Washington, with a median of $102,670. See High school teacher salary in Washington and every other state. By city, pay is highest around San Francisco ($119,470 average): salary in every city.
Every high school teacher in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$72,040
Middle half earn $59,980 to $92,570
- 10th
- $48,780
- 25th
- $59,980
- 75th
- $92,570
- 90th
- $107,600
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $48,780 |
| 25th | $59,980 |
| Median | $72,040 |
| 75th | $92,570 |
| 90th | $107,600 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $72,040
- Median hourly wage
- N/A
- Mean annual wage
- $76,320
- People employed
- 1,065,210
Versus all US occupations
At $72,040, Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education earn 41% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $21,060 a year.
Versus educational instruction and library occupations
Inside the Educational Instruction and Library group, where the middle occupation pays $68,270, this is 6% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $107,600 or more while the bottom 10% earn $48,780, a gap of 2.2×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 45% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Washington pays the most at $102,670, and still leads at $95,942 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay high school teachers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Washington | $102,670 | $95,942 | 14,880 |
| 2California | $101,370 | $91,555 | 99,230 |
| 3New York | $97,070 | $89,945 | 70,660 |
| 4Massachusetts | $95,260 | $90,074 | 28,460 |
| 5Rhode Island | $92,610 | $90,546 | 4,910 |
| 6District of Columbia | $82,750 | $75,295 | 2,800 |
| 7New Jersey | $82,200 | $75,548 | 38,140 |
| 8Connecticut | $80,970 | $78,149 | 14,800 |
| 9Illinois | $79,990 | $80,024 | 44,670 |
| 10Alaska | $79,650 | $77,814 | 2,790 |
Job outlook
Is high school teacher a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Declining. -0.2% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | −0.2% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Declining
BLS projects employment of Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education to change -0.2% over 2025–2035, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.5%. That is 2,500 fewer jobs.
Annual openings
About 63,500 openings are projected each year, 5.8% of the 1,087,500 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Despite declining employment, about 63,500 openings for high school teachers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
All of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Employment growth for public high school teachers may depend on state and local government budgets. If state and local governments experience budget deficits, school boards may lay off employees, including teachers. As a result, these budget deficits may limit the employment growth projected for high school teachers. Conversely, budget surpluses at the state and local level could lead to additional employment growth for high school teachers.
Projected declines over the decade in both the school-aged demographic and student enrollment should constrain demand for high school teachers.
AI exposure: high
BLS places this occupation in its high relative AI exposure category, above the middle of the pack: a substantial share of the work overlaps with what AI can do.
Getting in
How to become a high school teacher
High school teachers typically must have at least a bachelor’s degree. In addition, public school teachers must have a state-issued certification or license.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Considerable preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education.
- Bachelor's Degree77%
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate7.8%
- Post-Master's Certificate7.8%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree4%
- Master's Degree3.5%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | 77% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 7.8% |
| Post-Master's Certificate | 7.8% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 4% |
| Master's Degree | 3.5% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a high school teacher do?
Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level.
High school teachers help prepare students for life after graduation. They teach academic lessons and various skills that students will need to attend college or to enter the job market.
Day-to-day tasks
- Prepare students for later grades by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.
- Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among students.
- Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.
- Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests.
- Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects, and communicate those objectives to students.
- Enforce all administration policies and rules governing students.
- Confer with parents or guardians, other teachers, counselors, and administrators to resolve students' behavioral and academic problems.
- Confer with other staff members to plan and schedule lessons promoting learning, following approved curricula.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
High school teachers generally work during school hours when students are present. They may meet with parents, students, and other teachers before and after school. They often spend time in the evenings and on weekends grading papers and preparing lessons. Teachers who coach sports or advise clubs generally do so before or after school.
Many teachers work a traditional 10-month school year and have a 2-month break during the summer. They also have a short midwinter break. Some teachers work during the summer.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Elementary and secondary schools; local81%
- Elementary and secondary schools; private17%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Elementary and secondary schools; local | 81% |
| Elementary and secondary schools; private | 17% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Active Listening4.0
- Speaking4.0
- Learning Strategies4.0
- Critical Thinking3.9
- Monitoring3.9
- Active Learning3.8
- Writing3.6
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Speaking | 4.0 |
| Learning Strategies | 4.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.9 |
| Monitoring | 3.9 |
| Active Learning | 3.8 |
| Writing | 3.6 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Instructing4.1
- Social Perceptiveness3.9
- Coordination3.8
- Judgment and Decision Making3.8
- Complex Problem Solving3.4
- Time Management3.3
- Persuasion3.0
- Negotiation3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Instructing | 4.1 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.9 |
| Coordination | 3.8 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.8 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.4 |
| Time Management | 3.3 |
| Persuasion | 3.0 |
| Negotiation | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Document management software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Analytical or scientific software
- Cloud-based data access and sharing software
- Computer based training software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Development environment software
- Electronic mail software
- Internet browser software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
The workforce
Who works as a high school teacher?
Women make up 56.5% of secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education, against 47.1% of all employed people: more women than in the workforce as a whole.
21.5% are 55 or older, close to the 23.2% across all jobs.
The median worker is 43.4 years old (all workers: 42.1).
