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Major · Education

State-certification training for K-12 mathematics teaching

Mathematics Teacher Education (CIP 13.1311) prepares you to teach mathematics at elementary, middle, or secondary school levels. About 1,090 students complete it across 439 institutions; bachelor’s grads earn $51,375. The named secondary and middle school teacher SOCs project -1.6% and -2% growth respectively.

Schools offering
439
Annual completions
1,090
Typical degree level
Associate's + Bachelor's
Median earnings (5yr)
$50k

About this major

Mathematics Teacher Education (CIP 13.1311) prepares you to teach mathematics across elementary, middle, and secondary school levels. The CIP definition covers preparation for math instruction at various educational levels. Coursework typically combines a mathematics core (calculus through linear algebra, abstract algebra, geometry, statistics, and often mathematics modeling or history of math) with education-specific coursework (foundations of education, mathematics pedagogy, curriculum design, classroom management, educational psychology, special-education methods, English-language-learner instruction, technology integration). Most programs require a year-long student-teaching residency in a real K-12 classroom and meet specific state teacher-certification requirements, including required exam passage (Praxis Mathematics Content Knowledge or state-specific equivalents).

The major fits students who love mathematics genuinely and want to teach it for a career — typically those with strong high-school math performance, comfort explaining concepts repeatedly in different ways, and the kind of patient temperament that classroom teaching demands. It rewards genuine subject-matter knowledge (good math teachers explain why something works, not just how to compute it), classroom-management instincts that develop through student-teaching practice, and the long-view career patience that K-12 teaching actually requires. Day-to-day at the licensure stage mixes content coursework, pedagogy methods classes, and increasing classroom-observation and student-teaching hours that intensify into a full-time residency by senior year.

One grounded observation about scale and labor-market reality: 1,090 students complete this CIP across 439 institutions — extraordinarily wide distribution, reflecting how state-by-state teacher preparation works. Bachelor’s grads earn $51,375; the named occupations include Secondary school teachers ($64,580, -1.6% growth) and Middle school teachers ($62,970, -2% growth). The negative growth reflects national K-12 enrollment decline rather than math-teacher-specific demand — most states report persistent shortages of certified math teachers, particularly at the secondary level and in Title I and rural districts. Western Governors University (138 completions, 13% of national total) runs an online competency-based program scaled toward working-adult career-changers; Brigham Young (29), BYU-Idaho (25), and Utah State (21) round out the largest producers. Pay arcs depend heavily on state and district — entry ranges from $40,000 in lower-paying Southern states to $60,000+ in Northeast and West Coast districts, with master’s-degree completion (often required within 5-10 years for permanent licensure) and defined-benefit pension systems significantly improving total compensation over a career.

Section 3 · Careers

Where this major leads

Occupations most often associated with this major, from the federal BLS+O*NET crosswalk. Job-growth projections and median wages are national.

Occupation Median wage Job growth Typical education
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education $65k -1.6% Bachelor's degree
Middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education $63k -2.0% Bachelor's degree
Education teachers, postsecondary $72k +2.1% Doctoral or professional degree
Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary $79k +2.3% Doctoral or professional degree
Section 4 · Earnings

Earnings at a glance

Median graduate earnings from the federal College Scorecard, 5 and 10 years out.

Median 5-year earnings

$50k

Associate's vs Bachelor's — early-career earnings

Associate's

$34k

Bachelor's

$51k

Who this major is for

Good signs this major fits: you genuinely love mathematics and want to teach it for a career rather than treat teaching as a fallback; you have strong high-school math performance through calculus and the patience to explain concepts repeatedly in different ways; you’re comfortable with the year-long student-teaching residency requirement and the rigid state-certification pathway that comes with the credential; you’re drawn to a specific level (elementary versus middle versus secondary) where math instruction looks substantively different; you’re prepared for the modest entry-pay reality and the long arc that teacher pay actually follows (pension systems and master’s-degree salary bumps significantly improve total compensation over time); and you’re open to teaching in shortage areas (Title I schools, urban Northeast and Midwest districts, rural districts) where loan-forgiveness and signing-bonus programs apply.

Reasons to pause: the named secondary and middle-school teacher SOCs project negative growth (-1.6% and -2%) reflecting national K-12 enrollment decline, even though math-certified teachers remain in chronic short supply; pay arcs and total compensation vary dramatically by state and district. Verify state approval of your target program for licensure, exam-pass-rate data (Praxis Mathematics Content Knowledge in particular), and the program’s actual placement outcomes — Western Governors’s 138 completions (13% of national total) come through an online competency-based model that some states accept and others restrict. If you love mathematics but aren’t sure about K-12 teaching specifically, the broader Mathematics, General CIP (CIP 27.0101, 18,758 completions) leaves more flexibility for graduate study, applied-math industry roles, or post-bachelor’s teacher certification through a master of arts in teaching (MAT) program.

