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Educator, High School Teacher, Instructor, Junior High School Teacher, Music Teacher, Physical Education Teacher, School Teacher, Teacher
In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.
The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used.
Here is how this occupation has been classified over time.
2006 NOC
2006 NOC-S
2011 NOC
2016 NOC
2021 NOC
2023 OaSIS
In general, secondary school teachers:
Secondary classes vary in size and are made up of students who represent a broad range of abilities, interests, needs and diversities. Teachers use various instructional techniques to engage students and maximize individual learning within a group teaching environment.
In addition to preparing and presenting lessons, secondary school teachers:
Most of these additional duties occur after regular school hours and add considerable time to the working day. Some teaching specializations may concentrate on preparation and organization, while others may involve more marking or extracurricular involvement.
Secondary teachers in large urban schools often teach many classes in only 1 or 2 subject areas. In smaller rural schools and schools with a generalist approach, secondary teachers are required to teach a broader range of subjects and grades.
Academic specialists teach core courses such as English language arts and math. They prepare and present academic course content in a clear and creative way by using techniques and materials designed to motivate students. Their duties also may include:
In addition to second languages taught as specific subjects, many schools offer language immersion programs at various levels. Bilingual and multilingual teachers may teach academic subjects in languages other than English.
English as a Second Language (ESL) and English Language Learners (ELL) teachers work with immigrant children whose English skills are insufficient for the regular classroom. The objective of an ESL or ELL program is to integrate students into mainstream classes by:
Fine arts teachers usually are artists or performers in their own fields. For more information, see the Dancer, Instrumental Musician, Painter or Printmaker, Singer and Sculptor occupational profiles.
Career and technology studies teachers usually are specialists in their fields. For more information, see the Career and Technology Studies Teacher occupational profile.
Physical education teachers work toward enhancing the physical fitness and motor skill development of their students through recreational activities such as:
Secondary teachers spend most of their working day instructing classes. They may teach 150 or more students a day. The work can be demanding, requiring a great deal of physical, mental and emotional energy. Many hours are spent out of class working with individual students, preparing lessons and marking assignments.
Most secondary schools are well-equipped, attractive facilities with up-to-date audiovisual, language laboratory, computer and scientific equipment.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2006 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
Interest in participating in staff meetings, educational conferences and teacher training workshops; may advise students on course selection and on vocational and personal matters
Interest in co-ordinating information to prepare materials for academic, technical, vocational and specialized subjects and examinations, and to prepare and implement remedial programs for students requiring extra help
Interest in instructing students using a systematic plan of lectures, discussions, audio-visual presentations, and laboratory, shop and field studies; and in assigning and correcting homework, and administering and correcting examinations; may supervise student teachers
To identify or change your interest codes, complete the Interests Exercise in CAREERinsite.
The interest code helps you figure out if you’d like to work in a particular occupation.
It’s based on the Canadian Work Preference Inventory (CWPI), which measures 5 occupational interests: Directive, Innovative, Methodical, Objective, and Social.
Each set of 3 interest codes for this NOC group is listed in order of importance.
A code in capital letters means it’s a strong fit for the occupation.
A code in all lowercase letters means the fit is weaker.
To fill in or change the values for your abilities, complete the Abilities Exercise in CAREERinsite.
A Quick Guide
You are born with abilities that help you process certain types of information and turn it into action. These abilities influence which skills you can learn more easily.
The abilities or aptitudes shown for this NOC group come from the General Aptitude Test Battery (GATB). The GATB measures 9 aptitudes. It groups them into 3 categories: mental, visual, and physical.
The abilities scores range from 1 to 5, with 5 being stronger.
Secondary school teachers need:
They should enjoy finding different ways to solve questions and present information, and organizing and coordinating the work of others.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
This chart shows which job skills are currently in highest demand for this occupational group. It was created using this occupation's 37 most recent Alberta job postings, collected between Nov 13, 2021 and Apr 18, 2024.
Review these skills to learn:
| Certificates, Licences, Memberships, and Courses : Provincial or Territorial Teaching Certificate | 16 |
|---|---|
| Construction Specialization: Excellent oral communication | 16 |
| Construction Specialization: Team player | 15 |
| Tasks: Teach students through lectures, discussions, audio-visual presentations and laboratory, shop and field studies | 15 |
| Construction Specialization: Organized | 15 |
| Security and Safety: Criminal record check | 15 |
| Health benefits: Health care plan | 15 |
| Health benefits: Dental plan | 14 |
| Construction Specialization: Flexibility | 14 |
| Construction Specialization: Excellent written communication | 14 |
In Alberta, the minimum qualification required to teach in a secondary school is 4 years of post-secondary education leading to a bachelor of education (B.Ed.) degree.
