💡 Why it matters: Schools are where most talent is first noticed and where kids learn teamwork and healthy habits. PE teachers also spot future champions and help every student stay active.
🌍 Around the world
- United States: Jobs for high school teachers are projected to show little or no change from 2025 to 2035 (US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
💰 What it can pay
🇳🇬 Nigeria
- Starting out
- ₦800k – ₦2.2M
- Mid-career
- ₦2.2M – ₦5M
- Senior
- ₦5M – ₦12M
≈ ₦183k – ₦417k a month mid-career. Indicative estimate by Incusim.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Closest UK job: Secondary school teacher. Typical starter to experienced salary. National Careers Service, 2026
🇺🇸 United States
Closest US category: High school teachers. Median pay; low and high are the 10th and 90th percentiles. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025
🇨🇦 Canada
Closest Job Bank occupation: Secondary school teacher. Hourly wage low/high x 2,080 hours; Job Bank's median was not captured. Job Bank (Government of Canada), 2023-2024
Yearly pay before tax. UK, US and Canada figures come from the official sources named on each card. Nigeria has no official salary survey, so those are our indicative estimates. Real pay depends on the employer, the place, your skills and experience.
🛠️ What you actually do
- Plan and teach PE lessons
- Coach school sports teams
- Organise sports days and inter-house competitions
- Teach health and safety, nutrition and teamwork
- Spot talented students and encourage them
⚡ Skills you'll need
- Teaching
- Sport skills
- Patience
- Organisation
- Leadership
Get ready at school
🇳🇬 Nigeria
- NCE route, then upgrade to a degree
- Coaching certificates while working as a school sports assistant
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- School Direct or other school-based teacher training
- Teacher degree apprenticeship
🇺🇸 United States
- Coach a school team or work as a teaching assistant
- Alternative teacher certification programs (vary by state)
🇨🇦 Canada
- Coach a school team or work as a teaching assistant
- Concurrent education programs that combine the degree and teacher training
🗺️ Your path to this career
- 1Play sports and help organise games at your school
- 2Study Physical Education and Biology
- 3Earn a teaching degree or diploma in Physical Education
- 4Register with your country's teacher regulator or get your teaching licence
- 5Teach, coach and move into sports leadership at your school or district
⏰ A day in the life
You set up cones and equipment before first period, teach a class football skills, and then coach the school team after lessons. You finish by planning next month's sports day.