Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Teach one or more subjects to students at the middle, intermediate, or junior high school level.
Also called: Art Teacher · English Teacher · Language Arts Teacher (LA Teacher) · Math Teacher (Mathematics Teacher) · Middle School Teacher · Music Teacher
Median pay (national)
$62,970
$47,050–$100,980 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
620,370
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
-2%
~40,500 openings/yr
Typical entry
Bachelor's degree
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $100,980 versus $47,050 at the bottom 10% — 2.1x. The median of $62,970 leaves roughly 60% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change -2% from 2024 to 2034 — a projected decline, against +3% across all occupations. Even so, BLS projects about 40,500 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 53 states with released data, Washington pays the most for this role (median $99,150, +57% vs the national median), while Guam sits lowest at $38,080 — a 160% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Learning Strategies, Speaking, Active Listening as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Learning Strategies
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Active Learning
- Monitoring
- Critical Thinking
- Mathematics
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.
- Observe and evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
- Instruct through lectures, discussions, and demonstrations in one or more subjects, such as English, mathematics, or social studies.
- Prepare, administer, and grade tests and assignments to evaluate students' progress.
- Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among students.
- Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects, and communicate these objectives to students.
- Assign lessons and correct homework.
- Assist students who need extra help, such as by tutoring and preparing and implementing remedial programs.
- Confer with parents or guardians, other teachers, counselors, and administrators to resolve students' behavioral and academic problems.
- Plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate.
Tools & technology
- Apple macOS
- Zoom
- Apple Final Cut Pro
- Appletree
- Blackboard software
- Children's educational software
- ClassTag
- Common Curriculum
- Desmos
- Edmodo
- Flipgrid
- Google Classroom
- Google Drive
- Google Meet
- JamBoard
Knowledge areas
- Education and Training
- English Language
- Philosophy and Theology
- Mathematics
- Psychology
- Computers and Electronics
- History and Archeology
- Public Safety and Security