Middle School Teachers

ANZSCO ID 2413

Overview

Snapshot

Employed
2,900
Future Growth
21%
Weekly Earnings
$2,228
Full-Time Share
79%
Female Share
66%
Average age
39

Summary

Middle School Teachers teach one or more subjects within a prescribed curriculum to middle school or intermediate school students and promote students' social, emotional, intellectual and physical development.

Tasks

  • presenting prescribed curriculum using a range of teaching techniques and materials

  • developing students' interests, abilities and coordination by way of creative activities

  • guiding discussions and supervising work in class

  • preparing, administering and marking tests, projects and assignments to evaluate students' progress and recording the results

  • discussing individual progress and problems with students and parents, and seeking advice from Student Counsellors and senior teachers

  • maintaining discipline in classrooms and other school areas

  • participating in staff meetings, educational conferences and workshops

  • liaising with parent, community and business groups

  • maintaining class and scholastic records

  • performing extra-curricular tasks such as assisting with sport, school concerts, excursions and special interest programs

  • supervising student teachers on placement

Characteristics

Job Type
Professionals
Skill Level
Very high skill
ANZSCO Occupation group
Unemployment Rate
Below average
Industries
Pathway(s)
  • University
Interests
  • Creative
  • Helping
Physical Demand
  • Sedentary
  • Light

Outlook

Employment Outlook

JSA produces employment projections to show where likely future job opportunities may be. The latest data are for the five years from November 2021 to November 2026. Over this period, the number of workers:

  • is expected to grow very strongly
  • is likely to reach 4,600 by 2026.
  • Source: Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026.

    Notes: The number employed includes people who work in this occupation as their main job. People who work in more than one job are counted against the occupation they work the most hours in.

    Employment projections figures are rounded to the nearest 100. Calculations based on these rounded figures may result in differences to the numbers that are displayed on this page. Employment projections data (including occupations) can be downloaded from the Employment Projections page.

Projected Change
21%
(or 800 jobs)
From
3,800
in 2021
To
4,600
in 2026

Number of Workers

Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, ABS seasonally adjusted data to November 2021 and Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026.
Year Employment
2011 900
2012 1,400
2013 1,200
2014 1,900
2015 900
2016 900
2017 1,300
2018 2,000
2019 700
2020 3,300
2021 3,800
2026 4,600

Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, ABS seasonally adjusted data to November 2021 and Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026.


Earnings and hours

Working arrangements

  • Around 83% of people employed as Middle School Teachers work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 17 percentage points above the all jobs average (66%).

    Full-time workers work an average of 46 hours per week in their main job. This is similar to the all jobs average (44 hours per week).

    Median full-time earnings are $2,228 per week, this is much higher than the all jobs median ($1,593):

    • 3 in 4 workers earn more than $1,802
    • 1 in 4 earn more than $2,388

    Median hourly earnings are $59, this is more than the all jobs median ($41 per hour).

    Sources: Full-time share and full-time hours: ABS, 2016 Census, customised report. Compared to the all jobs average. Full-time median earnings and median hourly earnings: ABS, Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021. Compared to all jobs median.

Weekly Earnings (Before Tax)

Source: Based on ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021, Customised Report. Median weekly total cash earnings for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate. Earnings are before tax and include amounts salary sacrificed. Earnings can vary greatly depending on the skills and experience of the worker and the demands of the role. These figures should be used as a guide only, not to determine a wage rate.
Earnings Middle School Teachers All Jobs Average
Full-Time Earnings 2,228 1,593
Total Earnings 0 0

Source: Based on ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021, Customised Report. Median weekly total cash earnings for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate. Earnings are before tax and include amounts salary sacrificed. Earnings can vary greatly depending on the skills and experience of the worker and the demands of the role. These figures should be used as a guide only, not to determine a wage rate.


Industries

Main industries

1
Education and Training
93.1%
2
Public Administration and Safety
3.4%
  • Most Middle School Teachers work in the Education and training industry.

    Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, annual average 2021.


Regions

Employment across Australia

NSW

5.5% All occupations: 31.6%

VIC

13.9% All occupations: 25.6%

QLD

20.5% All occupations: 20.0%

SA

29.7% All occupations: 7.0%

WA

8.4% All occupations: 10.8%

TAS

1.8% All occupations: 2.0%

NT

18.6% All occupations: 1.0%

ACT

1.5% All occupations: 1.9%

Employment by State and Territory (% Share)

State Middle School Teachers All Jobs Average
NSW 5.5 31.6
VIC 13.9 25.6
QLD 20.5 20.0
SA 29.7 7.0
WA 8.4 10.8
TAS 1.8 2.0
NT 18.6 1.0
ACT 1.5 1.9


  • Around 64% of Middle School Teachers live in capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 62%.

    South Australia and the Northern Territory have a large share of employment relative to their population size.

