Houston Teacher Education Programs
The Houston Independent School District is the seventh largest in the United States and the largest school district in the state of Texas. It contains 282 schools and serves more than 211,000 students – 80% of whom come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. As one of the top five largest cities in the U.S., Houston is also home to a number of well-known colleges and universities, including Rice University, the University of Houston, Texas Southern University, and Houston Baptist University.
If you are looking to start or further a career in education in Texas, Houston is a great place to start. The city offers a wealth of education and employment opportunities. At EducationDegree.com, it’s our goal to help Houston students connect with the right teacher education programs for their needs. Get a head-start by exploring the Houston colleges listed on this page, or keep reading to learn more about teaching in Houston.
Teacher Education in Houston
If you are just starting out, you will need a Bachelor’s in education or an alternative teacher certification program to earn your initial teaching license in Texas. Experienced educators will want to look at the Master’s in education programs, or (if you already have a Master’s degree) the Educational Specialist (Ed.S) or Doctorage (Ed.D, Ph.D) programs.
Networking is important in any field, but it’s particularly important in education. Joining Houston teaching organizations and associations can help you meet like-minded educators, keep up-to-date on education trends in Texas, and maybe even find student teaching or full-time teaching positions. The Houston Federation of Teachers is the largest teaching union in this area, offering advocacy and legal services. The city also offers other specialty organizations, including the Houston Music Teachers Association and the Association of Texas Professional Educators.
Career Outlook and Average Salary for Teachers in Houston
With the seventh largest school district in the U.S., it should come as no surprise that Houston has some of the highest levels of teacher employment in the nation. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that Houston has the third-highest employment of elementary school teachers, the second-highest employment of middle school teachers, the fourth-highest employment of high school teachers, and the tenth-highest employment of postsecondary education administrators in the U.S.
Salary for teachers in Houston depends on education level and experience. For public school teachers, the Houston Independent School District reports the following salary ranges by degree level:
- Bachelor’s degree: $45,887 to $67,506
- Master’s degree: $46,937 to $70,941
- Doctorate degree: $47,988 to $74,378
As for average salary, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the following salaries for popular teaching positions in Houston:
- $51,150 for elementary school teachers in Houston
- $51,110 for middle school teachers in Houston
- $53,320 for high school teachers in Houston
- $51,570 for middle school special education teachers in Houston
- $77,510 for elementary and secondary school education administrators in Houston
- $103,180 for postsecondary education administrators in Houston
Act now to further your career! Explore our listings of Houston teacher education programs, and reach out to several for more information. We generally recommend contacting as many schools as you are comfortable with, as the more information you gather, the better informed your decision will be.