Section 6 · Where to study

Top colleges for Mathematics Teacher Education

Ranked by annual completions at the associate's or bachelor's level — a proxy for program scale.

College Location Assoc. Bach. Total
Western Governors University Salt Lake City, UT 0 138 138
Brigham Young University Provo, UT 0 29 29
Brigham Young University-Idaho Rexburg, ID 0 25 25
Utah State University Logan, UT 0 21 21
Eastern Washington University Cheney, WA 0 19 19
Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti, MI 0 18 18
St. Joseph's University-New York Brooklyn, NY 0 17 17
CUNY Queens College Queens, NY 0 16 16
Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant, MI 0 15 15
SUNY College at Geneseo Geneseo, NY 0 15 15
Section 7 · Explore sideways

Related majors to explore

Mathematics, General

18,758 completions/yr

Physical Education Teaching and Coaching

4,787 completions/yr

Secondary Education and Teaching

4,057 completions/yr

Teacher Education, Multiple Levels

3,430 completions/yr

Music Teacher Education

3,229 completions/yr

Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching

2,213 completions/yr

English/Language Arts Teacher Education

1,846 completions/yr

Social Studies Teacher Education

1,336 completions/yr
Section 9 · Frequently asked

Common questions

What does this major actually involve?
The CIP centers on preparing teachers to teach mathematics at various educational levels — elementary, middle, secondary. Coursework typically combines a mathematics core (calculus through linear algebra, abstract algebra, geometry, statistics, and mathematics history or modeling) with education-specific coursework (foundations of education, mathematics pedagogy, curriculum design, classroom management, educational psychology, special-education methods, English-language-learner instruction, technology integration). Most programs require a year-long student-teaching residency in a real K-12 classroom and meet specific state teacher-certification requirements.
Will this major lead directly to a teaching license?
Usually yes, if you choose a state-approved educator-preparation program. Most programs in this CIP are tied to specific state teacher-certification requirements; completing the program plus passing required exams (Praxis, state-specific tests) typically leads to initial licensure. Verify state approval status and exam-pass-rate data with your target school directly. Many programs also offer reciprocity guidance for moving between states post-licensure.
What jobs do graduates land?
The packet names four occupations. The bachelor’s-coded entry destinations are Secondary school teachers ($64,580, -1.6% growth) and Middle school teachers ($62,970, -2% growth) — the negative growth reflects K-12 enrollment trends rather than math-teacher-specific demand, which actually exceeds supply in most states. Doctoral-coded teaching destinations include Education teachers postsecondary ($72,090, 2.1% growth) and Mathematical science teachers postsecondary ($79,350, 2.3% growth). Realistic post-bachelor’s entry destinations include public and private school math teaching positions across all grade levels.
Why does Western Governors produce so many graduates?
Western Governors University (138 completions — 13% of national total) operates a primarily online competency-based math teacher education program targeting working adults already in classrooms (substitute teachers, paraprofessionals, career-changers from STEM fields). The competency-based model lets students progress as fast as they can demonstrate mastery, which appeals to mid-career adults seeking certification. WGU graduates earn state teaching credentials in many states; verify your specific state’s acceptance of the WGU credential before enrolling. Brigham Young University (29), BYU-Idaho (25), Utah State (21), and several other regional programs round out the producer base.
Is there really a math-teacher shortage?
Yes, though the data is nuanced. Most states report persistent shortages of certified math teachers, particularly at the secondary level and in Title I schools (high-poverty districts). The named SOC projects negative overall growth because K-12 student enrollment is declining nationally, but math-specific certification holders are in short supply within that shrinking market. Hiring is geographically uneven: Northeast and Midwest urban districts often have the strongest unfilled-position counts; rural districts in many states also face chronic gaps. Most states offer signing bonuses, loan-forgiveness programs, or alternative-certification pathways for math teachers specifically.
What’s the realistic pay arc and career trajectory?
Entry pay varies dramatically by state and district — from roughly $40,000 in lower-paying Southern states to $60,000+ in higher-paying Northeast and West Coast districts. Most teacher salary schedules base pay on years of experience plus highest degree earned, so a master’s degree (often required within 5-10 years for permanent licensure in many states) bumps salary meaningfully. Senior teaching positions (department chair, instructional coach, mentor teacher) come with stipends rather than role-changes. Administration tracks (assistant principal, principal) require additional coursework and certification but pay $80,000-$120,000+. Most teachers also benefit from defined-benefit pension systems that significantly improve total compensation versus base-salary-only comparisons.