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For some, teaching is much more than a job or a profession--it's a calling. It has the potential to be one of the most rewarding careers paths you could choose, but it is also challenging. If you want to make a difference in the lives of young people, being a high school teacher will give you that opportunity.

Skills and Work Hours for High School Teachers

High school teachers must be able to communicate clearly, have patience, inspire students, prepare lesson plans, give specific and relevant feedback, grade papers and exams in a timely manner, and meet with administrators and parents. Most teachers work more than the standard 40-hour work week and do school-related work during evenings and weekends. However, teachers also enjoy holidays and summers off from teaching, if not from lesson planning and preparation.

High School Teacher Salary Information

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the mean annual high school teacher salary in 2009 was $52,200. The highest-paid teachers, those in the 90th earning percentile, earned more than $82,000. The states of Arizona, Hawai'i and Montana have the highest concentration of high school teachers, and high school teacher salaries were the highest in New York ($68,010), Illinois ($67,960), and Alaska ($67,640), the BLS reports.

The following metropolitan areas offer the highest salaries:

• Nassau-Suffolk in New York ($83,560)
• Chicago-Naperville-Joliet in Illinois ($74,530)
• Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine in California ($73,890).

According to Salary.com, the median high school teacher salary is $53,450, and the highest-paid teachers can earn up to $71,280 (those in the 90th percentile).

Education and Licensing for High School Teachers

Education is a highly regulated industry, and to be able to work in a public school, applicants in all states must have both a bachelor's degree and a state-issued teaching license. However, many states now offer alternate paths to obtaining a teaching license in an effort to recruit more teachers. High school teacher training online may be available for career changers who want to transition into a career in the classroom. Private institutions are exempt from the licensing requirement.

The teacher licensing exam is administered by each state's Board of Education. While requirements vary by state, they almost always include supervised teaching experience and a certain number of continuing education credits. Voluntary certification is also available in more than 25 subject areas by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Candidates can start the process online and take applicable exams at computer-testing centers across the nation.

According to the BLS, employment of high school teachers is projected to grow about as fast as average. Applicants who teach in-demand subjects, such as the sciences (especially mathematics and physics) or bilingual education or English as a second language should be in the best position to obtain employment.

If you have a passion for teaching, want to play a role in educating the next generation, and would like to earn a solid and stable salary, then becoming a high school teacher might be a fantastic choice for you.