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The differences between middle school teachers and high school science teachers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a middle school teacher and a high school science teacher. Additionally, a high school science teacher has an average salary of $53,404, which is higher than the $53,363 average annual salary of a middle school teacher.
The top three skills for a middle school teacher include classroom management, professional development and math. The most important skills for a high school science teacher are professional development, classroom management, and instructional materials.
| Middle School Teacher | High School Science Teacher | |
| Yearly salary | $53,363 | $53,404 |
| Hourly rate | $25.66 | $25.68 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 82,230 | 84,939 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 42 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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.
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.
Middle school teachers and high school science teachers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Middle School Teacher | High School Science Teacher | |
| Average salary | $53,363 | $53,404 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $72,000 | Between $39,000 And $72,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Washington | New York |
| Best paying company | Baltimore City Public Schools | Baltimore City Public Schools |
| Best paying industry | Education | Education |
There are a few differences between a middle school teacher and a high school science teacher in terms of educational background:
| Middle School Teacher | High School Science Teacher | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Elementary Education | Biology |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between middle school teachers' and high school science teachers' demographics:
| Middle School Teacher | High School Science Teacher | |
| Average age | 42 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 35.4% Female, 64.6% | Male, 46.4% Female, 53.6% |
| Race ratio | Black 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, 7.8% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.4% Asian, 3.5% White, 72.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 12% |