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What is a middle school art teacher and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted expert
Dr. Diana Jones

Middle school art teachers teach children who are between 11 and 14 years old the basic principles of art and art history. They provide learning opportunities that are relevant to the age of students in order to cultivate an interest in and potential for creative expression. Their work is very special since they help build an aesthetic perception and appreciation that helps students make contextual decisions about art.

Regularly, middle school art teachers plan and prepare a curriculum of research to address the needs and interests of students. They need to create and share specific goals for learning. They also demonstrate and assist students in using diverse techniques and media to create works of art in accordance with their artistic ability.

It is essential for a middle school art teacher to possess a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts or any other relevant field. They should also have a state teaching licensure appropriate for the grade level and subject area. However, there are some schools, especially private schools, that do not require one. Employers prefer candidates who can show strong knowledge of the concepts, activities, and techniques related to teaching art.

What general advice would you give to a middle school art teacher?

Dr. Diana JonesDr. Diana Jones LinkedIn profile

Chair, Department of Kinesiology, Anderson University

General advice: I would encourage graduates to find a mentor who can guide them in their careers, stay on top of the latest technology, not be too hard on themselves, be flexible, be team players, be present, and care about their students.
ScoreMiddle School Art TeacherUS Average
Salary
4.1

Avg. Salary $52,198

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
8.1

Growth rate 4%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
5.7
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.52%

Asian 3.66%

Black or African American 9.82%

Hispanic or Latino 12.63%

Unknown 3.91%

White 69.45%

Gender

female 75.68%

male 24.32%

Age - 42
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 42
Stress level
8.1

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.3

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
6.0

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Middle school art teacher career paths

Key steps to become a middle school art teacher

  1. Explore middle school art teacher education requirements

    Most common middle school art teacher degrees

    Bachelor's

    69.0 %

    Master's

    25.3 %

    Associate

    3.0 %
  2. Start to develop specific middle school art teacher skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Classroom Management13.39%
    Student Learning10.25%
    Instructional Materials6.87%
    Classroom Environment6.06%
    Learning Styles5.75%
  3. Research middle school art teacher duties and responsibilities

    • Lead co-taught classes with another teacher.
    • Assist in teaching middle school ESL.
    • Collaborate weekly with classroom teachers, counselors, and staff to discuss IEP's.
    • Design and teach standards base art lessons and units to grades Pre-k to 6th grade.
  4. Prepare your middle school art teacher resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your middle school art teacher resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a middle school art teacher resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

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  5. Apply for middle school art teacher jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a middle school art teacher job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first middle school art teacher job

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Average middle school art teacher salary

The average middle school art teacher salary in the United States is $52,198 per year or $25 per hour. Middle school art teacher salaries range between $36,000 and $73,000 per year.

Average middle school art teacher salary
$52,198 Yearly
$25.10 hourly

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How do middle school art teachers rate their job?

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Middle school art teacher reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2022
Pros

Kids, teaching lessons, co-teachers, hours, weekends off, salary, holidays off, summers off, paid sick and personal days

Cons

Administration, observations, being told what to teach and HOW to teach it, expecting us to participate in things we might not want to or have the time for, staff meetings with no substance


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A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2022
Pros

I would like to work. I do not like not working. I love being around people and still have a lot to offer.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2021
Pros

I enjoy teaching or giving knowledge to the children.

Cons

The educational system is very flawed, poor administration who don’t put children and learning first but their own self-interests. I don’t like how many school systems have handled the pandemic, total disregard for safety.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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