10 Teacher Careers: Requirements, Salaries and Duties
Updated April 18, 2024
Why become a teacher?
There are several reasons why people choose to become teachers. First, they may enjoy working with the next generation and helping them understand the world. Second, teachers have the opportunity to continue learning throughout their careers, which can be enticing. Finally, teachers help foster curiosity, exploration, and other important skills and traits in their students, which is a rewarding aspect of this career. Besides pay, teachers report a sense of satisfaction when they can help their students find the answers they seek.10 teacher career paths
Here are 10 popular career paths for teachers, including their average salaries and primary duties:For the most up-to-date salary information from Indeed, visit indeed.com/salaries.1. Teaching assistant
National average salary: $27,896 per yearPrimary duties: A teaching assistant or teacher's aide's duties include taking attendance, grading tests and homework, setting up equipment, preparing materials, monitoring students' behaviors and providing instructional support as needed by the classroom teacher.Find teaching assistant jobsRead more: How To Become a Teacher's Aide2. Adult education teacher
National average salary: $51,263 per yearPrimary duties: An adult education teacher helps students prepare for GED exams; creates lesson plans; teaches subjects like math, science and English; communicates with agencies and programs; grades assignments; interacts with program coordinators; tutors students; and evaluates student performance. This is typically a part-time or short-term position.Find adult education teacher jobsRelated: How To Become an ESL Teacher3. Substitute teacher
National average salary: $44,972 per yearPrimary duties: Substitute teacher duties include managing a classroom when teachers are absent, teaching based on lesson plans, taking attendance, explaining homework and performing other teacher duties as needed. This is typically a part-time or short-term position.Find substitute teacher jobsRead more: How To Become a Substitute Teacher4. Preschool teacher
National average salary: $35,658 per yearPrimary duties: The duties of a preschool teacher include developing creative programs like storytelling, media and educational play, improving children's competencies, constructing curriculum, organizing lesson plans, supervising children and ensuring safety, tracking and creating progress reports for parents and maintaining classroom cleanliness.Find preschool teacher jobsRead more: Learn About Being a Preschool Teacher5. Elementary school teacher
National average salary: $49,324 per yearPrimary duties: An elementary school teacher creates lesson plans, attends staff meetings, supervises students throughout the day, prepares for and provides daily lessons, creates and submits progress reports, plans assignments and activities, communicates with parents and grades assignments.Find elementary school teacher jobsRead more: What Does an Elementary School Teacher Do?6. High school teacher
National average salary: $53,712 per yearPrimary duties: The duties of a high school teacher include developing curriculum, creating lesson plans, evaluating students and their strengths and weaknesses, grading assignments, tests and papers, monitoring student progress, communicating with parents, preparing students for state standardized testing and supervising students throughout the day.Find high school teacher jobsRead more: Learn About Being a High School Teacher7. Special education teacher
National average salary: $56,126 per yearPrimary duties: Special education teachers commonly work in elementary, middle and high schools. Their duties include developing lesson plans, adapting lessons to meet student needs, developing individualized education programs, organizing class activities, mentoring students both in groups and one-on-one, tracking student performance and progress, communicating with parents and supervising teaching assistants.Find special education teacher jobsRead more: How To Become a Special Education Teacher8. College professor
National average salary: $61,014 per yearPrimary duties: A college professor creates a course curriculum; prepares and distributes course syllabi; teaches and mentors students; presents lectures; grades papers, assignments and tests; evaluates and tracks student progress; communicates with students about their development; researches new subject material; presents research and works with students in groups or one-on-one.Find college professor jobsRead more: How To Become a College Professor9. Director of education
National average salary: $77,928 per yearPrimary duties: A director of education creates curriculum for an entire school system in coordination with teachers and principals, communicates with other members of the institution, monitors and tracks the progress of current teaching methods, writes progress reports based on end-of-quarter and end-of-year results, supervises and maintains faculty recruitment, interviews and vets prospective teachers, schedules workshops for staff and consistently identifies areas for improvement.Find director of education jobsRead more: How To Become an Education Director (With Duties and Skills)10. School principal
National average salary: $68,170 per yearPrimary duties: The duties of a school principal include developing a curriculum for an entire school, providing strategic direction for teachers and school systems, assessing and improving teaching methods, monitoring student progress, communicating with parents and creating and editing policies and procedures. They're also responsible for hiring staff, maintaining the budget, overseeing facilities, developing safety procedures and protocols, attending school board meetings and setting performance goals.Find school principal jobsRead more: Learn About Being a PrincipalTeaching outlook
