Hiring guide · Education & Childcare
How to Hire a High School Teacher
Pay benchmarks, qualifications, sourcing, screening and interview questions for hiring high school teachers, plus a plan to get them productive fast.
Write a clear job description, offer competitive pay (the national median is $72,040), recruit through college education programs and student-teaching placements, verify State teaching license where applicable, run a structured interview with a practical skills check, and onboard with a 30-60-90 day plan.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
The hiring market for high school teachers
There are about 1,087,500 high school teachers employed in the U.S., with roughly 63,500 openings each year. Employment is projected to change -0.2% from 2025–35 (little or no change). Most openings come from replacing workers who retire or change careers, so a steady pipeline matters.
Pay benchmarks for offers
| Candidate level | Annual | Hourly* |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (10th–25th percentile) | $48,780–$59,980 | $23.45–$28.84 |
| Typical / mid-career (median) | $72,040 | $34.63 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $92,570 | $44.50 |
| Top of market (90th percentile) | $107,600 | $51.73 |
*Annual ÷ 2,080 hours. National BLS data; adjust for your state and metro area. Many states and cities now require pay ranges in job postings.
What to look for
Must-haves
- Bachelor's degree (typical entry level)
- Licensing or certification required in your state
- Subject expertise
- Communication
Nice-to-haves
- State teaching license
- Subject endorsement
- AP course training
- Experience with learning management systems such as Canvas or Google Classroom
Where to find high school teachers
- College education programs and student-teaching placements
- Alternative certification and residency programs
- Substitute and paraprofessional pools
- Community colleges with early childhood (CDA) programs
- Job postings that use common alternate titles: Secondary School Teacher, English Teacher, Math Teacher, Science Teacher
Screening checklist
- State license or certification verification where required
- Fingerprint background checks and child abuse registry clearances
- CPR and first aid certification for childcare roles
- A sample lesson or classroom observation
Follow federal, state and local rules on background checks, drug testing and fair-chance hiring, and apply screening consistently to all candidates for the role.
Interview questions to ask
Ask every candidate the same questions and score answers on a structured scorecard.
1. “How do you engage teens?”
What a strong answer includes: Use relevance and choice.
2. “How do you handle a student who won’t work?”
What a strong answer includes: Build relationships and support.
3. “How do you use data?”
What a strong answer includes: Explain assessments.
4. “What extracurriculars can you lead?”
What a strong answer includes: Mention interests.
5. “Why teaching?”
What a strong answer includes: Share motivation.
Practical skills checks
A short demonstration beats a perfect resume. Ask candidates to talk you through, or perform under supervision, tasks such as:
- Plan a Unit (see the steps)
- Prepare Students for an AP Exam (see the steps)
- Write a Strong Recommendation Letter (see the steps)
Red flags
- Can’t describe basic safety practices for the role
- Vague or inconsistent work history with no explanation
- Unfamiliar with core terms such as AP, Dual enrollment, Unit plan
- Negative talk about every past employer or coworker
Onboard for retention
The first 90 days decide whether a new hire stays. Use our High School Teacher 30-60-90 day onboarding plan and give every new hire the same foundation with High School Teacher training. Show them the path forward: Student Teacher → High School Teacher → Department Chair → Assistant Principal or Principal.
Hiring high school teachers: FAQ
How much should I pay a high school teacher?
The U.S. median wage for high school teachers is $72,040 per year, according to BLS May 2025 data. Entry-level offers often fall near the 25th percentile ($59,980), while experienced hires command closer to the 75th percentile ($92,570). Adjust for your local market.
What qualifications should a high school teacher have?
BLS lists “bachelor's degree” as the typical entry-level education. Look for State teaching license and Subject endorsement where relevant, plus skills such as subject expertise, lesson and unit planning, and assessment and grading.
How long does it take to train a new high school teacher?
Becoming qualified typically takes 4 years plus licensing. After hire, plan for a structured 30-60-90 day onboarding period; BLS classifies on-the-job training for this occupation as “none.”