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Bureau of Labor Statistics > Occupational Requirements Survey > Publications > Factsheets

Secondary school teachers (except special and career/technical education)

Chemistry teacher observing student pouring liquid into flask Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level.

For terms and definitions in this profile, see definitions of major terms.

Cognitive and mental requirements

The qualifications that workers need to use judgment, make decisions, interact with others, and adapt to changes in jobs.

In 2025, external verbal interactions were required constantly (every few minutes) for 92.7 percent of secondary school teachers, except special and career or technical education. External verbal interactions were required more than once per hour (but not constantly) for 7.3 percent.

Table 1. Percentage of secondary school teachers, except special and career or technical education with cognitive and mental requirements, 2025
Requirement	Yes	No
Work schedule varies	28.7	71.3
Ability to pause work (and take brief unscheduled breaks)	35.8	64.2
Working around crowds	8.0	92.0
Telework routinely allowed	<0.5	>99.5
Supervising others	12.7	87.3
Supervisor present in immediate work area	12.7	87.3
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey

Education, training, and experience requirements

The minimum level of formal education required, credentials necessary, on-the-job training, and prior work experience necessary for average performance in jobs. The time associated with these requirements is combined to calculate the specific vocational preparation level needed for the job.

In 2025, prior work experience was required for 3.9 percent of secondary school teachers, except special and career or technical education and on-the-job training was required for 41.2 percent.

A bachelor's degree was required for greater than 99.5 percent of secondary school teachers, except special and career or technical education.

Environmental conditions

The various hazards or difficulties that are in the area where workers perform their critical tasks.

In 2025, a quiet noise exposure was present for 2.9 percent of secondary school teachers, except special and career or technical education. Another 97.0 percent were exposed to moderate noise, less than 0.5 percent were exposed to loud noise, and less than 0.5 percent to very loud noise. Personal protective equipment (PPE) was used by less than 0.5 percent of workers to mitigate noise exposure and was not used by greater than 99.5 percent.

Physical demands

The physical activities required to perform tasks in jobs. The presence and, in some cases, duration of these activities are published.

In 2025, speaking was required for greater than 99.5 percent of secondary school teachers, except special and career or technical education and was not required for less than 0.5 percent. For less than 0.5 percent of workers, speaking was seldom required, for 7.0 percent speaking was occasionally required, for 90.9 percent speaking was frequently required, and for 2.1 percent speaking was required constantly.

Performing work in low postures was required for 27.3 percent of secondary school teachers, except special and career or technical education and was not required for 72.7 percent.

The choice to sit or stand when performing critical tasks was available to 60.0 percent of secondary school teachers, except special and career or technical education. On average, workers spent 39.6 percent of the workday sitting and 60.4 percent of the workday standing.

Table 2. Percentage of secondary school teachers, except special and career or technical education with physical demands, 2025
Requirement	Yes	No
Ability to choose to sit or stand for tasks	60.0	40.0
Driving	1.3	98.7
Climbing structure-related ramps or stairs	15.7	84.3
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey