How Much Does a High School Teacher Make in Indiana? What to Know in 2024

High school teachers are responsible for preparing students for their future. It’s a stimulating age group to teach, as students have developed the maturity and critical thinking skills to dig deep into a subject. But Indiana doesn’t have enough educators for their high schools. They’re looking for career changers to step into the classroom and lead the next generation.

The average high school teacher salary in Indiana is $64,010 as of May 2023. Salary ranges can vary widely depending on the city and many other important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, the number of years you have spent in your profession.

In this guide, Teachers of Tomorrow will discuss the salaries for high school teachers in Indiana. We’ll also take you through the steps to becoming an Indiana certified high school teacher, including alternative teacher certification options.

teacher in classroom

What is a High School Teacher?

High school teachers in Indiana teach grades 9-12, and students are typically between 14 and 19 years old. Educators focus on specific subject areas, such as English, mathematics, social studies, and science. Teachers must guide students through the curriculum and prepare students for significant exams, including those that assess college readiness.

High school students need the most guidance and support in planning their future. Their grades, courses, and choices will shape their options in further education, careers, or military service. Students often turn to their high school teachers for a listening ear, feedback, extra tutoring, recommendation letters, and assistance with special projects.

High school teachers work long hours to meet their students’ needs, including leading after-school clubs and attending their students’ events, such as sports games and theater performances. In addition, educators must attend meetings and communicate with many role players, including parents.

There is no fixed formula for becoming a successful high school teacher. However, there are some traits that all quality educators possess:

Emotional intelligence: High school students push emotional buttons, looking for reactions. Meetings with school boards, committees, parents, and colleagues can contain strong options about sensitive topics. Successful high school teachers can navigate these events with perception, leadership, and empathy and provide a measured thoughtful response.
Sense humor: High schoolers are at an age of discovery, pushing boundaries, testing patience, and questioning societal norms. Successful teachers of this age group can deal with this natural developmental age with a sense of humor and even bring the class together with wit and jokes.
Excellent communication skills: Students depend on their teachers to deliver clear directions, healthy debate, and quality feedback that promotes growth and discovery. In addition, students need their teachers to be able to communicate with other important adults in their lives, including coaches, other educators, parents, prospective employers, and therapists.

In the classroom, high school teachers have many responsibilities, such as:

Preparing lessons and activities that meet curriculum standards and prepare students for essential exams.
Assign, assess, and provide feedback on assignments, homework, projects, quizzes, and tests.
Maintain a safe, productive, and engaging classroom environment.
Attend staff, parent, club, and community meetings to ensure the students and school have the necessary support.

How Much Do High School Teachers in Indiana Make?

The average annual salaries for high school teachers in Indiana as of May 2023

according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

Highest salary – $89,510
Average salary – $64,010
Lowest salary – $46,140

High school salaries in Indiana vary depending on a teacher’s years of experience, degrees and certificates, subject and grade level, and the location and tax base of the school district.

teachers indiana

How to Become a High School Teacher in Indiana

Indiana offers various pathways to becoming a high school teacher in the state. The most common pathway is the traditional route, where candidates obtain a bachelor’s degree or higher, intending to become a teacher.

Unlike teaching candidates for lower grades, aspiring high school teachers must choose a degree subject in an area they wish to teach in addition to obtaining educational training. Examples of degree subject areas include:

Mathematics
English
Physics
Geography
Biology

However, having a bachelor’s degree is not enough to become a certified high school teacher in Indiana. Every state has a slightly different pathway, and candidates must complete it on the traditional route. The process in Indiana is overseen by the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE), and they require the following steps:

1. Obtain a bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. The degree must be from an accredited institution and in the subject area you wish to teach. Courses in secondary education are also recommended.

Obtain a bachelor’s degree with a 2.50 on a 4.0 scale and five years of relevant professional experience. You can obtain the necessary experience through being a substitute teacher.

Obtain a bachelor’s degree from a local university and pass state-approved teaching tests.

