How to Become a High School Teacher | Salary & Requirements 2024

Published on February 26, 2023 · Updated on March 23, 2023

How to Become a High School Teacher | Salary & Requirements 2024

Published on February 26, 2023 · Updated on March 23, 2023

A teacher’s influence on student achievement is “20 times greater than other variables.”¹ Of all those teachers, perhaps none are more crucial to a student’s future than high school educators. They serve at that critical juncture between our childhood and adulthood, when most of us decide if we’re going to launch into a career or go off to college after graduation.

High school teachers bear enormous responsibility in helping build onto the educational foundation established through the first eight years of education. As an educator, you always strive to provide the best education for your students, and at the same time inspire them to become lifelong learners.

What Does a High School Teacher Do?

High school teachers have a long list of responsibilities and duties to keep them busy! A few of the most common include:

Using curriculum to develop engaging lessons plans
Ensuring a comfortable learning environment where students can thrive
Designing collaborative activities for students to work together
Monitoring student learning and behavior and offering support services
Managing the classroom
Checking that students are grasping the skills taught
Offering guidance and academic support
Reviewing and grading student assignments and assessments and offering constructive feedback
Ensuring lessons meet essential standards
Incorporating technology into the classroom
Working with administrative staff, faculty, and school leadership
Assisting with extracurricular activities
Supervising students during off-campus trips or at other school events
Engaging with parents to review progress or discuss concerns
Assisting students with meeting college admissions requirements
Helping to resolve conflicts

In some smaller public schools, teachers may be responsible for teaching more than one subject. They may also wear additional hats, serving as counselors to help guide students towards academic success both in high school and beyond.

High School Teacher Salary and Career Outlook

Many variables impact a high school teacher’s salary, such as geographic location, years of experience, educational qualifications, and whether the school is public or private. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual high school teacher’s salary is $62,870 (as of 2020) and can range from $41,330 to over $102,130._²

There are roughly 998,800 high school teachers currently employed in the United States. The profession’s job outlook is steady at 8% projected growth over the next decade, equaling about 1,077,000 positions by 2030. That growth percentage is about the same as the average for all other career field growth projections, though that is not a guarantee of future job openings.

Applicants must stay competitive to find good jobs, and BLS notes that those qualified to teach subjects in math, science, ESL, or special education could be in higher demand.

How to Know if You Would Enjoy a Job as a High School Teacher

Most education students become high school teachers because they’re passionate about the subject matter they teach, and they love to share their enthusiasm with young minds.

However, teaching also requires an incredible amount of patience, empathy, and resilience. When standing in front of a classroom, you’re under the spotlight. The pressure is on to be prepared and inspire students while staying flexible enough to adapt when things get off track.

If you don’t like speaking in public or are afraid to exert authority or get frustrated easily may not have what it takes to become a high school teacher!

Steps to Becoming a High School Teacher

So, how do you become a high school teacher? There are some basic preliminary steps, and they vary depending on the state you plan to teach in as well as your chosen specialty.

In general, high school teacher positions require a minimum amount of education with additional certification, internship experience, or licensure needed for some roles.

Here are the general requirements to become a high school teacher!

Step One: Earn a Degree

The most basic requirement for high school teachers is to enroll in their school’s teacher education program and complete a bachelor’s degree in education or relevant major. Training programs done in conjunction with a degree offer practical internship experience teaching in the classroom under the mentorship of a working teacher.

Depending on the state, your coursework should be focused on the topic you intend to teach. Find out the details for your specific state by visiting your state’s Department of Education website. Note, private schools aren’t beholden to state requirements but still usually require an applicable bachelor’s.

Step Two: Earn Additional Experience

As mentioned, while doing a bachelor’s, students gain hands-on teaching experience via a teacher training program that includes a brief internship.

However, for those who’ve already graduated in a non-education major, you can still get the needed experience through an alternative certification program. Requirements vary by state, but almost all of them make the process a bit challenging and require a background check.

There’s not a completely clear path to becoming a high school teacher once you’ve graduated and started working in another field. If this is you and you’re looking for a career change, the American Board for the Certification of Teacher Excellence offers resources to help determine what is required for alternative certification in each state.³

Step Three: Complete a Graduate Degree (Other Applicable Certification)

While a graduate degree isn’t always necessary, finishing your master of arts in teaching (MAT) or master of education (MEd) can help qualify you for better-paying high school teacher positions.

Some states like New York, Connecticut, and Maryland require working teachers to obtain an advanced degree in order to maintain their license. Meanwhile, certain employers may also look for a master’s degree or other forms of professional development such as advanced certification or credentials in instructional techniques or curriculum design.

Step Four: Become Certified/Licensed

Every state requires public school teachers to obtain certification or licensure.

The first general requirement is holding a bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA and finishing a teacher training program (usually done as part of the bachelor’s process).
Candidates must then pass a Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators⁴ exam covering reading, math, and writing skills.
Next, they must pass an assessment such as the Praxis Subject Assessments for the areas they want to teach.⁵
The last step to becoming a certified or licensed high school teacher involves completing a state or federal background screening to look for any criminal history involving minors.⁶

As mentioned, some states require working teachers to complete a master’s or other advanced coursework to maintain their license.

How Long Does it Take to Become a High School Teacher?

It takes four years of full-time college attendance to complete a necessary bachelor’s degree plus up to three months of preparation time for the Praxis exams. Students attending college part-time could take up to twice as long.

Meanwhile, some students take their Praxis tests before graduation to save time so they can get started teaching sooner! Of course, many students press on to get their master’s degree knocked out, which can add one or two years to the timeline.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Being a High School Teacher?

A major perk of being a teacher is the ability to positively impact the lives of so many young people. It’s a dynamic profession with plenty of opportunities to learn new things, such as incorporating technology into the classroom. Many high school teachers enjoy the downtime during summer vacation and other holiday breaks, and there is usually job stability and a good benefits package.

Wages are a common area of dissatisfaction; however, as a high school teacher, you may have the opportunity to increase your salary. High school teachers often get paid for added jobs such as overseeing student government, clubs and organizations, or subbing classes during their preparation period. Also, the pressure is always on when you’re a teacher as you must stand and present in front of students.

Best Degrees to Become a High School Teacher

Ideally, future high school teachers should earn a bachelor’s degree in the subject they want to teach or major in teaching and education with a focus on their intended teachable subject(s). Every college and university is different, but you’ll need to enroll in the school’s teacher preparation program regardless of the major you select.

Majoring in teaching and education will empower you with more knowledge and skills to be used in the classroom. The potential downside is that you’ll have less background in the subject you want to teach.

Majoring in the specific subject you intend to teach makes you a better subject matter expert. The tradeoff is that you’ll receive less comprehensive teacher preparation.

10 Best High School Teacher Colleges and Universities

Anyone looking to become a high school teacher understands the importance of a quality education. Based on our methodology, these are the best schools that offer secondary education (high school) degrees.

If you’re looking for other schools that offer Education programs, check out the Find Your Perfect “U” tool. You can search over 6,000 colleges and universities with 11 different filters to find the perfect school for you!

Where Can I Learn More About Becoming a High School Teacher?

American Federation of Teachers – Founded in Chicago in 1916, the AFT is the country’s second-biggest labor union for educators, with almost 2 million members.
Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation – CAEP’s stated mission is to “advance equity and excellence in educator preparation through evidence-based accreditation that assures quality and supports continuous improvement to strengthen P-12 student learning.”
ETS – Educational Testing Service is a nonprofit designed to create educational assessment exams, such as the Praxis series.
National Education Association – The premier American labor union, NEA has been around since 1857 and currently has ~2.3 million members.
TEACH.org – Featuring free resources for educators, Teach.org is on a mission to “assist anyone who is considering becoming a teacher.”

FAQ

How many years does it take to become a high school teacher?
- It takes four years of full-time college attendance to complete a necessary bachelor’s degree, plus up to three months of preparation time for the Praxis exams.
What degree do I need to become a high school teacher?
- The traditional route is to enroll in a teacher training program, majoring in education or the subject you wish to teach. States offer
Is it hard to be a high school teacher?
- Teaching is a challenge and requires patience, empathy, and a deep understanding of effective educational strategies. It’s a long-term commitment with ongoing professional development demands.
How much do high school teachers get paid?
- The median annual salary for high school teachers is $62,870 (as of 2020), ranging from under $41,330 to over $102,130 for experienced, highly qualified professionals.

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