Becoming a Teacher via Online Education?

At the very least, online education can help you lay a foundation and/or open up alternate career paths. Liberty University Online, one of the highest ranking online schools, is a US school (accredited) offering teaching courses to train individuals to become top-notch teachers, educators, professors, preschool teachers, kindergarten teachers, tutors, online teachers, early childhood teachers, teacher trainers, etc. Currently, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics there are 56,880 people employed as education teachers alone in America, and their average annual salary is $62,160. Preschool teachers make on average $27,450 per year and there are about 389,660 of them employed today. Colleges and universities like Liberty University Online that provide online education are successfully launching workers into this field.

Typical Work Locations for a Teacher
  • Public Schools
  • Day Care Centers
  • Private Schools
  • Churches
  • Homes
  • Colleges
  • Technical Schools
  • Governments
  • Corporate Offices
  • Rehabilitation Centers
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as a Teacher
  • Working with children
  • Teach subjects you love
  • Opportunity to teach different age groups
  • Can advance to principal or supervisor
  • Become better acquainted with your favorite subjects
  • Can use your creativity to help students learn better
  • You become a role model to your students
  • Can help students find their paths in life
  • Give back to your community
  • Help guide children to becoming a better people and be counselor of sorts
Potential Drawbacks
  • Punish students
  • Do without pay during the summer
  • Get blamed by parents and principals
  • Speak over loud students
  • Figure out a way to calm an out of control classroom
  • Deal with bathroom accidents in younger children
  • Have to stand much of the time
  • Being treated with disrespect by some students
  • See offensive comments about you written on walls and desks by students
  • Keep track of the needs of many students
Related Professions to Consider
  • Education Administrator
  • Health Specialties Teacher
  • Foreign Language and Literature Teacher
  • Biological Science Teacher
  • Art Drama and Music Teacher
  • Law Teacher
  • Agricultural Sciences Teacher
  • Teacher Assistant
  • Library Science Teacher
  • Home Economics Teacher
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be a Teacher
  • Why did you pursue teaching?
  • Describe your college experiences?
  • Describe your philosophy of teaching?
  • Why do you want to become a teacher?
  • List three of your strengths?
  • Describe three of your weaknesses as a teacher?
  • In what ways do you encourage creativity in your classroom?
  • Tell us about a lesson in which you've used differentiated instruction?
  • Do you make learning fun for students How?
  • How much homework do you give?
Common Collaborating Professions
  • Infant School Teacher
  • Math Teacher
  • Primary Teacher
  • Singing Teacher
  • Head Teacher
  • Music Teachers
  • Coordinating Teacher
  • Piano Teachers
  • English Teacher
  • Art Teacher
Teacher Training books Teacher (More) Popular books Potential Companies to Work For Common College Majors
  • Administration of Special Education
  • Adult Education and Organizational Learning
  • Applied Behavior Analysis
  • Art and Art Education
  • Behavioral Disorders
  • Cognitive Studies in Education
  • Curriculum and Teaching
  • Developmental Psychology Programs
  • Education Policy Studies
  • Communication Computing and Technology

Teacher Salary Information

Category: Preschool teachers, except special education

Total # Employed in the US 389,660
Average Hourly Wage: $13.2/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$7.9 $9.27 $11.8 $15.5 $20.95
Average Yearly Salary $27,450
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$16,420 $19,280 $24,540 $32,240 $43,570
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
2.0% 15.9% 23.7% 14.0% 31.8% 11.9% 0.8%
Preschool teachers, except special education — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
North Dakota $16.24/hr $33,770
Oklahoma $15.83/hr $32,920
Florida $15.71/hr $32,680
Missouri $15.44/hr $32,120
Virginia $15.21/hr $31,630
Montana $15.08/hr $31,370
Nebraska $14.93/hr $31,050
Indiana $14.84/hr $30,860
Colorado $14.66/hr $30,500
Delaware $14.45/hr $30,050
Connecticut $14.35/hr $29,850
Alaska $14.08/hr $29,300
Mississippi $13.94/hr $29,000
Maine $13.76/hr $28,610
Kansas $13.62/hr $28,320
Puerto Rico $13.53/hr $28,140
Michigan $13.17/hr $27,390
North Carolina $13/hr $27,040
Maryland $12.98/hr $27,000
Wyoming $12.83/hr $26,690
South Dakota $12.77/hr $26,560
Louisiana $12.72/hr $26,460
West Virginia $12.68/hr $26,380
Pennsylvania $12.36/hr $25,720
Ohio $12.35/hr $25,690
Washington $12.34/hr $25,660
Utah $12.31/hr $25,610
California $12.3/hr $25,570
Arkansas $12.23/hr $25,440
Hawaii $12.1/hr $25,170
Alabama $12.04/hr $25,050
Tennessee $11.88/hr $24,710
Idaho $11.75/hr $24,440
Wisconsin $11.68/hr $24,290
Kentucky $11.61/hr $24,140
New Hampshire $11.55/hr $24,030
District of Columbia $11.52/hr $23,960
New York $11.46/hr $23,840
New Mexico $11.21/hr $23,330
Guam $11.05/hr $22,980
New Jersey $11.04/hr $22,970
Nevada $10.85/hr $22,570
Oregon $10.83/hr $22,530
South Carolina $10.64/hr $22,130
Massachusetts $10.43/hr $21,690
Iowa $9.56/hr $19,880


