How to Become a High School Teacher

Every state requires public high school teachers to hold at least a bachelor's degree and a state-issued teaching license or certification. Requirements for private schools, charter schools, temporary permits, and alternative-route placements vary by state and employer. In some alternative-route programs, candidates may begin teaching sooner, under supervision or mentorship, while completing coursework, exams, and program requirements, rather than waiting until graduation. Here's what the process actually involves: the degree, the exams, the classroom experience, and the choice between the traditional and alternative routes.

High school teachers are responsible for educating students in grades 9 through 12, typically in a single subject like English, math, science, or history. They plan lessons, deliver instruction through discussions and lectures, and evaluate student progress through coursework, projects, and exams. Working with teenagers takes patience, a subject you know well, and the administrative and technological skills a modern classroom requires. If you're still weighing what an education career can look like more broadly, high school teaching is one path among several worth comparing.

How to Become a High School Teacher: The Requirements

The traditional public-school path looks similar in many states, though test names, license types, alternative routes, and application requirements vary:

1. Earn a bachelor's degree in your subject area or in secondary education
2. Complete a state-approved teacher preparation program, including student teaching
3. Pass any licensure exams required by your state and endorsement area
4. Apply for certification through your state department of education

Earn a Bachelor's Degree in Your Subject or in Education

Prospective high school teachers need at least a bachelor's degree. Programs vary by college: some have candidates major in their subject area (English, math, science, and so on) and minor in education, while others combine a secondary education degree with subject-specific coursework. Either path requires a student-teaching placement before graduation. Many teachers earn a degree in Secondary Education or a Bachelor's Degree in Education.

Pass Your State's Certification Exams

After finishing your degree and teacher preparation program, you'll need to pass state licensure exams before you can apply for certification. Many states require a subject-area competency exam, and some also require a basic-skills or pedagogy exam. Requirements vary by state and have changed in several states in recent years, often administered through the Praxis Series, a state-specific testing vendor, or another state-approved assessment pathway. Your scores, along with your degree and program completion, go to the state board of education with your certification application.

Consider Alternative Certification

If you already have a bachelor's degree in another field, you don't have to start over. Alternative certification can lead to the same full teaching license as the traditional route, but candidates may first teach under an intern, provisional, resident, temporary, or other limited credential while completing requirements. It's built for career-changers who can't go back to school full-time, and in some programs, candidates may begin teaching sooner under supervision or mentoring while finishing coursework and exams.

Advance Your Career with a Master's Degree

Completing a master's degree typically moves teachers up the pay scale, and many teachers with an advanced degree go on to become instructional coordinators, department chairs, or administrators.

High School Teacher by Degree Level

The tables and charts below break down the education level obtained as averaged across the U.S.

Who Will Your Students Be?

High school teachers work with students in grades 9 through 12, teaching classes that may span all grade levels or focus on a single grade level. Students at this age undergo significant changes, from academic pressure to social and physical development, and teachers should expect to work with students from diverse backgrounds. A good high school teacher stays patient through those changes while keeping the classroom focused on the work at hand.

What Does a High School Teacher Do Day to Day?

High school teachers plan lessons, deliver instruction, assess student work, and prepare students for state-required standardized testing. Most specialize in one subject area and may teach multiple courses within it. For example, a high school math teacher might teach both geometry and algebra on the same day.

Beyond instruction, high school teachers regularly communicate with other teachers, administrators, and parents about student needs, and they adapt lessons and pacing to accommodate students who are struggling or ahead of the curriculum. Day to day, the job centers on a short list of core responsibilities:

• Plan and deliver instruction in an assigned subject area
• Assess student work and report progress to families and administrators
• Manage classroom behavior and routines appropriate to older students
• Adapt instruction for students at different skill levels
• Collaborate with colleagues on curriculum and department planning
• Complete the required professional development to maintain certification

Where Do High School Teachers Work?

High school teachers work in public, private, and charter schools, and the licensing requirements differ between them.

Public Schools

Public schools are tuition-free and primarily funded through state and local revenue, with additional federal funding. They operate under federal education laws, state education rules, and local school district governance, with state and local authorities typically controlling curriculum, staffing, and funding decisions. Traditional public schools generally serve students who live within the district or attendance zone, though open-enrollment, magnet, transfer, capacity, and specialized-program rules vary. Hiring processes vary, too: some teachers apply through a districtwide system, while others apply to individual schools, charter networks, regional systems, or state job boards.

