District of Columbia·Educational Instruction and Library Occupations·SOC 25-2031

Best Secondary School Teacher programs in District of Columbia, ranked by enrollment

Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school.

8 schools in District of Columbia run programs that feed this job, graduating 2,759 people a year. The job pays a median of $82,750 in District of Columbia across about 2,800 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).

Also calledTeacherEnglish TeacherSocial Studies TeacherMath Teacher (Mathematics Teacher)CoachEducatorArt TeacherArt Educator
Graduates / yr
2,759
in District of Columbia
Median pay · District of Columbia
$82,750
BLS OEWS May 2025
Jobs in state
2,800
people employed
Schools
8
with a feeder program
Avg graduation rate
66%
across those schools
Median net price
$27,724
per year, IPEDS

Fields of study in District of Columbia that lead to this job

Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level. Numbers are graduates per year in this state.

Social Sciences
CIP 45.10
Political Science and Government
1,189graduates / yr
8 schools · 3 specializations · 43.0% of pipeline
Grad earnings $35,631
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.01
Biology
458graduates / yr
8 schools · 1 specialization · 16.6% of pipeline
Grad earnings $32,152
History
CIP 54.01
History
190graduates / yr
5 schools · 1 specialization · 6.9% of pipeline
Grad earnings $31,217
English Language And Literature/Letters
CIP 23.01
English Language and Literature
147graduates / yr
7 schools · 1 specialization · 5.3% of pipeline
Grad earnings $29,622
Social Sciences
CIP 45.06
Economics
115graduates / yr
3 schools · 1 specialization · 4.2% of pipeline
Grad earnings $51,725
Physical Sciences
CIP 40.05
Chemistry
95graduates / yr
7 schools · 1 specialization · 3.4% of pipeline
Grad earnings $42,620
Mathematics And Statistics
CIP 27.01
Mathematics
88graduates / yr
7 schools · 1 specialization · 3.2% of pipeline
Grad earnings $48,772
Physical Sciences
CIP 40.08
Physics
77graduates / yr
5 schools · 1 specialization · 2.8% of pipeline
Grad earnings $47,156
Visual And Performing Arts
CIP 50.09
Music
59graduates / yr
6 schools · 1 specialization · 2.1% of pipeline
Grad earnings $25,929
Visual And Performing Arts
CIP 50.07
Fine and Studio Arts
53graduates / yr
4 schools · 1 specialization · 1.9% of pipeline
Grad earnings $24,447
Education
CIP 13.13
Teacher Education and Professional Development
52graduates / yr
2 schools · 4 specializations · 1.9% of pipeline
Grad earnings $43,033
Education
CIP 13.12
Teacher Education and Professional Development
49graduates / yr
4 schools · 1 specialization · 1.8% of pipeline
Grad earnings $41,127
Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics
CIP 16.09
Romance Languages
46graduates / yr
6 schools · 3 specializations · 1.7% of pipeline
Grad earnings $34,541
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.01
Biological and Physical Sciences
45graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 1.6% of pipeline
Grad earnings $28,446
Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics
CIP 16.16
American Sign Language
39graduates / yr
1 schools · 2 specializations · 1.4% of pipeline
Grad earnings $32,695
Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics
CIP 16.03
East Asian Languages
18graduates / yr
3 schools · 3 specializations · 0.7% of pipeline
Grad earnings $27,331
Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics
CIP 16.12
Classics and Classical Languages
12graduates / yr
2 schools · 1 specialization · 0.4% of pipeline
Grad earnings
Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics
CIP 16.05
Germanic Languages
11graduates / yr
2 schools · 1 specialization · 0.4% of pipeline
Grad earnings $44,390
Social Sciences
CIP 45.01
Social Sciences
11graduates / yr
2 schools · 1 specialization · 0.4% of pipeline
Grad earnings $35,590
Education
CIP 13.14
Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language
4graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 0.1% of pipeline
Grad earnings $36,305
Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics
CIP 16.11
Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages
1graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 0.0% of pipeline
Grad earnings $48,355

31 programs in District of Columbia that lead to this job

Ranked by graduates per year in District of Columbia (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are national College Scorecard figures reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. Each program also links to its own District of Columbia page.

