Best Secondary School Teacher programs in Washington, ranked by enrollment
Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school.
50 schools in Washington run programs that feed this job, graduating 6,554 people a year. The job pays a median of $102,670 in Washington across about 14,880 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Fields of study in Washington that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level. Numbers are graduates per year in this state.
53 programs in Washington that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year in Washington (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 Washington page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIP 26.0101In Washington → | 1,346 | 20.5% | 33 | $32,152 | $25,000 |
| 2 | CIP 45.1001In Washington → | 533 | 8.1% | 13 | $35,631 | $23,538 |
| 3 | CIP 40.0101In Washington → | 524 | 8.0% | 28 | $27,007 | $9,000 |
| 4 | CIP 54.0101In Washington → | 485 | 7.4% | 16 | $31,217 | $24,000 |
| 5 | CIP 23.0101In Washington → | 453 | 6.9% | 15 | $29,622 | $24,546 |
| 6 | CIP 13.1206In Washington → | 326 | 5.0% | 5 | $41,127 | $25,500 |
| 7 | CIP 45.0101In Washington → | 313 | 4.8% | 3 | $35,590 | $24,095 |
| 8 | CIP 27.0101In Washington → | 289 | 4.4% | 15 | $48,772 | $21,544 |
| 9 | CIP 40.0501In Washington → | 257 | 3.9% | 15 | $42,620 | $23,900 |
| 10 | CIP 50.0701In Washington → | 229 | 3.5% | 8 | $24,447 | $25,294 |
| 11 | CIP 50.0901In Washington → | 213 | 3.2% | 23 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 12 | CIP 40.0801In Washington → | 211 | 3.2% | 13 | $47,156 | $23,490 |
| 13 | CIP 30.0101In Washington → | 180 | 2.7% | 5 | $28,446 | $11,000 |
| 14 | CIP 13.1205In Washington → | 157 | 2.4% | 8 | $41,127 | $25,500 |
| 15 | CIP 45.0601In Washington → | 110 | 1.7% | 8 | $51,725 | $22,907 |
| 16 | CIP 16.9999In Washington → | 108 | 1.6% | 5 | $34,944 | $24,828 |
| 17 | CIP 13.1312In Washington → | 99 | 1.5% | 8 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 18 | CIP 16.0905In Washington → | 81 | 1.2% | 9 | $34,541 | $22,748 |
| 19 | CIP 13.1311In Washington → | 74 | 1.1% | 11 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 20 | CIP 45.1099In Washington → | 73 | 1.1% | 2 | $35,631 | $23,538 |
| 21 | CIP 13.1401In Washington → | 57 | 0.9% | 7 | $36,305 | $26,250 |
| 22 | CIP 16.0302In Washington → | 49 | 0.7% | 6 | $27,331 | $20,685 |
| 23 | CIP 13.1314In Washington → | 37 | 0.6% | 2 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 24 | CIP 13.1305In Washington → | 35 | 0.5% | 4 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 25 | CIP 13.1318In Washington → | 33 | 0.5% | 2 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 26 | CIP 13.1207In Washington → | 28 | 0.4% | 1 | $41,127 | $25,500 |
| 27 | CIP 16.0901In Washington → | 28 | 0.4% | 9 | $34,541 | $22,748 |
| 28 | CIP 13.1302In Washington → | 26 | 0.4% | 4 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 29 | CIP 13.1328In Washington → | 25 | 0.4% | 2 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 30 | CIP 13.1315In Washington → | 23 | 0.4% | 3 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 31 | CIP 13.1316In Washington → | 23 | 0.4% | 4 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 32 | CIP 13.1213In Washington → | 19 | 0.3% | 1 | $41,127 | $25,500 |
| 33 | CIP 16.1200In Washington → | 14 | 0.2% | 3 | — | $22,560 |
| 34 | CIP 13.1307In Washington → | 12 | 0.2% | 1 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 35 | CIP 16.0301In Washington → | 12 | 0.2% | 5 | $27,331 | $20,685 |
| 36 | CIP 13.1330In Washington → | 10 | 0.2% | 2 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 37 | CIP 16.0300In Washington → | 10 | 0.2% | 1 | $27,331 | $20,685 |
| 38 | CIP 13.1306In Washington → | 8 | 0.1% | 1 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 39 | CIP 16.0501In Washington → | 6 | 0.1% | 2 | $44,390 | $23,202 |
