Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Educational Instruction and Library
Work centers on teaching one or more subjects—English, mathematics, or social studies, for example—to students at the secondary level. Class time is built around lectures, discussions, and demonstrations, with materials prepared ahead and methods adjusted for students who learn in different ways. Tests and assignments are written, given, and graded to track progress, and students are also watched for how they perform, behave, and develop socially. Clear lesson goals are shared up front, and classroom rules are set and enforced so the room stays orderly. The role suits people who like explaining academic material, grading student work, and helping older students stay with difficult tasks.
Typical education: Bachelor’s Degree (4-year)
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$72'040
Median Wage Market Position
$72'040
What you might do
- Teach high school English, math, or social studies
- Explain ideas through lectures, discussions, and demonstrations
- Write, give, and grade tests and assignments
- Fit lessons and materials to different student needs
- Hold students to rules that keep the class orderly
- Watch how students work, behave, and develop socially
Skills that matter
- Teaching a secondary-school subject
- Encouraging persistence with harder work
- Administering and grading subject tests
- Adapting materials for mixed learners
- Noticing changes in behavior and health
- Explaining the goal of each lesson
AI & the future of this role
More of the academic load involves content delivery and assessment that software could partially take on. Mentoring, classroom climate, and subject judgment still matter, so prospects look steadier than for fully routine knowledge work.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details