- Women
- 56.5%All workers 47.1% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Median age
- 43.4All workers 42.1 · BLS CPS, 2025
- Aged 55+
- 21.5%All workers 23.2% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Employed (CPS)
- 790,000Secondary school teachers · BLS CPS, 2025
| Group | Share of secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education | All employed people |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 56.5% | 47.1% |
| White | 85.8% | 75.7% |
| Black or African American | 8.2% | 12.7% |
| Asian | 2.9% | 7.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 9.2% | 20.0% |
| Aged 55 and over | 21.5% | 23.2% |
| Aged 16 to 24 | 3.9% | 12.2% |
Current Population Survey annual averages, 2025 (BLS tables 11 and 11b). Race groups can overlap with Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, so they do not sum to 100%. CPS reports this occupation only within the wider Census group “Secondary school teachers”, so these figures are for that group.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a high school teacher?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | High School Teacher |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 3 |
| Investigative | 3 |
| Artistic | 4 |
| Social | 7 |
| Enterprising | 3 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around teaching, helping and working directly with other people, combined with creating, designing and working without a fixed set of rules.
- Social7.0
- Artistic3.8
- Conventional3.6
- Investigative3.2
- Enterprising2.9
- Realistic2.7
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to High School Teacher
O*NET related occupations
- Educational Instruction and Library
- Educational Instruction and Library
- Educational Instruction and Library
- Educational Instruction and Library
Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructor
$61,540median a year
Most earn $42K to $98K
−13.9%Bachelor's - Educational Instruction and Library
Special Education Teacher, Secondary School
$74,260median a year
Most earn $50K to $109K
−0.2%Bachelor's - Educational Instruction and Library
Special Education Teacher, Elementary School
$67,170median a year
Most earn $49K to $105K
−0.1%Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
More educational instruction and library careers
Median annual pay, with secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education highlighted
- Nursing Instructor and Teacher, Postsecondary$80,250
- Special Education Teacher, Secondary School$74,260
- High School Teacher$72,040
- Librarian$68,270
- Career/Technical Education Teacher, Secondary School$66,270
- Kindergarten Teacher$62,680
- Library Technician$44,580
- Tutor$43,350
- Preschool Teacher, Except Special Education$38,140
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Nursing Instructor and Teacher, Postsecondary | $80,250 |
| Special Education Teacher, Secondary School | $74,260 |
| High School Teacher | $72,040 |
| Librarian | $68,270 |
| Career/Technical Education Teacher, Secondary School | $66,270 |
| Kindergarten Teacher | $62,680 |
| Library Technician | $44,580 |
| Tutor | $43,350 |
| Preschool Teacher, Except Special Education | $38,140 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists High School Teacher appears on
Questions
High School Teacher: frequently asked questions
How much do high school teachers make?
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education earn a median of $72,040 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 41% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. The middle half earn between $59,980 and $92,570. The top 10% earn $107,600 or more.
What is the starting salary for a high school teacher?
BLS does not publish a starting salary. The nearest measure is the low end of the pay range: the lowest-paid 10% of secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education earn less than $48,780 a year and the bottom quarter less than $59,980 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). New workers often start near that end, but where a particular job starts depends on the employer, the state and the credentials you bring, so read these as the bottom of the range rather than a guaranteed entry wage.
Do high school teachers make $100k?
A minority do. $100,000 sits between the 75th percentile ($92,570) and the 90th ($107,600), so roughly 10% to 25% of secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education earn more than that (BLS OEWS, May 2025). In 2 states the median itself is above $100,000: Washington ($102,670), California ($101,370).
Which states pay high school teachers the most?
The highest state medians for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education are Washington ($102,670), California ($101,370), New York ($97,070) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What kind of high school teacher earns the most?
BLS does not split secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education' pay by specialty or employer, but its range shows how far the top end runs: the highest-paid 10% earn more than $107,600, against a median of $72,040 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Location moves pay the most in the published data: the best-paying states are Washington ($102,670), California ($101,370), New York ($97,070).
Do you need a degree to become a high school teacher?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as considerable preparation. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 77.0% hold bachelor's degree.
How long does it take to become a high school teacher?
BLS does not publish a fixed length; it depends on the route. What it does publish: the typical way in for high school teachers is a bachelor's degree. O*NET classes the work as needing considerable preparation.
Is high school teacher a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 0.2% over 2025–2035, a loss of 2,500 jobs (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 63,500 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a high school teacher do?
High school teachers help prepare students for life after graduation. A core O*NET task: prepare students for later grades by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks. Employers most often ask for Document management software, Office suite software, Presentation software.
Do high school teachers work 40 hours a week?
Most work more than 40. In O*NET's survey of people in the job, 56% of secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education usually work more than 40 hours a week, 38% work exactly 40 and 6% work fewer. 92% say their schedule is regular and 0% irregular, and 8% work seasonally. Source: O*NET 31.0 Database, Work Context.
What personality type suits a high school teacher?
O*NET scores Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education highest on the Social, Artistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes teaching, helping and working directly with other people with creating, designing and working without a fixed set of rules. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ESFP, ENFJ, ENFP. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.
What percentage of high school teachers are women?
Women make up 56.5% of secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education, against 47.1% of all employed people: more women than in the workforce as a whole. 21.5% are 55 or older, close to the 23.2% across all jobs. The median worker is 43.4 years old (all workers: 42.1). Source: BLS Current Population Survey, 2025 annual averages, for the Census group "Secondary school teachers".