Degree programs that lead to this occupation, ranked by graduates per year
#ProgramGraduates / yrShare of pipelineSchoolsGrad earnings (1 yr)Median debt
11,079
39.1%
8$35,631$23,538
2458
16.6%
8$32,152$25,000
3190
6.9%
5$31,217$24,000
4147
5.3%
7$29,622$24,546
5115
4.2%
3$51,725$22,907
6106
3.8%
2$35,631$23,538
795
3.4%
7$42,620$23,900
888
3.2%
7$48,772$21,544
977
2.8%
5$47,156$23,490
1059
2.1%
6$25,929$25,980
1153
1.9%
4$24,447$25,294
1249
1.8%
4$41,127$25,500
1345
1.6%
1$28,446$11,000
1439
1.4%
2$43,033$26,044
1535
1.3%
6$34,541$22,748
1634
1.2%
1$32,695$25,209
1712
0.4%
2$22,560
1811
0.4%
3$27,331$20,685
1911
0.4%
2$44,390$23,202
2011
0.4%
2$35,590$24,095
2110
0.4%
4$34,541$22,748
227
0.3%
1$43,033$26,044
235
0.2%
3$27,331$20,685
245
0.2%
1$32,695$25,209
254
0.1%
1$43,033$26,044
264
0.1%
1$36,305$26,250
274
0.1%
1$35,631$23,538
282
0.1%
1$43,033$26,044
292
0.1%
2$27,331$20,685
301
0.0%
1$34,541$22,748
311
0.0%
1$48,355$15,526

Top 8 schools in District of Columbia

Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 6 of the 8 schools in this state.

Schools ranked by graduates per year into this occupation
#SchoolGraduates / yrTop feeder programGrad earnings (1 yr)Grad rateNet priceAcceptance
1George Washington University
Washington, DC Private not-for-profit · 16 feeder programs
701Political Science and Government, General$51,53784%$29,78947%
2Howard University
Washington, DC Private not-for-profit · 13 feeder programs
652Biology/Biological Sciences, General$28,69670%$48,19441%
3American University
Washington, DC Private not-for-profit · 15 feeder programs
540Political Science and Government, General$48,03475%$30,22562%
4Georgetown University
Washington, DC Private not-for-profit · 18 feeder programs
533Political Science and Government, General$55,24795%$22,24213%
5The Catholic University of America
Washington, DC Private not-for-profit · 18 feeder programs
157Political Science and Government, General$44,61779%$27,72483%
6Gallaudet University
Washington, DC Private not-for-profit · 8 feeder programs
64American Sign Language (ASL)$37,23547%$14,38258%
7Trinity Washington University
Washington, DC Private not-for-profit · 7 feeder programs
62Mathematics Teacher Education49%$14,841100%
8University of the District of Columbia
Washington, DC Public · 7 feeder programs
50Art/Art Studies, General33%

All 8 schools in District of Columbia

Every school in District of Columbia with a program that feeds this job, ordered by graduates per year. Earnings are shown for the ranked schools above; open a school profile for the rest.

All schools in District of Columbia that feed this occupation
SchoolCityControlGraduates / yrFeeder programs
George Washington UniversityWashingtonPrivate not-for-profit70116
Howard UniversityWashingtonPrivate not-for-profit65213
American UniversityWashingtonPrivate not-for-profit54015
Georgetown UniversityWashingtonPrivate not-for-profit53318
The Catholic University of AmericaWashingtonPrivate not-for-profit15718
Gallaudet UniversityWashingtonPrivate not-for-profit648
Trinity Washington UniversityWashingtonPrivate not-for-profit627
University of the District of ColumbiaWashingtonPublic507

What secondary school teachers earn in District of Columbia

What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.

