In considering the question how much does a high school teacher make? A detailed compensation information may help you determine if being a high school teacher is the best career option for you if you are thinking about doing so.
The average salary for high school teachers, the states with the highest average pay, and the requirements to become a high school teacher are all covered in this article.
What is a High School Teacher?
A high school teacher is a qualified educator who has been granted permission by the state to instruct high school students on a certain topics.
Math, science, language arts, reading, history, art, music, physical education, and other electives are just a few examples of the subjects that high school teachers often focus on in one or two courses.
Each class may contain students who are at a different level than the teacher’s other classes because they teach the same subject to various groups of students throughout the day.
They instruct high school courses, such as honors classes or those that grant college credit, including advanced placement (AP), dual enrollment, or international baccalaureate (IB) programs.
How Much Does a High School Teacher Make?
What kind of salary can one expect to receive as a high school teacher in the United States? As of the 23rd of November, 2022, the normal compensation range for high school teachers in the United States is between $50,800 and $78,100, with the average salary coming in at $62,700.
Also, note that the state of Maryland offers the highest income for educators at $61,254. Where Montana has the nation’s lowest average compensation for teachers at $34,041; and the United States national annual wage for teachers is $47,989
So looking at the average hourly wage for teachers in the United States, it is cap at$23.07.
Average Pay for High School Teachers?
High school teachers in the United States get an average yearly pay of $47,292, with salaries ranging from $14,000 to $106,000.
When evaluating a job offer, there are additional salary considerations to keep in mind, such as overtime pay, bonuses, and benefit packages.
Since salaries are constantly changing, check Indeed for the most recent salary trends by location or occupation.
Highest Paying States for High School Teachers
When comparing salaries, take into account each state’s educational and licensing requirements as well as its average pay, salary range, and cost of living. Following is a breakdown of high school teacher pay by state:
- Wyoming: $51,756 per year
- Wisconsin: $52,640 per year
- West Virginia: $46,541 per year
- Washington State: $70,658 per year
- Virginia: $45,699 per year
- Vermont: $16.52 per hour
- Utah: $52,344 per year
- Texas: $47,715 per year
- Tennessee: $47,313 per year
- South Dakota: $41,869 per year
- South Carolina: $43,212 per year
- Rhode Island: $43,485 per year
- Pennsylvania: $48,760 per year
- Oregon: $50,840 per year
- Oklahoma: $41,677 per year
- Ohio: $18.87 per hour
- North Dakota: $14.50 per hour
- North Carolina: $39,364 per year
- New York: $39.11 per hour
- New Mexico: $46,036 per year
- New Jersey: $54,665 per year
- New Hampshire: $22.19 per hour
- Nevada: $48,878 per year
- Nebraska: $17.90 per hour
- Montana: $38,418 per year
- Missouri: $42,498 per year
- Mississippi: $40,848 per year
- Minnesota: $16.54 per hour
- Michigan: $43,550 per year
- Massachusetts: $22.94 per hour
- Maryland: $43,869 per year
- Maine: $44,382 per year
- Louisiana: $43,935 per year
- Kentucky: $44,803 per year
- Kansas: $11.84 per hour
- Iowa: $17.90 per hour
- Indiana: $42,754 per year
- Illinois: $46,886 per year
- Idaho: $46,603 per year
- Hawaii: $20.34 per hour
- Georgia: $18.28 per hour
- Florida: $42,762 per year
- Delaware: $44,985 per year
- Connecticut: $53,333 per year
- Colorado: $40,461 per year
- California: $60,876 per year
- Arkansas: $44,750 per year
- Arizona: $41,482 per year
- Alaska: $14.27 per hour
- Alabama: $12.08 per hour
How to Become a High School Teacher
High school teaching is a gratifying and hard career choice that varies not only by geography but also by selected subject.
Read also: How Long Does it Take to Become a Teacher
As you’ll be asked to grade assignments, you may anticipate a good amount of take-home work, the amount of which will vary on the courses covered. To pursue the career as a high school teacher, take the following actions:
1. Get to Know the Licensing Requirements of Your State
This is significant since different states have different criteria for teacher licensing. Before you start making efforts to become a teacher, you must be aware of the kind of education and training required.
2. Obtain the required Education
The next step is to complete the academic requirements set forth by your state. All states mandate that teachers hold a teaching certificate, which may also include a master’s degree in some cases, in addition to a bachelor’s degree and other courses.
If you wish to become a teacher but have a bachelor’s degree in another subject, many states also offer an alternate teacher preparation pathway.
3. Complete an Internship
Take part in a student internship in the subject you want to teach. The majority of college students finish their internship as a requirement for their degree or as part of their alternative teacher preparation courses.
Before beginning to teach classes under the direction of the certified teacher, these internships typically start with a time during which the student observes another teacher in the classroom.
4. Pass certification tests
To obtain your teaching license, you must next pass the general knowledge and subject-specific exams required by your state. Following the successful completion of all exams, you will be granted your teaching license.
5. Get your teaching License
After passing each of the necessary licensing exams, you should get your license application ready. Many states need you to submit an application, pay license fees, submit to fingerprinting, and pass a background check in addition to other requirements that differ by state.
6. Make Sure Your Résumé is Ready
You should update your CV to include information about your education, internship experience, and teaching license once you have acquired it.
7. Apply for Employment that are Open in Your Field
You are set to start applying for open employment after you have finished creating your résumé. Look for open positions in the grades and topic areas you wish to teach at the school district in your county.
Keep your license current. To keep their teaching credentials current, most states mandate that teachers take continuing education courses. While each state has its own criteria for continuing education, many states require instructors to complete between six and twelve graduate-level credits every five years in order to maintain their teaching license.
8. Maintain your License
To keep their teaching credentials current, most states mandate that teachers take continuing education courses.
While each state has its own criteria for continuing education, many states require instructors to complete between six and twelve graduate-level credits every five years in order to maintain their teaching license.
Summary
As of 2022, the average income for a high school math teacher in the United States was $54,795, while the normal salary range is between $43,909 and $69,115.
Salary ranges can vary significantly depending on a variety of aspects, including schooling, credentials, supplementary talents, and the length of time you’ve been working in a given field.
Recommended read: Average Teacher Salary In UK
