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What is a science teacher and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read
Quoted experts
Dr. Diana Jones,
Anita Corbett Ph.D.
introduction image

A science teacher is an individual who teaches scientific principles and concepts to students at various levels of education. They design and conduct experiments, develop lesson plans, and evaluate student progress. They also help students develop critical thinking skills by encouraging them to analyze data and draw conclusions. Science teachers collaborate with others to develop curriculum and assess student performance. They must be knowledgeable in their subject area and have excellent communication skills to effectively teach.

What general advice would you give to a science 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.
ScoreScience TeacherUS Average
Salary
4.7

Avg. Salary $59,788

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
8.4

Growth rate 5%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
4.7
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.46%

Asian 3.61%

Black or African American 8.16%

Hispanic or Latino 11.86%

Unknown 3.97%

White 71.94%

Gender

female 57.94%

male 42.06%

Age - 43
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 - 43
Stress level
8.4

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.3

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
5.9

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a science teacher?

Pros

  • Opportunity to make a positive impact on students' lives

  • Ability to share knowledge and passion for science

  • Potential for job security and benefits

  • Collaborative work environment with colleagues

  • Flexibility in work schedule during school breaks

Cons

  • Dealing with unruly or disengaged students

  • Heavy workload with grading, lesson planning, and meetings

  • Limited resources or outdated equipment in some schools

  • Pressure to meet state standards and regulations

  • Low starting salary compared to other professions requiring similar education

Science teacher career paths

Key steps to become a science teacher

  1. Explore science teacher education requirements

    Most common science teacher degrees

    Bachelor's

    70.1 %

    Master's

    21.5 %

    Associate

    3.9 %
  2. Start to develop specific science teacher skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Classroom Management15.09%
    Professional Development6.61%
    Student Learning5.73%
    Science Curriculum5.28%
    Learning Environment4.49%
  3. Complete relevant science teacher training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New science teachers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a science teacher based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real science teacher resumes.
  4. Research science teacher duties and responsibilities

    • Create single gender classes in 7th and 8th grade math and language classes to increase student achievement and decrease discipline referrals.
    • Prepare and instruct biology, botany, chemistry, genetics, microbiology and zoology laboratories.
    • Further students' education on math/science including general science and pre-algebra through curriculum development and hands on instruction.
    • Create and implement appropriate science education programs for k-12 youth.
  5. Prepare your science teacher resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your science 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 science teacher resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable science teacher resume templates

    Build a professional science teacher resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your science teacher resume.
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  6. Apply for science teacher jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a science 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 science teacher job

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Are you a science teacher?

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Average science teacher salary

The average science teacher salary in the United States is $59,788 per year or $29 per hour. Science teacher salaries range between $40,000 and $87,000 per year.

Average science teacher salary
$59,788 Yearly
$28.74 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do science teachers rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Science teacher reviews

profile
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


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2021
Pros

Train and teach student's mind that Math is fun

Cons

Easy application of technology to mathematics subjects


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2020
Cons

Some students' non-challant attitude towards learning.

Pros

Ability to share knowledge and guide students in learning new things.


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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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