Impact

Teaching physics will allow you to help some of our most able high school students learn how to solve problems and think critically. You can play an important role in students' education and have a positive impact on their lives.

Respect

Teaching demands creativity and hard work. Many teachers have the freedom to develop their own course content and instructional methods. As a teacher committed to students and their learning, you'll be recognized for your expertise and positive influence.

Flexibility

A teacher's work schedule is punctuated with a number of break periods each year. Teaching often provides an extended time for rest and relaxation, special trips, and a variety of exciting professional development opportunities open only to teachers. This is something that few other professions provide.

Satisfaction

Physics teachers have many "toys," so teaching can be a fun and rewarding profession. You'll spend much of your time dealing with and teaching interesting natural phenomena often to your school's best students. While the work associated with teaching is at times difficult, satisfaction the effort brings is considered by many to be worth more than money.

Security

High school physics teachers are in demand across the country, and this leads to excellent job security. Teaching certificates issued by California have "reciprocity" with most other states. You can teach almost anywhere in the nation.

Learning

Teaching a subject is one of the best ways to learn it. As you teach, you'll learn much about the content of physics in particular and the processes and nature of science in general. This is a rewarding experience that benefits both teacher and students.

Income

Teaching even at entry-level can be financially rewarding. The best new physics teachers with Bachelor's degrees typically earn $30,000 to $50,000 per year for a nine-month contract. Salaries often rise rapidly. In large cities, and after earning a Master's degree, teachers sometimes make more than $100,000 per year as they approach retirement! In addition, there are many job benefits ranging from medical, dental, and life insurance, to tuition reimbursement for graduate courses and great retirement plans.

These are taken from a brochure produced by the Illinois Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers.