AP® Teacher Jobs and Salary Expectations

Being an AP® teacher is challenging and rewarding at the same time. These teachers not only help high school students get ready for college-level classes but also significantly impact their academic and professional futures. It’s no surprise, then, that the number of educators who want to teach AP courses is growing. According to the College Board, the number of AP teachers has been steadily increasing over the past several years. In the 2019-2020 school year, there were over 253,000 AP teachers across the United States, representing a 6.2% increase from the previous year.1 Additionally, the demand for AP teachers has grown, as nearly 90% of schools in the United States currently offer at least one AP course.2

Furthermore, it makes complete sense that many of the people who choose to pursue teaching these AP courses want to know about potential salary expectations and the advanced placement jobs they can get in their field. Teacher pay and job opportunities are important even in such a rewarding career path. This guide is a must-read for anyone interested in teaching AP courses, whether you're a new teacher just starting out or a seasoned educator working toward a new position in the AP classroom.

Advanced Placement® Jobs and Their Current Salary Expectations

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average high school teacher in the United States makes about $65,930 each year.3 The range of AP teacher salaries varies quite a bit depending on several factors—geographic location, the number of years spent teaching in a classroom, and their highest level of academic degree. Some districts pay AP stipends that vary based on the course level, the subject taught, and the level of enrollment demand. Some AP STEM teaching jobs, like AP Physics and AP Statistics, are hard to fill and in high demand, so school districts sometimes pay higher salaries for them than positions in other content areas.

Average AP Teacher Pay Ranges in the United States (by Subject)

AP Physics

$58k $99k
$46k $126k

AP Statistics

$52k $84k
$42k $104k

AP Chemistry

$50k $80k
$40k $100k

AP Literature

$46k $80k
$36k $102k

AP Environmental Science

$46k $68k
$39k $80k

AP Calculus

$41k $66k
$33k $82k

AP World History

$41k $65k
$34k $79k

AP Language

$40k $60k
$34k $72k

AP Biology

$39k $57k
$34k $67k
Most Likely Range
Possible Range

*Data from Glassdoor9-17

Most first-year teachers aren't placed in AP classrooms because they carry many responsibilities and expectations that new teachers might not be ready to handle. In general, The College Board® recommends that AP teachers (at the very least) hold a bachelor's degree in the subject they want to teach and at least three years of teaching experience.4 Not all schools follow these suggestions exactly, however. Some schools require a master's degree or higher to teach AP, while others allow second-year teachers to teach AP courses. Because of the usual requirements for teaching AP classes, the average salary of AP teachers may be slightly higher than the average teacher's salary.

*Data from The College Board: Milewski & Gillie26

Opportunities for Advanced Placement Teachers

Getting a job as an AP teacher can be an excellent path for educators who love teaching in a particular subject area and want to help high school students get ready for college-level classes. There are also a lot of job opportunities for AP teachers in a wide range of academic fields. Unlike many corporate jobs, most educator positions—including AP teacher jobs—are not usually filled on corporate-leaning job sites like LinkedIn. Although some teachers find positions on general networking sites, most are hired through educator-specific means.5 High schools, colleges, institutions, and other settings offer AP teachers job prospects. Teachers with a few years of experience can become mentors, instructional coaches, team leads, and campus leaders. They may also have the chance to work in administrative positions or as AP program curriculum architects in addition to the more traditional teaching jobs.6

For AP Teachers, by AP Teachers.
How prepared are your AP students? We give them the skills and confidence to succeed.
Exam-like questions and detailed answer explanations

Resources for AP Teacher Jobs

The resources for job opportunities are numerous for AP teachers. Websites that help people find jobs in education are great for finding open positions and information about the qualifications schools seek for their AP programs. These websites make it simple for teachers to find employment that suits their requirements and skills by letting them search for advanced placement jobs by location, school type, and topic area. Many school systems and educational institutions offer recruitment programs and job boards just for teachers, which is a great way to find AP teaching jobs.

You can also learn about job openings in the field by connecting with other educators and teachers. By attending conferences and workshops about AP courses, teachers can meet other teachers and learn about job opportunities in different schools and districts. For individuals who are new to the industry or seeking to switch to a different kind of educational role, district job fairs might be a good place to find AP teaching positions.

Factors that Affect High School Teacher Pay and AP Job Opportunities

As with any profession, there is a range of factors that can impact job opportunities for AP teachers. One of these factors is the demand for AP courses in schools. As more high schools nationwide try to prepare their students for college by giving them advanced classes, the need for qualified AP teachers keeps rising. Also, things like budget cuts, changes in education policy, and changes in the types of students might affect the need for qualified AP teachers.

**Data from The College Board®1

Geography and region can also have a significant impact on whether or not an AP teacher can get a job. Educators who live in areas with a higher demand for advanced coursework may find more job opportunities. In comparison, those who live in areas with fewer resources or lower demand for AP programs may find it harder to get a job. Also, state and local education policies and funding for education can affect how many jobs AP teachers can get in different areas.

Strategies for AP Teacher Career Advancement

One of the best ways for AP teachers to move up in their careers is to get more teaching experience and add it to their resumes. You can, for example, go to college and earn certifications, look for leadership roles in your district or school, and take advantage of opportunities to improve your skills as a professional. Continuing education and professional development are also important if you want to advance your career as an AP teacher.