| 40 | CIP 13.0201In Washington → | 5 | 0.1% | 2 | $56,738 | $19,664 |
| 41 | CIP 13.1317In Washington → | 5 | 0.1% | 1 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 42 | CIP 16.0303In Washington → | 5 | 0.1% | 1 | $27,331 | $20,685 |
| 43 | CIP 19.0101In Washington → | 5 | 0.1% | 1 | $31,910 | $26,500 |
| 44 | CIP 16.0402In Washington → | 3 | 0.0% | 2 | $60,240 | $5,500 |
| 45 | CIP 16.0500In Washington → | 3 | 0.0% | 1 | $44,390 | $23,202 |
| 46 | CIP 13.1321In Washington → | 2 | 0.0% | 1 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 47 | CIP 13.1322In Washington → | 2 | 0.0% | 2 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 48 | CIP 13.1323In Washington → | 2 | 0.0% | 2 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 49 | CIP 16.0101In Washington → | 2 | 0.0% | 1 | $27,449 | $20,824 |
| 50 | CIP 13.1308In Washington → | 1 | 0.0% | 1 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 51 | CIP 13.1337In Washington → | 1 | 0.0% | 1 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 52 | CIP 16.0902In Washington → | 1 | 0.0% | 1 | $34,541 | $22,748 |
| 53 | CIP 16.1202In Washington → | 1 | 0.0% | 1 | — | $22,560 |
Top 25 schools in Washington
Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 15 of the 50 schools in this state.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus Seattle, WA Public · 29 feeder programs | 1,469 | Political Science and Government, General | $41,246 | 85% | — | 39% |
| 2 | Washington State University Pullman, WA Public · 18 feeder programs | 1,126 | Teacher Education, Multiple Levels | $46,998 | 60% | — | 87% |
| 3 | Western Washington University Bellingham, WA Public · 33 feeder programs | 592 | History, General | $25,355 | 65% | — | 93% |
| 4 | Eastern Washington University Cheney, WA Public · 24 feeder programs | 517 | History, General | $36,126 | 43% | — | 91% |
| 5 | Central Washington University Ellensburg, WA Public · 24 feeder programs | 442 | Music, General | $25,532 | 54% | — | 91% |
| 6 | Whitworth University Spokane, WA Private not-for-profit · 16 feeder programs | 226 | Biological and Physical Sciences | $34,703 | 71% | $23,510 | 90% |
| 7 | Gonzaga University Spokane, WA Private not-for-profit · 14 feeder programs | 223 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $30,819 | 86% | $30,006 | 82% |
| 8 | Pacific Lutheran University Tacoma, WA Private not-for-profit · 11 feeder programs | 155 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $36,766 | 69% | $19,944 | 78% |
| 9 | University of Washington - Bothell Campus Bothell, WA Public · 4 feeder programs | 135 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $38,716 | 65% | — | 91% |
| 10 | Seattle Pacific University Seattle, WA Private not-for-profit · 13 feeder programs | 125 | Secondary Education and Teaching | — | 62% | $24,653 | 83% |
| 11 | University of Puget Sound Tacoma, WA Private not-for-profit · 16 feeder programs | 125 | Biological and Physical Sciences | — | 68% | $35,057 | 72% |
| 12 | Seattle University Seattle, WA Private not-for-profit · 11 feeder programs | 124 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $37,063 | 76% | $31,900 | 77% |
| 13 | Whitman College Walla Walla, WA Private not-for-profit · 14 feeder programs | 114 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $28,538 | 81% | $28,508 | 38% |
| 14 | The Evergreen State College Olympia, WA Public · 2 feeder programs | 104 | Biological and Physical Sciences | $27,555 | 41% | — | 96% |
| 15 | Pierce College District Lakewood, WA Public · 4 feeder programs | 88 | Physical Sciences, General | — | 31% | — | — |
| 16 | Clark College Vancouver, WA Public · 4 feeder programs | 86 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | — | 39% | — | — |
| 17 | Cascadia College Bothell, WA Public · 2 feeder programs | 80 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | — | 32% | — | — |
