by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education & Teaching covers Junior High/intermediate/middle School Education And Teaching. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Teach Students In The Middle, Intermediate Or Junior High Grades, Which May Include Grades Four Through Nine By Regulation. Continue reading for the key facts every junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching programs.
Across the country, junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching draws strong interest, with 2,976 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education & Teaching Schools ranking analyzes these 274 schools to determine the best overall colleges for junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching programs later in this article.
Coursework for Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education & Teaching build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 40 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 279 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,990 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 661 |
People currently working in careers related to junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 47.3% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 34.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 7.2% |
| Master’s degree | 6.3% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 2.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 0.8% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.1% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching prepares you for numerous career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,441,246 | 2.4% |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 692,039 | -1.4% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $44,857 |
| 4 years | $43,846 |
| 5 years | $48,879 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,329 |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $83,105 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $77,927 |
With 274 different junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching school rankings to help you.
Students interested in junior high/intermediate/middle school education & teaching, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
