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Job outlook for home economics teachers in the United States
Home economics teacher job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected home economics teacher job growth rate is 5% from 2018-2028.
About 48,700 new jobs for home economics teachers are projected over the next decade.
Home economics teacher salaries have increased 8% for home economics teachers in the last 5 years.
There are over 4,041 home economics teachers currently employed in the United States.
There are 100,531 active home economics teacher job openings in the US.
The average home economics teacher salary is $50,121.
Are home economics teacher jobs in demand?
Home economics teacher job and salary trends over time
Home economics teacher jobs over time
Home economics teacher job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,041 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 3,925 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 4,103 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 4,165 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 4,068 | 0.00% |
Average home economics teacher salary over time
Home economics teacher salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $50,121 | $24.10 | +2.0% |
| 2024 | $49,156 | $23.63 | +2.2% |
| 2023 | $48,088 | $23.12 | +1.9% |
| 2022 | $47,171 | $22.68 | +2.0% |
| 2021 | $46,262 | $22.24 | +1.5% |
Home economics teacher jobs by state
Most common states for home economics teachers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 300 | 29% |
| 2 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 195 | 28% |
| 3 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 363 | 27% |
| 4 | Delaware | 961,939 | 250 | 26% |
| 5 | Vermont | 623,657 | 162 | 26% |
| 6 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 2,203 | 24% |
| 7 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,639 | 24% |
| 8 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,311 | 24% |
| 9 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 500 | 24% |
| 10 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 827 | 23% |
| 11 | Nevada | 2,998,039 | 702 | 23% |
| 12 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 2,766 | 22% |
| 13 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,252 | 21% |
| 14 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 1,408 | 20% |
| 15 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,107 | 20% |
| 16 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 116 | 20% |
| 17 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 1,275 | 19% |
| 18 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 610 | 19% |
| 19 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 306 | 18% |
| 20 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 1,709 | 17% |
Most common cities for home economics teachers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Marcos | 1 | 1% | $59,708 |
| 2 | Philadelphia | 1 | 0% | $54,664 |
Home Economics Teacher job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of home economics teacher experts
University of Indianapolis
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Hartwick College
University of Central Arkansas
Centenary University
Seattle Pacific University
California State University - Fresno
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Oakland University
Indiana University Kokomo
Providence College
Anderson University
What general advice would you give to a Home Economics Teacher?
Sumudu Lewis: Many soft skills are important to teachers. They include but are not limited to being effective communicators and demonstrating compassion, empathy, patience, and resilience. Leadership skills are also important, as are conflict resolution, time management, and collaborative skills. The most important hard skills include content knowledge, the ability to unpack the state standards to develop units of work, plan well-structured lessons with observable and measurable learning objectives, create and use formative and summative assessments to measure students' learning, analyze data from assessments and make adjustments to practice, integrate technology, have a repertoire of teaching strategies to meet the needs of diverse learners.
What Home Economics Teacher skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Sumudu Lewis: The advice I always give these students is first and foremost, be a reflective practitioner. Reflect on their teaching, their interaction with students, and their general classroom management. Reflect on what worked and what needs improving always focusing on students' learning. Secondly, participate actively in professional development opportunities to stay current with innovative teaching strategies and educational research. Third, be organized, be flexible, and remain positive. Sometimes a lesson will not go as you planned, so be prepared to make changes on the spot. Finally, have fun and celebrate students' successes, no matter how small they are.
What general advice would you give to a Home Economics Teacher?
Dr. Kacey Higdon: In the next 5 years, skills such as digital literacy, adaptability to new technology, emotional intelligence and sound judgement, critical thinking skills, classroom management, and understanding how the brain works and learns, and diversifying learning are becoming increasingly important.
What will help Home Economics Teachers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Kacey Higdon: To maximize your salary potential in the field of education, focus on obtaining relevant advanced degrees or certifications that can lead to higher paying positions. Vary the emphasis from each degree to open more opportunities. Seek out professional development and training to enhance your qualifications. Consider gaining expertise in specialized areas such as technology or special education. Finally, many teachers find tutoring to be lucrative side income.
What general advice would you give to a Home Economics Teacher?
Dr. Catherine Nelson: On a typical day, in general, an educator plans lessons for their students, takes attendance when their students come in the room, teaches the planned lessons to their students, and assesses their students. They might do this individually or in a group; for example, a teacher might meet with their grade-level team to map out the next unit they are teaching or go over standardized test results as a group. Individually, a teacher might grade their students' exit tickets and decide to change the next day's lesson plan to review the material. Depending on the grade level, they may have recess duty or monitor a study hall. Beyond all the tasks they do, though, the most important thing educators do is create and maintain relationships with their students. They celebrate with their students when something new is learned, and they are there to listen when a student is sad and distracted because of a rough time at home. These are the things students remember about their teachers.
