Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level. May be designated according to subject matter specialty.
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level. May be designated according to subject matter specialty. The role reports a median annual salary of $64,580 in the US with the middle 80% earning between $44,850 and $104,690 and is showing modest growth of -2% over the next decade. Entry typically requires a Bachelor's degree, and shows moderate AI exposure (0.41 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include Active Listening, Speaking, Instructing, Learning Strategies, Critical Thinking.
Salary distribution (US)
Real salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The p10–p90 spread tells you more than the median alone.
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Education and Training
- English Language
- Psychology
- Mathematics
- Customer and Personal Service
- Sociology and Anthropology
- Administration and Management
- Computers and Electronics
A day in the life
You arrive early to set up a hands-on lab for your chemistry class, then spend the morning moving between periods—leading a Socratic discussion in one class, introducing a new unit on the periodic table in another, and pulling a struggling student aside during passing period for a quick pep talk. Lunch might be spent supervising a club you sponsor or collaborating with fellow teachers on an interdisciplinary project. Afternoons after the final bell include grading essays, calling a parent about a student's progress, and tweaking tomorrow's lesson plan. The hours are long and the emotional investment is real, but the moment a student finally grasps a concept and their eyes light up is what keeps you coming back.
Frequently asked questions
What does Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education do?
Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level. May be designated according to subject matter specialty.
What does a typical day look like in Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education?
You arrive early to set up a hands-on lab for your chemistry class, then spend the morning moving between periods—leading a Socratic discussion in one class, introducing a new unit on the periodic table in another, and pulling a struggling student aside during passing period for a quick pep talk. Lunch might be spent supervising a club you sponsor or collaborating with fellow teachers on an interdisciplinary project.
How much does Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education earn?
The median annual salary for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education in the US is $64,580. The middle 80% of workers earn between $44,850 and $104,690 annually. Entry-to-mid-career earners typically fall between $52,400 and $82,500.
What is the job outlook for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education?
The role is showing modest growth of -2% over the next decade. Current US employment is approximately 1,094,500 workers.
How do I become secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education?
The typical entry education is a Bachelor's degree. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Active Listening, Speaking, Instructing, Learning Strategies, Critical Thinking, Social Perceptiveness. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education?
Our AI-durability model gives Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education a score of 0.41 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education has moderate barrier to entry — moderately gated — a bachelor's degree or equivalent training is typically required.
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