Secondary School Teacher (HS)

Career Overview

High school teachers teach academic lessons and various skills that students will need to attend college and to enter the job market.

Education

A four-year bachelor's degree in the subject area to be taught along with additional coursework in education is generally required to obtain this position. A four-year bachelor's degree in education along with additional training in the area to be taught may also be acceptable, depending on the district. In addition, public school teachers must have a state-issued certification or license.

Future Outlook

Employment of high school teachers is projected to grow 4 percent from 2019 to 2029, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Rising student enrollment should increase demand for high school teachers, but employment growth will vary by region.

Work Environment

High school teachers work in schools. They work during school hours but may also work evenings and weekends to prepare lessons and grade papers. Most do not teach during the summer.

Recommended High School Courses

Psychology
Public Speaking
Writing
Communication
History
English
Mathematics
Geography

Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Instructing - Teaching others how to do something.
Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Learning Strategies - Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Negotiation - Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
Persuasion - Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.
Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Systems Analysis - Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Systems Evaluation - Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Sociology and Anthropology - Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.

Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Far Vision - The ability to see details at a distance.
Fluency of Ideas - The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Mathematical Reasoning - The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
Memorization - The ability to remember information such as words, numbers, pictures, and procedures.
Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Originality - The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Selective Attention - The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

Apply multiple teaching methods.
Set up classroom materials or equipment.
Develop instructional objectives.
Establish rules or policies governing student behavior.
Maintain student records.
Modify teaching methods or materials to accommodate student needs.
Evaluate student work.
Monitor student performance.
Monitor student behavior, social development, or health.
Discuss problems or issues with supervisors.
Discuss student progress with parents or guardians.
Plan educational activities.
Assign class work to students.
Administer tests to assess educational needs or progress.
Prepare tests.
Create technology-based learning materials.
Encourage students.
Enforce rules or policies governing student behavior.
Teach others to use technology or equipment.
Assist students with special educational needs.
Advise students on academic or career matters.
Develop strategies or programs for students with special needs.
Collaborate with other teaching professionals to develop educational programs.
Prepare reports detailing student activities or performance.
Document lesson plans.
Attend training sessions or professional meetings to develop or maintain professional knowledge.
Plan experiential learning activities.
Distribute instructional or library materials.
Maintain inventories of materials, equipment, or products.
Order instructional or library materials or equipment.
Serve on institutional or departmental committees.
Supervise school or student activities.
Coordinate student extracurricular activities.

Schools

Abilene Christian Univers...

Adams State University

Adelphi University

Agnes Scott College

Alabama State University

Albright College

Alfred University

Alvernia University

American Intercontinental...

American University

Angelo State University

Anna Maria College

Appalachian State Univers...

Arcadia University

Arizona State University

Arkansas Tech University

Asbury University

Assumption College

Augustana University

Austin College

Azusa Pacific University

Ball State University

Baptist College Of Florid...

Barnard College

Baylor University

Belmont University

Berea College

Berklee College

Bethany College- Lindsbor...

Bethel University

Bethel University (indian...

Biola University

Birmingham Southern Colle...

Bismarck State College

Bluefield College

Bob Jones University

Boise State University

Boston College

Boston University

Bowdoin College

Bowling Green State Unive...

Bradley University

Brandeis University

Brenau University

Brescia University

Brigham Young University-...

Brooklyn College

Bryn Mawr College

Buena Vista University

California State Universi...

California University- Pe...

Campellsville University

Canisius College

Carroll College

Central Connecticut State...

Central Methodist Univers...

Central Washington Univer...

Clarion University

Colgate University

College Of Charleston

College Of Saint Elizabet...

College Of Saint Scholast...

College Of St. Benedict A...

College Of The Atlantic

Colorado College

Colorado State University...

Columbus State University

Community College Of Alle...

Concordia University-wisc...

Cornell College

Crown College

Dakota State University

Dallas Baptist University

Daytona State College

Delaware Technical And Co...

Delta State University

Dickinson State Universit...

Dominican University

Drew University

Drury University

Duquesne University

Earlham College

East Carolina University

East Central University -...

East Tennessee State Univ...

Eastern Illinois Universi...

Eastern Kentucky Universi...

Eastern New Mexico Univer...

Eastern Oregon University

Eastern University

Eastern Washington Univer...

Edinboro University

Elizabethtown College

Elon University

Evangel University

Everett Community College

Fairfield University

Fairleigh Dickinson Unive...

Fayetteville State Univer...

Flagler College

Florida Agricultural And...

Florida Atlantic Universi...

Florida International Uni...

Florida State University

Fordham University

Franciscan University At...

Fresno Pacific University...

Gannon University- Erie C...

