Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)
Education, Training, and Library · SOC 25-2031 · O*NET 25-2031.00
Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level.
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education fall under the Education, Training, and Library category in the U.S. occupational classification. Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education earn a median salary of $64,580 per year, ranking in the top 40% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -1.6% job growth through 2034, projected to lose jobs through 2034. Entry into this field typically requires a bachelor's degree, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.
What parents should know about secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education right now
High school teachers prepare ninth through twelfth graders for college, careers, and adulthood, often specializing in a subject they love. It is a strong fit for teens who enjoy a particular discipline (English, math, science, history, a world language) and want to mentor younger students. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of high school teachers will decline 2 percent from 2024 to 2034, but BLS still expects about 66,200 openings each year, mostly to replace retiring or transitioning teachers. The median annual wage was $64,580 in May 2024, with the lowest 10 percent earning less than $47,330 and the highest 10 percent earning more than $104,670. Public high school teachers typically need a bachelor's degree, completion of a state-approved teacher preparation program, and a state license; many states require a content-area major (for example, math or biology) plus passing exams in pedagogy and subject knowledge. Despite the projected decline, persistent shortages are real: a 2025 NEA survey found that 78 percent of teachers had considered quitting since the pandemic, and enrollment in teacher preparation programs has fallen roughly 35 percent over the past decade, leaving plenty of room for committed entrants. Districts increasingly value teachers who can integrate AI tools responsibly, lead dual-credit or AP courses, and support student mental health. Encourage your teen to tutor peers, volunteer in classrooms, and explore Future Teachers of America or Educators Rising clubs.
What do secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education earn?
The median annual wage for secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education is $64,580. That puts secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education at #321 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is above the U.S. median for individual workers and reflects a stable, credentialed occupation. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.
| 10th percentile (entry-level) | $47,330 |
| 25th percentile | $57,800 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $64,580 |
| 75th percentile | $83,010 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $104,670 |
Is secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education a growing career?
The 10-year outlook for secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education is -1.6%, projected to lose jobs through 2034. Employment is projected to move from approximately 1.1M positions in 2024 to 1.1M in 2034, a net change of -18K. A declining outlook does not mean the field is disappearing; it means automation, demographics, or substitution effects are shrinking the pool of openings. Students entering a declining field should plan for adjacent skills that transfer to growing roles.
What do secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education do every day?
According to O*NET task surveys of working secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.
- 1.Instruct through lectures, discussions, and demonstrations in one or more subjects, such as English, mathematics, or social studies.
- 2.Meet with parents and guardians to discuss their children's progress and to determine priorities for their children and their resource needs.
- 3.Instruct and monitor students in the use of equipment and materials to prevent injuries and damage.
- 4.Attend professional meetings, educational conferences, and teacher training workshops to maintain and improve professional competence.
- 5.Sponsor extracurricular activities, such as clubs, student organizations, and academic contests.
- 6.Prepare students for later grades by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.
- 7.Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests.
- 8.Assign and grade class work and homework.
Top skills for secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.
What education does my child need to become secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education?
The standard path into secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education begins with a bachelor's degree in a related field, followed by entry-level experience or internships during college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.
Based on O*NET surveys of incumbents — what people in this job actually have, not what employers list as required.
Licensing requirements for secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education are regulated at the state level in the United States. Practicing without a current license is not legal in most jurisdictions.
Related careers your child might also consider
- Law Teachers, Postsecondary$126,650 median
- Economics Teachers, Postsecondary$119,980 median
- Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary$106,120 median
- Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary$105,620 median
- Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary$101,480 median
- Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary$101,390 median
How parents help teens explore careers like this
Solyo helps parents map a teen's interests to specific careers, then back to the colleges and majors that lead there. Salary, outlook, and education data come from BLS and O*NET — the same sources high school counselors use — but presented for the parent's planning lens, not the student's exploration view.
Common questions parents ask about secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
What is the median salary for secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education?
The median annual salary for secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education is $64,580 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Is secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education a growing career?
BLS projects -1.6% growth for secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education from 2024 through 2034, which is declining growth projected to lose jobs through 2034.
What education does my child need to become secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education?
The typical entry path requires a bachelor's degree, plus any state licensure or certification specific to the role. Programs that align well with this career can be filtered inside Solyo's college search.
What careers are similar to secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education?
Related occupations within the Education, Training, and Library category share education paths and skill profiles, so they're a useful starting set when a teen is uncertain. The "Related careers" section below lists nearby options.
Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics program. Skills, tasks, and education distribution from the O*NET database. Job outlook from the BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 release.