Category: Kindergarten teachers, except special education

Total # Employed in the US 181,810
Average Yearly Salary $50,380
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$31,320 $38,490 $47,830 $60,510 $75,210
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
2.0% 15.9% 23.7% 14.0% 31.8% 11.9% 0.8%
Kindergarten teachers, except special education — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Alabama - $45,570
Alaska - $63,970
Arkansas - $39,480
California - $42,760
Colorado - $56,660
Connecticut - $46,560
Delaware - $61,870
District of Columbia - $50,670
Florida - $38,930
Hawaii - $48,690
Idaho - $47,150
Indiana - $43,730
Iowa - $34,940
Kansas - $45,380
Kentucky - $46,570
Louisiana - $41,920
Maine - $44,360
Maryland - $47,860
Massachusetts - $44,500
Michigan - $44,680
Mississippi - $47,190
Missouri - $56,640
Montana - $50,500
Nebraska - $50,580
Nevada - $40,640
New Hampshire - $42,510
New Jersey - $34,800
New Mexico - $43,200
New York - $41,570
North Carolina - $45,060
North Dakota - $59,210
Ohio - $52,160
Oklahoma - $66,450
Oregon - $40,860
Pennsylvania - $38,890
South Carolina - $47,530
South Dakota - $39,310
Tennessee - $45,220
Utah - $51,220
Virginia - $67,720
Washington - $45,580
West Virginia - $36,190
Wisconsin - $44,980
Wyoming - $47,460
Guam - $38,550
Puerto Rico - $48,140


Category: Elementary school teachers, except special education

Total # Employed in the US 1,544,300
Average Yearly Salary $53,150
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$33,830 $40,850 $50,510 $63,600 $78,720
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
0.3% 1.0% 2.9% 2.1% 46.5% 44.4% 2.9%
Elementary school teachers, except special education — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Alabama - $46,810
Alaska - $68,070
Arkansas - $42,450
California - $42,570
Colorado - $61,230
Connecticut - $48,010
Delaware - $66,660
District of Columbia - $50,480
Florida - $64,200
Hawaii - $49,400
Idaho - $52,390
Indiana - $48,730
Iowa - $48,340
Kansas - $58,510
Kentucky - $47,540
Louisiana - $41,720
Maine - $41,490
Maryland - $47,350
Massachusetts - $44,620
Michigan - $45,270
Mississippi - $61,000
Missouri - $60,810
Montana - $54,290
Nebraska - $51,290
Nevada - $41,770
New Hampshire - $43,200
New Jersey - $39,540
New Mexico - $43,850
New York - $47,110
North Carolina - $49,280
North Dakota - $60,860
Ohio - $50,930
Oklahoma - $65,820
Oregon - $42,550
Pennsylvania - $42,880
South Carolina - $51,970
South Dakota - $41,530
Tennessee - $50,550
Utah - $52,370
Virginia - $68,410
Washington - $45,310
West Virginia - $38,350
Wisconsin - $46,280
Wyoming - $49,970
Guam - $45,730
Puerto Rico - $51,940


Category: Middle school teachers, except special and vocational education

Total # Employed in the US 665,420
Average Yearly Salary $53,550
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$34,360 $41,150 $50,770 $63,980 $79,200
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
0.3% 1.0% 2.9% 2.1% 46.5% 44.4% 2.9%
Middle school teachers, except special and vocational education — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Alabama - $46,730
Alaska - $66,060
Arkansas - $41,290
California - $43,520
Colorado - $61,370
Connecticut - $48,320
Delaware - $67,710
District of Columbia - $54,590
Florida - $57,850
Hawaii - $50,470
Idaho - $51,860
Indiana - $38,270
Iowa - $45,880
Kansas - $59,180
Kentucky - $47,000
Louisiana - $43,720
Maine - $42,410
Maryland - $48,330
Massachusetts - $45,840
Michigan - $46,080
Mississippi - $64,510
Missouri - $60,140
Montana - $55,270
Nebraska - $45,190
Nevada - $40,610
New Hampshire - $45,040
New Jersey - $41,030
New Mexico - $45,980
New York - $48,450
North Carolina - $49,250
North Dakota - $62,060
Ohio - $51,670
Oklahoma - $67,580
Oregon - $42,710
South Carolina - $50,620
South Dakota - $39,740
Tennessee - $50,780
Utah - $57,000
Virginia - $63,770
Washington - $46,180
West Virginia - $39,340
Wisconsin - $45,020
Wyoming - $50,350
Guam - $45,990
Puerto Rico - $53,340


