Also called: Secondary teacher, Subject teacher
Teaches a subject like math, English, science, or history to students in grades 9-12.
High school teachers deliver lessons, grade essays and labs, write college recommendations, and often coach a sport or advise a club. The best ones become the teacher students remember for life.
BLS high school teachers, May 2024 (~$64.6k median).
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's degree, a teacher-prep program, student teaching, and a state teaching license; alternative certification routes let career-changers teach while finishing licensure.
Ways in: 4-year college, Certification. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Secondary Education, Subject major (Math, Biology, English, History).
Shrinking (about -2% over 10 years). BLS projects ~2% decline, 2024-34, but subjects like math, science, and special ed have shortages.
Low risk for 10 years. AI drafts lessons, grades essays and flags plagiarism; motivating teens, leading discussion and writing college letters stay human.
Classes: AP courses in your target subject, AP Psychology, Speech or debate.
Official data: O*NET occupation 25-2031.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.