Educators who wish to learn more about their field and get better at what they do have many options, from attending conferences and workshops to getting doctoral degrees. The College Board offers excellent AP Summer Institute® professional development sessions for teachers.7 Networking can be a great way for educators to find AP teacher jobs and advance their careers. From connecting with colleagues in your district to joining professional organizations and online communities, there are many ways to expand your network and tap into new opportunities.

The Future of AP Teacher Jobs and Salaries

Predictions about AP teaching jobs and salaries in the future are based on several factors, such as population changes, the amount of money spent on education, technological advances, and changes in educational policies. One possible prediction is that there will be more need for AP teachers in the coming years because the number of students who want to enroll in advanced courses is expected to grow. But some places or subject areas may not have enough teachers, while others may have too many, depending on population and funding levels.

General educator and AP pay are also likely to vary by region and subject area, depending on available funds and policies. Higher demand for AP teachers and strong unions in some states tend to result in higher salaries. In comparison, lower demand or weaker unions in other states tend to result in lower wages.

Top 5 States for High School Teacher Salaries (Including Advanced Placement)

State Mean Salary (Yearly)
California $94,600
New York $92,660
Massachusetts $85,360
Washington $85,260
Connecticut $79,530

Because technology is becoming more important in modern education as a whole, AP teachers are likely to put more emphasis on technology-centered skills and online learning tools. For example, many AP teachers who want to prepare their students for their course subject exams may choose to use UWorld’s Online Learning Tools for AP Courses. Regardless of the technology they use, educators who know how to use these skills well in the classroom are likely to have more job opportunities than teachers who continue to rely on outdated learning methods. These changes in education are likely to produce more non-traditional career paths for AP educators, too—online teaching, AP instructional design, and curriculum development are just a few career paths for educators outside of the typical classroom environment. These non-traditional AP educational jobs may pay more and give you more freedom than traditional AP teacher jobs.

Key Takeaways

Becoming an AP teacher can be demanding but rewarding. However, by understanding how the job market and AP salary expectations work, educators can better understand what to expect regarding compensation, the types of positions available, and the steps they can take to improve their resumes and professional networks. As the demand for advanced coursework in high schools continues to grow, the field of AP teaching offers a promising future for educators passionate about helping high school students prepare for college-level coursework.

For AP Teachers, by AP Teachers.
How prepared are your AP students? We give them the skills and confidence to succeed.
Exam-like questions and detailed answer explanations

References

  1. AP Program results: Class of 2021. Reports. (n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2023, from https://reports.collegeboard.org/ap-program-results/2021 
  2. How equitable is access to AP and dual enrollment across States and school districts? Community College Research Center. (n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2023, from https://ccrc.tc.columbia.edu/easyblog/ap-dual-enrollment-access-update.html 
  3. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2023, January 10). High school teachers : Occupational outlook handbook. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved March 27, 2023, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/high-school-teachers.htm#tab-5
  4. Teaching AP for the first time? Teaching AP for the First Time? – AP Central | College Board. (n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2023, from https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/instructional-resources/teaching-ap-first-time
  5. Teaching blogs. CORP-MAT1 (TEACH). (2022, March 30). Retrieved March 27, 2023, from https://teach.com/resources/teaching-blogs/
  6. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2023, January 10). High school teachers : Occupational outlook handbook. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved March 27, 2023, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/high-school-teachers.htm#tab-6
  7. AP Summer institutes. AP Summer Institutes – AP Central | College Board. (n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2023, from https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/professional-learning/summer-institutes     
  8. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2022, March 31). Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved March 31, 2023, from https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes252031.htm#st 
  9. Salary: AP physics teacher (March, 2023). Glassdoor. (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2023, from https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/us-ap-physics-teacher-salary-SRCH_IL.0,2_IN1_KO3,21.htm 
  10. Salary: Statistics teacher (March, 2023). Glassdoor. (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2023, from https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/us-statistics-teacher-salary-SRCH_IL.0,2_IN1_KO3,21.htm 
  11. Salary: High school chemistry teacher (March, 2023). Glassdoor. (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2023, from https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/us-high-school-chemistry-teacher-salary-SRCH_IL.0,2_IN1_KO3,32.htm 
  12. Salary: Ap literature teacher (March, 2023). Glassdoor. (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2023, from https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/ap-literature-teacher-salary-SRCH_KO0,21.htm 
  13. Salary: Environmental science teacher (March, 2023). Glassdoor. (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2023, from https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/us-environmental-science-teacher-salary-SRCH_IL.0,2_IN1_KO3,32.htm 
  14. Salary: AP calculus teacher (March, 2023). Glassdoor. (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2023, from https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/us-ap-calculus-teacher-salary-SRCH_IL.0,2_IN1_KO3,22.htm 
  15. Salary: AP world history teacher (March, 2023). Glassdoor. (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2023, from https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/us-ap-world-history-teacher-salary-SRCH_IL.0,2_IN1_KO3,27.htm 
  16. Salary: Ap language teacher (March, 2023). Glassdoor. (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2023, from https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/us-ap-language-teacher-salary-SRCH_IL.0,2_IN1_KO3,22.htm 
  17. Salary: AP biology teacher (March, 2023). Glassdoor. (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2023, from https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/us-ap-biology-teacher-salary-SRCH_IL.0,2_IN1_KO3,21.htm
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