Coach & Scout
Median wage · national
$47,320
Range: $35K – $65K
Employed
249K
Openings/yr
42K
Typically: bachelor's degree
Middle School Teacher
Middle School Teacher earn $64,370 nationally at the median. The middle 50% of workers fall between $58,530 and $80,490. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and experience.
About Middle School Teacher
Teach one or more subjects to students at the middle, intermediate, or junior high school level.
- Median Wage
- $64,370
- Employed Nationally
- 620K
- Openings / Year
- 40,500
- Entry Education
- Bachelor's degree
- Job Zone
- Zone 4: Considerable Preparation
Also known as:
Algebra Teacher
American History Teacher
Art Educator
Art Instructor
Art Teacher
How Much Do Middle School Teachers Make?
Middle School Teacher earn $64,370 nationally, near the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $58,530 and $80,490. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.
$64,370
National Median (Annual)
Near the national median for college graduates.
$59K–$80K
Middle 50% Range
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
Earnings Range
$58,530
Entry-level
$64,370
Median
$80,490
Experienced
What Do Middle School Teachers Do?
O*NET data identifies 5 core activities and 5 measurable skills for Middle School Teacher roles. Use this section to judge whether the day-to-day reality aligns with what you actually want to spend time doing.
What You'll Do
- 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.
Core Skills Employers Look For
Instructing
Learning Strategies
Speaking
Active Listening
Reading Comprehension
Who Thrives Here
S
Social
Working closely with people, teaching, advising, or helping others navigate challenges is a defining feature of this career's daily work.
A
Artistic
Creative and original thinking matters in this field, where fresh approaches, design sensibility, or expressive work drives real outcomes.
C
Conventional
Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.
Where Do Middle School Teachers Work?
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Work Setting
Mixed
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Physical Demands
Light
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Stress Level
Low
Low time pressure. Work pace is typically steady and self-directed.
What Is the Job Outlook for Middle School Teachers?
The BLS projects -2.0% employment change for Middle School Teacher through 2034, a declining trend, below the national average of +5%. About 40,500 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.
↘ -2.0%
10-Year Growth (2024–2034)
Declining employment projected.
40,500
Annual Openings
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
620K
Currently Employed
Total US employment as of BLS May 2024.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024.
Where the Jobs Are
The five states below employ the most Middle School Teacher professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $64,370 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | 75,640 | $61,760 | -4.1% |
| 2 | California | 46,530 | $96,820 | +50.4% |
| 3 | New York | 34,830 | $82,620 | +28.4% |
| 4 | Florida | 32,460 | $51,680 | -19.7% |
| 5 | Ohio | 26,780 | $66,790 | +3.8% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
How to Get Here
Most Middle School Teacher positions require a bachelor's degree to qualify. The 5 programs below are the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.
Typical Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
Job Zone
Zone 4: Considerable Preparation
These positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles.
Degree Programs That Lead Here
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Teacher Education (K-12) | 106,652 | $47,382 | 1,894 |
| 2 | Teaching Specific Subjects | 40,101 | $51,389 | 1,276 |
| 3 | Social Sciences | 17,458 | $53,366 | 529 |
| 4 | Teaching ESL | 5,030 | $42,259 | 446 |
| 5 | Bilingual Education | 1,654 | $55,140 | 176 |
Top Colleges for Aspiring Middle School Teachers
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States Air Force Academy USAF Academy, CO | 96 | — | — |
| 2 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | 93 | $12,548 | $82,511 |
| 3 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA | 93 | $12,470 | $84,943 |
| 4 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA | 93 | $13,481 | $92,446 |
| 5 | University of Florida Gainesville, FL | 93 | $6,541 | $71,588 |
| 6 | University of California-Irvine Irvine, CA | 92 | $14,251 | $80,735 |
Plan Your Path
Once you've sized up Middle School Teacher, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if the degree that leads to Middle School Teacher pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Middle School Teacher Pros & Cons
Middle School Teacher has real financial strengths, but declining employment projections deserve careful consideration. The 2 upsides and 2 concerns below are all data-sourced.
PROS
- Competitive salary $64,370 median wage puts this career near or above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
- Large, established field 620K people work in this occupation nationally, creating a broad job market with openings spread across every region and industry.
CONS
- Declining employment The BLS projects -2.0% employment change through 2034. This field is expected to shrink. Automation, offshoring, or structural industry change are likely factors.
- Multi-year ramp before career-level pay This is a Job Zone 4 occupation, these positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles. Most workers in this field spend their first several years at entry-level pay well below the $64,370 median while building the experience employers require.
Middle School Teacher Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Middle School Teacher professionals earn?
The national median annual wage for Middle School Teacher is $64,370, near the national median for full-time workers. The middle 50% of earners fall between $58,530 and $80,490. Pay varies by employer size, industry sector, specialization, and geography. National figures are a starting point, not a guarantee.
Is Middle School Teacher a good career?
With realistic expectations. The BLS projects -2.0% employment change through 2034. This field is shrinking, not expanding. The $64,370 median wage is competitive, but most openings come from retirements and exits rather than new positions. If you're drawn to this work, differentiate through a specialized niche or adjacent certification that keeps you relevant as the broader field contracts.
How long does it take to become a Middle School Teacher?
Expect 4 years of undergraduate education followed by 2 or more years of field experience before most employers consider you qualified for career-level positions. A bachelor's degree is the typical minimum credential. Degree programs like Teacher Education (K-12) are typical entry paths. Early-career pay during this ramp-up period will be meaningfully below the $64,370 national median. Factor that gap into any program ROI calculation.
Why are Middle School Teacher jobs declining?
The BLS projects -2.0% employment change for Middle School Teacher through 2034. Declining occupations typically face some combination of automation, industry consolidation, offshoring, or reduced consumer demand, rarely a single cause. Despite the overall decline, about 40,500 openings per year are still projected, mostly replacements for workers who retire or leave, not new positions. 620K people currently work in this field, so while it's contracting, active hiring still occurs. Specialization in high-value segments of the role gives the strongest protection.
What skills do Middle School Teacher professionals need?
O*NET data identifies the core skills employers consistently prioritize for Middle School Teacher roles: Instructing, Learning Strategies, Speaking, Active Listening, and Reading Comprehension. These develop through formal education and hands-on work. Programs with internship or co-op requirements give you a meaningful head start on the ones that take time to build.
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- Master's degree
- Bachelor's degree
- Median wage
- Graduate school
- Career outcomes
-
Growing and Paying $80K Plus: The Careers That Do Both
Only 95 of 385 federal careers both pay a median above $80,000 and grow faster than the typical job. Here is the rare set that clears both bars.
- Career growth
- Median wage
- High-paying careers
- Job outlook
- Career change
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