Occupation · SOC 25-2031
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level.
Median wage
$64,580
$47,330–$104,670
Projected growth
-1.6%
Declining
Annual openings
-1,780
per year
Employed (US)
1,072,540
Job Zone 4
Typical preparation
Considerable preparation
Stackable credential programs
10,207 mapped
Core skills
InstructingLearning StrategiesActive ListeningSpeakingReading ComprehensionMonitoringSocial PerceptivenessCritical Thinking
Knowledge areas
Education and TrainingEnglish LanguageCustomer and Personal ServiceComputers and ElectronicsPsychology
Technology & tools
Development environment softwareData base user interface and query softwareComputer based training softwareAnalytical or scientific softwareElectronic mail software
Representative tasks
Prepare students for later grades by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among students.Instruct through lectures, discussions, and demonstrations in one or more subjects, such as English, mathematics, or social studies.Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests.Prepare, administer, and grade tests and assignments to evaluate students' progress.Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects, and communicate those objectives to students.Observe and evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.Plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate.Guide and counsel students with adjustments, academic problems, or special academic interests.Prepare objectives and outlines for courses of study, following curriculum guidelines or requirements of states and schools.Use computers, audio-visual aids, and other equipment and materials to supplement presentations.Assign and grade class work and homework.Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations.Enforce all administration policies and rules governing students.Confer with other staff members to plan and schedule lessons promoting learning, following approved curricula.Confer with parents or guardians, other teachers, counselors, and administrators to resolve students' behavioral and academic problems.Prepare and implement remedial programs for students requiring extra help.Provide students with disabilities with assistive devices, supportive technology, and assistance accessing facilities such as restrooms.Meet with other professionals to discuss individual students' needs and progress.Meet with parents and guardians to discuss their children's progress and to determine priorities for their children and their resource needs.Prepare reports on students and activities as required by administration.Instruct and monitor students in the use of equipment and materials to prevent injuries and damage.Collaborate with other teachers and administrators in the development, evaluation, and revision of secondary school programs.Prepare for assigned classes, and show written evidence of preparation upon request of immediate supervisors.Attend professional meetings, educational conferences, and teacher training workshops to maintain and improve professional competence.Plan and supervise class projects, field trips, visits by guest speakers, or other experiential activities, and guide students in learning from those activities.Attend staff meetings and serve on committees, as required.Sponsor extracurricular activities, such as clubs, student organizations, and academic contests.Administer standardized ability and achievement tests, and interpret results to determine students' strengths and needs.Select, store, order, issue, and inventory classroom equipment, materials, and supplies.Perform administrative duties, such as school library assistance, hall and cafeteria monitoring, and bus loading and unloading.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Lesson objectives — identify and communicate in writing to students at the start of each class period under mentor guidance.Classroom rules and behavioral procedures — establish and post in a secondary school setting with support from a cooperating teacher.Instructional materials and classroom environment — prepare and arrange prior to each lesson following a provided curriculum plan.Lecture and discussion techniques — deliver foundational subject-matter content to small groups under direct supervision in a secondary classroom.Formative assessments and homework assignments — administer and grade using department-provided rubrics to monitor early student progress.Student behavior and social development — observe and document patterns during classroom activities and report findings to supervising staff.Learning management system and email software — use to distribute assignments, post announcements, and communicate with students in a school technology environment.Active listening skills — apply during student questions and small-group discussions to identify comprehension gaps in familiar subject areas.Differentiated instructional materials — select from provided resources to begin addressing varied student learning needs with mentor input.Growth mindset and academic perseverance — encourage in students by modeling effort and providing structured reinforcement during challenging tasks under direction.
developing
Multi-day lesson units — design with clear sequenced objectives and deliver through lectures, discussions, and demonstrations across a full secondary course.Classroom management procedures — enforce consistently and adjust in response to recurring behavioral challenges without requiring supervisory intervention.Instructional methods — adapt routinely between direct instruction, Socratic discussion, and collaborative activities to address varying student interests and readiness levels.Summative tests and performance assessments — construct, administer, and grade to evaluate student mastery of course standards with reduced departmental oversight.Student academic progress and social development — monitor through ongoing data collection and communicate findings to parents and counselors during scheduled conferences.Video creation and presentation software — use to develop multimedia instructional resources that support engagement across secondary subject areas.Differentiated lesson materials — modify content, process, and product for diverse learners including English language learners in a heterogeneous classroom.Reading comprehension and written expression strategies — integrate into content-area instruction to strengthen disciplinary literacy across secondary grades.Time management — apply to balance lesson planning, grading, professional development, and extracurricular duties within a departmental schedule.Collaborative problem-solving activities — facilitate so that students develop critical-thinking skills and persistence when encountering non-routine academic challenges.
proficient
Comprehensive curriculum units — independently design, implement, and refine across a full academic year for multiple course sections, aligning to state standards.Non-routine behavioral and social-emotional challenges — assess and address autonomously using evidence-based strategies and school support systems in complex secondary settings.Instructional approaches — select and seamlessly integrate across lectures, project-based learning, and inquiry activities to meet the full spectrum of student needs without oversight.Analytical and data management software — apply to disaggregate assessment results, identify achievement trends, and drive individualized instructional adjustments.Student performance evaluations — conduct holistically, synthesizing academic, behavioral, and health observations to generate actionable intervention and enrichment plans.Video conferencing and cloud-based collaboration tools — leverage proficiently to deliver rigorous instruction in hybrid or remote secondary environments.Inductive and deductive reasoning tasks — design for students that scaffold complex disciplinary thinking in mathematics, social studies, English, or science contexts.Cross-disciplinary learning connections — facilitate for students by integrating psychology, sociology, and history knowledge into engaging content-area instruction.Advanced learning strategies — model and teach explicitly so that students develop metacognitive habits and sustained academic motivation throughout secondary school.Systems analysis of classroom and school data — perform to identify instructional gaps and recommend curriculum adjustments to department leadership.
advanced
Departmental curriculum frameworks — architect and lead the revision of across grade levels, ensuring vertical alignment and equity of access for all secondary learners.Instructional coaching and mentoring systems — establish for novice and developing teachers, modeling exemplary pedagogy and providing structured observation feedback.School-wide behavioral and academic culture — shape by co-developing policy, leading professional learning communities, and advocating for evidence-based practices at the administrative level.Complex institutional challenges — resolve by applying systems evaluation and judgment to design scalable interventions that improve student outcomes across an entire school or district.Professional development programs — design and facilitate for faculty on differentiated instruction, technology integration, and culturally responsive teaching practices.Educational technology ecosystems — evaluate and champion the adoption of emerging tools — including learning management, project management, and analytics platforms — to advance school-wide instructional goals.Community and family partnership initiatives — lead to strengthen student support networks, increase engagement, and align school priorities with broader societal needs.Action research and data inquiry cycles — lead across a department or school, translating findings into strategic curriculum decisions and presenting outcomes to district stakeholders.Cross-functional academic teams — coordinate by applying advanced collaboration and social-perceptiveness skills to align counseling, special education, and instructional staff around student success goals.Organizational mission and instructional vision — articulate and champion publicly, inspiring faculty and students toward a culture of continuous learning, integrity, and academic excellence.
Also known as
210 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
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