Median annual in District of Columbia
$82,750
Mean annual
$88,460
Jobs in state
2,800
What the range looks like
10th pct$50,750Median$82,75090th pct$128,170
Versus the national median
+14.9%

U.S. median $72,040. District of Columbia pays above the national figure.

Job concentration
0.58×

1.00× means the state has its expected share of these jobs.

Metro areas in District of Columbia

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
$80,300median
20,400 jobs

Job outlook

Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.

Projected growth 2024–34
-1.6%
Decline
Openings per year
66,200
new jobs plus replacements
Employment change
-17,800
1,094,500 → 1,076,700
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree

Growth and openings are national. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish employment projections at state level, so these figures describe the occupation across the whole U.S., not this state alone.

How to get in

The full skills, tools, and day-to-day breakdown lives on the national Secondary School Teachers page.

How to become a Secondary School Teacher

Job zone 4 of 5 · SVP 7.0 to < 8.0
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree

Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

Top skills

Reading ComprehensionActive ListeningLearning StrategiesSpeakingCritical ThinkingMonitoring

The same job in other states

Where else this occupation employs the most people, and what it pays there.

Related careers in District of Columbia

Every major mapped to this job

The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.

All 25 majors mapped to Secondary School Teachers24 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
  • 13.0201Bilingual and Multilingual Education
  • 13.1203Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching
  • 13.1205Secondary Education and Teaching
  • 13.1206Teacher Education, Multiple Levels
  • 13.1207Montessori Teacher Education
  • 13.1208Waldorf/Steiner Teacher Education(no graduates reported)
  • 13.1211Online Educator/Online Teaching
  • 13.1212International Teaching and Learning
  • 13.1213Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Educational Methods
  • 13.1302Art Teacher Education
  • 13.1304Driver and Safety Teacher Education
  • 13.1305English/Language Arts Teacher Education
  • 13.1306Foreign Language Teacher Education
  • 13.1307Health Teacher Education
  • 13.1308Family and Consumer Sciences/Home Economics Teacher Education
  • 13.1309Technology Teacher Education/Industrial Arts Teacher Education
  • 13.1311Mathematics Teacher Education
  • 13.1312Music Teacher Education
  • 13.1314Physical Education Teaching and Coaching
  • 13.1315Reading Teacher Education
  • 13.1316Science Teacher Education/General Science Teacher Education
  • 13.1317Social Science Teacher Education
  • 13.1318Social Studies Teacher Education
  • 13.1321Computer Teacher Education
  • 13.1322Biology Teacher Education

Common questions

Answers for people weighing secondary school teachers programs in District of Columbia.

What degree do you need to become a Secondary School Teacher?+

Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Political Science and Government, General, which awarded 1,079 degrees in District of Columbia in 2024-25, 39.1% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.

Which college majors lead to becoming a Secondary School Teacher?+

The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 31 programs to this occupation. The largest are Political Science and Government, Biology, History, English Language and Literature, plus 17 more. Together they graduate about 2,759 people a year in District of Columbia.

How much do secondary school teachers earn in District of Columbia?+

The median is $82,750 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 14.9% above the U.S. median of $72,040. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.

Is demand for secondary school teachers growing?+

BLS projects a -1.6% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, decline, with roughly 66,200 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.

How many schools offer programs for this career in District of Columbia?+

8 institutions in District of Columbia reported graduates from at least one of the 31 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.

What other job titles do secondary school teachers work under?+

Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Teacher, English Teacher, Social Studies Teacher, Math Teacher (Mathematics Teacher) among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 25-2031.

About the data on this page

Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024–25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).

  • BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics

    May 2025

    Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.

  • BLS Employment Projections

    2024–34

    Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.

  • IPEDS Completions

    2024-25 (provisional)

    Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.

  • College Scorecard, Field of Study

    2020-21 cohorts

    Median graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.

  • Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes

    latest available

    Graduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.

  • NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk

    CIP 2020 / SOC 2018

    Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.

  • O*NET Database 30.3

    30.3

    Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.

    Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA

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