CAREER GUIDE B.S. Science Education (Secondary Physics)

Do you have an analytical mind and a passion for the universe surrounding us? Maybe it's time to think about becoming a physics teacher and sharing your knowledge with a roomful of young and inquisitive minds.

According to the Physics Teacher Education Coalition, "the preparation of qualified physics teachers has failed to keep pace with a dramatic increase in the number of high-school students taking physics." Furthermore, "Despite federal legislation mandating highly qualified teachers for every classroom, school districts confirm a considerable shortage of physics teachers year after year, greater than any other science discipline."

If you have up-to-date knowledge in general science and advanced physics and develop the skills that enable teachers to perform effectively in diverse classrooms, you can take advantage of the current need for physics teachers in elementary and high schools across the country. Remember the first time you learned about Newton's laws of motion and how they apply to our everyday lives? Maybe you had a great physics teacher in high school who conducted an experiment demonstrating how Archimedes principle can be used to solve problems of static fluids and fluids in motion. If all this is sparking your imagination, maybe it's time to get scientific about your future – become a physics teacher!

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for middle school and high school teachers is expected to grow about 8% from 2016 to 2026, which is near the average for all occupations. The outlook, however, might be even better for physics teachers in particular.

The American Physics Society says the demand for physics teachers is on the rise, with about 500 leaving the profession annually and only about 300 entering the workforce to replace them. On top of that, only about one-third of current physics teachers majored or minored in physics. The critical need for STEM teachers has even been called a national security issue.

Whether you're teaching middle or high school physics, your salary will most likely be related to how much experience you have and the level of education you have achieved. Where you live and teach will also play a significant role in how much you can make. The BLS reports the median annual wage for middle school teachers was $54,720 in May 2016. High school teachers earned slightly more: $58,030.

As is true for most jobs and careers, you can expect your hourly pay rate or salary to increase as you gain experience and spend more time working for the same employer.