Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
People classed as Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level. The skills rated most useful are instructing, speaking, and reading comprehension. One core duty is to prepare students for later grades by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks. On the six-type interest model it reads SAC, meaning helping, teaching or caring for people comes first, followed by creative work with room for original expression. Getting in usually takes a bachelor’s degree plus a period of work experience, a level O*NET calls considerable preparation. If you want helping, teaching or caring for people, keep it on your list. If you need hands-on work with tools, machines or the physical world, it may feel thin.
What they do
Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level.
Main tasks
- Prepare students for later grades by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.
- Instruct through lectures, discussions, and demonstrations in one or more subjects, such as English, mathematics, or social studies.
- Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among students.
- Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.
- Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests.
- Prepare, administer, and grade tests and assignments to evaluate students' progress.
Skills
- Instructing
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Learning Strategies
- Active Listening
- Social Perceptiveness
Who this career fits
May suit you if
- You get energy from helping other people move forward.
- You want room to make something in your own way.
- You are ready to spend around four years on a degree, then build experience.
- You are comfortable relying on instructing and speaking.
May not suit you if
- You find a full day of dealing with people draining.
- You want to avoid a four-year degree or its equivalent.
Interest profile
O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code SAC takes the three highest, and Social comes first here.
Preparation
Considerable preparation. Most jobs here ask for a bachelor’s degree, and employers usually expect a few years of related experience as well.
Most-reported requirement in the O*NET survey: Bachelor's Degree. This reflects what workers reported most often and is not a legal minimum. Licensing rules can differ by state or industry, so confirm what applies where you plan to work.
Also called
- Art Teacher
- English Teacher
- Math Teacher (Mathematics Teacher)
- Music Teacher
- PE Teacher (Physical Education Teacher)
Related careers
Is this your direction?
See how your interests line up with SAC and 906 other careers.
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.