What Home Economics Teacher skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Tracy Johnson: Be as marketable as possible. The more grades, subject areas, etc. that you are licensed to teach, the better off you are. At a time when teachers are in high demand, you can afford to apply to many different places and choose the one that is right for you, not only financially but also philosophically as well.
What will help Home Economics Teachers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Tracy Johnson: Be open to new experiences. You may think you really want to teach 5th grade math, but have an opportunity to apply for a 3rd grade position. Give it a chance. You may find out that you love 3rd grade! Also, remember that teaching is a profession in which you are continually learning. The best teachers are the ones who are always ready to add to their professional knowledge and expertise. When you can, take advantage of continuing professional development opportunities.
What will help Home Economics Teachers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Vicki Collet: First-year teachers should reach out to colleagues for support. Don't hesitate! Every school has their own ways of doing things, and you won't know unless you ask. There is no shame in asking for help. Plan a personal retreat for October. Your adrenaline will be high as you start the school year with your own classroom. However, by October, you will likely feel worn out from learning the new duties and responsibilities. Plan ahead to bolster yourself through this month. After refueling, refocus on why you chose this profession.
What Home Economics Teacher skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Ross Bussell PhD: Teaching is one of the few careers out there that has resisted change over the past 100 years. Technology demands that teachers adapt or fall behind. I remember when the internet first came around, and how profound of an impact it had on the field. Then when social media came around, we saw the impacts on students' ability to focus, the damage it has done to their self-esteem, etc. Projecting forward into the near future, the ability to utilize AI effectively, and teaching students how to use it ethically and as a learning tool will be integral. Teachers need to also understand that critical thinking skills have been largely forgotten. A push back from a testing-focused school system will be necessary. Right now, we have young adults who came through the school system, tested often, but never learned how to critique information they find online for truthfulness and quality. From the earliest years in school, teachers need to begin developing these skills in their students, the 'how to think, not what to think' skill set is extremely important.
What Home Economics Teacher skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Wayne Journell: Learning loss during the pandemic has been well documented. In particular, that cohort of students who attended kindergarten, first, and second grades virtually will be matriculating through school for the next decade; therefore, all teachers, regardless of subject, need to be skilled in helping students learn to read and write. Also, technology continues to play a significant role in K-12 classrooms, so making sure that one can use technology to teach content in learner-centered ways will be important.
What will help Home Economics Teachers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Wayne Journell: Teaching is a difficult profession to advance in with respect to salary. Most districts have a set salary schedule that is based on years of service (and most private schools pay less than public schools). That said, some states and districts prioritize teachers more than others, so if one is geographically open, I would encourage them to seek out states and districts that pay teachers well (keeping in mind discrepancies in cost of living).
What general advice would you give to a Home Economics Teacher?
Dr. Amanda Aguilar: Most of your salary increases within education will come from additional years of experience as your career progresses or moving to a district/state that pays a higher salary. However, there are some things you can do throughout your career that will add additional stipends on top of your base salary. Some of these might include additional education (masters, doctorate) and additional certifications (English as a Second Language (ESL), National Board Certification, School Counseling, reading and/or math specialist, and more). Additionally, you might decide to take on additional duties such as coaching, club sponsorship, summer school teaching, and more. The stipends for these duties will vary depending on the district.
Christopher Rivera PhD
ProfessorWhat will help Home Economics Teachers increase their earning potential?
Christopher Rivera PhD: Soft skills will never grow old. Understanding how technology can enrich the classroom environment (e.g., artificial intelligence) will always be beneficial. I also think that longevity, oddly enough, is also of value. It may not be looked at as a skill, but administrators want to invest in teachers that are going to stay in the profession. The profession needs educators and administrators will do what they can to keep quality educators in the classroom.
Corinne Shirley Ph.D.
Senior InstructorWhat general advice would you give to a Home Economics Teacher?
Corinne Shirley Ph.D.: The best way to maximize your salary potential is to develop as many skills as possible; take classes in other fields that interest you and be sure to use extracurricular activities to develop new skills, such as event planning, marketing, or grant writing.
What Home Economics Teacher skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Corinne Shirley Ph.D.: There is no “typical” career path for Classics majors, so apply for the jobs that interest you and be prepared to explain how the knowledge and skills you have developed studying Latin and Greek can be an asset in your chosen field. Explore as much as possible while in college, don’t limit yourself, and be bold.
Dr. Nina Roofe Ph.D.
Associate Professor & ChairUniversity of Central Arkansas
Department of Nutrition & Family Sciences
What skills stand out on Home Economics Teacher resumes?
