You teach science at the high school level. As a High School Science Teacher, you're covering biology, chemistry, physics, or earth science—running labs, grading tests, and sparking curiosity about how the natural world works.
High School Teacher pay typically runs $58K–$85K at this level, and jobs in this field are projected to shrink 2% through 2034.
High school teachers manage academic instruction, classroom culture, and student development at the secondary level—typically in one or two subject areas, across multiple course sections. The range of responsibilities (planning, instruction, assessment, parent communication, advising) creates a workload that regularly extends beyond contracted hours.
Subject-matter expertise matters at this level, but pedagogical skill matters just as much—sometimes more. Students who struggle with a subject often aren't failing because the content is beyond them; they're failing because the instruction doesn't meet them where they are. Developing a repertoire of instructional strategies across the range of learners in a classroom is ongoing professional development.
People who tend to thrive are genuinely interested in their subject and in adolescents simultaneously. If you love what you teach and find teenagers' development genuinely interesting—the dramatic intellectual and emotional growth that happens between 14 and 18—high school teaching tends to be professionally energizing. The emotional labor is real, and building sustainable routines (planning, grading, communication) tends to be essential for longevity in the classroom.
Don't know if you want to stay in your job?
Get your career on record. Then decide.
Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.
Still figuring out what you want to become
when you grow up?
Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.
You teach science at the high school level. As a High School Science Teacher, you're covering biology, chemistry, physics, or earth science—running labs, grading tests, and sparking curiosity about how the natural world works.
Median pay for a High School Teacher is about $67K nationally, with the field ranging roughly from $47K to $106K depending on experience, employer, and metro (BLS).
Core skills for this role include Learning Strategies, Instructing, Instructing, Speaking, and Learning Strategies.
Most people in this role hold a bachelor's degree.
Employment in this field is projected to decline about 1.6% through 2034, with roughly 1.2 million people working in it today (BLS).
Closely related roles include School Director, Voice Teacher, and Inclusion Teacher.
Do one small thing to grow in your career this week. Pick one of these; each comes with the words to use.
More career advice
We believe careers grow through small steps taken often, more than big leaps. So we’ve collected hundreds of them for you to try.
Browse career adviceYour job belongs to your employer.
Your career belongs to you.