OVERVIEW
What is a Junior High Teacher?
Junior high school, sometimes referred to as middle school, is a marked transition from elementary school to high school. This is a time focused on developing a student’s cognitive, memory, and information-processing skills in preparation for the rigor of high school. Junior high teachers instruct students in sixth through eighth grade, spending most of their day presenting and facilitating individual lesson plans in one or more academic subjects. They utilize a variety of teaching techniques that appeal to various learning styles and methods. Outside of school hours, teachers spend their time preparing materials, grading assessments, working one-on-one with students, and communicating with parents about a student’s progress.
A commitment to constant learning and self-improvement is important to be a successful teacher. Most junior high teachers work collaboratively in planning their curriculum and often have a strong cross-curriculum focus in their assignments, demonstrated by the wave of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education happening in schools today.
RESPONSIBILITIES
What Does a Junior High Teacher Do?
The day-to-day responsibilities of a junior high teacher can include:
Creating lesson plans to teach students a subject.
- Assessing students to evaluate their abilities, strengths, and weaknesses.
- Teaching lessons they have planned to an entire class or to smaller groups.
- Grading students’ assignments and exams.
- Communicating with parents or guardians about their child’s progress.
- Working with students individually to help them overcome specific learning challenges.
- Preparing students for standardized tests required by the state.
- Developing and enforcing classroom rules.
- Supervising students outside of the classroom—for example, during lunchtime or detention.
EDUCATION & BEST DEGREES
How Do I Become a Junior High Teacher?
The first step in becoming a junior high teacher is to earn a bachelor’s degree in the subject you want to teach, such as mathematics or science. In your program of study, you’re often required to take education-focused courses to help you adapt your content knowledge to a teaching role. Additionally, you’ll be required to complete an in-person student teaching experience within a middle school classroom. Student teaching will help you develop your teaching, classroom management, curriculum planning, assessment, and time management skills.
Once you earn your degree, you must pass your state’s required exams for teaching certification and apply for your teaching license. Then, you can begin applying for open teaching positions. Most teaching licenses must be updated every five years. In order to keep your certification up-to-date, you must complete the necessary continuing education requirements of your state. Some teachers pursue additional certifications to enhance their careers. Earning a gifted and talented education (GATE) certification, a reading specialist certification, or a National Board certification will only further develop your knowledge, skills, and hiring potential. For teachers who want to increase their annual salary or advance into administration, a master’s degree is essential.
Best Degrees for Junior High Teachers
Education
Science Education (Secondary Chemistry) – B.S.
An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring...
An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring middle or high school chemistry teachers.
Leads to teacher licensure. Specific grade levels will vary depending on licensure in your state.
- Time: 65% of students finish this online chemistry degree within 37 months.
- Tuition: $3,825 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 39 total courses in this program (40 for Washington residents).
Skills for your résumé included in this program:
- Physical Chemistry
- Inorganic Chemistry
- Organic Chemistry
- Educational Psychology & Development
- Biochemistry
This chemistry teaching degree program requires in-classroom observation and a term of full-time student teaching. Earn a chemistry degree online and be eligible for a teaching certification.
Education
Science Education (Secondary Physics) – B.S.
An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring...
An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring middle or high school physics teachers.
Leads to teacher licensure. Specific grade levels will vary depending on teaching license options in your state.
- Time: 62% of students earn this online physics degree within 49 months.
- Tuition: $3,825 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 39 total courses in this program (40 for Washington residents).
Skills for your résumé included in this program:
- Educational Psychology
- Physics: Waves and Optics
- Space, Time and Motion
- Conceptual Physics
- Physics: Mechanics
This physics teaching degree program requires in-classroom observation and a term of full-time student teaching. Graduates of this online teaching degree program will be eligible for teaching certification.
Education
Science Education (Secondary Biological Science) – B.S.
An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring...
An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring middle or high school biology teachers.
Leads to teacher licensure. Specific grade levels will vary depending on licensure in your state.
- Time: 61% of students earned this online biology degree within 38 months.
- Tuition: $3,825 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 37 total courses in this program (38 for Washington residents).
Skills for your résumé included in this program:
- Zoology
- Ecology and Environmental Science
- Health Sciences
- Molecular and Cellular Biology
- Heredity and Genetics
This biology teaching degree program requires in-classroom observation and a term of full-time student teaching.
Education
Science Education (Secondary Earth Science) – B.S.
An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring...
An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring middle or high school earth science teachers.
Leads to teacher licensure. Specific grade levels will vary depending on teaching license options in your state.
- Time: 63% of students earn this middle school teaching and high school teaching degree within 33 months.
- Tuition: $3,825 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 37 total courses in this program (38 for Washington residents)
Skills for your résumé included in this program:
- Ecology and Environmental Science
- General Physics
- Physical Geology
- Earth Systems
- Astronomy
This geosciences teaching degree program requires in-classroom observation and a term of full-time student teaching. This high school teaching degree program prepares you for teaching licensure in any of the 50 states.
How Much Does a Junior High Teacher Make?
$61,320
Location, experience, and specialty have the largest impact on income for teachers. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for a junior high teacher in the U.S. is $61,320, with the top 10% earning more than $99,470 and the bottom 10% earning less than $45,510. Teachers are typically able to increase their income by furthering their education, gaining experience, or transitioning into administrative roles. On average, junior high teachers with a master’s degree earn $20,000 more per year than those with just a bachelor’s degree.
What Is the Projected Job Growth?
4%
Currently, the job field for middle school or junior high teachers is projected to grow by 4% between 2021 and 2031, about as fast as the average occupation. Certification in a subject that is experiencing a shortage of teachers, such as STEM, may increase a teacher’s job security.
SKILLS
What Skills Does a Junior High Teacher Need?
A junior high teacher requires a variety of professional and interpersonal skills, most notably:
- Communication
- Active Listening
- Persistence
- Adaptability
- Collaboration
- Creativity
- Patience
- Organization
- Tech-savvy
- Time management
- Empathy
- Self-reflection
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