How much does a secondary school teacher make?
The median secondary school teacher in the United States earns $72,040 per year. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all secondary school teachers earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 25-2031.
Secondary school teacher salary range
Pay for secondary school teachers spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $48,780 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $107,600. The average (mean) wage of $76,320 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $48,780 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $59,980 | |
| Median (50th) | $72,040 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $92,570 | |
| 90th percentile | $107,600 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education (SOC 25-2031), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Secondary school teacher salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Secondary school teachers earn the most in Washington at $102,670 a year, and the least in Oklahoma at $48,710. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $102,670 | 14,880 |
| California | $101,370 | 99,230 |
| New York | $97,070 | 70,660 |
| Massachusetts | $95,260 | 28,460 |
| Rhode Island | $92,610 | 4,910 |
| District of Columbia | $82,750 | 2,800 |
| New Jersey | $82,200 | 38,140 |
| Connecticut | $80,970 | 14,800 |
| Illinois | $79,990 | 44,670 |
| Alaska | $79,650 | 2,790 |
| Oregon | $79,570 | 11,730 |
| Ohio | $78,800 | 49,540 |
| Pennsylvania | $78,800 | 52,240 |
| Maryland | $78,670 | 16,640 |
| Delaware | $77,960 | 5,360 |
| New Hampshire | $77,060 | 5,860 |
| Minnesota | $76,460 | 16,020 |
| Utah | $76,330 | 11,030 |
| Vermont | $76,220 | 2,450 |
| New Mexico | $75,900 | 8,120 |
| Georgia | $75,480 | 25,730 |
| Hawaii | $74,310 | 5,590 |
| Colorado | $72,900 | 18,310 |
| Virginia | $72,170 | 31,100 |
| Michigan | $66,030 | 25,540 |
| Nevada | $65,520 | 8,920 |
| Maine | $64,880 | 5,540 |
| Texas | $63,590 | 111,660 |
| Nebraska | $63,450 | 7,170 |
| Wisconsin | $62,870 | 15,910 |
| Wyoming | $62,690 | 1,600 |
| South Carolina | $62,580 | 16,080 |
| Alabama | $61,990 | 15,880 |
| Indiana | $61,880 | 20,430 |
| Tennessee | $61,860 | 21,230 |
| Idaho | $61,690 | 6,570 |
| Kentucky | $61,560 | 12,780 |
| North Dakota | $61,210 | 3,070 |
| Iowa | $61,200 | 12,310 |
| Montana | $60,990 | 3,670 |
| Florida | $60,410 | 49,810 |
| Kansas | $59,920 | 10,860 |
| Louisiana | $59,850 | 15,210 |
| Arkansas | $59,660 | 12,890 |
| Missouri | $59,240 | 24,380 |
| Arizona | $58,360 | 21,190 |
| North Carolina | $57,650 | 28,620 |
| West Virginia | $56,610 | 3,590 |
| South Dakota | $51,050 | 3,360 |
| Mississippi | $50,980 | 10,400 |
| Oklahoma | $48,710 | 15,480 |
State median wages for secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education (SOC 25-2031), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for secondary school teachers
The BLS projects employment of secondary school teachers to shrink from 2025 to 2035 (down 0.2%). That is a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 1,087,500 jobs in 2025 moving toward 1,085,000 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 63,500 openings a year for secondary school teachers. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a secondary school teacher
The typical entry-level education for secondary school teachers is a bachelor's degree, according to the BLS.
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a secondary school teacher earns
District budget, level taught, degree, and region drive pay, along with years of service on a step-and-lane salary schedule. High cost metros and senior educators land near the top.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Washington, $102,670) and the lowest (Oklahoma, $48,710) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 1,065,210 people work as secondary school teachers in the United States. At $72,040 a year, the job pays above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Secondary school teacher salary FAQ
How much does a secondary school teacher make an hour?
Secondary school teachers are generally salaried rather than paid by the hour, so the BLS does not publish an hourly wage for this job. The median annual salary is $72,040.
What is the highest secondary school teacher salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of secondary school teachers earn more than $107,600 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a secondary school teacher make a year?
The median annual salary for a secondary school teacher is $72,040. The average (mean) wage of $76,320 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a secondary school teacher a well paid job?
At $72,040 a year, a secondary school teacher earns above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 1,065,210 people work as secondary school teachers in the United States.
Which state pays secondary school teachers the most?
Washington has the highest median salary for secondary school teachers at $102,670 a year. California ($101,370) and New York ($97,070) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a secondary school teacher a good career?
Employment of secondary school teachers is projected to shrink 0.2% from 2025 to 2035, a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 63,500 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a secondary school teacher?
The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for secondary school teachers as a bachelor's degree, so a college degree is usually expected.
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