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Middle school teacher vs head teacher

The differences between middle school teachers and head teachers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a middle school teacher has an average salary of $53,363, which is higher than the $51,715 average annual salary of a head teacher.

The top three skills for a middle school teacher include classroom management, professional development and math. The most important skills for a head teacher are classroom management, child care, and creative curriculum.

Middle school teacher vs head teacher overview

Middle School TeacherHead Teacher
Yearly salary$53,363$51,715
Hourly rate$25.66$24.86
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs82,23073,756
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 69%Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Average age4242
Years of experience2-

What does a middle school teacher do?

A middle school teacher is responsible for teaching students in grades six to eight, following a curriculum that fits on their grade levels to prepare them for the next advancement. Middle school teachers strategize effective lesson plans, engaging activities, and assessments to test the students' knowledge and understanding of the learning materials. They also observe the personal and developmental behaviors of the students by conducting group activities and performance. A middle school teacher identifies the students' strengths and weaknesses, adjusting the learning approach as needed to cater to each student's needs and difficulties.

What does a head teacher do?

A headteacher is responsible for monitoring the students' overall learning process, managing and evaluating the performance of school staff, implementing effective learning strategies for the students, encouraging them to reach their maximum potential, and gain self-confidence. Headteachers often lead meetings, especially discussing school activities and the child's performance to their parents, implementing safety policies, and enforcing disciplinary actions for policy violations. A headteacher must have excellent leadership and communication skills to handle the students' needs and support their high-quality performance.

Middle school teacher vs head teacher salary

Middle school teachers and head teachers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Middle School TeacherHead Teacher
Average salary$53,363$51,715
Salary rangeBetween $39,000 And $72,000Between $32,000 And $83,000
Highest paying CityBoston, MABoston, MA
Highest paying stateWashingtonMassachusetts
Best paying companyBaltimore City Public SchoolsGrand View Health
Best paying industryEducationRetail

Differences between middle school teacher and head teacher education

There are a few differences between a middle school teacher and a head teacher in terms of educational background:

Middle School TeacherHead Teacher
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 69%Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Most common majorElementary EducationEarly Childhood Education
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaNorthwestern University

Middle school teacher vs head teacher demographics

Here are the differences between middle school teachers' and head teachers' demographics:

Middle School TeacherHead Teacher
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 35.4% Female, 64.6%Male, 13.8% Female, 86.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.8% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.6% Asian, 3.7% White, 69.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 3.7% White, 69.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between middle school teacher and head teacher duties and responsibilities

Middle school teacher example responsibilities.

  • Develop and implement inquiry-based/hands-on curriculum: physical science, earth science, chemistry, and life science.
  • Teach students about the structure and content of the English language, including proper grammar, spelling, and sentence structure.
  • Assist the ELA teacher with writing charts that reinforce her teaching concepts.
  • Plan, deliver & evaluate instruction in history, geography, science & English
  • Create pacing guide, lesson and unit plans for CCGPS high school mathematics courses.
  • Create a geometry booklet to use in class as a supplemental aid to the textbook.
  • Show more

Head teacher example responsibilities.

  • Lead debates with advance students on topics including globalization, economics, and political history.
  • Plan and implement cohesive, age-appropriate curriculum for severely disable children in Pre-K program.
  • Develop and implement age-appropriate curriculum for toddler program, ensuring that appropriate opportunities are provided in order to maximize learning potential.
  • Set up the physical environment to meet the changing needs of infants and toddlers in accordance with ECERS and ITERS-R assessments.

Middle school teacher vs head teacher skills

Common middle school teacher skills
  • Classroom Management, 12%
  • Professional Development, 10%
  • Math, 8%
  • Curriculum Development, 6%
  • Student Learning, 5%
  • Language Arts, 5%
Common head teacher skills
  • Classroom Management, 26%
  • Child Care, 13%
  • Creative Curriculum, 5%
  • Language Arts, 5%
  • Pre-K, 5%
  • Mathematics, 5%

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