What Do 6th Grade Teachers Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for 6th grade teachers?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what 6th grade teachers do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
6th Grade Teachers Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about 6th grade teachers by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
6th Grade Teachers teach one or more subjects to students at the middle, intermediate, or junior high school level.
Popular Job Titles For 6th Grade Teachers
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Middle School Teachers
- Middle School Science Teachers
- Middle School Math Teachers
- Middle School Social Studies Teachers
- Middle School Ela Teachers
- Middle School English Teachers
- Middle School English Language Arts Teachers
- Middle School Spanish Teachers
- Middle School Art Teachers
- Middle School Language Arts Teachers
- Middle School Mathematics Teachers
- Middle School Physical Education Teachers
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for 6th grade teachers can be found.
Best Industries for 6th Grade Teachers
6th Grade Teachers Jobs By Industry
- Education and Hospitals (Local Government): 84%
- Elementary and Secondary Schools: 14.7%
- Religious Organizations: 0.7%
- Education and Hospitals (State Government): 0.5%
- Educational Support Services: 0%
- Unclassified Industry: 0%
- Other: 0.1%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of 6th grade teachers can be found working in the Education and Hospitals (Local Government) sector. In 2023, about 84% of all jobs for 6th grade teachers were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Elementary and Secondary Schools (14.7%), Religious Organizations (0.7%), Education and Hospitals (State Government) (0.5%), Educational Support Services (0%) and Unclassified Industry (0%).
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What Do 6th Grade Teachers Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what 6th grade teachers do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work 6th grade teachers do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that 6th grade teachers tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for 6th grade teachers, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's 6th Grade Teachers
Based on 19,406 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for 6th Grade Teachers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Lesson Planning | 5,693 | 29% |
| Mathematics Education | 3,982 | 21% |
| Classroom Management | 3,449 | 18% |
| Science Education | 3,078 | 16% |
| Curriculum Development | 2,826 | 15% |
Top 5 Common Skills for 6th Grade Teachers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Teaching | 12,116 | 62% |
| Communication | 7,259 | 37% |
| Mathematics | 4,101 | 21% |
| English Language | 4,052 | 21% |
| Planning | 3,990 | 21% |
Based on 19,406 job postings related to 6th grade teachers, lesson planning was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 29% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for mathematics education, classroom management, science education, curriculum development and differentiated instruction were also highly sought.
As for common skills, teaching was the most desired skill found in job postings for 6th grade teachers, followed by communication, mathematics, english language, planning and writing.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Lesson Planning | 5,693 | 29% |
| Mathematics Education | 3,982 | 21% |
| Classroom Management | 3,449 | 18% |
| Science Education | 3,078 | 16% |
| Curriculum Development | 2,826 | 15% |
| Differentiated Instruction | 2,463 | 13% |
| Social Studies | 2,212 | 11% |
| Learning Styles | 2,166 | 11% |
| Special Education | 1,927 | 10% |
| Individualized Education Programs (IEP) | 1,754 | 9% |
| Educational Assessment | 1,748 | 9% |
| Instructional Strategies | 1,589 | 8% |
| Student Engagement | 1,408 | 7% |
| Pedagogy | 1,403 | 7% |
| Common Core Standards | 1,098 | 6% |
| Language Arts | 1,054 | 5% |
| Effective Communication | 1,050 | 5% |
| Small Group Instruction | 1,037 | 5% |
| Physical Education | 971 | 5% |
| Data Analysis | 931 | 5% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Teaching | 12,116 | 62% |
| Communication | 7,259 | 37% |
| Mathematics | 4,101 | 21% |
| English Language | 4,052 | 21% |
| Planning | 3,990 | 21% |
| Writing | 3,230 | 17% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 2,249 | 12% |
| Problem Solving | 2,041 | 11% |
| Research | 1,776 | 9% |
| Management | 1,731 | 9% |
| Progress Reporting | 1,720 | 9% |
| Leadership | 1,715 | 9% |
| Coaching | 1,677 | 9% |
| Critical Thinking | 1,649 | 8% |
| Spanish Language | 1,484 | 8% |
| Parent Communication | 1,481 | 8% |
| Professionalism | 1,279 | 7% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 1,260 | 6% |
| Enthusiasm | 1,162 | 6% |
| Multilingualism | 1,084 | 6% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for 6th Grade Teachers
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Middle School Teachers | 14,036 | 24.7% |
| Middle School Science Teachers | 10,112 | 17.8% |
| Middle School Math Teachers | 10,778 | 19% |
| Middle School Social Studies Teachers | 3,744 | 6.6% |
| Middle School Ela Teachers | 3,646 | 6.4% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2022 and August 2023, the top job sought by employers was middle school teachers, with 4,961 unique job postings. Middle school science teachers were second, with 2,905 postings, followed by middle school math teachers, middle school social studies teachers and middle school ela teachers.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to 6th grade teachers.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Middle School Teachers | 14,036 | 24.7% |
| Middle School Science Teachers | 10,112 | 17.8% |
| Middle School Math Teachers | 10,778 | 19% |
| Middle School Social Studies Teachers | 3,744 | 6.6% |
| Middle School Ela Teachers | 3,646 | 6.4% |
| Middle School English Teachers | 2,165 | 3.8% |
| Middle School English Language Arts Teachers | 1,587 | 2.8% |
| Middle School Spanish Teachers | 1,566 | 2.8% |
| Middle School Art Teachers | 1,390 | 2.4% |
| Middle School Language Arts Teachers | 1,665 | 2.9% |
| Middle School Mathematics Teachers | 1,199 | 2.1% |
| Middle School Physical Education Teachers | 628 | 1.1% |
| Middle School Music Teachers | 890 | 1.6% |
| Middle School History Teachers | 785 | 1.4% |
| Middle School Reading Teachers | 593 | 1% |
| Middle School Math and Science Teachers | 519 | 0.9% |
| Middle School Humanities Teachers | 550 | 1% |
| Middle School Math/Science Teachers | 834 | 1.5% |
| Middle School Lead Teachers | 79 | 0.1% |
| Algebra Teachers | 54 | 0.1% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for 6th grade teachers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for 6th grade teachers.
How much do 6th grade teachers make?
6th Grade Teachers: How do you become one?
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