What Does it Take to Be a Middle School Teacher?
Middle School Teacher Definition Teach students in one or more subjects in public or private schools at the middle, intermediate, or junior high level, which falls between elementary and senior high school as defined by applicable laws and regulations.
What Do Middle School Teachers Do On a Daily Basis?
- Meet or correspond with parents or guardians to discuss children’s progress and to determine priorities and resource needs.
- Plan and supervise class projects, field trips, visits by guest speakers or other experiential activities, and guide students in learning from such activities.
- Assist students who need extra help, such as by tutoring and preparing and implementing remedial programs.
- Provide disabled students with assistive devices, supportive technology, and assistance accessing facilities, such as restrooms.
- Organize and label materials and display students' work.
- Supervise, evaluate, and plan assignments for teacher assistants and volunteers.
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Middle School Teacher Required Skills
When polled, Middle School Teachers say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Instructing: Teaching others how to do something.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Learning Strategies: Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- ESL Instructor (English as a Second Language Instructor)
- Substitute Teacher
- Gym Teacher (Gymnasium Teacher)
- Middle School PE Teacher (Middle School Physical Education Teacher)
- Art Educator
Middle School Teacher Employment Estimates
In the United States, there were 630,300 jobs for Middle School Teacher in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 7.5% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 47,400 new jobs for Middle School Teacher by 2026. The BLS estimates 50,500 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for Middle School Teacher are Utah, Nevada, and Texas. Watch out if you plan on working in Vermont, Connecticut, or Maine. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Average Middle School Teachers Salary
The average yearly salary of a Middle School Teacher ranges between $39,090 and $93,180.

Middle School Teachers who work in New York, Massachusetts, or Connecticut, make the highest salaries.
How much do Middle School Teachers make in each U.S. state?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $50,210 |
Alaska | $75,770 |
Arizona | $43,560 |
Arkansas | $49,570 |
California | $75,660 |
Colorado | $53,400 |
Connecticut | $76,130 |
Delaware | $63,380 |
District of Columbia | $74,410 |
Florida | $53,140 |
Georgia | $58,190 |
Hawaii | $60,900 |
Idaho | $53,660 |
Illinois | $63,860 |
Indiana | $52,690 |
Iowa | $55,300 |
Kansas | $51,790 |
Kentucky | $54,620 |
Louisiana | $49,960 |
Maine | $53,770 |
Maryland | $69,710 |
Massachusetts | $79,030 |
Michigan | $64,540 |
Minnesota | $61,410 |
Mississippi | $46,370 |
Missouri | $55,070 |
Montana | $55,880 |
Nebraska | $60,280 |
Nevada | $58,460 |
New Hampshire | $57,640 |
New Jersey | $72,290 |
New Mexico | $52,810 |
New York | $83,490 |
North Carolina | $47,050 |
North Dakota | $60,900 |
Ohio | $62,130 |
Oklahoma | $41,660 |
Oregon | $75,280 |
Pennsylvania | $67,950 |
Rhode Island | $72,180 |
South Carolina | $52,520 |
South Dakota | $43,860 |
Tennessee | $52,260 |
Texas | $56,580 |
Utah | $61,880 |
Vermont | $59,170 |
Virginia | $66,870 |
Washington | $65,630 |
West Virginia | $45,540 |
Wisconsin | $59,880 |
Wyoming | $60,750 |
What Tools do Middle School Teachers Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Middle School Teachers may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Email software
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Blackboard
- Google Drive
- Apple Final Cut Pro
- Apple macOS
- Video editing software
- Children’s educational software
Becoming a Middle School Teacher
What kind of Middle School Teacher requirements are there?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Middle School Teachers Sector

The table below shows the approximate number of Middle School Teachers employed by various industries.

Related Careers
Those thinking about becoming a Middle School Teacher might also be interested in the following careers:
Are you already one of the many Middle School Teacher in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
- Art, Drama, and Music Professors
- Recreational Therapists
- Reporters and Correspondents
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
- Librarians
References:
Image Credit: Aparajita Datta via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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