California is the most populous state in the United States and home to one of the top ten largest economies in the world. High school math teachers make up a small group of professionals within the education field, but teaching high school math is a popular profession.
high school math teacher salary in california
A high school math teacher salary in California can vary greatly depending on location and the alternative work experience. The average annual salary for a high school Math teacher is $75,000
What Is the Average Salary of a High School Math Teacher?
High school math teachers teach students the math fundamentals necessary for success in the workplace as well as college-level study. Read on to learn more about job requirements and salaries for this career.View Schools
Job Prospects
The BLS reports that math, science, special education and bilingual education teachers are currently in the highest demand and have the greatest job prospects (www.bls.gov). Overall employment for high school teachers is expected to grow by about four percent from 2019-2029, also according to the BLS.
Important Facts About This Occupation
| On-the-Job Training | Must complete a period of student teaching; length varies by state |
| Key Skills | Communication skills, patience, and resourcefulness |
| Work Environment | Public and private schools |
| Similar Occupations | Childcare worker, instructional coordinator, librarian, middle school teacher |
Salary Overview
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported in May 2020 that most secondary school teachers, in general, made between $41,330 and $102,130 annually. Teachers who reported having math skills – including, but not limited to, math teachers – earned a median salary of $50,673 as of May 2021, according to PayScale.com.
Salary by Location
In May 2020, the BLS reported mean annual earnings for the states with the highest job concentration of secondary school teachers. These states included Missouri ($48,570), Vermont ($66,370), Connecticut ($78,510), Arkansas ($52,540), and Rhode Island ($76,270). States with the highest mean wages at that time were New York ($88,890), California ($86,900), Massachusetts ($84,130), New Jersey ($78,900) and Connecticut ($78,510). States paying the lowest included Mississipi, Louisiana, Missouri, Arkansas, West Virginia and South Dakota. The mean annual salary range for low-paying areas was $34,150 to $52,680.
Salary by Experience
PayScale.com reported that salaries for high school teachers with math skills varied by experience in May 2021. For example, new teachers with less than five years of experience made between $35,000 and $65,000, while those with five to nine years of experience made $36,000 to $69,000. The most experienced teachers with 20 years or more earned $49,000 to $99,000.
Required Education
If you intend to become a high school math teacher, you’ll need to earn at least a bachelor’s degree. Colleges and universities offer teacher education programs to prepare you for working in the classroom, and you’ll complete major courses in mathematics alongside education coursework. In some programs, you may opt to take advantage of internship opportunities with local schools that allow you to gain critical classroom experience and develop your teaching skills.
Licensure
Prior to starting work as a public school teacher, you must obtain a state-issued teaching license. To receive a license, you will have to pass examinations that demonstrate competency in reading, writing and the subject(s) you intend to teach. If you have a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, but have not completed the educational courses typically required to receive a teaching license, you may be able to teach with a provisional license while completing the required courses.
Typically, a state’s board of education issues teaching licenses, but exact requirements vary based on the subject and grade level that you plan to teach. Some states may require that you make progress towards a master’s degree in order to maintain licensure. To find out more about the teacher certification process, contact your state’s board of education.
In conclusion, you will find that being a high school math teacher is a rewarding and noble job. The income can be fair, which means you can support yourself somewhat decently. But most importantly, it lets you fulfill your dream of becoming a teacher while making a difference in the life of students.