    The regions with the largest share of workers are:

    Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Share of workers across Australian states, territories and regions, in this job compared to the all jobs average.


Worker profile

Age and gender

Age In Years
39
All Jobs Average is 40
Female Share
66%
All Jobs Average is 48%
  • The median age of Middle School Teachers is 39 years. This is similar to the all jobs average of 40 years.

    A large share of workers are aged 25 to 34 years.

    Females make up 66% of the workforce. This is 18 percentage points above the all jobs average of 48%.

    Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile and gender share compared to the all jobs average.

Age Profile (% Share)

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Age Bracket Middle School Teachers All Jobs Average
15-19 0.0 5.0
20-24 4.8 9.3
25-34 33.3 22.9
35-44 25.0 22.0
45-54 23.8 21.6
55-59 7.4 9.0
60-64 4.6 6.0
65 and Over 1.1 4.2
Median Age 39 40

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.


Employment Pathways

Education, training and experience

A bachelor degree in education is usually needed to work as a Middle School Teacher. An alternative pathway is a degree in a relevant field followed by a postgraduate qualification in secondary education.

Registration or licencing is required.

Visit

  • Course Seeker to search and compare higher education courses.
  • ComparED to compare undergraduate and postgraduate student experiences and outcomes.

Highest Level of Education (% Share)

Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.
Type of Qualification Middle School Teachers All Jobs Average
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate 32.2 10.1
Bachelor degree 63.5 21.8
Advanced Diploma/Diploma 2.8 11.6
Certificate III/IV 0.6 21.1
Year 12 0.9 18.1
Year 11 0.0 4.8
Year 10 and below 0.0 12.5

Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.


Skills and Knowledge

Employers look for Middle School Teachers who demonstrate an enthusiastic and positive attitude, can connect well with others and work well in a team.

Skills

Skills can be improved through training or experience.

  • 59%

    Reading comprehension

    Reading work related information.

  • 57%

    Active listening

    Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.

  • 57%

    Instructing

    Teaching people how to do something.

  • 55%

    Learning strategies

    Figuring out the best way to teach or learn something new.

  • 55%

    Speaking

    Talking to others.

  • 55%

    Writing

    Writing things for co-workers or customers.

  • 52%

    Social perceptiveness

    Understanding why people react the way they do.

  • 52%

    Active learning

    Being able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.

  • 52%

    Monitoring

    Keeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.

  • 50%

    Coordination with others

    Being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.

  • 50%

    Critical thinking

    Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.

  • 50%

    Time management

    Managing your own and other peoples' time to get work done.

  • 48%

    Judgment and decision making

    Figuring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.

  • 48%

    Negotiation

    Bringing people together and trying to sort out their differences.

  • 46%

    Serving others

    Looking for ways to help people.

  • 46%

    Persuasion

    Talking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.

  • 43%

    Complex problem solving

    Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.

  • 43%

    Systems evaluation

    Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.

  • 39%

    Management of personnel resources

    Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.

  • 39%

    Systems analysis

    Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.


Knowledge

These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.

  • 79%

    Education and training

    Curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

  • 76%

    English language

    English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

  • 63%

    Customer and personal service

    Understanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.

  • 58%

    Mathematics

    Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.

  • 57%

    Computers and electronics

    Circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

  • 54%

    Communications and media

    Media production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.

  • 51%

    Sociology and anthropology

    Group behaviour and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.

  • 49%

    Psychology

    Human behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.

  • 48%

    History and archeology

    Events of the past, their causes, how we learn about them, and how they influence the way we live today.

  • 47%

    Clerical

    Word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.

  • 44%

    Geography

    Describing land, sea, and air, including their physical characteristics, locations, how they work together, and the location of plant, animal, and human life.

  • 44%

    Philosophy and theology

    Philosophical systems and religions, including their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and impact on society.

  • 44%

    Administration and management

    Business principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.

  • 38%

    Therapy and counselling

    Diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and career counselling and guidance.

  • 37%

    Public safety and security

    Use of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.

  • 35%

    Fine arts

    Compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.

  • 33%

    Law and government

    How our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.

  • 30%

    Personnel and human resources

    Recruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.

  • 26%

    Foreign language

    Foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.

  • 20%

    Telecommunications

    Transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.


Abilities

Workers use these physical and mental abilities..

  • 64%

    Oral expression

    Communicate by speaking.

  • 61%

    Oral comprehension

    Listen to and understand what people say.

  • 61%

    Speech clarity

    Speak clearly so others can understand you.

  • 59%

    Written expression

    Write in a way that people can understand.

  • 57%

    Written comprehension

    Read and understand written information.

  • 52%

    Deductive reasoning

    Use general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.

  • 52%

    Inductive reasoning

    Use lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.

  • 52%

    Problem spotting

    Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.

