Teacher Jobs in Philadelphia, PA
New teachers in the School District of Philadelphia started at $55,771 in 2025-26, with 3% raises built into the union contract through 2027, while Mastery Schools starts teachers at $60,900. Here are the current openings, followed by who is hiring, what it pays, and how to get certified in Pennsylvania.
Current teacher Openings in Philadelphia, PA
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Teacher Work in Philadelphia
The School District of Philadelphia runs 249 district and alternative schools from its headquarters at 440 N. Broad Street, and the city also has 81 charter schools, so a Philadelphia teacher can choose between a unionized district job, a charter network and a Catholic or independent school. District teachers are represented by the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers under a contract that runs through August 2028. Charter hiring is concentrated in a few large networks: Mastery runs 11 elementary and 7 secondary schools in the city, and KIPP Philadelphia runs campuses in North and West Philadelphia. The Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the Independence Mission Schools staff parish and neighborhood Catholic schools, including St. Frances Cabrini, St. Rose of Lima and St. Veronica.
Top Philadelphia Employers Hiring Teachers
These employers are hiring classroom teachers in Philadelphia for the 2026-27 school year:
- School District of Philadelphia - the city's largest school employer recruits general, special education, world language and career and technical education teachers, and holds virtual office hours for applicants twice a week.
- Mastery Schools - the charter network pays teachers from $60,900 up to $112,700 based on experience and performance, and runs its own teaching residency.
- KIPP Philadelphia - the charter network lists about 15 teacher openings for 2026-27, from elementary grade-level and special education leads to high school English and Spanish.
- Independence Mission Schools - the Catholic school network is hiring math, science, art and elementary teachers at St. Frances Cabrini, St. Rose of Lima and St. Veronica.
- Archdiocese of Philadelphia - its Catholic schools office posts elementary, secondary and special education teaching jobs school by school.
Teacher Salaries in Philadelphia
- Entry level: about $55,000 to $61,000 a year. The district paid $55,771 for a first-year teacher with a bachelor's degree and $57,411 with a master's in 2025-26; Mastery starts at $60,900.
- Experienced: roughly $79,000 to $94,000 a year for teachers with several years in the classroom.
- Senior: $94,000 to $112,700 a year. The district's top step paid $94,011 with a master's and $102,519 with a master's plus 30 credits in 2025-26, and Mastery's scale reaches $112,700.
These are estimates. District pay follows the PFT salary schedule by step and degree, with 3% raises on September 1 of 2026 and 2027, so a master's degree and extra graduate credits move pay as much as experience does. State wage data for May 2025 puts the average Philadelphia-area elementary teacher at $79,310 and secondary teacher at $81,640.
How to Become a Teacher in Philadelphia
Pennsylvania teachers are certified by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, and applications go through its TIMS system. You need a bachelor's degree, a PDE-approved preparation program and the required Praxis or PECT subject tests; the basic skills test is no longer required as of July 1, 2025. The first certificate, Level I, is good for six years of service; Level II follows after three years of satisfactory teaching, 24 post-bachelor's credits and an induction program. You also need FBI fingerprints, a PA State Police check and a PA Child Abuse History Clearance. Local programs include Temple's College of Education and Human Development at Ritter Hall on Cecil B. Moore Avenue, Penn GSE in University City, Drexel's School of Education, Saint Joseph's, La Salle and Holy Family University on Frankford Avenue. Career changers can apply to the district's Teacher Residency, which pays $46,998.90 plus benefits and a $7,500 tuition stipend while residents train with Relay, Drexel, Temple or City Teaching Alliance.
What the Job Involves
Teachers plan and deliver lessons, assess student work, manage the classroom and keep parents informed. The job also includes adapting lessons for students with IEPs and English learners, preparing students for state tests, attending team and professional development meetings, and covering duties such as lunch or hallway supervision.
Skills Employers Look For
- Pennsylvania certification in the subject and grade band
- Classroom management and routines
- Lesson planning to state standards
- Using data to group and reteach students
- Supporting special education and English learner students
- Clear communication with families
Career Path and Advancement
Most Philadelphia teachers start on a Level I certificate and move to Level II within their first six years. From there the ladder runs to grade or department lead, instructional coach or teacher leader, then assistant principal and principal. District teachers raise their pay by stepping up the PFT schedule and adding graduate credits, and current district teachers can add a special education certificate at no cost through the district's certification program.
Related Careers in Philadelphia
If teaching interests you, these related Philadelphia roles are close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do new teachers make in Philadelphia?
The School District of Philadelphia paid first-year teachers $55,771 with a bachelor's degree and $57,411 with a master's in 2025-26, and the PFT contract adds 3% on September 1, 2026. Mastery Schools starts teachers at $60,900.
Do I need to pass a basic skills test to teach in Pennsylvania?
No. The basic skills test stopped being a certification requirement on July 1, 2025. You still need to pass the Praxis or PECT content tests for your subject and grade level.
Can I teach in Philadelphia while I get certified?
Yes. The district's Teacher Residency, Drexel's Philadelphia Teacher Residency and the Temple Teacher Residency place you in a city classroom with pay while you earn a certificate. Schools can also request an emergency permit for a candidate with a bachelor's degree who enrolls in an approved preparation program.
Do Philadelphia charter schools train new teachers?
Some do. Mastery Schools runs the Mastery Teaching Residency, a full-time salaried support-teacher role for bachelor's degree holders with a 3.0 GPA, with tuition help and certification through partners such as Relay, City Teaching Alliance and Temple.
What clearances do Pennsylvania teachers need?
Pennsylvania requires FBI fingerprints through IdentoGO, a PA State Police criminal record check and a PA Child Abuse History Clearance. Schools accept clearances up to five years old at the time of hire.
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