Secondary school teacher

What does a secondary school teacher do?

• Plan and teach lessons in one or two subjects to classes of different ages.
• Prepare students for national exams and qualifications.
• Set and mark homework, tests and coursework, and give feedback.
• Manage classroom behaviour and keep students engaged.
• Support students' wellbeing, often as the tutor for a group of students.
• Meet parents and write progress reports.
• Keep up to date with changes to the curriculum and their subject.

Where do they work?

Secondary teachers work in state schools, private and religious schools, international schools and vocational colleges. They teach several classes each day, often moving between groups of different ages and abilities. Planning, marking and exam preparation often continue into evenings and weekends, especially during exam periods. Many teachers also run clubs, trips or sports, and schools follow a fixed calendar with holidays between terms.

What skills do you need?

• In-depth subject knowledge
• Clear explanation and questioning
• Classroom and behaviour management
• Assessment and feedback
• Planning and time management
• Patience and resilience
• Communication with young people and parents
• Use of digital learning tools

Official skills profile (ESCO)

Essential skills listed for this occupation in ESCO, the European Commission's multilingual classification of skills and occupations.

• adapt teaching to student's capabilities
• monitor student's behaviour
• liaise with educational support staff
• apply intercultural teaching strategies
• develop course outline
• compile course material
• manage student relationships
• assist students in their learning
• apply teaching strategies
• assess students
• maintain students' discipline
• liaise with educational staff

Essential knowledge: post-secondary school procedures · learning difficulties · curriculum objectives

How do you become a secondary school teacher?

The usual route is a bachelor's degree in the subject you want to teach, followed by teacher training such as a one- or two-year postgraduate programme or a master's in teaching. Some universities offer combined degrees that include subject study and teacher training. Several countries, including Germany and Finland, require a master's-level qualification and a supervised practical period. You then apply for a teaching licence or registration. Career changers, especially in mathematics, science and languages, can often use employment-based or alternative certification routes.

1. Subject degree and teacher training. Most secondary teachers first study a degree in a school subject, such as mathematics, a science, history, geography, English or a modern language. They then complete one or two years of teacher training with placements in schools. This route keeps your options open, because the subject degree is also useful for other careers.
2. Combined education degree. In many countries you can study a degree that combines your teaching subject with education studies and school placements from the start, usually over four years or more. In some systems, such as Germany, this continues to master's level and is followed by a paid training period in schools before you are fully qualified.
3. Career change and alternative certification. Schools in many countries need more teachers of mathematics, physics, chemistry, computing and languages. Graduates and professionals in these areas can often train while working in a school and earning a salary. In the United States, most states offer alternative certification programmes for people who already hold a degree.

Degrees that lead to this career

• Education

  An education degree studies how people learn and how teaching, schools and education systems work.

  5 linked careers

• Mathematics

  A mathematics degree develops advanced reasoning and problem-solving through pure mathematics, such as algebra and analysis, and applied areas, such as statistics, modelling and computing.

  6 linked careers

• English literature

  An English literature degree teaches you to read, analyse and write about novels, poetry, plays and other texts written in English, from medieval writing to the present day.

  6 linked careers

• Physics

  A physics degree explores the laws that govern the universe, from particles and atoms to materials, energy and stars, using mathematics, experiments and computer models.

  6 linked careers

• Chemistry

  A chemistry degree teaches how substances are built, how they react and how to make and analyse new materials, through theory and a lot of laboratory work.

  6 linked careers

• Biology

  A biology degree teaches how living things work, from molecules and cells to whole organisms and ecosystems.

  6 linked careers

• History

  A history degree studies how societies, cultures, economies and ideas have changed over time, using evidence such as documents, objects and people's memories.

  6 linked careers

• Geography

  A geography degree studies places, people and the environment, and how they affect each other.

  5 linked careers

• Modern languages

  A modern languages degree teaches you to speak, write and understand one or more foreign languages to a high level, together with the culture, history and literature of the places where they are spoken.

  5 linked careers

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Do you need a licence to work as a secondary school teacher?

Teaching in state secondary schools is regulated in most countries. You need a recognised teaching qualification and must register with or be licensed by an education authority, usually for specific subjects or age ranges. Background checks for working with children are standard. In some countries, including France, Spain and Italy, you must also pass a competitive exam to get a permanent post in a state school. Private and international schools may have their own rules.

How much does a secondary school teacher earn?

Pay in the United States

• $72,040Median annual wage, May 2025
• $48,780–$107,600Range from the lowest-paid 10% to the highest-paid 10%
• 1.1MPeople employed in the US

US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, SOC 25-2031, May 2025. National estimates across all industries; excludes the self-employed.

Earnings of Professionals around the world

Most countries do not publish pay for single job titles. The International Labour Organization collects median monthly earnings for broad occupation groups instead. This career belongs to ISCO-08 major group 2, "Professionals". The table covers the whole group, which includes secondary school teacher and many other occupations.

Source: ILOSTAT, median monthly earnings of employees, latest year available. PPP$ adjusts for price differences between countries so figures can be compared. "vs all employees" compares the group's median with the median for all occupations in the same country.

Career progression

1. Trainee or newly qualified teacher
2. Subject teacher
3. Head of subject or department
4. Deputy head teacher
5. Head teacher or principal

Job outlook

Demand for secondary teachers is steady, and many countries report shortages in mathematics, science, computing and languages. Growing numbers of teenagers in some regions and falling numbers in others affect local demand. In many countries, workload, student behaviour and pay are common reasons why teachers leave. AI tools are changing homework, assessment and lesson planning, but teachers remain central to guiding and motivating young people.

Questions about becoming a secondary school teacher

What do you need to become a secondary school teacher?

In most countries you need a degree, usually in the subject you want to teach, plus a recognised teacher training qualification and a teaching licence or registration. Some countries require a master's degree or a competitive exam for state schools. Background checks for working with children are standard. Requirements differ, so check with the education authority where you plan to teach.

Can you teach at a secondary school without a teaching qualification?

In state schools, usually not for long. Some countries allow unqualified or provisionally licensed teachers to work while they train, especially in shortage subjects. Private and international schools have more freedom and sometimes hire graduates with strong subject knowledge but no teaching qualification. A recognised qualification improves your pay, job security and ability to work in other countries.

Which subjects have the greatest demand for teachers?

In many countries, schools find it hardest to recruit teachers of mathematics, physics, chemistry, computing and modern languages. Some countries offer training grants or scholarships for these subjects. Demand also varies by region, and rural and disadvantaged areas often need more teachers. Check teacher recruitment information from your national or regional education authority for local shortages.

Is it too late to become a teacher at 30 or 40?

No. Many secondary teachers join after another career, and schools often value their experience, especially in science, technology, business and languages. Postgraduate and employment-based training routes are open to graduates of any age. Be ready for a demanding first year, and check whether you can get funding or a salary while you train.

Related careers

• Primary school teacher

  Primary school teachers teach children aged about five or six to eleven or twelve, usually covering most subjects with one class.

  Degree usually needed · Licensed

• University lecturer

  University lecturers teach students in higher education, carry out research in their subject and publish their findings.

  Degree required

• Language teacher

  Language teachers help children and adults learn to speak, understand, read and write a new language.

  Degree often expected

Sources

1. US Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — SOC 25-2031, national estimates, May 2025
2. ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by occupation — ISCO-08 major groups, latest year per country
3. European Commission — ESCO occupation profile — ESCO code 2330.1

How to cite this page: CourseToJob (2026). How to become a secondary school teacher: degrees, skills and salary. https://coursetojob.com/careers/secondary-teacher/ (accessed September 26, 2026)

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