  • 50%

    Sorting or ordering

    Order or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

  • 48%

    Speech recognition

    Identify and understand the speech of another person.

  • 46%

    Near vision

    See details that are up-close (within a few feet).

  • 46%

    Originality

    Come up with unusual or clever ideas, or creative ways to solve a problem.

  • 45%

    Categorising

    Come up with different ways of grouping things.

  • 45%

    Far vision

    See details that are far away.

  • 43%

    Brainstorming

    Come up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.

  • 43%

    Memorization

    Remember things like words, numbers, pictures, and procedures.

  • 41%

    Mathematics

    Choose the right maths method or formula to solve a problem.

  • 41%

    Selective attention

    Pay attention to something without being distracted.

  • 39%

    Multitasking

    Do two or more things at the same time.

  • 37%

    Flexibility of closure

    See a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.


Activities

These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.

  • 76%

    Planning and prioritising work

    Deciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.

  • 68%

    Communicating within a team

    Giving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.

  • 68%

    Thinking creatively

    Using your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.

  • 67%

    Building good relationships

    Building good working relationships and keeping them over time.

  • 66%

    Coaching and developing others

    Working out the needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or helping them to improve.

  • 65%

    Coordinating the work of a team

    Getting members of a group to work together to finish a task.

  • 65%

    Keeping your knowledge up-to-date

    Keeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.

  • 63%

    Explaining things to people

    Helping people to understand and use information.

  • 61%

    Training and teaching others

    Understanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.

  • 60%

    Coming up with systems and processes

    Deciding on goals and figuring out what you need to do to achieve them.

  • 57%

    Working with the public

    Greeting or serving customers, clients or guests, and public speaking or performing.

  • 56%

    Documenting or recording information

    Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

  • 55%

    Researching and investigating

    Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.

  • 54%

    Monitoring people, processes and things

    Checking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.

  • 53%

    Making decisions and solving problems

    Using information to work out the best solution and solve problems.

  • 53%

    Negotiating and resolving conflicts

    Handling complaints and disagreements, and negotiating with people.

  • 52%

    Looking for changes over time

    Comparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.

  • 52%

    Leading and encouraging a team

    Encouraging and building trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.

  • 48%

    Working with computers

    Using computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

  • 47%

    Checking compliance with standards

    Deciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.


Interests and demands

Learn about the daily activities, and physical and social demands faced by workers. Explore the values and work styles that workers rate as most important.

Interests

Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.

  • 100%

    Helping

    Working with people. Helping or providing service to others.

  • 71%

    Creative

    Working with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.

  • 48%

    Analytical

    Ideas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.

  • 48%

    Enterprising

    Starting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.

  • 43%

    Administrative

    Following set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.

  • 33%

    Practical

    Practical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.


Values

Work values are important to a person’s feeling of satisfaction. All six values are shown below.
  • 90%

    Relationships

    Serve and work with others. Workers usually get along well with each other, do things to help other people, and are rarely pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.

  • 76%

    Independence

    Work alone and make decisions. Workers are able to try out their own ideas, make decisions on their own, and work with little or no supervision.

  • 71%

    Achievement

    Results oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.

  • 67%

    Working conditions

    Job security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.

  • 57%

    Recognition

    Advancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.

  • 48%

    Support

    Supportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.


Demands

The physical and social demands that workers face most often are shown below:
  • 96%

    Contact with people

    Have contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.

  • 95%

    Face-to-face discussions

    Talk with people face-to-face.

  • 95%

    Indoors, heat controlled

    Work indoors with access to heating or cooling.

  • 92%

    Freedom to make decisions

    Have freedom to make decision on your own.

  • 89%

    Electronic mail

    Use electronic mail.

  • 88%

    Physically close to people

    Work physically close to other people.

  • 87%

    Unstructured work

    Have freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.

  • 85%

    Conflict situations

    Deal with conflict or disagreements.

  • 84%

    Spend time standing

    Spend time standing at work.

  • 83%

    Teamwork

    Work with people in a group or team.

  • 81%

    Being exact or accurate

    Be very exact or highly accurate.

  • 81%

    Contact with the public

    Work with customers or the public.

  • 80%

    Lead or coordinate a team

    Lead others to do work activities.

  • 80%

    Frequent decision making

    Frequently make decisions that impact other people.

  • 79%

    Public speaking

    Talk to a group of people.

  • 75%

    Telephone

    Talk on the telephone.

  • 75%

    Angry or unpleasant people

    Deal with unpleasant, angry, or rude people.

  • 73%

    Time pressure

    Work to strict deadlines.

  • 71%

    Letters and memos

    Write letters and memos.

  • 71%

    Impact of decisions

    Make decisions that have a large impact on other people.

Occupational Information Network
O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 25-2022.00 - Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education.


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