Occupation · SOC 25-2022
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.
Median wage
$62,970
$47,050–$100,980
Projected growth
-2.0%
Declining
Annual openings
-1,240
per year
Employed (US)
620,370
Job Zone 4
Typical preparation
Considerable preparation
Stackable credential programs
2,377 mapped
Core skills
Learning StrategiesInstructingSpeakingActive ListeningWritingSocial PerceptivenessReading ComprehensionMonitoringActive LearningTime ManagementCritical ThinkingCoordinationJudgment and Decision MakingComplex Problem SolvingService OrientationPersuasionSystems EvaluationSystems AnalysisNegotiationMathematicsManagement of Personnel ResourcesScienceManagement of Material ResourcesOperations MonitoringManagement of Financial ResourcesTechnology DesignQuality Control AnalysisProgrammingOperations AnalysisTroubleshootingRepairingOperation and ControlInstallationEquipment SelectionEquipment Maintenance
Knowledge areas
Education and TrainingEnglish LanguagePhilosophy and TheologyMathematicsPsychologyComputers and ElectronicsHistory and ArcheologyPublic Safety and SecurityCustomer and Personal ServiceSociology and AnthropologyAdministrativeGeographyCommunications and MediaLaw and GovernmentTherapy and CounselingAdministration and ManagementFine ArtsPersonnel and Human ResourcesBiologyPhysicsChemistryEngineering and TechnologyMedicine and DentistryTelecommunicationsSales and MarketingDesignTransportationFood ProductionForeign LanguageEconomics and AccountingProduction and ProcessingMechanicalBuilding and Construction
Technology & tools
Apple Final Cut ProApple macOSAppletreeBlackboard softwareChildren's educational softwareClassTagCommon CurriculumDesmosEdmodoEmail softwareFacebookFlipgridGoogle ClassroomGoogle DocsGoogle DriveGoogle MeetJamBoardKahoot!Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft SharePointMicrosoft WordMoodleNearpodPadletPear DeckSchoologyScreencastifySeesawTadpolesVideo editing softwareWeb browser softwareZoom
Representative tasks
Training and Teaching OthersEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsThinking CreativelyDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesCoaching and Developing OthersOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkAssisting and Caring for OthersMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersGetting InformationInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersDocumenting/Recording InformationCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleWorking with ComputersAnalyzing Data or InformationScheduling Work and ActivitiesDeveloping and Building TeamsEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsProcessing InformationGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersPerforming Administrative ActivitiesPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationPerforming General Physical ActivitiesSelling or Influencing OthersInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsHandling and Moving ObjectsMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesControlling Machines and ProcessesRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and EquipmentStaffing Organizational UnitsRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Classroom materials and physical environment — prepare and arrange under mentor guidance prior to scheduled middle school lessons.Student behavior and daily routines — observe and document under supervision to identify patterns requiring teacher attention.Core subject content — deliver introductory lectures and guided discussions with cooperating teacher support in a middle school classroom.Formative assessments and short assignments — administer and grade using provided rubrics to track early evidence of student progress.Classroom rules and behavioral expectations — apply established procedures with direction from a supervising teacher to maintain order.Lesson objectives — communicate clearly to students at the start of each instructional activity using written and verbal prompts.Nightly homework assignments — assign from approved curriculum materials and provide structured corrections with teacher oversight.Struggling learners — identify through classroom observation and refer to appropriate support resources under supervisor guidance.Word processing and email software — use to draft lesson plans, correspondence, and instructional materials in a school setting.Active listening skills — demonstrate during student interactions and instructional team meetings to build foundational classroom rapport.
developing
Classroom setup and instructional materials — prepare independently across multiple subject units to support varied learning activities.Student academic performance, behavior, and social development — observe and evaluate routinely using structured observation tools and grade-book software.Multi-modal instruction — deliver lectures, Socratic discussions, and live demonstrations across assigned subjects with reduced supervisor oversight.Unit tests, quizzes, and project rubrics — design, administer, and grade to measure student progress against established curriculum standards.Behavioral management systems — enforce consistently and adapt classroom procedures when routine disruptions arise in a self-contained middle school classroom.Learning objectives for lessons and short units — establish, align to grade-level standards, and communicate to students and parents through desktop communications software.Homework policies and assignment calendars — manage and correct in a timely manner to maintain instructional momentum across a full class roster.Small-group tutoring sessions and basic remedial plans — implement for identified students who need targeted academic support within the regular class schedule.Computer-based training and analytical software — utilize to differentiate instruction and monitor student performance data across a course section.Time management and coordination skills — apply to balance lesson planning, grading, parent communication, and co-curricular responsibilities across a standard school week.