Dr. Nina Roofe Ph.D.: The impact of your teaching on students is what employers are looking for in a resume. Provide examples of student learning outcomes, how you targeted areas that needed improvement, how you used research to determine the best intervention for the situation, and the results of your intervention. The process you used is just as important as the results. Your ability to identify gaps in the curriculum and develop new courses or teaching units shows initiative and high-level skills. Include metrics such as the number of lesson plans developed each term, number of individualized education plans (IEP) per academic year, and committees you serve on or chair.
What soft skills should all Home Economics Teachers possess?
Dr. Nina Roofe Ph.D.: Collegiality is the most important soft skill an educator can possess. This is seen in how educators interact with each other and conduct themselves in their schools. Participating in peer teaching consultations objectively and willingly sharing ideas to support new educators shows your dedication to the teaching profession and commitment to mentoring new professionals. Demonstrating flexibility with scheduling and room assignments, sharing materials and space, assisting colleagues, and team teaching when appropriate are examples of collegiality in action. Attending meetings and participating positively and professionally communicates respect for others and the value you place on your peers and supervisor. Leadership skills are essential for navigating parent-teacher conferences and earning the respect of parents. Demonstrating leadership also demonstrates to administration your FCS skills in conflict resolution and financial management. Good communication skills are critical for effective teaching. This relates to our ability to deliver the lesson's content and provide feedback to our students. Teamwork and collaborative problem solving are essential to a functional campus. With collaboration and respectful dialogue, a school can be innovative in resolving challenges. Social and emotional intelligence ensures safety for students and colleagues, promotes a positive learning environment, and provides the foundation for a growth mindset. Finally, cultural awareness is a critical soft skill all educators must achieve. We are required to understand our students to relate to them and effectively educate them across cultures and demographics.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Home Economics Teachers?
Dr. Nina Roofe Ph.D.: FCS Educators utilize technology in the classroom in a variety of ways. To teach investing, Chromebooks can be used to track changes in the stock market. In the Interior Design area, computer-assisted drawing (CAD) software is used to produce renderings of the built environment. Simulation software is used in teaching family relations, nutrition, and housing. Knowledge of business case development and implementation is needed for those who run catering, culinary, and retail programs in their schools. The food science lab and the apparel/interiors construction lab require knowledge of operating the cooking and sewing equipment and teaching those skills.
What skills will help Home Economics Teachers earn the most?
Dr. Nina Roofe Ph.D.: There are things you can do to earn more money as an FCS Educator. The two main things that help FCS Educators earn more money are earning the graduate degree and becoming National Board Certified. Look for Master of Science in FCS programs that are fully online and offer a large selection of courses in the summer. This allows you to take one class in the fall and spring and up to four classes in the summer so you can progress at a good pace while still working. The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards requirements includes a bachelor's degree, valid state teaching license, and three years of classroom experience. FCS Educators can also earn additional certifications to increase their income, e.g., dyslexia specialist/Ceri certification for dyslexia, career/guidance counseling, or educational technology.
Dr. Lisa Mastrangel Ph.D.
Associate Professor of English, Director of CompositionCentenary University
Department is Business, Media, and Writing
How do you envision technology impacting Home Economics Teachers in the next 5 years?
Dr. Lisa Mastrangel Ph.D.: Because many of the jobs will be online, technological skills will be vital.
Christopher Hanson
Assistant Professor of Music, Director of Music Education and Orchestral ActivitiesSeattle Pacific University
Music Department
What general advice would you give to a Home Economics Teacher?
Christopher Hanson: Keep asking questions and look for opportunities to engage in teaching and learning wherever you can. Connect with peers and future colleagues. Do not just wait. Now is the time to create and sustain dialog on educational change. Although there are endless numbers of variables to how, when, what, and with whom we learn, our genuine curiosity and sincere desire to engage others in the educative process is our greatest hope to see education in a better place than it was before the pandemic.
We must heed the call of innovation and encourage a transition from our current state of triage and survival. You, as a recent graduate, are the future of what education will be. Ask yourself, what will the world look like that you will help create? Is this a world that you and others can learn in? What more can you do to secure the possibilities and promise of education for all? These are the questions that will fuel change and secure growth through the inevitable vicissitudes of education.
Cheryl McDonald
Faculty & Coordinator, Education Specialist and Dual Credential programsCalifornia State University - Fresno
Literacy, Early, Bilingual and Special Education Department
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Home Economics Teacher job market given the pandemic?
Cheryl McDonald: One of biggest trends in the job market, pandemic or not, is in education. There is real shortage of qualified educators, service providers and educational leaders, despite the incentives, stipends, or bonus monies that districts and universities use to attract candidates to the field. There is a shortage of qualified credentialed teachers in many teaching disciplines across most of the United States. The most severe shortages are in special education, mathematics, science, bilingual/dual immersion, and early childhood education. There is also a need for qualified school administrators, school psychologists, school social workers, school nurses, and school counselors.