Private Schools

Private schools typically charge tuition and rely heavily on tuition, donations, grants, and private support, though some may also receive public funding or federally funded services through specific programs. They're usually governed by a private school board, and many are founded by religious organizations, so the curriculum may reflect specific beliefs. Private school teachers typically aren't required to meet the same state licensure rules as public school teachers, though requirements vary by state, and many private schools prefer or require certified teachers. Requirements vary by school, so check with the school directly.

Charter Schools

Charter schools are publicly funded, tuition-free schools of choice that operate under a charter contract and are overseen by an authorizer. They have more flexibility than traditional public schools but are also expected to meet specific performance standards. They're generally open to eligible students, and when applications exceed capacity, many states require a lottery or other legally defined admissions process. Teacher certification requirements vary by state charter law, authorizer rules, and charter contract, so check state law, the authorizer, and the school before assuming requirements.

Professional Organizations for High School Teachers

AAE (Association of American Educators): a national professional educators' organization serving educators in all 50 states, working to advance the profession through educational advocacy and professional development.

NEA (National Education Association): advocates for education professionals and works toward public education that prepares every student to succeed.

What Does a High School Teacher Earn?

According to May 2025 wage data for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education, the national median annual wage was $72,040. In the same dataset, the 75th percentile wage was $92,570, and the 90th percentile wage was $107,600. Experience, additional coursework, and an advanced degree all tend to move teachers up that scale.

Wage Percentile	Annual Wage (May 2025)
Median (50th percentile)	$72,040
75th percentile	$92,570
90th percentile	$107,600

Employment of Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education, is projected to decline slightly from 2024 to 2034, about 1.6% according to Projections Central data (the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook rounds this to -2%). Even so, roughly 66,200 openings are projected each year nationally, mostly from workers transferring to other occupations or exiting the labor force, including retirement, so the job market for new teachers stays active despite the shrinking total headcount.

BLS reports lower median wages for high school teachers in private schools than in public schools in its industry-specific wage tables. Beyond pay, private school conditions vary widely by school, tuition model, mission, admissions policy, and student population.

Find out more about teacher salaries here.

Frequently Asked Questions

What degree do you need to become a high school teacher?

You need at least a bachelor's degree, either in the subject you want to teach or in secondary education, along with completion of a state-approved teacher preparation program that includes student teaching.

Can you become a high school teacher without an education degree?

Yes. Many high school teachers major in their subject area, such as biology or history, and complete a separate teacher preparation program or minor in education. Alternative certification is also an option if you already hold a degree in an unrelated field.

What tests do you need to pass to become a high school teacher?

Many states require a subject-area competency exam, and some also require a basic-skills or pedagogy exam, often through the Praxis Series or a state-specific testing system. Exact requirements vary by state and have changed in several states in recent years, so check with your state department of education.

Do private school teachers need to be certified?

Not always. Private school teachers typically aren't required to meet the same state licensure rules as public school teachers, though requirements vary by state and many private schools prefer or require certified teachers.

How much do high school teachers earn?

The national median annual salary for high school teachers was $72,040 as of May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay varies by state, school type, experience, and education level.

• Bachelor's degree required: a subject-area or secondary education degree plus a state-approved teacher preparation program, including student teaching.
• Licensure exams stand between you and certification: many states require a subject-area competency exam, and some also require a basic-skills or pedagogy exam, before you can apply to the state board of education.
• Alternative certification is a real option: if you already hold a degree, you can often start teaching under a mentor while finishing coursework and exams.
• Median pay is $72,040 a year: as of May 2025, according to the BLS, with roughly 66,200 openings projected annually despite a slight decline in total positions.
• Public schools require state certification: private school requirements vary by state and school, and charter school credential rules vary by state charter law, authorizer requirements, and charter contract.

2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures for Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers, Middle School Teachers, and High School Teachers. Job growth projections (2024-2034) are from the US Department of Labor-sponsored resource, Projections Central. Figures reflect state and national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed August 2026.