High School Teacher Salary

It is said that a teacher comes before God. And the reason for this is simple, as it is after all your teacher who made you aware about God and His ways. Do not restrict your senses only to teachers who are found inside the classrooms. Teachers are those individuals who impart the best of their knowledge for the benefit of the individual. They are mentors who guide us. Today, the word 'teacher' is not restricted within the four walls of a classroom. The teaching field is seeing more and more individuals who want to share knowledge with others and do their bit. Here, we shall learn more about it and also about how much salary do they make on an annual basis.

Brief Outline of High School Teaching

High schools teachers of a school, have the responsibility of teaching the students between ninth and twelfth grade. It makes them important mentors for the students, because during these years the students take courses they will need to prepare for college. A high school teacher is different from a secondary school teacher. That is because, a secondary school teacher will teach science on the whole, whereas a high school teacher will have a specialization in it, maybe biology or chemistry. To become a high school teacher, you need to have a Bachelor's degree and obtain state licensure. Most of the states have a system of education credit hours, and a potential teacher needs to earn those before certification.

Pay Scale

It is said that the older your students are the more money a classroom teacher will make! The average salary of a high school teacher is comparatively higher than that of middle school or elementary school teachers. Their average annual salary is considered to be about approx. $48,000, with a salary range reported to be approx. $30,000 - $78,000 per year. The figure $30,000 is an estimate for a starting salary and for those who have approximately a year or less than a year's experience. It is obvious that teachers who have specialized in high demand subjects like maths, science, etc., get relatively higher salaries as compared to the others. Also, the salary range varies by state and by school district.

On an average, a new teacher with a Bachelor's degree would start with a salary of about approx. $32,000 for a nine month school year term. Again, this figure depends from state to state and school to school. The salary usually increases at a rate of about 2 - 3% a year. For a teacher who has a Master's degree, the salary will be even higher and can be expected to be around approx. $52,000 annually. The biggest advantage over here is that, you start on a big scale and it gets better and bigger with increments. The peak salary of a high school teacher can reach up to $80,000 or more.

The expected median salary of a high school teacher will be approx. $52,000. The average private high school teacher salary is approx. $38,000 per year. State wise, the highest average high school salary in ascending order is Connecticut, California, New Jersey, Illinois, and Rhode Island. There is fierce competition between these states as there isn't markable difference in the salary of a high school teacher in these states. The range of the salaries of course incorporates both education and experience of the teachers. It also depends on the school level and the specialization of the individual teacher.

Other than a high salary, school teachers also enjoy few other benefits for the hard work they put in, like health and dental insurance as well as generous pension plans, which is in addition to the above mentioned salaries, to comprise an attractive overall package. A teaching job includes few other additional perks like subsidized housing, continuing education credit, and not to forget the summer holidays and the long vacations. I think more than the monetary reward, a teacher's honor will lie when they see their students at the apex in this competitive world. They are a key instrument in changing their students' lives with commitment, and their spirit is truly admirable.