proficient
Complex multi-week instructional units — design and execute autonomously, integrating lectures, technology, and project-based learning across a full middle school subject area.Comprehensive student assessment data — analyze across academic, behavioral, social, and physical health dimensions to inform individualized instructional decisions.Differentiated instruction — deliver independently to diverse learners across ability levels, cultural backgrounds, and learning styles in a heterogeneous classroom.Summative and diagnostic assessments — construct, administer, and use to drive data-informed adjustments to curriculum pacing and remediation in a middle school context.Restorative and proactive classroom management strategies — implement and refine to address non-routine behavioral challenges while maintaining a positive learning culture.Long-range curriculum objectives — establish for an entire course and align to district standards, communicating scope and sequence clearly to students and caregivers.Independent study and enrichment assignments — design and grade to challenge advanced learners while maintaining equity across the full class roster.Individualized remedial programs — develop and implement for students with persistent academic gaps, coordinating with counselors and intervention specialists.Video creation, web authoring, and project management software — integrate to build engaging digital learning experiences and manage instructional workflows independently.Critical thinking and complex problem-solving skills — model explicitly during instruction and use to navigate non-routine curriculum, student, or family challenges.
advanced
Department-wide curriculum frameworks — lead the design and revision of, aligning middle school content across grade levels to district and state academic standards.School-wide student data systems — direct analysis and interpretation of to identify achievement gaps and set improvement priorities at the programmatic level.Instructional coaching and peer mentorship — provide to early-career teachers, modeling effective pedagogical strategies and giving structured, evidence-based feedback.Teacher evaluation and professional learning communities — facilitate or contribute leadership to, driving continuous improvement in instructional practice across the faculty.School-wide behavioral and restorative discipline frameworks — co-develop and champion to establish a coherent, equitable culture of learning across all grade teams.Schoolwide assessment strategy — guide the adoption and implementation of, including selection of assessment tools and protocols used across the middle school.Cross-disciplinary project and service-learning initiatives — architect and lead, coordinating multiple teachers, families, and community partners to deepen student engagement.Equity-focused intervention systems — design at the organizational level, ensuring that resources, remediation, and enrichment opportunities are accessible to all student populations.Emerging educational technology adoption — lead evaluation and integration of, building faculty capacity to use tools such as LMS platforms and data analytics software at scale.Strategic vision for student social-emotional development — articulate and advance school-wide, collaborating with administrators, specialists, and families to support holistic student growth.
Also known as
57 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Algebra TeacherAmerican History TeacherArt EducatorArt InstructorArt TeacherBand DirectorBand TeacherBilingual InstructorBilingual TeacherClassroom TeacherCoachComputer TeacherEducatorELA Teacher (English Language Arts Teacher)English and Language Arts TeacherEnglish TeacherESL Instructor (English as a Second Language Instructor)ESL Teacher (English as a Second Language Teacher)FACS Teacher (Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher)Gym Teacher (Gymnasium Teacher)Health and PE Teacher (Health and Physical Education Teacher)Health TeacherHistory TeacherHome TeacherHumanities TeacherInstrumental Music TeacherIntermediate TeacherJunior High School TeacherLanguage Arts Teacher (LA Teacher)Language InstructorLife Sciences TeacherMath Teacher (Mathematics Teacher)Middle School ELA Teacher (Middle School English Language Arts Teacher)Middle School English TeacherMiddle School History TeacherMiddle School Language Arts Teacher (Middle School LA Teacher)Middle School Mathematics Teacher (Middle School Math Teacher)Middle School PE Teacher (Middle School Physical Education Teacher)Middle School Science TeacherMiddle School Spanish Teacher