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Public School Districts
New York City Public Schools, Los Angeles Unified School District, Chicago Public Schools
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Middle school teachers spend their day teaching early adolescents who can be focused one minute and completely off-task the next. The work mixes lesson planning, grading, parent contact, and behavior management, so the real challenge is keeping a class moving while helping students at very different skill levels. The tradeoff is that the job offers steady hiring and direct impact on students, but the pay and long-term advancement are only moderate and the emotional load can be high.
Also known as Middle Grades TeacherJunior High TeacherGrade 6 TeacherGrade 7 TeacherGrade 8 Teacher
Median Salary
$62,970
Mean $70,040
U.S. Workforce
~620K
40.5K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+-2%
633.7K to 621.3K
Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education sits in the Education category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~620K workers, with a median annual pay of $62,970 and roughly 40.5K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to decline from 633.7 K in 2024 to 621.3K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Bachelor's Degree, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Student Teacher / Resident Teacher and can progress toward Instructional Coach / Assistant Principal. High-value skills usually include Instructing, Learning Strategies, and Speaking, paired with soft skills such as Patience, Clear communication, and Relationship building.
Core Responsibilities
- Plan lessons, teach classes, give assignments, and grade student work.
- Work one-on-one or in small groups with students who need extra help or a different approach.
- Meet with parents, counselors, and administrators to discuss behavior, progress, and attendance concerns.
- Attend staff meetings, training sessions, and education workshops to keep skills and methods up to date.
Keep exploring: more Education careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Plan lessons, teach classes, give assignments, and grade student work.
02 Work one-on-one or in small groups with students who need extra help or a different approach.
03 Meet with parents, counselors, and administrators to discuss behavior, progress, and attendance concerns.
04 Attend staff meetings, training sessions, and education workshops to keep skills and methods up to date.
05 Coordinate with other teachers and school leaders to adjust curriculum, schedules, and school programs.
06 Supervise clubs, student groups, contests, and other after-school activities.
Industries That Hire
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Charter School Networks
KIPP Public Schools, Success Academy Charter Schools, IDEA Public Schools
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Private and Independent Schools
Sidwell Friends School, Phillips Academy, The Spence School
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Virtual K-12 Schools
Stride, Connections Academy, Pearson Virtual Schools
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Tutoring and Enrichment Services
Kumon, Sylvan Learning, Huntington Learning Center
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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You can qualify with a bachelor's degree, and the job does not require prior work experience or on-the-job training.
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There are still about 40.5K annual openings, so schools keep hiring even though the occupation is projected to decline 2.0% over the decade.
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Average pay is $70,040 a year, which is solid for a role that usually starts after one four-year degree.
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You get to see student progress up close, which makes the work feel concrete instead of abstract.
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The job includes more than classroom teaching, such as clubs, contests, and other student activities.
Challenges
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The median pay is $62,970, which can feel modest for a bachelor's-level job with a heavy workload.
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Employment is projected to fall from 633.7K in 2024 to 621.3K in 2034, so the field is not growing.
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The work is mostly in-person, so remote or hybrid options are rare compared with many other occupations.
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The school day ends, but the job usually does not; grading, meetings, conferences, and training add extra hours.
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Long-term advancement inside teaching can be limited, and higher pay often means moving into coaching or administration instead of staying in the classroom.
Career Progression
Student Teacher / Resident Teacher
0-2 years
$30K-$42K
You learn classroom routines, help lead lessons, and take on more responsibility under close supervision.
Middle School Teacher
2-8 years
$55K-$74K
You run your own classes, manage behavior, communicate with families, and adapt lessons for students with very different needs.
Senior Middle School Teacher THIS ROLE
8-15 years
$76K-$90K
You still teach full time, but you are also likely to mentor newer teachers, lead grade-level planning, and shape school routines.
Instructional Coach / Assistant Principal
12-20 years
$92K-$120K
You spend less time with one classroom and more time supporting teachers, reviewing data, and helping run the school.
Education Paths
Bachelor's Degree
The most common entry point, held by 66.94% of workers in this role.
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate / Teacher Preparation Program
A major alternative route, held by 21.3% of workers, often used to complete state licensure requirements.
Master's Degree
An advanced route, held by 2.18% of workers, usually chosen by teachers who want deeper subject knowledge or a step toward leadership.
Key Skills
Technical
Instructing 81%
Learning Strategies 81%
Speaking 78%
Active Listening 75%
Active Learning 72%
Monitoring 72%
Reading Comprehension 72%
Social Perceptiveness 72%
Google Classroom, Canvas & Schoology 68%
PowerSchool, Infinite Campus & Gradebook Systems 66%
Benchmark Assessments, i-Ready & NWEA MAP 64%
Soft Skills
PatienceClear communicationRelationship buildingConflict resolutionOrganizationAdaptability Job Outlook and Trends
+-2%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
40.5K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 633.7K to 621.3 K over the next decade, representing -2% growth. Around 40.5 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.