Secondary education students in B.Ed. programs must choose at least 2 subject areas of concentration. Teaching particular subjects at the high school level may require specific courses. For example, post-secondary courses in geography are required to teach social studies.
Admission can be competitive and universities may give preference to those who have experience working with children in a leadership capacity. Valuable experience can be obtained from:
The following schools offer programs and courses that meet this occupation’s educational requirements. Other eligible programs and courses may be available.
The following schools offer programs or courses that are related to this occupation but are not required to enter the field.
To expand or narrow your search for programs related to this occupation, visit Post-Secondary Programs.
Completing a program does not guarantee entrance into an occupation. Before enrolling in an education program, prospective students should look into various sources for education options and employment possibilities. For example, contact associations and employers in this field.
Certain professional titles or duties within this occupation are protected by provincial legislation. Requirements vary if you use these titles or perform these duties.
The related legislation is shown below. If there are multiple related legislations, select a certification heading to learn about each one.
In Alberta, teachers in the K to 12 system work at the elementary (Kindergarten to Grade 6), junior high (Grades 7 to 9), or high school (Grades 10 to 12) levels. Elementary and junior high teachers are typically generalists. However, it is preferred that high school teachers have subject area expertise.
Under Alberta’s Education Act [pdf] and Certification of Teachers and Teacher Leaders Regulation [pdf], school teachers must be certificated by the Government of Alberta.
For information on what you need and other details, visit the certification profile Teacher.
Source: 2019-2023 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook
Secondary teachers are employed in:
With experience and further education, secondary school teachers may advance to positions such as:
This section shows the industries where the majority of people in this occupation work. The data is based on the 2016 Census.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.
In the 4031: Secondary school teachers occupational group, 99.7% of people work in:
Employment outlook is influenced by a wide variety of factors including:
In Alberta, the 4031: Secondary school teachers occupational group is expected to have a below-average annual growth of 1.8% from 2019 to 2023. In addition to job openings created by employment turnover, 290 new positions are forecasted to be created within this occupational group each year.
Note
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For example, only some of the new positions to be created will be for this occupation. It also applies to other data for the NOC group such as number of people employed.
Source: 2019-2023 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook
In large urban centres, the supply of secondary school teachers generally is greater than the demand. To find employment, beginning teachers may:
Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.
Since teachers’ salaries and benefits are determined by negotiated agreements between school boards and their teachers, salaries vary from one board to another. However, all teachers are paid according to a grid system based on their number of years of university training and their number of years of teaching experience.
All teachers employed in Alberta’s publicly supported schools are members of the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) and are automatically included under the Alberta Teachers Pension Plans Act. Holidays and pensions are specified by provincial legislation. However, teachers often use the spring, summer or Christmas break periods for professional development or for fulfilling additional professional responsibilities.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
Unless otherwise noted, the data shown here is for all industries and all regions in Alberta.
All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production), and other forms of compensation.
To see the full survey data for this NOC group, visit the wage profile.
Other wage sources
To make an informed wage and salary decision, research other wage sources [pdf] to supplement this data.
High Reliability, represents a CV of less than or equal to 6.00% and 30 survey observations and/or represents 50% or more of all estimated employment for the occupation.
| Wages* | Low (5th percentile) | High (95th percentile) | Average | Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting | $25.91 | $39.22 | $30.50 | $28.40 |
| Overall | $28.33 | $55.78 | $42.58 | $41.21 |
| Top | $44.39 | $68.40 | $52.62 | $48.75 |
Swipe left and right to view all data. Scroll left and right to view all data.
* All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production) and other forms of compensation.
Pay brackets for hourly wages
| ALL INDUSTRIES | $80,556 |
|---|---|
| Educational Services | $80,440 |
| Public Administration | $102,105 |
Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) website: www.teachers.ab.ca
Get information and referrals about career, education, and employment options from Alberta Supports.
Updated Mar 31, 2017. The information contained in this profile is current as of the dates shown. Salary, employment outlook, and educational program information may change without notice. It is advised that you confirm this information before making any career decisions.