Category: Vocational education teachers, middle school

Total # Employed in the US 14,060
Average Yearly Salary $51,520
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$33,650 $40,480 $49,320 $61,140 $74,460
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
0.3% 1.0% 2.9% 2.1% 46.5% 44.4% 2.9%
Vocational education teachers, middle school — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Alabama - $47,940
Alaska - $64,960
Arkansas - $46,050
California - $47,160
Colorado - $51,310
Delaware - $64,520
Hawaii - $56,090
Idaho - $54,540
Kansas - $49,660
Kentucky - $51,870
Louisiana - $40,850
Maine - $44,450
Maryland - $52,670
Massachusetts - $45,740
Michigan - $52,620
Mississippi - $55,220
Missouri - $62,710
Montana - $52,500
Nebraska - $47,520
Nevada - $45,280
New Hampshire - $46,400
New Jersey - $30,180
New Mexico - $46,960
New York - $49,240
North Carolina - $52,570
Ohio - $53,810
Oklahoma - $58,660
Oregon - $44,840
South Carolina - $58,530
South Dakota - $45,960
Tennessee - $47,060
Utah - $57,590
Virginia - $51,060
Washington - $50,900
West Virginia - $41,930
Wisconsin - $43,100
Wyoming - $50,820
Guam - $47,420


Category: Secondary school teachers, except special and vocational education

Total # Employed in the US 1,091,710
Average Yearly Salary $55,150
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$34,600 $42,070 $52,200 $66,110 $82,000
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
0.3% 0.7% 2.3% 1.6% 45.3% 46.5% 3.3%
Secondary school teachers, except special and vocational education — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Alabama - $47,320
Alaska - $67,640
Arkansas - $43,670
California - $45,410
Colorado - $63,860
Connecticut - $49,490
Delaware - $65,790
District of Columbia - $57,720
Florida - $55,740
Hawaii - $52,450
Idaho - $53,610
Indiana - $48,660
Iowa - $51,730
Kansas - $67,960
Kentucky - $45,810
Louisiana - $42,270
Maine - $42,240
Maryland - $49,470
Massachusetts - $46,150
Michigan - $45,380
Mississippi - $62,500
Missouri - $61,470
Montana - $52,110
Nebraska - $49,210
Nevada - $42,120
New Hampshire - $42,540
New Jersey - $38,970
New Mexico - $44,780
New York - $48,580
North Carolina - $51,340
North Dakota - $65,420
Ohio - $54,480
Oklahoma - $68,010
Oregon - $44,260
Pennsylvania - $41,310
South Carolina - $54,530
South Dakota - $42,320
Tennessee - $50,390
Utah - $55,150
Virginia - $65,050
Washington - $48,030
West Virginia - $38,070
Wisconsin - $46,520
Wyoming - $52,270
Guam - $43,480
Puerto Rico - $52,510


Category: Vocational education teachers, secondary school

Total # Employed in the US 92,980
Average Yearly Salary $54,420
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$35,420 $42,890 $52,550 $64,830 $78,170
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
0.3% 0.7% 2.3% 1.6% 45.3% 46.5% 3.3%
Vocational education teachers, secondary school — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Alabama - $52,620
Alaska - $71,230
Arkansas - $43,880
California - $47,570
Colorado - $61,620
Connecticut - $50,920
Delaware - $65,580
Hawaii - $56,910
Idaho - $54,680
Indiana - $44,810
Iowa - $41,760
Kansas - $52,130
Kentucky - $55,730
Louisiana - $41,520
Maine - $43,890
Maryland - $55,200
Massachusetts - $48,610
Michigan - $46,160
Mississippi - $64,550
Missouri - $62,920
Montana - $54,540
Nebraska - $54,590
Nevada - $44,320
New Hampshire - $44,300
New Jersey - $39,680
New Mexico - $45,270
New York - $53,690
North Carolina - $54,870
North Dakota - $65,330
Ohio - $53,230
Oklahoma - $65,050
Oregon - $47,210
Pennsylvania - $42,750
South Carolina - $59,350
South Dakota - $47,960
Tennessee - $55,200
Utah - $58,080
Virginia - $66,820
Washington - $49,220
West Virginia - $38,920
Wisconsin - $45,440
Wyoming - $52,390
Guam - $44,950
Puerto Rico - $55,750


