3rd Grade Teachers: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of 3rd grade teachers about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for 3rd grade teachers to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of 3rd grade teachers expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for 3rd grade teachers.
What Education & Experience is Needed for 3rd Grade Teachers?
Do 3rd grade teachers need a degree? What kind of experience do 3rd grade teachers typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for 3rd grade teachers to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for 3rd Grade Teachers
Jobs Postings for 3rd Grade Teachers By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 38,912 (43%)
- No Education Listed: 32,920 (36%)
- Master's degree: 11,358 (13%)
- High School or GED: 6,030 (7%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 1,226 (1%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of 3rd grade teachers. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 43% of positions. In 36% of job listings no education level was listed and in 13% of postings a master's degree was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for 3rd Grade Teachers
Jobs Postings for 3rd Grade Teachers By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 8,223 (47%)
- 2-3 Years: 6,676 (38%)
- 4-6 Years: 1,884 (11%)
- 7-9 Years: 206 (1%)
- 10+ Years: 584 (3%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for 3rd grade teachers. In 47% of job postings for 3rd Grade Teachers, employers were looking for candidates with 0-1 years of experience. In 38% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience, while 4-6 years of experience was sought in 11% of job postings for 3rd grade teachers.
What Kind of Degree Do 3rd Grade Teachers Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for 3rd grade teachers, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 31 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective 3rd grade teachers, and in 2023 a total of 171,830 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective 3rd grade teachers.
Top Degree Programs for 3rd Grade Teachers
Top 5 Degree Programs for 3rd Grade Teachers (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Elementary Education and Teaching. | 41,427 |
| Early Childhood Education and Teaching. | 30,483 |
| Education, General. | 27,685 |
| Spanish Language and Literature. | 9,457 |
| Teacher Education, Multiple Levels. | 9,294 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Elementary Education and Teaching. | 41,427 |
| Early Childhood Education and Teaching. | 30,483 |
| Education, General. | 27,685 |
| Spanish Language and Literature. | 9,457 |
| Teacher Education, Multiple Levels. | 9,294 |
| Physical Education Teaching and Coaching. | 6,779 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods, Other. | 6,310 |
| Reading Teacher Education. | 5,922 |
| Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor. | 4,921 |
| Education, Other. | 4,643 |
| Music Teacher Education. | 4,622 |
| Mathematics Teacher Education. | 3,141 |
| English/Language Arts Teacher Education. | 3,043 |
| Foreign Languages and Literatures, General. | 2,442 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas, Other. | 2,396 |
| Social Studies Teacher Education. | 1,951 |
| Art Teacher Education. | 1,695 |
| Health Teacher Education. | 1,536 |
| Bilingual and Multilingual Education. | 1,016 |
| Chinese Language and Literature. | 622 |
| Music Pedagogy. | 450 |
| Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Educational Methods. | 379 |
| Foreign Language Teacher Education. | 349 |
| Spanish Language Teacher Education. | 342 |
| East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General. | 326 |
| Montessori Teacher Education. | 304 |
| Online Educator/Online Teaching. | 153 |
| Environmental Education. | 96 |
| International Teaching and Learning. | 24 |
| Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language, Other. | 13 |
| Communication Arts and Literature Teacher Education. | 9 |
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for 3rd Grade Teachers
Achieve your goal of becoming a life-changing elementary school teacher in Ohio with Franklin’s Primary Education program.
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Class Type: 100% online
- Years To Complete: 3
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Skills Do 3rd Grade Teachers Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by 3rd grade teachers to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for 3rd grade teachers, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's 3rd Grade Teachers
Based on 79,908 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for 3rd Grade Teachers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Lesson Planning | 21,250 | 27% |
| Classroom Management | 11,660 | 15% |
| Curriculum Development | 9,126 | 11% |
| Special Education | 8,762 | 11% |
| Learning Styles | 7,399 | 9% |
Top 5 Common Skills for 3rd Grade Teachers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Teaching | 40,981 | 51% |
| Communication | 26,480 | 33% |
| Planning | 14,290 | 18% |
| Writing | 11,662 | 15% |
| Mathematics | 11,210 | 14% |
Based on 79,908 job postings related to 3rd grade teachers, lesson planning was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 27% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for classroom management, curriculum development, special education, learning styles and individualized education programs (iep) were also highly sought.
As for common skills, teaching was the most desired skill found in job postings for 3rd grade teachers, followed by communication, planning, writing, mathematics and interpersonal communications.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Lesson Planning | 21,250 | 27% |
| Classroom Management | 11,660 | 15% |
| Curriculum Development | 9,126 | 11% |
| Special Education | 8,762 | 11% |
| Learning Styles | 7,399 | 9% |
| Individualized Education Programs (IEP) | 7,373 | 9% |
| Primary Education | 6,018 | 8% |
| Instructional Strategies | 5,887 | 7% |
| Educational Assessment | 5,681 | 7% |
| Differentiated Instruction | 5,568 | 7% |
| Child Development | 4,025 | 5% |
| Small Group Instruction | 3,931 | 5% |
| Social Studies | 3,760 | 5% |
| Pedagogy | 3,723 | 5% |
| Effective Communication | 3,581 | 4% |
| Student Engagement | 3,403 | 4% |
| Reading Instruction | 3,369 | 4% |
| Office Equipment | 3,021 | 4% |
| Data Analysis | 2,761 | 3% |
| Physical Education | 2,751 | 3% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Teaching | 40,981 | 51% |
| Communication | 26,480 | 33% |
| Planning | 14,290 | 18% |
| Writing | 11,662 | 15% |
| Mathematics | 11,210 | 14% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 9,240 | 12% |
| English Language | 8,119 | 10% |
| Leadership | 7,369 | 9% |
| Research | 6,942 | 9% |
| Problem Solving | 6,881 | 9% |
| Management | 6,573 | 8% |
| Progress Reporting | 6,179 | 8% |
| Coaching | 5,261 | 7% |
| Multilingualism | 5,174 | 6% |
| Parent Communication | 5,137 | 6% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 4,972 | 6% |
| Literacy | 4,946 | 6% |
| Professionalism | 4,183 | 5% |
| Training And Development | 3,907 | 5% |
| Organizational Skills | 3,714 | 5% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about 3rd grade teachers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for 3rd grade teachers.
What do 3rd grade teachers do?
How much do 3rd grade teachers make?
All Occupations
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.