Physical Education Teachers
Overview
Introduction
Physical education (PE) teachers instruct students in elementary school through high school about physical fitness and health. They organize physical education programs for an entire school or for just a few classes. P.E. teachers make up only a small percentage of the nearly 3.2 million elementary, middle, and secondary school teachers employed in the United States.
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
The U.S. Department of Labor reports that the median annual salary for elementary school teachers was $63,680 in May 2023. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $46,960; the highest paid 10 percent earned $104,440 or more. Middle school teachers earned median salaries of $64,290 with the lowest 10 percent earning $47,490 or less and the highest 10 percent earning $104,410 or more. Seconda...
Work Environment
Physical education teachers work in generally pleasant conditions. Some older schools may have poor heating and cooling systems. Instructors teach some classes outdoors in hot, cold, rainy, and other challenging weather conditions. School hours are generally 8:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M., but teachers work 40 hours a week or more teaching, preparing for classes, assessing...
Outlook
Physical fitness is growing in popularity in the United States. The Presidents Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition continues to encourage children and adults to be fit. The U.S. Department of Labor predicts that employment for elementary, middle, and high school teachers will decline by 1 percent from 2023 through 2033. State and local government budget deficits and federal funding cuts ...