How to Become a Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

Where Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Educations have the most money left over after rent

Median pay minus estimated federal + state + FICA taxes, minus 12 months of rent at HUD's 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent. Darker green means more money left over each year. Hover any state for the breakdown.

Education and training

Teaching careers require at minimum a bachelor's degree, and many states now require a master's degree within the first 5-10 years of teaching. The bachelor's is typically in education (elementary) or in the subject area plus education coursework (secondary). All teacher preparation programs include a student teaching practicum of one or two semesters. Alternative certification programs (Teach for America, state-specific fast-track programs) allow career changers with bachelor's degrees in other fields to enter teaching while completing education coursework concurrently.

If you're aiming for a secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education role, the typical entry-level education is Bachelor's degree. Hands-on experience through internships, entry-level positions, or structured training complements formal education.

Licensing and certification

Teaching is licensed at the state level. Every state requires teachers in public schools to hold a valid teaching certificate/license. Requirements include completing an approved teacher preparation program, passing content area exams (like Praxis), and passing a basic skills test. Licenses are not automatically transferable between states, moving states often means additional exams, coursework, or a provisional period. Private schools may not require state licensure but typically prefer it.

What the day-to-day looks like

Teachers' visible work (classroom instruction) is about 6-7 hours per day. The invisible work, lesson planning, grading, parent communication, committee meetings, professional development, and administrative tasks, adds 10-20 hours per week that happen before school, after school, and on weekends. The job demands constant multitasking: managing 25-30 students with different learning needs, behavioral challenges, and support requirements simultaneously.

Career progression

Teaching has a relatively flat salary trajectory compared to other professional careers. Most school districts use step-and-lane pay scales: salary increases with years of experience ("steps") and education level ("lanes"). A master's degree typically adds $3,000-$8,000/year depending on the district. Beyond the classroom, advancement paths include department chair, instructional coach, assistant principal, principal, and district administration, each requiring additional credentials and shifting the work from teaching to management.

Salary progression

Highest paying states

Where the jobs are

Salary negotiation

Public school teacher salaries are typically non-negotiable, they're set by the district pay scale based on experience and education level. The levers that do exist: choosing a higher-paying district (sometimes just one district over), pursuing National Board Certification (which adds $2,000-$10,000/year in many states), teaching in shortage areas (special education, math, science, bilingual education often carry stipends), and coaching or club sponsorships that add supplemental pay.

What the data doesn't tell you

BLS salary data for teachers is accurate for base salary but misses supplemental income that many teachers earn: coaching stipends, tutoring, summer school teaching, curriculum writing, and second jobs. The base salary understates the total picture for teachers who pursue these additions, which many do out of necessity.

Frequently asked questions