Missouri·Educational Instruction and Library Occupations·SOC 25-2022

Best Middle School Teacher programs in Missouri, ranked by enrollment

Teach one or more subjects to students at the middle, intermediate, or junior high school.

36 schools in Missouri run programs that feed this job, graduating 1,342 people a year. The job pays a median of $59,310 in Missouri across about 11,330 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).

Also calledTeacherScience TeacherLanguage Arts Teacher (LA Teacher)Math Teacher (Mathematics Teacher)CoachEducatorArt TeacherArt Educator
Graduates / yr
1,342
in Missouri
Median pay · Missouri
$59,310
BLS OEWS May 2025
Jobs in state
11,330
people employed
Schools
36
with a feeder program
Avg graduation rate
50%
across those schools
Median net price
$20,482
per year, IPEDS

Fields of study in Missouri that lead to this job

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

23 programs in Missouri that lead to this job

Ranked by graduates per year in Missouri (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 Missouri page.

Degree programs that lead to this occupation, ranked by graduates per year
#ProgramGraduates / yrShare of pipelineSchoolsGrad earnings (1 yr)Median debt
1
CIP 13.1206In Missouri
332
24.7%
13$41,127$25,500
2
CIP 13.1311In Missouri
225
16.8%
6$43,033$26,044
3
CIP 13.1314In Missouri
168
12.5%
15$43,033$26,044
4
CIP 13.1315In Missouri
157
11.7%
10$43,033$26,044
5
CIP 13.1203In Missouri
154
11.5%
20$41,127$25,500
6
CIP 13.1312In Missouri
88
6.6%
16$43,033$26,044
7
CIP 13.1401In Missouri
57
4.2%
8$36,305$26,250
8
CIP 13.1305In Missouri
31
2.3%
4$43,033$26,044
9
CIP 13.1317In Missouri
27
2.0%
8$43,033$26,044
10
CIP 13.1302In Missouri
24
1.8%
6$43,033$26,044
11
CIP 13.1316In Missouri
17
1.3%
5$43,033$26,044
12
CIP 13.1318In Missouri
14
1.0%
1$43,033$26,044
13
CIP 13.1306In Missouri
9
0.7%
2$43,033$26,044
14
CIP 13.1308In Missouri
8
0.6%
2$43,033$26,044
15
CIP 13.1338In Missouri
8
0.6%
1$43,033$26,044
16
CIP 13.1322In Missouri
6
0.4%
3$43,033$26,044
17
CIP 13.1324In Missouri
5
0.4%
2$43,033$26,044
18
CIP 13.1323In Missouri
4
0.3%
2$43,033$26,044
19
CIP 13.1330In Missouri
3
0.2%
3$43,033$26,044
20
CIP 13.1328In Missouri
2
0.1%
1$43,033$26,044
21
CIP 13.1307In Missouri
1
0.1%
1$43,033$26,044
22
CIP 13.1321In Missouri
1
0.1%
1$43,033$26,044
23
CIP 13.1331In Missouri
1
0.1%
1$43,033$26,044

Top 25 schools in Missouri

Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 17 of the 36 schools in this state.

Schools ranked by graduates per year into this occupation
#SchoolGraduates / yrTop feeder programGrad earnings (1 yr)Grad rateNet priceAcceptance
1Northwest Missouri State University
Maryville, MO Public · 13 feeder programs
276Physical Education Teaching and Coaching$37,05754%86%
2University of Central Missouri
Warrensburg, MO Public · 7 feeder programs
179Mathematics Teacher Education$33,19854%64%
3University of Missouri - St Louis
Saint Louis, MO Public · 4 feeder programs
161Teacher Education, Multiple Levels$35,73157%63%
4Missouri State University - Springfield
Springfield, MO Public · 8 feeder programs
139Teacher Education, Multiple Levels$34,25558%91%
5Southeast Missouri State University
Cape Girardeau, MO Public · 10 feeder programs
99Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching$33,76058%74%
6Truman State University
Kirksville, MO Public · 8 feeder programs
53English/Language Arts Teacher Education69%84%
7University of Missouri - Columbia
Columbia, MO Public · 3 feeder programs
52Mathematics Teacher Education$39,75575%78%
8Central Methodist University - College of Graduate and Extended Studies
Fayette, MO Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs
42Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching$32,3930%$14,53588%
9North Central Missouri College
Trenton, MO Public · 1 feeder programs
35Teacher Education, Multiple Levels58%
10Missouri Southern State University
Joplin, MO Public · 4 feeder programs
34Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching$36,34542%97%
11Lindenwood University
Saint Charles, MO Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs
33Teacher Education, Multiple Levels$37,31449%$17,43657%
12University of Missouri - Kansas City
Kansas City, MO Public · 3 feeder programs
33Teacher Education, Multiple Levels$39,94255%72%
13Webster University
Saint Louis, MO Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs
27Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor64%$25,09086%
14Evangel University
Springfield, MO Private not-for-profit · 9 feeder programs
24Physical Education Teaching and Coaching$34,87265%$17,88172%
15Southwest Baptist University
Bolivar, MO Private not-for-profit · 7 feeder programs
22Art Teacher Education$35,50755%$20,93968%
16Missouri Western State University
Saint Joseph, MO Public · 3 feeder programs
19Teacher Education, Multiple Levels$33,69539%
17Park University
Parkville, MO Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs
16Reading Teacher Education38%$16,013
18Central Methodist University - College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Fayette, MO Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs
13Physical Education Teaching and Coaching51%$25,58257%
19Missouri Baptist University
Saint Louis, MO Private not-for-profit · 6 feeder programs
13Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching$33,53148%$25,40769%
20William Jewell College
Liberty, MO Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs
13Teacher Education, Multiple Levels68%$14,07238%
21College of the Ozarks
Point Lookout, MO Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs
10Music Teacher Education$37,04264%$8,36012%
22Stephens College
Columbia, MO Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
7Teacher Education, Multiple Levels43%$23,19877%
23William Woods University
Fulton, MO Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs
7Reading Teacher Education47%$22,20371%
24Maryville University of Saint Louis
Saint Louis, MO Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
5Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching66%$24,92195%
25Missouri Valley College
Marshall, MO Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs
5Physical Education Teaching and Coaching22%$18,42869%