| 18 | South Puget Sound Community College Olympia, WA Public · 3 feeder programs | 69 | Physical Sciences, General | — | 44% | — | — |
| 19 | Seattle Central College Seattle, WA Public · 1 feeder programs | 64 | Physical Sciences, General | — | 32% | — | — |
| 20 | Edmonds College Lynnwood, WA Public · 3 feeder programs | 62 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | — | 29% | — | — |
| 21 | Yakima Valley College Yakima, WA Public · 2 feeder programs | 55 | Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Other | — | 29% | — | — |
| 22 | Bellevue College Bellevue, WA Public · 3 feeder programs | 47 | Physical Sciences, General | — | 36% | — | — |
| 23 | Saint Martin's University Lacey, WA Private not-for-profit · 8 feeder programs | 47 | Biology/Biological Sciences, General | $32,034 | 52% | $22,131 | 90% |
| 24 | Green River College Auburn, WA Public · 3 feeder programs | 45 | Physical Sciences, General | — | 39% | — | — |
| 25 | Columbia Basin College Pasco, WA Public · 3 feeder programs | 41 | Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Other | — | 33% | — | — |
All 50 schools in Washington
Every school in Washington 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.
| School | City | Control | Graduates / yr | Feeder programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Washington - Seattle Campus | Seattle | Public | 1,469 | 29 |
| Washington State University | Pullman | Public | 1,126 | 18 |
| Western Washington University | Bellingham | Public | 592 | 33 |
| Eastern Washington University | Cheney | Public | 517 | 24 |
| Central Washington University | Ellensburg | Public | 442 | 24 |
| Whitworth University | Spokane | Private not-for-profit | 226 | 16 |
| Gonzaga University | Spokane | Private not-for-profit | 223 | 14 |
| Pacific Lutheran University | Tacoma | Private not-for-profit | 155 | 11 |
| University of Washington - Bothell Campus | Bothell | Public | 135 | 4 |
| Seattle Pacific University | Seattle | Private not-for-profit | 125 | 13 |
| University of Puget Sound | Tacoma | Private not-for-profit | 125 | 16 |
| Seattle University | Seattle | Private not-for-profit | 124 | 11 |
| Whitman College | Walla Walla | Private not-for-profit | 114 | 14 |
| The Evergreen State College | Olympia | Public | 104 | 2 |
| Pierce College District | Lakewood | Public | 88 | 4 |
What secondary school teachers earn in Washington
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
U.S. median $72,040. Washington pays above the national figure.
1.00× means the state has its expected share of these jobs.
Metro areas in Washington
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
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
The same job in other states
Where else this occupation employs the most people, and what it pays there.
Related careers in Washington
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 Washington.
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 Biology/Biological Sciences, General, which awarded 1,346 degrees in Washington in 2024-25, 20.5% 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 53 programs to this occupation. The largest are Biology, Political Science and Government, Teacher Education and Professional Development, Physical Sciences, plus 21 more. Together they graduate about 6,554 people a year in Washington.
How much do secondary school teachers earn in Washington?+
The median is $102,670 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 42.5% 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 Washington?+
50 institutions in Washington reported graduates from at least one of the 53 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 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected 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 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, 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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