How long does the training take?

Typically about four years for the degree. That is the usual route rather than a rule — people arrive by other paths all the time.

Do you need a degree for this work?

Yes — a degree is the usual way in.

Where can you train for this work?

2,072 US colleges, community colleges and trade schools award credentials in a matching program. See which ones →

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Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education: pay, training and the programs that lead there

Education · SOC 25-2031

$72,040US median pay, 2025

-0.2%Projected growth, 2025–35

63,500Openings per year

DegreeUsual way in

How you get in

A degree is the usual way in.

Bachelor's degree
Work in: secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education

Programs that lead to this job

These are the federal program codes (CIP) that the Department of Education maps to this occupation, and how many US colleges, community colleges or trade schools report awarding credentials in each.

Program	Code	Schools
Biology/Biological Sciences, General	CIP 26.0101	1,632
English Language and Literature, General	CIP 23.0101	1,384
History, General	CIP 54.0101	1,338
Mathematics, General	CIP 27.0101	1,306
Political Science and Government, General	CIP 45.1001	1,181
Chemistry, General	CIP 40.0501	1,176
Music, General	CIP 50.0901	1,007
Physics, General	CIP 40.0801	792
Spanish Language and Literature	CIP 16.0905	769
Art/Art Studies, General	CIP 50.0701	725
Economics, General	CIP 45.0601	657
Secondary Education and Teaching	CIP 13.1205	524
Music Teacher Education	CIP 13.1312	467
Physical Education Teaching and Coaching	CIP 13.1314	433
English/Language Arts Teacher Education	CIP 13.1305	371
Mathematics Teacher Education	CIP 13.1311	367
Social Sciences, General	CIP 45.0101	340
French Language and Literature	CIP 16.0901	339
Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor	CIP 13.1401	331
Reading Teacher Education	CIP 13.1315	299
Biological and Physical Sciences	CIP 30.0101	298
Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching	CIP 13.1203	279
Teacher Education, Multiple Levels	CIP 13.1206	258
Art Teacher Education	CIP 13.1302	245
Social Studies Teacher Education	CIP 13.1318	212

…and 67 more related programs.

See the 2,072 schools that offer these programs →

Common questions

How long does the training take?: Typically about four years for the degree. That is the usual route rather than a rule — people arrive by other paths all the time.
How much do secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education make?: The US median is $72,040 a year, meaning half earn more and half less. Pay varies widely by state, employer and experience.
Do you need a degree for this work?: Yes — a degree is the usual way in.
Where can you train for this work?: 2,072 US colleges, community colleges and trade schools award credentials in a matching program. See which ones →

Pay and growth are national figures. What you earn depends on where you work, your employer and your experience, and these are projections rather than promises. Education requirements describe how most people enter the job, not a rule — plenty of people take another route.

Pay, growth, openings and entry requirements: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35. Program-to-occupation mapping: NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk (2020/2018). School counts: IPEDS completions, 2022–23.

Related careers in Education

Elementary school teachers, except special education · Preschool teachers, except special education · Self-enrichment teachers · Middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education · Teaching assistants, postsecondary · Instructional coordinators · Teachers and instructors, all other · Educational instruction and library workers, all other