Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $48,780 | Data unavailable |
| Median (50th percentile) | $72,040 | Data unavailable |
| Mean (average) | $76,320 | Data unavailable |
| 90th percentile | $107,600 | Data unavailable |
BLS publishes only annual wages for this occupation because workers are typically paid on an annual basis rather than hourly.
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 54 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $61,990 | $48,190 | $76,300 | 15,880 | 1.1 |
| Alaska | $79,650 | $63,360 | $98,140 | 2,790 | 1.25 |
| Arizona | $58,360 | $46,240 | $93,530 | 21,190 | 0.95 |
| Arkansas | $59,660 | $49,430 | $75,760 | 12,890 | 1.44 |
| California | $101,370 | $64,600 | $132,600 | 99,230 | 0.8 |
| Colorado | $72,900 | $48,970 | $101,300 | 18,310 | 0.93 |
| Connecticut | $80,970 | $51,710 | $113,610 | 14,800 | 1.27 |
| Delaware | $77,960 | $51,420 | $95,220 | 5,360 | 1.61 |
| District of Columbia | $82,750 | $50,750 | $128,170 | 2,800 | 0.58 |
| Florida | $60,410 | $49,210 | $77,100 | 49,810 | 0.73 |
| Georgia | $75,480 | $49,450 | $96,820 | 25,730 | 0.77 |
| Guam | $62,860 | $37,890 | $76,940 | 680 | 1.49 |
| Hawaii | $74,310 | $56,040 | $98,360 | 5,590 | 1.3 |
| Idaho | $61,690 | $47,950 | $91,620 | 6,570 | 1.12 |
| Illinois | $79,990 | $49,020 | $135,960 | 44,670 | 1.07 |
| Indiana | $61,880 | $48,300 | $95,070 | 20,430 | 0.93 |
| Iowa | $61,200 | $47,480 | $79,270 | 12,310 | 1.15 |
| Kansas | $59,920 | $47,630 | $76,230 | 10,860 | 1.1 |
| Kentucky | $61,560 | $47,130 | $83,310 | 12,780 | 0.93 |
| Louisiana | $59,850 | $47,590 | $79,720 | 15,210 | 1.15 |
| Maine | $64,880 | $47,520 | $83,450 | 5,540 | 1.26 |
| Maryland | $78,670 | $58,150 | $102,690 | 16,640 | 0.88 |
| Massachusetts | $95,260 | $61,500 | $122,660 | 28,460 | 1.14 |
| Michigan | $66,030 | $47,830 | $98,720 | 25,540 | 0.85 |
| Minnesota | $76,460 | $49,160 | $121,220 | 16,020 | 0.79 |
| Mississippi | $50,980 | $45,760 | $62,850 | 10,400 | 1.3 |
| Missouri | $59,240 | $40,540 | $79,300 | 24,380 | 1.21 |
| Montana | $60,990 | $38,120 | $81,270 | 3,670 | 1.05 |
| Nebraska | $63,450 | $46,870 | $78,510 | 7,170 | 1.02 |
| Nevada | $65,520 | $54,850 | $83,190 | 8,920 | 0.84 |
| New Hampshire | $77,060 | $48,570 | $96,510 | 5,860 | 1.25 |
| New Jersey | $82,200 | $63,040 | $108,230 | 38,140 | 1.3 |
| New Mexico | $75,900 | $59,330 | $84,170 | 8,120 | 1.36 |
| New York | $97,070 | $60,070 | $136,450 | 70,660 | 1.06 |
| North Carolina | $57,650 | $45,430 | $64,460 | 28,620 | 0.85 |
| North Dakota | $61,210 | $47,630 | $81,310 | 3,070 | 1.04 |
| Ohio | $78,800 | $48,370 | $103,150 | 49,540 | 1.3 |
| Oklahoma | $48,710 | $45,150 | $71,650 | 15,480 | 1.32 |
| Oregon | $79,570 | $49,640 | $101,310 | 11,730 | 0.87 |
| Pennsylvania | $78,800 | $51,440 | $102,360 | 52,240 | 1.26 |
| Puerto Rico | $59,100 | $39,150 | $73,410 | 5,640 | 0.88 |
| Rhode Island | $92,610 | $51,670 | $100,370 | 4,910 | 1.43 |
| South Carolina | $62,580 | $48,740 | $80,700 | 16,080 | 1.02 |
| South Dakota | $51,050 | $47,130 | $62,040 | 3,360 | 1.07 |
| Tennessee | $61,860 | $49,050 | $79,180 | 21,230 | 0.95 |
| Texas | $63,590 | $50,410 | $78,020 | 111,660 | 1.16 |
| Utah | $76,330 | $51,400 | $98,730 | 11,030 | 0.93 |
| Vermont | $76,220 | $49,800 | $99,830 | 2,450 | 1.18 |
| Virgin Islands | $59,520 | $51,170 | $76,120 | 380 | 1.71 |
| Virginia | $72,170 | $49,900 | $107,930 | 31,100 | 1.1 |
| Washington | $102,670 | $62,950 | $128,410 | 14,880 | 0.61 |
| West Virginia | $56,610 | $48,450 | $64,040 | 3,590 | 0.75 |
| Wisconsin | $62,870 | $48,550 | $83,340 | 15,910 | 0.79 |
| Wyoming | $62,690 | $51,440 | $78,830 | 1,600 | 0.83 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 63,500. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 0.1%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Bilingual and Multilingual Education CIP 13.0201
- Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching CIP 13.1203
- Secondary Education and Teaching CIP 13.1205
- Teacher Education, Multiple Levels CIP 13.1206
- Montessori Teacher Education CIP 13.1207
- Waldorf/Steiner Teacher Education CIP 13.1208
- Online Educator/Online Teaching CIP 13.1211
- International Teaching and Learning CIP 13.1212
- Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Educational Methods CIP 13.1213
- Art Teacher Education CIP 13.1302
- Driver and Safety Teacher Education CIP 13.1304
- English/Language Arts Teacher Education CIP 13.1305
- Foreign Language Teacher Education CIP 13.1306
- Health Teacher Education CIP 13.1307
- Family and Consumer Sciences/Home Economics Teacher Education CIP 13.1308
- Technology Teacher Education/Industrial Arts Teacher Education CIP 13.1309
- Mathematics Teacher Education CIP 13.1311
- Music Teacher Education CIP 13.1312
- Physical Education Teaching and Coaching CIP 13.1314
- Reading Teacher Education CIP 13.1315
- Science Teacher Education/General Science Teacher Education CIP 13.1316
- Social Science Teacher Education CIP 13.1317
- Social Studies Teacher Education CIP 13.1318
- Computer Teacher Education CIP 13.1321
- Biology Teacher Education CIP 13.1322
- Chemistry Teacher Education CIP 13.1323
- Drama and Dance Teacher Education CIP 13.1324
- French Language Teacher Education CIP 13.1325
- German Language Teacher Education CIP 13.1326
- History Teacher Education CIP 13.1328
Licenses and certifications
Requirements for regulated professions are set by each state. Always confirm with the state regulator.
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Prepare students for later grades by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.
- Instruct through lectures, discussions, and demonstrations in one or more subjects, such as English, mathematics, or social studies.
- Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among students.
- Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.
- Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests.
- Prepare, administer, and grade tests and assignments to evaluate students' progress.
- Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects, and communicate those objectives to students.
- Observe and evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft SharePoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- ABC programming language
- Blackboard software
- Common Curriculum
- Desmos
- Email software
- Flipgrid
- Geogebra
- Google Classroom
- Google Drive
- Google Meet
- Instructional software
Transferable skills for career changers: Instructing, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Judgment and Decision Making, Complex Problem Solving, Time Management.
Common job titles: Art Teacher, English Teacher, Math Teacher (Mathematics Teacher), Music Teacher, PE Teacher (Physical Education Teacher), Science Teacher, Secondary Teacher, Social Studies Teacher, Spanish Teacher, Teacher.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education make?
The national median annual wage for secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education was $72,040 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $48,780 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $107,600. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education need?
BLS lists bachelor's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education a growing career?
BLS projects employment of secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education to change -0.2% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 63,500 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Washington ($102,670), California ($101,370), New York ($97,070). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.