Georgetown College

Georgia College And State...

Gonzaga University

Goucher College

Grand Canyon University

Grand Valley State Univer...

Grinnell College

Grove City College

Hamline University

Henderson State Universit...

Hobart And William Smith...

Hollins University

Hope International Univer...

Humboldt State University

Illinois Wesleyan Univers...

Immaculata University

Indiana University Of Pen...

Indiana University- North...

Indiana University- South...

Indiana University-east C...

Indiana Wesleyan Universi...

Ithaca College

Jacksonville State Univer...

John Brown University

Johnson And Wales Univers...

Judson College

Judson University

Juniata College

Kentucky State University

King University

Lake Forest College

Lakeland University

Lasalle University

Lee University

Lesley University

Letourneau University

Lewis And Clark State Col...

Lewis University

Liberty University

Lindenwood University

Linfield College

Loyola University - Maryl...

Loyola University- New Or...

Manhattan College

Manhattanville College

Mansfield University Of P...

Marlboro College

Maryville University

Mcneese State University

Messiah University

Middle Tennessee State Un...

Mills College

Misericordia University

Missisippi State Universi...

Missouri Baptist Universi...

Monmouth University

Montana State University-...

Morehead State University

Morningside College

Mount Aloysius College

Mount Holyoke College

Mount Mercy University

Mount Vernon Nazarene Uni...

National Louis University

New York University

Newman University

Northwest University

Notre Dame University Of...

Oakland City University

Pennsylvania State Univer...

Pittsburg State Universit...

Point Park University

Portland State University

Prescott College

Providence College

Queens University- Charlo...

Quinnipiac University

Rider University

Ripon College

Rochester University

Rollins College

Saint Joseph's College -...

Saint Michael's College

Saint Xavier University

Salve Regina University

San Diego Christian Colle...

Shorter University

Smith College

Sonoma State University

South Dakota State Univer...

Southeast Missouri State...

Southern Arkansas Univers...

Southwestern College- Mai...

Spring Arbor University

St. Bonaventure Universit...

St. John's University- Qu...

Sterling College

Suny At Binghamton

Suny At Cortland

Suny At Geneseo

Suny At New Paltz

Suny At Old Westbury

Suny At Oneonta

Suny At Oswego

Suny At Potsdam

Suny Empire State College

Suny Plattsburgh

Susquehanna University

Taylor University

Texas A & M University- C...

Toccoa Falls College

Transylvania University

Trevecca Nazarene Univers...

Trine University

Union College- Kentucky

University Of Alabama- Hu...

University Of Bridgeport

University Of California-...

University Of Dallas

University Of Maine- Oron...

University Of Mary

University Of Maryland- E...

University Of Michigan- F...

University Of Minnesota-...

University Of Mississippi

University Of Mount Union

University Of Nebraska- K...

University Of Nebraska- O...

University Of New England

University Of North Alaba...

University Of North Carol...

University Of Northern Co...

University Of Phoenix

University Of Puget Sound

University Of Saint Mary

University Of Scranton

University Of Southern In...

University Of St. Francis

University Of Tampa

University Of Tennessee-...

University Of Texas- Tyle...

University Of The Cumberl...

University Of The Pacific

University Of The Southwe...

University Of Toledo

University Of Valley Forg...

University Of West Alabam...

University Of West Florid...

University Of West Georgi...

University Of Wisconsin-...

Upper Iowa University

Valdosta State University

Valparaiso University

Vincennes University- Vin...

Virginia Wesleyan Univers...

Viterbo University

Waldorf University

Walla Walla University

Warner University

Washington College

Wayland Baptist Universit...

Webster University

Wells College

West Texas A & M Universi...

Western Washington Univer...

Wheaton College- Illinois...

Wheeling Jesuit Univesity

William Jewell College

Xavier University

York College

Acadia University

Brandon University

First Nations Universi...

King's University

Tyndale University

Université De Saint-bo...

Université Sainte-anne

University Of Alberta-...

University Of Quebec-...

University Of Sherbroo...

Crandall University

York University- Glendon...

Potential Scholarships

5 Strong Scholarship

Agnes M. Lindsay Scholars...

- Traditional Fulbright P...

Approx Salary Expectation

Currency:

Low End:

$40,540.00 /yr

Avg/Med:

$61,660.00 /yr

High End:

$99,660.00 /yr

Related Careers

Special Education Teacher

Secondary School Teacher (HS)

Realtor

Coach (Sports)

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/.
Trend Analysis - Explorer the Market, Labour Market Information, Government of Canada https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/trend-analysis.
O*NET OnLine, National Center for O*NET Development, https://www.onetonline.org/.