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Science instructor vs high school teacher

The differences between science instructors and high school 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 science instructor and a high school teacher. Additionally, a high school teacher has an average salary of $52,441, which is higher than the $48,925 average annual salary of a science instructor.

The top three skills for a science instructor include classroom management, kids and professional development. The most important skills for a high school teacher are classroom management, professional development, and culinary.

Science instructor vs high school teacher overview

Science InstructorHigh School Teacher
Yearly salary$48,925$52,441
Hourly rate$23.52$25.21
Growth rate5%5%
Number of jobs40,93683,554
Job satisfaction-4
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 66%Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Average age4343
Years of experience22

What does a science instructor do?

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.

What does a high school teacher do?

High school teachers play an essential role in preparing students for college or life following graduation. They typically teach students from the ninth to 12th grades. They plan and develop lessons, evaluate their students' strengths, weaknesses and abilities, and grade their exams and assignments. Other duties include working with individual students to challenge and improve their abilities, developing and implementing classroom rules, and overseeing students outside the classroom. Some of them also take on additional tasks, such as advising academic clubs or coaching sports teams.

Science instructor vs high school teacher salary

Science instructors and high school teachers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Science InstructorHigh School Teacher
Average salary$48,925$52,441
Salary rangeBetween $30,000 And $78,000Between $37,000 And $72,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYNew York, NY
Highest paying stateNew YorkNew York
Best paying companyKern Community College DistrictBoston Public Schools
Best paying industryEducationProfessional

Differences between science instructor and high school teacher education

There are a few differences between a science instructor and a high school teacher in terms of educational background:

Science InstructorHigh School Teacher
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 66%Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Most common majorBiologyEducation
Most common collegeHarvard UniversityHarvard University

Science instructor vs high school teacher demographics

Here are the differences between science instructors' and high school teachers' demographics:

Science InstructorHigh School Teacher
Average age4343
Gender ratioMale, 50.8% Female, 49.2%Male, 46.5% Female, 53.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.0% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.7% Asian, 3.6% White, 72.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 8.1% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.8% Asian, 3.6% White, 72.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage12%12%

Differences between science instructor and high school teacher duties and responsibilities

Science instructor example responsibilities.

  • Course content ranges from medical applications to specific topics in physiology.
  • Work collaboratively with program instructors to design anatomy and physiology courses to augment their curriculum.
  • Plan and oversee extensive daily chemistry and biology laboratory experiments (and tasks similar to above )
  • Conduct experiments ranging from general biology, chemistry, physics, geology, microbiology, genetics, microbiology, and anatomy
  • Assist students to do electrophoresis lab in which they extract DNA from various fruit.
  • Assist students in homework and give one on one tutoring in math, English, social studies and science.
  • Show more

High school teacher example responsibilities.

  • Coordinate training for the after-school soccer league, manage game schedules and transportation for the school team
  • Plan English conversation and writing classes, grade assignments, design and lead an English summer camp course for freshmen.
  • Manage FBLA, assist with meeting notes, financial records, and agendas for meetings, events, and fundraisers.
  • Coordinate and conduct LPAC meetings, ESL testing, and state testing.
  • Create and implement district-wide general math, pre-algebra, and science curriculum.
  • Facilitate and teach online students in California and Colorado: English, history; economics
  • Show more

Science instructor vs high school teacher skills

Common science instructor skills
  • Classroom Management, 13%
  • Kids, 11%
  • Professional Development, 11%
  • Chemistry, 6%
  • Mathematics, 5%
  • Learning Styles, 4%
Common high school teacher skills
  • Classroom Management, 12%
  • Professional Development, 7%
  • Culinary, 5%
  • K-12, 5%
  • Curriculum Development, 5%
  • Student Learning, 5%

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