High School English Teacher

Also called: Language Arts Teacher

Teaches teenagers literature, writing, and how to think critically about what they read.

A day in the life

Leads a discussion on The Great Gatsby, workshops students' personal essays, and advises the school newspaper.

Pay over a career

Starting
$48k
Typical
$65k
High
$100k

Based on BLS high school teachers.

Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.

Training

Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's plus state teaching license.

Ways in: 4-year college, Certification. Training cost: $15k – $60k.

Majors to look at: English, Education.

Outlook

Growing slowly (about 1% over 10 years). BLS 2024-34 (approx).

Will it last? Our AI estimate

Low risk for 10 years. AI helps grade drafts, but leading discussions and mentoring teen writers in class stay human.

Start now, in high school

Classes: AP Literature, AP English Language, Journalism or school paper.

Official data: O*NET occupation 25-2031.

More Literature, Classics & Humanities Careers careers

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.