What does a high school science teacher do?

High school science teachers are teaching professionals who are responsible for teaching high school students about subjects related to science. These teachers may teach science subjects such as biology, physics, chemistry, or astronomy however they can teach a combination of these studies depending on the school budget and staffing concern. They are required to lesson plans that will cater according to the age group while conducting hands-on demonstrations for science subjects. High school science teachers must also enforce classroom rules and discipline to ensure a safe school environment for all students.
High school science teacher responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real high school science teacher resumes:
- Coordinate training for the after-school soccer league, manage game schedules and transportation for the school team
- Prepare students for higher level science courses including chemistry and anatomy and physiology.
- Support the implementation of the IB continuum.
- Create daily lesson plans for biology and human anatomy courses.
- Incorporate lab activities for an apply, student focuse chemistry course.
- Prepare and deliver lessons ranging from genetics to cell structure and composition.
- Develop lab base forensic course covering blood spatter, fingerprints, DNA, and human remains.
- Tutor students in math as well as chemistry during lunch, planning periods, and after school.
- Focuse on curriculum content, math problem solving skills, vocabulary, observation skills, and hands on labs.
- Assist in administrative tasks such as daily scheduling, ISP development and IEP implementation, and basic building and grounds maintenance.
- Used IEP's and other tracking devices to provide differentiate and specialize instruction for students of all learning and language backgrounds.
- Incorporate inquiry base science instruction throughout the curriculum.
- Develop and implement of interactive and hands-on science curriculum.
- Prepare and deliver hands-on investigations that facilitate active learning in an outdoor setting to students k-12.
- Develop assessment materials for new syllabus.
High school science teacher skills and personality traits
We calculated that 11% of High School Science Teachers are proficient in Professional Development, Classroom Management, and Instructional Materials. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Patience, and Physical stamina.
We break down the percentage of High School Science Teachers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Professional Development, 11%
Attended collaborative professional development meetings to raise the standard of all educators on faculty at the institution.
- Classroom Management, 10%
Supervised 54 students, while incorporating classroom management.
- Instructional Materials, 6%
Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests.
- Student Learning, 6%
Networked and developed partnerships within the community to create out-of-class opportunities to expand student learning.
- Student Achievement, 5%
Developed laboratory activities enhancing student achievement.
- Classroom Environment, 4%
Provided an effective classroom environment to reflect and facilitate the academic program.
Common skills that a high school science teacher uses to do their job include "professional development," "classroom management," and "instructional materials." You can find details on the most important high school science teacher responsibilities below.
Communication skills. The most essential soft skill for a high school science teacher to carry out their responsibilities is communication skills. This skill is important for the role because "teachers must share ideas with their students, other teachers, and school administrators and staff." Additionally, a high school science teacher resume shows how their duties depend on communication skills: "integrated and taught basic science, math, and communication arts in an alternative program setting. "
Patience. Many high school science teacher duties rely on patience. "high school teachers must stay calm in difficult situations, such as when students struggle with material.," so a high school science teacher will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways high school science teacher responsibilities rely on patience: "helped meet educational goals through clear expectations and patience in biology and life science. "
The three companies that hire the most high school science teachers are:
- K1216 high school science teachers jobs
- Wayne RESA11 high school science teachers jobs
- California Academy of Sciences7 high school science teachers jobs
Choose from 10+ customizable high school science teacher resume templates
Build a professional high school science teacher resume in minutes. Our AI resume writing assistant will guide you through every step of the process, and you can choose from 10+ resume templates to create your high school science teacher resume.Compare different high school science teachers
High school science teacher vs. Teacher and coach
Being a teacher is one of the most passionate professions, among others. Teachers educate, motivate, and guide every generation of learners to prepare them for the real world. Every teacher is unique and has their own teaching styles and methods depending on the subject they teach and the age of their students. Oftentimes they also function as a parent, counselor, coach, friend, and even a lawmaker. There is essentially no limit to the roles a teacher portrays.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between high school science teachers and teacher and coach. For instance, high school science teacher responsibilities require skills such as "curriculum development," "physical science," "learning process," and "science curriculum." Whereas a teacher and coach is skilled in "girls basketball," "varsity football," "student athletes," and "softball." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Teacher and coaches tend to make the most money working in the education industry, where they earn an average salary of $48,513. In contrast, high school science teachers make the biggest average salary, $53,889, in the education industry.On average, teacher and coaches reach similar levels of education than high school science teachers. Teacher and coaches are 4.6% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.5% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.High school science teacher vs. Teacher
A Science Instructor guides the student in understanding important concepts in science, which may include problem-solving and gathering evidence in supporting concepts or ideas. Their responsibilities include presenting science demonstrations, checking assignments, grading tests, and writing lesson plans. Instructors also need to evaluate each student's performance. They are also required to be excellent in written and verbal skills and communicate effectively with students, parents, and colleagues.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, high school science teacher responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "physical science," "science curriculum," "english language," and "data analysis." Meanwhile, a teacher has duties that require skills in areas such as "handle scheduling," "cpr," "geography," and "literature." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Teachers may earn a lower salary than high school science teachers, but teachers earn the most pay in the education industry with an average salary of $49,700. On the other hand, high school science teachers receive higher pay in the education industry, where they earn an average salary of $53,889.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Teachers tend to reach lower levels of education than high school science teachers. In fact, they're 7.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.5% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for high school science teachers in the next 3-5 years?
Maggie Beeber
Undergraduate Advising Coordinator & Teacher Certification Officer, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
High school science teacher vs. Science instructor
A math teacher is responsible for instilling analytical and statistical knowledge to the learners. The duties of a math teacher include the development of a student's problem-solving skills, practical application of formulas and logical reasoning, utilization of visual materials and other learning equipment for better comprehension, and evaluation of the students' learning progress by conducting series of tests and activities. A math teacher should also support and encourage students and build their self-confidence by providing regular coachings, managing their learning challenges, and keeping engaging lesson plans.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a high school science teacher is likely to be skilled in "learning process," "english language," "iep," and "data analysis," while a typical science instructor is skilled in "chemistry," "visualization," "learning environment," and "adaptive."
Science instructors earn the best pay in the education industry, where they command an average salary of $47,912. High school science teachers earn the highest pay from the education industry, with an average salary of $53,889.When it comes to education, science instructors tend to earn similar degree levels compared to high school science teachers. In fact, they're 2.7% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 2.6% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.High school science teacher vs. Math teacher
Even though a few skill sets overlap between high school science teachers and math teachers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a high school science teacher might have more use for skills like "professional development," "classroom environment," "physical science," and "science curriculum." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of math teachers require skills like "public schools," "mathematics curriculum," "instructional strategies," and "trigonometry. "
Math teachers enjoy the best pay in the education industry, with an average salary of $51,152. For comparison, high school science teachers earn the highest salary in the education industry.In general, math teachers hold similar degree levels compared to high school science teachers. Math teachers are 2.2% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of high school science teacher
Updated January 8, 2025











