Careers and Employment Outlook

The opportunities for preschool, kindergarten, elementary, middle and secondary disciplines are expected to increase over the next few years. While teaching jobs overall are expected to increase, opportunities within the math, science and bilingual areas are expected to increase more quickly. Also, teachers looking to teach within rural or low income urban areas are also increasing in demand.

Opportunities for teachers is expected to grow nearly 12% over the next five to six years, and while this is at a similar rate to other careers, due to the size of the education industry, this will create one of the highest rates of new jobs within the nation.

Overall, national student growth is expected to remain steady. The most significant increases are expected to be within the states of Texas, Georgia, Arizona and Nevada. Enrollment within the north eastern states is expected to decline. Teachers with the ability to move for employment or who are accredited in multiple disciplines will be the most competitive in the future job market.

In addition to student growth affecting the education job market, the number of current teachers retiring is also expected to rise over the next decade. As baby boomers begin to retire, their positions will need to be filled. So in addition to the rising job market already created by the student population rising, there will also be a surge for teachers as current professionals begin to retire.

Nationwide, there are opportunities available for educators. The availability and quality of the positions currently opening up will vary based upon the type of school, the location of the school and the grade level in which you select to teach.

Employment is expected to increase faster than the average for all occupations. Job prospects should be excellent because many districts report problems finding adequate numbers of licensed special education teachers.

Earnings

Median annual wages of kindergarten, elementary, middle, and secondary school teachers ranged from $47,100 to $51,180 in May 2008; the lowest 10 percent earned $30,970 to $34,280; the top 10 percent earned $75,190 to $80,970.

For more information visit the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook 2010-2011 Edition.