Category: Special education teachers, preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school

Total # Employed in the US 228,580
Average Yearly Salary $53,770
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$34,010 $41,210 $50,950 $64,350 $79,850
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
0.4% 4.6% 5.9% 3.8% 38.3% 44.9% 2.1%
Special education teachers, preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Alabama - $47,750
Alaska - $70,320
Arkansas - $40,950
California - $43,080
Colorado - $63,440
Connecticut - $50,700
Delaware - $68,120
District of Columbia - $48,610
Florida - $48,770
Hawaii - $51,810
Idaho - $51,550
Indiana - $49,110
Iowa - $43,460
Kansas - $52,870
Kentucky - $48,030
Louisiana - $44,000
Maine - $46,070
Maryland - $47,400
Massachusetts - $46,200
Michigan - $43,720
Mississippi - $61,120
Missouri - $56,360
Montana - $56,830
Nebraska - $51,760
Nevada - $44,570
New Hampshire - $44,800
New Jersey - $37,960
New Mexico - $43,390
New York - $49,800
North Carolina - $47,920
North Dakota - $60,100
Ohio - $52,050
Oklahoma - $66,460
Oregon - $44,680
Pennsylvania - $44,640
South Carolina - $49,900
South Dakota - $44,740
Tennessee - $50,330
Utah - $54,160
Virginia - $65,550
Washington - $44,990
West Virginia - $37,880
Wisconsin - $45,660
Wyoming - $49,130
Guam - $45,570
Puerto Rico - $51,810


Category: Special education teachers, middle school

Total # Employed in the US 102,490
Average Yearly Salary $54,750
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$35,690 $42,690 $51,970 $64,740 $79,820
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
0.4% 4.6% 5.9% 3.8% 38.3% 44.9% 2.1%
Special education teachers, middle school — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Alabama - $48,070
Alaska - $66,730
Arkansas - $41,940
California - $46,510
Colorado - $65,140
Connecticut - $51,290
Delaware - $66,990
District of Columbia - $54,110
Florida - $49,560
Hawaii - $52,000
Idaho - $50,900
Iowa - $44,500
Kansas - $55,060
Kentucky - $50,450
Louisiana - $44,260
Maine - $45,790
Maryland - $47,970
Massachusetts - $47,630
Michigan - $44,960
Mississippi - $62,960
Missouri - $59,600
Montana - $56,540
Nebraska - $52,640
Nevada - $44,030
New Hampshire - $47,280
New Jersey - $36,620
New Mexico - $45,520
New York - $52,220
North Carolina - $50,310
North Dakota - $59,820
Ohio - $55,960
Oklahoma - $65,890
Oregon - $43,380
South Carolina - $50,280
South Dakota - $42,810
Tennessee - $49,330
Utah - $59,990
Virginia - $66,990
Washington - $47,610
West Virginia - $38,540
Wisconsin - $46,870
Wyoming - $49,860
Guam - $47,980
Puerto Rico - $54,790


Category: Special education teachers, secondary school

Total # Employed in the US 146,240
Average Yearly Salary $56,420
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$35,840 $43,060 $52,900 $67,440 $83,590
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
0.4% 4.6% 5.9% 3.8% 38.3% 44.9% 2.1%
Special education teachers, secondary school — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Alabama - $48,370
Alaska - $65,940
Arkansas - $47,710
California - $46,900
Colorado - $67,390
Connecticut - $52,350
Delaware - $71,670
District of Columbia - $57,370
Florida - $48,660
Hawaii - $52,550
Idaho - $54,540
Iowa - $42,630
Kansas - $60,320
Kentucky - $49,430
Louisiana - $42,050
Maine - $47,910
Maryland - $48,770
Massachusetts - $46,290
Michigan - $44,830
Mississippi - $62,370
Missouri - $59,000
Montana - $53,770
Nebraska - $54,370
Nevada - $43,410
New Hampshire - $49,000
New Jersey - $40,950
New Mexico - $46,060
New York - $50,440
North Carolina - $52,200
North Dakota - $66,790
Ohio - $52,080
Oklahoma - $70,010
Oregon - $44,750
Pennsylvania - $44,950
South Carolina - $53,800
South Dakota - $44,630
Tennessee - $52,590
Utah - $57,020
Virginia - $68,930
Washington - $47,410
West Virginia - $38,100
Wisconsin - $45,710
Wyoming - $50,920
Guam - $44,610
Puerto Rico - $57,820


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