The significant importance attributed to the teaching profession in public perception, as well as in educational sciences, for the quality of schools and teaching has previously stood in stark contrast to the scope and intensity of research focused on the teaching profession. However, this often lamented situation has changed. Over the past decade, a noticeable intensification and gradual stabilization of research on the teaching profession has been observed. This handbook provides, for the first time, a representative overview of the current state of research on the teaching profession. With a strong emphasis on the international academic discussion, the 45 contributions in the handbook inform about research in the following areas: history of the teaching profession, characteristics and conditions of the teaching profession, and concepts of research on the teaching profession.