Social Studies Teacher: Education, Job and Salary Information

• What middle school social studies teachers do
• Educational and certification requirements
• Income projections
• Pros and cons of being a middle school social studies teacher

What middle school social studies teachers do

Middle school social studies teachers introduce their preteen students to a sustained focus on subjects like history and geography. They usually instruct two to four classes a day that last 45 to 90 minutes. In between class periods, they often have prep periods to plan lessons, grade assignments or meet with other teachers and staff.

Some middle school teachers work in teams that teach the same group of students. These teachers meet to discuss students’ progress and to plan lessons.

Middle school social studies teachers typically work five days a week for nine or 10 months of the year. In addition to classroom teaching, they may also instruct students one-on-one or in smaller groups outside of class. Social studies teachers frequently must set aside time outside of the school day to develop lesson content and to grade student work and tests.

The typical duties of a middle school social studies teacher include:

• Instructing students through lectures, discussions and activities
• Assessing students’ abilities, strengths and weaknesses
• Preparing, administering and grading tests to evaluate students’ progress
• Communicating with parents about their child’s progress
• Assisting students who need extra help, such as by tutoring and preparing and implementing remedial programs
• Developing and enforcing classroom rules
• Mentoring students and teaching them how to reason, argue and persuade effectively
• Supervising students outside of the classroom — for example, at lunch or during detention

Middle school social studies curriculum

The academic curriculum gets more subject-specific as children move up to middle school. In grades six to eight, social studies focuses on U.S. history, world history, geography and civics:

• U.S. history covers topics like the American Revolution, Manifest Destiny and the Civil War.
• World history topics may include the ancient world, the medieval age and the world wars.
• Geography covers the physical features of the earth and the political boundaries and formations of human society.
• Civics studies the U.S. Constitution, the American political system and self-government.

Education and certification requirements

A bachelor’s degree and a state-certified teaching credential qualifies you to teach social studies in most U.S. middle schools. A bachelor’s degree in geography, sociology, anthropology, history or another social studies-related subject may give you a special advantage in hiring since many schools prefer a teacher with a relevant academic background.

Private schools may not require middle school social studies teachers to have a state teaching certificate. If you want a higher salary and better job opportunities, pursue a master’s degree in a social studies- or education-related subject.

Income projections

The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the average annual salary for all middle school teachers, and career-related websites offer average salaries for middle school social studies teachers:

• BLS: $55,860
• Glassdoor.com: $43,980
• PayScale.com: $45,392
• SimplyHired.com: $46,583

Pros and cons of being a middle school social studies teacher

As you consider this career, make sure to think about the upsides and downsides of becoming a middle school social studies teacher.

Pros

• Inspire the curiosity of young students on an important subject
• Many full-time jobs come with good benefits
• Potential to earn job security via tenure
• You may need only a bachelor’s degree
• Focus exclusively on teaching and students

Cons

• Frustrating when dealing with unmotivated or disruptive students
• Can be difficult to find a great full-time job at a good school
• Not as prestigious as a professorship in history or a social science

• What high school social studies teachers do
• Educational and certification requirements
• Income projections
• Pros and cons of being a high school social studies teacher

What high school social studies teachers do

Responsibilities frequently include:

• Authoring a syllabus and creating lesson plans
• Leading students through lessons, lectures and activities
• Assigning homework and projects
• Grading essays, research projects, quizzes and exams, and giving final grades
• Talking with students about current events related to class content
• Identifying at-risk students and developing strategies to help them
• Preparing students for state-required standardized tests
• Communicating with parents about their child’s progress
• Developing and enforcing classroom rules

High school social studies teachers generally teach students in ninth through 12th grades. Many schools assign students to classes based on their abilities, so teachers need to modify their lessons to match students’ aptitudes. Advanced-placement and honors classes require teachers to instruct their students at a more rigorous academic level that’s comparable to college courses.