2. Attend an approved teacher preparation program. Indiana colleges and universities generally provide the program as part of the four-year degree. A candidate may need to use an IDOE-approved TPP provider if they attended an out-of-state college or university.

3.Take the Praxis exams. Candidates must take the Praxis Content and Principals of Learning and Teaching Exam for their grade level and specialty.

4.Obtain CPR/AED/Heimlich certification. The training must be through an IDOE-approved provider, such as the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association.

5. Attend Suicide Prevention Training. The training must be through an IDOE-approved provider.

6. Complete a State and Federal background check. Candidates must submit fingerprints through Indiana’s electronic Fingerprinting Network (INKless).

7. Apply for your license. Candidates should follow the IDOE’s step-by-step instructions and pay the licensing fees.

A teaching license allows candidates to apply for high school job openings. The IDOE hosts a statewide job board. In addition, candidates can visit recruitment sites such as Indeed, Teach Away, and Glassdoor.

Alternative Route to Certification for High School Teachers

Indiana is facing a critical teaching shortage. Thus, they’ve reached out to career changers by creating an alternative route to certification called Transition to Teaching. Candidates are placed in an Indiana school and work for pay while preparing for their Practitioner License through IDOE-approved providers, such as Teachers of Tomorrow.

Candidates taking part in the Transition to Teaching will need to complete the following steps:

1. Have a bachelor’s degree or higher. The degree must be from an accredited institution, in a subject area you wish to teach, and with a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale.

2. Submit an Indiana Teachers’ application. An interview is part of this process.

3. Receive the Indiana Teachers Letter of Acceptance. Candidates cannot look for a teacher position without it.

4. Get hired as a high school teacher in an Indiana school. Ideally, the position should be for a high school in the subject area you wish to become certified in.

5. Work with your Indiana Teacher advisor. They are crucial to finding success in the classroom.

6. Participate in Classroom Readiness Training and Field-Based Experience. These provide crucial classroom teaching skills and knowledge.

7. Complete the
CPR/AED/Heimlich certification. The training must be through an IDOE-approved provider.

8. Complete the 9. Suicide Prevention certification. The training must be through an IDOE-approved provider.

9. Apply for a Transition to Teaching Permit. Use the IDOE’s step-by-step instructions.

10. Begin teaching once you have your three-year, non-renewable T2T permit. You will teach on it for two years and complete the requirements for your Practitioner License in your first year.

11. Pass IDOE required exams. You must take the Praxis Content and Principals of Learning and Teaching Exam that fits your grade level and teaching area.

12. Complete two years of teaching.

13. Receive a recommendation from the Building Level Administrator and Field Supervisor at the end of your Internship Year.

14. Obtain an Indiana Practitioner License. Candidates must present the required documentation and coursework to IDOE.

What is the Highest and Lowest Paying High School Job?

Certified high school teachers in Indiana can find teaching positions in various educational settings:

Public schools: Indiana high schools are funded through state and local taxes. The latter has a huge impact on a district’s revenue. Thus, high school teaching salaries are often best in areas with higher property values.
International schools: International schools generally reserve the best salaries for their high school teachers, especially in STEM and high-demand subjects. Teachers fluent in more than one language also see better salaries at these institutions.
Charter schools: Indiana’s charter schools receive federal and state funding. However, unlike public schools, they do not have access to local funding. So, while their teaching salaries are competitive, they are not as high as those of public schools.
Private schools: Indiana’s private schools are funded through the Choice Scholarship Program and tuition fees. Generally, the schools with the highest fees offer the most competitive teaching salaries.
Online teaching: Indiana’s high school online teaching jobs are growing more competitive in salary. These positions offer more flexibility in hours and schedule and don’t come with a long commute.

jobs indiana

Teachers of Tomorrow believes every child deserves a great teacher. We have helped over 80,000 individuals achieve their certification. Contact us now to discover how we can help you make a positive difference in children’s lives.