High School Teacher

Impact: Student development, Knowledge transfer

Instruct students in one or more subjects at the secondary school level, preparing them for higher education or careers.

What the day looks like

People interaction
Extensive
Team vs solo
70% Team / 30% Solo
Client facing
Frequent
Impact visibility
High
Travel
Minimal
Schedule flexibility
Structured
Remote work
On-site Only
Typical work hours
40-50 hours/week
Stress level
High

At a glance

Median salary
$72,040
Entry-level
$50,000 - $60,000
Senior
$85,000 - $100,000+
Growth by 2033
-2% (decline)
Demand
Declining
Freelance potential
Low
Salary growth potential
Moderate to 40-60% growth from entry to senior
Typical student debt
$20,000 - $40,000

Skills you'll use

Hard skills

  • Curriculum Development
  • Classroom Management
  • Educational Technology
  • Subject Matter Expertise
  • Assessment Design
  • Data Analysis

Soft skills

  • Active Listening
  • Learning Strategies
  • Speaking
  • Critical Thinking
  • Social Perceptiveness
  • Coordination

Technical complexity: Moderate

How to get there

Minimum education
Bachelor's Degree
Licensing
Varies by State
Years to mid-career
3-5 years
Years to senior
7-10 years
Career switching
Moderate

Where this career leads

How people arrive here

    Where you can go from here

      Typical progression

      1. Teacher
      2. Department Head
      3. Assistant Principal
      4. Principal

      Future outlook

      Automation probability
      5% to very low risk due to high human interaction and complex decision-making
      AI disruption risk
      Low
      Demand trend
      Declining

      How people feel about it

      Overall satisfaction
      3.5/10
      Meaning
      4.2/10
      Work-life balance
      2.8/10
      Prestige
      7.5/10
      Social perception
      High

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