Secondary School Teaching Jobs in Australia: Subject by Subject Guide

Secondary school teaching in Australia covers Years 7 to 12 and requires teachers to specialise in one or two key learning areas. The demand for secondary teachers varies significantly by subject, with some specialisations commanding significant premiums in the job market.

Mathematics and science teachers are consistently the most sought-after secondary educators in Australia. Schools at every level — government, Catholic, and independent — struggle to fill vacancies in these areas, meaning qualified maths and science teachers are in an exceptionally strong negotiating position.

English teachers are in steady demand across all school sectors, while humanities and social science teachers face a more competitive market given the higher supply of graduates in these areas. Having a second teaching area alongside English or humanities significantly increases your employability.

Languages teachers — particularly Mandarin, Japanese, French, and Indonesian — are highly sought after, especially in independent schools with strong international programmes. If you are a qualified languages teacher, you will find the Australian market very receptive.

Independent secondary schools often offer excellent resources, motivated students, and strong co-curricular programmes. They typically recruit experienced teachers who can contribute both inside and outside the classroom — sport, music, drama, and outdoor education involvement are all valued.

Find secondary school teaching jobs across Australia on TeachAU. Register for free and let schools in your subject area find you — it takes less than five minutes to get your profile live.