All of these areas require specialized knowledge and specialized certification, in addition to a passion and dedication for the discipline. In California, for example, earning a teaching credential requires a Bachelor's degree, fingerprint clearance from local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, completion of the U.S. Constitution, basics skills, subject matter and literacy instruction requirements, typically through costly and rigorous tests, current certification in CPR for infants, children and adults, and completion of a teacher preparation program in the area of the credential. In special education, a candidate would need to complete a teacher preparation program in a specialty area: mild/moderate disabilities, moderate/severe disabilities, physical, visual, or health impairments, deaf and hard of hearing, or speech and language development.
Each day spent with students is unique and exciting. Teachers, service providers and leaders not only need to be qualified, they also need to be compassionate, collaborative, adaptable, flexible, and effective, especially when the unexpected arises. Virtual/online teaching skills are a plus. Teachers and educational leaders also need to be prepared to work with culturally- and linguistically-diverse student and family populations, with students who are gifted and talented, and students experiencing risk factors such as homelessness, poverty, drug or alcohol dependency, frequent absences or bullying.
Aaron Hoy Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of SociologyMinnesota State University, Mankato
Sociology Department
What type of skills will young Home Economics Teachers need?
Aaron Hoy Ph.D.: It is good news for our society and for sociology majors that employers have already put an increased emphasis on hiring and retaining employees who have a solid understanding of issues of diversity and inclusion. This emphasis will likely continue for the foreseeable future, which is a good opportunity for sociology majors who are comfortable working in diverse environments and really understand and appreciate human diversity in terms of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sex, gender identity or expression, and sexuality, among others. In fact, right now, diversity-related skills are those that recent sociology graduates say they are most likely to use and benefit from in the workplace, according to a 2015 report from the American Sociological Association.
I would also encourage sociology majors to prioritize rigorous methodological training to the extent that they can within their specific program. There are already many, many jobs available for college graduates with research skills, including in the private sector, and these are likely to grow in the coming years. However, sociology majors sometimes overlook these jobs or opt not to apply for them. As an advisor myself, I suspect that this is often because students do not feel confident in their research skills or because they assume that, say, a psychology or an economics major would be a better fit. But these are good-paying jobs with above-average levels of employee satisfaction, and sociology majors should not take themselves out of the running for them.
Although it may be scary or uncomfortable for some students, taking an extra research design or statistics class might be a good idea. And of course, writing up research results and presenting them in clear, logical ways is a key part of the research process, so as always, students should make a very concerted effort to improve their written and verbal communication skills as best they can. That may mean taking an extra composition or public speaking class if necessary.
Dr. Cynthia Carver
Associate Professor & ChairOakland University
Department of Organizational Leadership
What Home Economics Teacher skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Cynthia Carver: Hone your teaching skills! Schools will continue to need substitute teachers and para-professionals. Child care facilitates and after-school programs will still need teachers. And it's likely that many families will be seeking tutors as their children catch up. To gain experience and build your resume, seek opportunities that mirror the work you do as a classroom teacher.
Niki Weller Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Sociology, ChairIndiana University Kokomo
Department of Sociology
What type of skills will young Home Economics Teachers need?
Niki Weller Ph.D.: Students need to demonstrate that they are versatile communicators, with strong written and oral communication skills. Students should take full advantage of any public speaking opportunities, such as conference presentations, to demonstrate evidence of this skill. Employers want to hire people who are personable, involved, and have potential leadership qualities. Students should be engaged in campus extracurricular activities, including student clubs, experiential learning events, or community engagements. Research skills, like data collection and analysis, are extremely important and can be applied in a variety of professions. Students should hone these skills through social science research.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Home Economics Teachers to find work opportunities?
Bret Cormier: Yes, we have already received numerous inquiries from districts in and around New England, and we have been in school less than a month, so I imagine that will continue moving forward. We have received inquiries from as far as Hawaii, where school districts there a looking to fill numerous jobs as well as various positions. As previously stated, we also have a lot of interest from our district and community partners, where many of our students conduct field observations, as well as student teaching.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Home Economics Teachers in the next 3-5 years?
Dr. Diana Jones: Technology in the next 3-5 years -- That is a tough question because technology is continually changing. However, I would say whatever learning system their school provides (e.g., Canvas, Blackboard, etc.), they should get to know. Also, the technology that involves making/editing videos of teaching would be necessary. The technique that includes exercise, fitness, sports such as heart rate monitors, Fitbits, etc. Finally, a technology that allows interactions between teachers and students and students and students.