This wide range of ages and abilities can be a challenge. Designing an engaging curriculum with real-world relevance is often the best strategy for reaching teenagers. Working with sometimes unruly students can be taxing, and patience and emotional fortitude is required for the job.

High school social studies teachers typically teach one or more subjects to numerous classes throughout the day. Between classes, they may have time to prepare lessons, grade student work and tests, and answer student questions about homework. They are usually expected to teach nine or 10 months of the year, with summers off and breaks throughout the school year.

In addition to classroom teaching, high school teachers counsel students with personal issues they face as adolescents and advise them on college and career plans. They may also lead field trips, organize after-school activities and provide one-on-one question-and-answer sessions outside of class.

Some high school teachers coach sports and advise student clubs and other groups before or after school.

High school social studies curriculum

The academic curriculum in high school is more targeted to specific subject areas than in middle school. Teachers are more likely to be experts in their field, and curriculum often reflects the content of state tests students must take to graduate.

In grades nine to 12, a social studies curriculum typically includes subdomains such as economics, government/politics, cultural studies, social issues, U.S. history, world history and geography.

• Economics focuses on the household as an economic unit, supply and demand, opportunity costs, division of labor, money/currency, market structure, regulatory institutions, capitalism and socialism/communism.
• Cultural studies examines U.S. cultural history and multiculturalism. It may include such topics as media literacy, ethnic studies, African-American studies, Chicano studies, gender studies and more.
• Social issues (or sociology) may cover social hierarchy, sexuality/gender, drug use/abuse, current events, leadership and bullying.
• Government/politics focuses on the U.S. government and political system, with a special focus on federal and state elections, the U.S. Constitution and recent political history. Coursework may also include a unit that examines other types of governments around the world.
• U.S. history usually includes numerous topics from the 20th century, including the Great Depression, the Cold War, the Civil Rights Movement, the rise of environmentalism, and the Vietnam War.
• World history can include topics such as the French Revolution, the Industrial Revolution, the Russian Revolution, colonialism/imperialism, genocide and 20th-century liberation movements.
• Geography focuses on the study of the physical features of the earth and the political boundaries and formations of human society.

High school social studies teachers must maintain a deep understanding of these subdomains of knowledge to succeed in their profession. In many cases, they may teach only one or two of these subjects based on their interest level and expertise.

Education and certification requirements

Public school districts require high school social studies teachers to have a bachelor’s degree and a state-issued teaching certification. Having a bachelor’s degree in a social studies-related subject can be helpful for job prospects. Some states require high school teachers to earn a master’s degree after earning their teaching certification.

Private schools typically seek social studies teachers who have a bachelor’s degree in an area related to what they’ll be teaching. They do not necessarily need a state-issued teaching certificate.

Most high school teachers-in-training intern in the classroom as student teachers. Working alongside a veteran teacher, the student teacher plans lessons, delivers instruction, grades assignments and communicates with parents.

It can be useful to learn about adolescent psychology and pedagogy before becoming a high school social studies teacher. Consider pursuing a master’s degree in a social science- or education-related subject.

Income projections

The Bureau of Labor Statistics calculates the average annual salary for all high school teachers, and career-related websites offer average salaries for high school social studies teachers:

• BLS: $57,200 (average of all high school teacher salaries)
• Glassdoor.com: $43,980
• Salary.com: $57,832

Pros and cons of being a high school social studies teacher

It will help to think through the positive and negative aspects of becoming a high school social studies teacher.

Pros

• Opportunity to be creative, inspire high school students and shape the direction of their lives
• Many full-time jobs come with good benefits
• Potential to earn job security via tenure
• School year provides flexibility with lots of time off
• Serve as a positive role model for youth

Cons

• Frustrating when dealing with unmotivated or disruptive students
• Lower pay than other jobs requiring college education
• Can be demanding to keep students engaged and focused
• Not as prestigious as a professorship
• Lower pay than other social studies-related jobs
• Low job growth projected over next decade