Job Description – Salary, Education and Career Guide for becoming a High School Teacher

If you are looking for a career in which you can have a lasting, positive influence on teens, you may want to consider becoming a high school teacher. High school teachers specialize in one subject and share that knowledge with their students. Whether you decide to become a high school English teacher or a high school math teacher, you can enjoy an exciting career in which your students will remember you for the rest of their lives.

Job Description

High school teachers have many diverse responsibilities. These include:
  • creating lesson plans
  • giving out and evaluating assignments
  • grading papers
  • maintaining classroom discipline
  • meeting with parents and other staff
  • observing oral presentations
  • preparation, administration and grading of exams
  • preparing report cards.
A high school teacher must keep up with the latest knowledge in his or her specific field, and attend education conferences and workshops. High school teachers also supervise clubs and study halls, and attend field trips. Sometimes high school teachers even advise students about educational or career choices.
 
Work environments can vary greatly from school to school. Most high school teachers enjoy regular hours with generous benefits and vacations. There are also challenges all high school teachers should be prepared to face. These include:
  • accountability standards
  • heavy workloads
  • isolation from colleagues while teaching
  • occasional students who are disrespectful or unmotivated
  • schools lacking up to date supplies and equipment.
While these factors can be stressful, the chance to make a real difference in students' lives is well worth the effort.

Salary Guide

High school teacher's salaries usually fall in the median range of about $43,580 to $48,690. The lowest 10 percent of high school teachers earn between $28,590 and $33,070 while the top 10 percent earn between $67,490 and $76,100.
 
The job outlook for high school teachers is good, with many jobs being created as experienced teachers retire and some new teachers realize they would rather try other careers. To increase your chances of working as a high school teacher, it is important to understand that:
  • Certain areas of the southern and western United States are growing economically, creating many new teaching positions.
  • Demand is very high for high school math teachers. Other specialties which are greatly needed include chemistry and physics.
  • Rural and inner city schools have more positions available than other schools.
  • The most competitive teaching positions are in upscale, suburban schools. Hundreds of candidates may be competing for a single suburban teaching job.

Education and Training

To become a high school teacher in a public school, both a Bachelor's degree and state license are required. This can be achieved by either traditional or alternative paths.
  • The traditional path involves earning a Bachelor's degree in teaching with a student teaching internship, and then getting a teaching license. Some colleges also offer five-year combination Bachelor/Master programs in teaching. These programs are worth considering since many states now require a Master's degree in education within a specific time period after beginning to teach.
  • Alternative licensure programs are designed for those who already have a Bachelor's degree in another field and then decide they would like to teach. These programs were created to fill vacant teaching positions in urban and rural schools. Some alternative programs grant a temporary license and allow the applicant to teach immediately under the supervision of an experienced educator. Others involve taking just the required coursework in education before obtaining a license.
Private high school teachers must have a Bachelor's degree, which can either be in education or the subject to be taught. A license is not always needed for private school employment. All high school teachers, whether public or private should have extensive coursework in their specialized subjects.

Prior Work Experience

While employers favor previous teaching experience, many newly certified high school teachers are able to begin teaching immediately after completing their education and student teaching internships. Any previous job experience working with teens is a plus, as is work experience in specific subject area such as science or math.
 
Getting a job as a high school teacher involves more than just experience and qualifications. To be successful as a teacher it is important to have excellent communication and classroom management skills. You should also have plenty of enthusiasm and the ability to motivate teens.

Career Advancement

High school teachers who wish to advance in their careers can consider additional education and certification. National certification is now available in many subjects and is recognized in all states. Becoming nationally certified and or earning a Master's degree or Ph.D. can bring higher salaries and opportunities to move into advanced positions such as:
  • guidance counselor
  • school administrator
  • school librarian.

Related Associations and Groups

For more information about becoming a high school teacher, you may want to contact:
  • American Federation of Teachers
  • National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
  • National Center for Alternative Certification
  • National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
  • National Education Association
  • Teacher Education Accreditation Council.

 

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