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
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 $72,040 per year, ranking in the top 37% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -0.2% job growth through 2035, projected to lose jobs through 2035. 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 $72,040. That puts secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education at #306 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.
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 -0.2%, projected to lose jobs through 2035. Employment is projected to move from approximately 1.1M positions in 2024 to 1.1M in 2034, a net change of <1K. 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 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.
How to become secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education: step by step
The typical education and licensing pathway from high school into this profession. Total time to entry is about 4-6 years. Steps marked optional are common for advancement but not required to start.
- 1
Bachelor's Degree in Education or Subject Area
~4 yearsComplete a bachelor's degree in Education or in your subject area (Math, English, Science, etc.) with education certification program. Includes supervised student teaching experience.
- •Education coursework (child development, pedagogy, classroom management)
- •Content area specialization (Elementary Education or subject-specific)
- •Student teaching practicum (semester-long)
- •Pass required content area exams
- •Maintain GPA requirements (typically 2.75+)
- 2
Teacher Certification/Licensing
Obtain state teaching license by passing required exams and meeting state-specific requirements. Each state has different certification requirements.
- •Pass state-specific teaching exam
- •Pass subject area content exam
- •Background check and fingerprinting
- •TB test
- •First Aid/CPR certification
State teaching certification exam (e.g., Praxis, CSET, TExES)Subject-specific content exams - 3
Alternative Certification Pathway
~1 yearFor career changers who already have a bachelor's degree. Complete an alternative certification program (1-2 years) while teaching under provisional license.
- •Already hold bachelor's degree in any subject
- •Complete alternative certification program
- •Student teaching or residency
- •Pass state certification exams
- 4
Optional Master's in Education
Optional~2 yearsOptional Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) or Master of Education (M.Ed.). Many states require or incentivize master's degrees for permanent certification or salary increases.
Related careers your child might also consider
- Librarians and Media Collections Specialists$68,270 median
- Special Education Teachers, Middle School$66,810 median
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$66,270 median
- Teachers and Instructors, All Other$66,140 median
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School$65,030 median
- Special Education Teachers, Preschool$64,830 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 $72,040 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Is secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education a growing career?
BLS projects -0.2% growth for secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education from 2025 through 2035, which is declining growth projected to lose jobs through 2035.
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 2025–2035 release.