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS lists the expected growth rates for teachers separated by grade and level. Currently, the BLS expects a 5% growth rate for high school teachers, a 4% growth rate for preschool and elementary teachers and a 7% increase in the employment of other educators from 2021 to 2031.How to become a teacher
If a career in education interests you, here are six steps you can take to become a teacher:1. Determine your desired position
Spend time evaluating teacher career paths and teaching positions to determine what you want to do and accomplish as a teacher. Knowing what you want before or during your education can allow you to obtain all of the necessary requirements for your desired position.2. Obtain the necessary degree
Some teaching jobs require as little as a two-year associate degree, though the majority require at least a bachelor's degree. A bachelor's degree is the most popular degree for teachers and is the minimum requirement for most teacher careers. Here are the skills an aspiring teacher can expect to develop in a four-year bachelor's degree program:- Teaching techniques and methods
- Technological concepts and systems
- Special needs materials and curriculum changes
- Teacher skills development
3. Take specific classes
If you're considering teaching a particular subject, many school systems require you to take courses or major in that area of study. For example, math teachers may be required to have math degrees. Researching these requirements can help you decide what classes, subjects and degrees you need to study and obtain.4. Gain teaching experience
Student teaching is a requirement for most teaching career paths. To become a teacher, even at the kindergarten level, you must complete a predetermined number of hours of supervised education training to become a licensed teacher. Each state has its own requirements for the hours needed. You can receive this teaching experience during your bachelor's degree, in an internship or shortly after graduating from an educational degree program.Related: 7 Types of Internships for Teachers5. Earn state licensure
To become a public school teacher, you must earn a license in the state where you plan to teach. Some private schools may also request state licensure. Each state has specific certifications and license tests, so knowing these requirements ahead of time can be helpful.6. Continue your education
There are a variety of careers in the educational field and continuing your education can create opportunities for different and higher-paying positions. Consider obtaining a master's degree, National Board Certification, doctoral degree or completing professional development courses. Most public school teachers are required to complete continuing education to maintain state certification or licensure.Showcase your skills with help from a resume expert
Tips for succeeding in teaching
Here are some ways to encourage success in your teaching career:Be creative
Students need stimulation to learn. Consider being more creative with your lesson plans to capture their attention and make your lessons more interesting and exciting for your students.Stay consistent
Being consistent with your teaching styles and rules can help students adhere to specific routines. Consistency creates structure in your classroom which can keep students on a successful track. While surprises can be fun at times, students enjoy knowing what they can expect from their teacher and their own efforts.Be observant
Recognizing individual strengths and weaknesses can help each student in your class succeed. Some students learn differently than others and may require a different approach. The more you understand each student, the better you can shift your teaching styles to communicate effectively with every person.Communicate enthusiastically
Students are usually more willing to share academic challenges and problems with energetic and fun teachers. Being enthusiastic means presenting yourself as an approachable person who cares for every student. Smiling, laughing and telling jokes or personal stories can help make you more approachable as a teacher.Set goals
Setting goals from the beginning of the semester and in each class helps keep students on a successful path. Goal setting allows your students to understand what needs to be learned and enables you to create and follow a plan for achieving those goals.Please note that the company mentioned in this article is not affiliated with Indeed.From teaching students, preparing materials and planning activities, you’ll learn the skills, education, and qualifications needed to become a teacher by the end of this video.
Education & instruction
Explore more articles
- 10 Careers You Can Pursue in Health Information Technology
- 15 Six-Figure Jobs You Can Do From Home
- 14 Jobs Working With Children You Can Do Without a Degree
- 6 Careers in Space Science (Plus Benefits and Skills)
- 11 Rewarding Career Options in Life Science (With Salaries)
- 11 Types of Security Jobs
- How To Become a Substitute Teacher in Georgia in 7 Steps
- 11 Jobs for Professionals Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
- 11 Jobs For Graduates of Interdisciplinary Studies Programs
- What Can You Do With a Juris Doctor Degree? (With 18 Jobs)
- How To Become a Bartender in California in 6 Steps
- 13 Jobs To Pursue in the Catering Industry (Plus Skills)