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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.
Other titles employers use
Art Teacher · English Teacher · Language Arts Teacher (LA Teacher) · Math Teacher (Mathematics Teacher) · Middle School Teacher · Music Teacher · PE Teacher (Physical Education Teacher) · Science Teacher
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- 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.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to helping, creative and organizing work.
- Creative
- Making, designing, writing, or performing without one set answer
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Learning Strategies
- Instructing
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
Subjects to know
- Education and Training
- English Language
- Philosophy and Theology
- Mathematics
- Psychology
Useful strengths
- Oral Expression
- Oral Comprehension
- Written Comprehension
- Written Expression
- Problem Sensitivity
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 4.3 | Arm’s length or closer, most of the day |
| On your feet | 3.6 | Up and down through the day |
| Talking face to face | 4.8 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 2.5 | Little of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a bachelor's degree. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A four-year degree 67%
- A master's degree 23%
- High school or less 10%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Word processing software
- Electronic mail software
- Video conferencing software
- Presentation software
- Operating system software
- Web page creation and editing software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 75,920
- Job openings each year
- 5,610
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 12.6%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 75,920 | 5,610 | 12.6% |
| California | 54,800 | 3,790 | 4.4% |
| New York | 42,560 | 650 | 18.2% |
| Florida | 38,250 | 2,820 | 12.3% |
| Georgia | 30,820 | 2,240 | 10.0% |
| Ohio | 27,600 | 1,870 | 1.8% |
| Illinois | 23,180 | 1,580 | 2.7% |
| Pennsylvania | 22,090 | 1,480 | — |
| North Carolina | 20,250 | 1,450 | 8.0% |
| Maryland | 19,340 | 1,410 | 10.8% |
| Virginia | 18,440 | 1,230 | — |
| Colorado | 17,750 | 1,340 | 15.9% |
| Wisconsin | 16,100 | 1,120 | 4.7% |
| Washington | 13,410 | 1,160 | 12.8% |
| Tennessee | 12,740 | 960 | 15.7% |
| Missouri | 12,670 | 870 | 2.8% |
| Michigan | 12,280 | 820 | — |
| Indiana | 12,230 | 830 | 2.3% |
| Alabama | 11,590 | 810 | 5.4% |
| Minnesota | 10,530 | 730 | 3.8% |
| South Carolina | 9,720 | 700 | 8.6% |
| Iowa | 9,260 | 650 | 6.3% |
| Arizona | 8,660 | 600 | 3.8% |
| Connecticut | 8,660 | 610 | 6.8% |
| Kentucky | 7,880 | 530 | 1.4% |
| Oklahoma | 7,150 | 500 | 5.6% |
| Louisiana | 6,870 | 470 | 3.5% |
| Mississippi | 6,710 | 470 | 4.4% |
| Kansas | 6,600 | 450 | 2.8% |
| Utah | 6,060 | 470 | 18.6% |
| Arkansas | 5,840 | 400 | 3.0% |
| Oregon | 5,770 | 390 | 2.7% |
| Massachusetts | 5,110 | 370 | 9.9% |
| Nevada | 4,880 | 340 | 5.6% |
| Nebraska | 4,710 | 320 | 3.7% |
| New Mexico | 4,230 | 300 | 6.0% |
| Maine | 4,040 | 270 | — |
| West Virginia | 3,970 | 270 | 3.4% |
| New Hampshire | 3,490 | 230 | — |
| Idaho | 2,940 | 220 | 14.4% |
| Rhode Island | 2,410 | 160 | 1.3% |
| South Dakota | 2,280 | 160 | 6.0% |
| Montana | 2,240 | 160 | 4.2% |
| Puerto Rico | 2,240 | 160 | 9.8% |
| Delaware | 1,880 | 140 | 10.6% |
| Vermont | 1,570 | 110 | 4.0% |
| North Dakota | 1,460 | 100 | 8.1% |
| District of Columbia | 1,370 | 100 | 6.2% |
| Wyoming | 1,140 | 80 | 9.6% |
| Alaska | 530 | 40 | — |
| Virgin Islands | 290 | 20 | −6.5% |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
Western Governors University
- Degrees each year
- 1,777
- Admit rate
- Not reported
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College
- Degrees each year
- 444
- Admit rate
- 74%
- Annual cost after aid
- $20,000
Virginia Commonwealth University
- Degrees each year
- 371
- Admit rate
- 93%
- Annual cost after aid
- $21,000
University of Kentucky
- Degrees each year
- 364
- Admit rate
- 92%
- Annual cost after aid
- $16,000
State University of New York at Cortland
- Degrees each year
- 419
- Admit rate
- 51%
- Annual cost after aid
- $20,000
Illinois State University
- Degrees each year
- 636
- Admit rate
- 89%
- Annual cost after aid
- $16,000
University of Northern Iowa
- Degrees each year
- 576
- Admit rate
- 94%
- Annual cost after aid
- $14,000
Brigham Young University
- Degrees each year
- 368
- Admit rate
- 69%
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000