Middle school teachers essential career information:
- 2012 median pay: $53,430
- 2012, number of jobs: 620,900
- Employment growth forecast, 2010-2020: 17 percent
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
Middle school teachers; what they do:
People who have excellent instructional and listening skills, a great deal of patience, and want to make a difference in a student’s life should consider a middle school teacher career.
Middle school teachers, also known as junior high school teachers, work with students typically grades six through eight, and teach them skills to help them transition from elementary school to high school.
A middle school teacher career includes planning lessons in line with administrative and national curriculum objectives and standards as well as working closely with students to develop learning techniques and skills across several subject areas.
Middle school teachers monitor student’s social and emotional health, enforce rules both in and out of the classroom as well as monitor and report student strengths and weaknesses through regular tests, webpage bulletins, parent conferences and report cards.
Many junior high school teachers also work with special education departments to assist children with special needs and learning disabilities.
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Middle school teachers job titles:
- Middle School Science Teacher
- Social Studies Teacher
- Language Arts Teacher
- Reading Teacher
- Teacher
- Physical Education Teacher
- Middle School Math Teacher
- Middle School English Teacher
- Junior High School Teacher
Middle School Teachers Education, Certification and License Requirements
A middle school teacher must have a bachelor’s degree as well as a state issued license or certificate. In many states, middle school teachers must major in different curriculum content to be able to work effectively in such areas as a middle school science teacher or middle school English teacher. Middle school teachers also need student teaching experience.
In order to remain certified in most states middle school teachers must attend continuing education classes. However, middle school teachers in private schools don’t need certification.
Some schools may also require junior high school teachers to attain a master’s degree after certification.
Middle school teachers programs cover subjects such as:
- Middle level education
- Assessment, accountability and teaching in the classroom
- Introduction to education
- Middle grades mathematics
- The inclusive classroom
- Literacy in the content areas
- Human growth and development
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Career Advancement Opportunities
Through advanced training, education or certification junior high school teachers move on to more administrative roles such as principals and assistant principals. They also can become lead teachers as well as instructional coordinators.
Middle School Teachers Job Outlook
Forecast: 17 percent employment growth for middle school teachers from 2010 to 2020. The employment growth comes from declines in student-to-teacher ratios, retirement and enrollment growth.
The Southern and Western regions of the country have a higher forecasted employment growth for junior high school teachers than the rest of the nation. Budget deficits also play a role in teacher employment and can result in nationwide layoffs.
Middle School Teachers Salary
- 2012 median annual wage: $53,430
- 2012, workers at the 75th percentile annual wage: $66,850
- 2012, workers at the 25th percentile annual wage: $43,400
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Middle School Teachers Major Employers

- Public schools
- Private schools
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