Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education: Career Profile
Teach one or more subjects to students at the middle, intermediate, or junior high school level.
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What Tasks Do Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education Do?
The day-to-day responsibilities of middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education span:
- 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.
- Assign lessons and correct homework.
- Assist students who need extra help, such as by tutoring and preparing and implementing remedial programs.
Skills and Knowledge
Successful middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
These are the skills most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Related Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- Algebra Teacher
- American History Teacher
- Art Educator
- Art Instructor
- Art Teacher
- Band Director
- Band Teacher
- Bilingual Instructor
Job Outlook
The U.S. employs around 701,604 middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education working in the United States today. Employment is projected to decline by -1.4% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $83,105 |
| Hourly median | $39.95 |
| 10th percentile | $46,492 |
| 25th percentile | $64,798 |
| 75th percentile | $101,412 |
| 90th percentile | $119,719 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $99,150 |
| California | $96,820 |
| Rhode Island | $89,530 |
| Massachusetts | $84,280 |
| New York | $82,620 |
| Connecticut | $81,040 |
| District of Columbia | $78,090 |
| Oregon | $78,050 |
| New Jersey | $77,630 |
| Pennsylvania | $76,740 |
| Maryland | $76,420 |
| Alaska | $75,980 |
| Utah | $75,490 |
| New Mexico | $73,520 |
| Ohio | $66,790 |
| New Hampshire | $64,810 |
| Illinois | $64,800 |
| Hawaii | $64,340 |
| Georgia | $63,880 |
| Delaware | $63,770 |
| Nevada | $63,620 |
| Nebraska | $62,470 |
| Vermont | $62,460 |
| Wyoming | $62,420 |
| Wisconsin | $61,960 |
| Colorado | $61,830 |
| Texas | $61,760 |
| Minnesota | $61,670 |
| Michigan | $61,560 |
| Montana | $61,460 |
| Maine | $61,030 |
| Virginia | $60,930 |
| Idaho | $60,290 |
| Missouri | $60,120 |
| Alabama | $59,900 |
| South Carolina | $59,810 |
| Indiana | $59,100 |
| Arizona | $59,060 |
| Kentucky | $58,850 |
| Kansas | $58,820 |
| North Dakota | $58,800 |
| Tennessee | $58,170 |
| Iowa | $57,750 |
| Arkansas | $56,980 |
| Louisiana | $53,150 |
| Florida | $51,680 |
| North Carolina | $50,340 |
| Puerto Rico | $49,800 |
| Mississippi | $49,720 |
| South Dakota | $49,720 |
| West Virginia | $49,670 |
| Oklahoma | $48,210 |
| Guam | $38,080 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Pay for middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education differ across the country. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $92,236 | 11.5% | 0.70 |
| Middle Atlantic | $78,601 | 16.5% | 1.14 |
| New England | $78,459 | 5.7% | 1.21 |
| Rocky Mountains | $64,711 | 3.9% | 1.04 |
| Great Lakes | $63,754 | 14.3% | 1.02 |
| Southwest | $60,914 | 15.5% | 1.27 |
| Plains States | $59,523 | 6.8% | 1.00 |
| Southeast | $56,809 | 25.2% | 1.07 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | WA | $105,610 | 300 |
| Merced, CA | CA | $105,100 | |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | CA | $104,990 | 5,120 |
| Visalia, CA | CA | $103,560 | 460 |
| Modesto, CA | CA | $101,900 | 590 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $101,590 | 3,950 |
| Napa, CA | CA | $101,430 | 170 |
| El Centro, CA | CA | $100,680 | 280 |
Which Industries Hire Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
The bulk of middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Services | 619,200 | n/a |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 720 | n/a |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 70 | n/a |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tools and Technology
- Operating system software: Apple macOS (hot technology)
- Web page creation and editing software: Facebook (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Google Docs (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Document management software: Microsoft SharePoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Video conferencing software: Zoom (hot technology)
Work Environment
The work environment for middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Contact With Others
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
Getting Started in This Career
Entry-level middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary (Supplemental)
- Education Teachers, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
- Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
- English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
- Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education (Primary-Short)
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education (Primary-Short)
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School (Primary-Long)
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education (Primary-Short)
Degree Programs
Students preparing for middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education typically earn programs in:
Education
39 programs across 4 majors
- Teacher Education Subject Specific
- Teacher Education Grade Specific
- Teaching English or French
- Multilingual Education
References
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 25-2022.00 (Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education).