All 36 schools in Missouri

Every school in Missouri 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 Missouri that feed this occupation
SchoolCityControlGraduates / yrFeeder programs
Northwest Missouri State UniversityMaryvillePublic27613
University of Central MissouriWarrensburgPublic1797
University of Missouri - St LouisSaint LouisPublic1614
Missouri State University - SpringfieldSpringfieldPublic1398
Southeast Missouri State UniversityCape GirardeauPublic9910
Truman State UniversityKirksvillePublic538
University of Missouri - ColumbiaColumbiaPublic523
Central Methodist University - College of Graduate and Extended StudiesFayettePrivate not-for-profit423
North Central Missouri CollegeTrentonPublic351
Missouri Southern State UniversityJoplinPublic344
Lindenwood UniversitySaint CharlesPrivate not-for-profit334
University of Missouri - Kansas CityKansas CityPublic333
Webster UniversitySaint LouisPrivate not-for-profit274
Evangel UniversitySpringfieldPrivate not-for-profit249
Southwest Baptist UniversityBolivarPrivate not-for-profit227

What middle school teachers earn in Missouri

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

Median annual in Missouri
$59,310
Mean annual
$61,510
Jobs in state
11,330
What the range looks like
10th pct$43,760Median$59,31090th pct$91,130
Versus the national median
-7.9%

U.S. median $64,370. Missouri pays below the national figure.

Job concentration
0.97×

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

Metro areas in Missouri

St. Louis, MO-IL
$62,180median
5,650 jobs
Kansas City, MO-KS
$62,570median
4,010 jobs
St. Joseph, MO-KS
$50,600median
260 jobs
Cape Girardeau, MO-IL
$56,090median
100 jobs
Columbia, MO
$48,590median
300 jobs
Springfield, MO
$48,990median
1,350 jobs
Joplin, MO-KS
$49,110median
430 jobs
Jefferson City, MO
$47,960median
210 jobs

Job outlook

Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.

Projected growth 2024–34
-2.0%
Decline
Openings per year
40,500
new jobs plus replacements
Employment change
-12,400
633,700 → 621,300
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 Middle School Teachers page.

How to become a Middle 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

Learning StrategiesSpeakingActive ListeningWritingMonitoringReading Comprehension

The same job in other states

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

Related careers in Missouri

Every major mapped to this job

The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.

All 25 majors mapped to Middle 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
  • 13.1206Teacher 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
  • 13.1305English/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
  • 13.1323Chemistry Teacher Education
  • 13.1324Drama and Dance Teacher Education

Common questions

Answers for people weighing middle school teachers programs in Missouri.

What degree do you need to become a Middle 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 Teacher Education, Multiple Levels, which awarded 332 degrees in Missouri in 2024-25, 24.7% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.

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

The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 23 programs to this occupation. The largest are Teacher Education and Professional Development, Teacher Education and Professional Development, Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language. Together they graduate about 1,342 people a year in Missouri.

How much do middle school teachers earn in Missouri?+

The median is $59,310 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 7.9% below the U.S. median of $64,370. 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 middle school teachers growing?+

BLS projects a -2.0% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, decline, with roughly 40,500 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.

How many schools offer programs for this career in Missouri?+

36 institutions in Missouri reported graduates from at least one of the 23 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 middle school teachers work under?+

Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Teacher, Science Teacher, Language Arts Teacher (LA Teacher), Math Teacher (Mathematics Teacher) among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 25-2022.

Middle School Teachers in other statesNew YorkUtahIndianaTexasGeorgiaPennsylvaniaOhioIllinois

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

All Clema data sources and release dates →

Explore every U.S. college in one conversation

Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.

Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card