Teacher — Elementary, Middle and High Schools, US School Districts

Public school districts, charter schools and private schools across the United States hire teachers for elementary, middle and high school classrooms, with most hiring for the school year that starts in August or September.

What the work involves

Planning and teaching lessons to state standards, assessing and grading students, managing a classroom, adapting work for students with disabilities or who are learning English, and meeting parents.

Requirements

• A bachelor's degree, usually in education or the subject you teach
• A state teaching certificate or license for public schools, which means passing the state's own tests and a background check
• For foreign-trained teachers, a credential evaluation and the right to work in the US, often through the J-1 Teacher program

How the pay works

• National picture. The BLS put the May 2025 median at $63,970 for elementary teachers and $72,040 for high school teachers
• Salary schedules. Districts pay by years of service and qualifications, so a master's degree usually moves you up the scale
• By state. Average pay ranges from over $100,000 in California to under $57,000 in Mississippi, Florida and Louisiana

Before you apply

Check the state before the school. Your certificate is issued by one state, and moving to another usually means applying for that state's license.

Note: pay, certification rules and visa eligibility are set by school districts, state education departments and US immigration law — not by Sajad Digital Services. Confirm the details with the district and the state before applying, and never pay a recruiter for a teaching job offer.