Explore Jobs
Find Specific Jobs
Explore Careers
Explore Professions
Best Companies
Explore Companies
What is a head teacher and how to become one
Head teachers are the highest ranking employees in schools. They are responsible for supervising and evaluating school policy and taking action when necessary. They also develop creative and responsive approaches to teaching and learning, design the school's aims and objectives, implement policies, and ensure policies and practises meet national, local, and school standards. In addition, they assess, organize, and execute flexible curriculum plans and effective assessment frameworks.
Head teachers support and assess individuals and teams. They ensure a reasonable school/work balance for teachers and staff, sustain effective staff performance management systems, and incorporate teachers' appraisals and targets for the school's achievement into the school's development plan. They also strategize ways to use emerging technologies to expand the learning experience.
Head teachers need to have leadership, communication, interpersonal, problem-solving skills and be good role models. A position as a head teacher requires a minimum of a bachelor's degree in education and significant teaching experience. However, a master's or doctoral degree may be preferred. The average head teacher earns $21.62 an hour, which translates to $44,977 a year.
What general advice would you give to a Head Teacher?
Dr. Diana Jones
Chair, Department of Kinesiology, Anderson University
Avg. Salary $51,715
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth Rate 4%
Growth Rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.52%
Asian 3.69%
Black or African American 10.04%
Hispanic or Latino 12.86%
Unknown 3.92%
White 68.97%
Genderfemale 86.19%
male 13.81%
Age - 42American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 42Stress level is high
7.1 - high
Complexity Level is advanced
7 - challenging
Work Life balance is poor
6.4 - fair
Head Teacher career paths
Key steps to become a head teacher
Explore head teacher education requirements
Start to develop specific head teacher skills
Skills 
Percentages Classroom Management 25.70% Child Care 12.90% Creative Curriculum 4.83% Language Arts 4.76% Pre-K 4.76% Research head teacher duties and responsibilities
- Lead debates with advance students on topics including globalization, economics, and political history.
- Plan and implement cohesive, age-appropriate curriculum for severely disable children in Pre-K program.
- Develop and implement age-appropriate curriculum for toddler program, ensuring that appropriate opportunities are provided in order to maximize learning potential.
- Set up the physical environment to meet the changing needs of infants and toddlers in accordance with ECERS and ITERS-R assessments.
Prepare your head teacher resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your head teacher resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a head teacher resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose From 10+ Customizable Head Teacher Resume templates
Build a professional Head Teacher resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Head Teacher resume.
Apply for head teacher jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a head teacher job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How Did You Land Your First Head Teacher Job
Are you a Head Teacher?
Share your story for a free salary report.
Average head teacher salary
The average Head Teacher salary in the United States is $51,715 per year or $25 per hour. Head teacher salaries range between $32,000 and $83,000 per year.
What Am I Worth?
How do head teachers rate their job?
Head Teacher reviews
Seeing the kids learn, grow, over come challenges.
It can be emotionally and physically draining, especially if not appreciated.
Gaining the childs trust and watching them geow and learn.
That in a year the children you fall in love with move on to the next grade.
Kids, teaching lessons, co-teachers, hours, weekends off, salary, holidays off, summers off, paid sick and personal days
Administration, observations, being told what to teach and HOW to teach it, expecting us to participate in things we might not want to or have the time for, staff meetings with no substance
Updated January 8, 2025
