SOC 25-2031 · BLS occupation: High School Teacher · May 2025
Teacher Salary
High School Teachers in the US earn a median of $72,040 a year, according to the BLS May 2025 wage survey. The top 10% earn $107,600 or more, 2.2 times the $48,780 at the 10th percentile.
Median annual
$72,040
Half of all High School Teachers in the United States earn more than this figure, half earn less. From the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release.
Wage trend
Hourly
–
Job growth 2025-35
-0.2%
US workers
1,065,210
BLS series
Annual median wage for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education in All Industries in the United States
Salary range
From entry to top decile
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for High School Teachers is $48,780 – $107,600.
Percentile distribution
USD · annual
10th
$48,780
25th
$59,980
Median
$72,040
75th
$92,570
90th
$107,600
Percentile bands
Where your pay would sit
Percentile bands
Annual wages at each point of the BLS distribution for High School Teachers. Where you sit depends on experience, employer, location and credentials.
| Percentile | What it means | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | 10% earn less. Common for new entrants | $48,780 |
| 25th percentile | A quarter earn less | $59,980 |
| Median | Half earn more, half earn less | $72,040 |
| 75th percentile | A quarter earn more | $92,570 |
| 90th percentile | 10% earn more. Often senior or specialist staff | $107,600 |
Geography
High School Teacher pay by state
High School Teachers earn the most in Washington ($102,670, +43% against the national median) and the least in Oklahoma ($48,710). BLS publishes a May 2025 estimate for this occupation in 51 of 51 states and D.C.
National median
$72,040
Highest-paying states for high school teachers
| State | Annual median | vs national | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $102,670 | +43% | 14,880 |
| California | $101,370 | +41% | 99,230 |
| New York | $97,070 | +35% | 70,660 |
| Massachusetts | $95,260 | +32% | 28,460 |
| Rhode Island | $92,610 | +29% | 4,910 |
| D.C. | $82,750 | +15% | 2,800 |
| New Jersey | $82,200 | +14% | 38,140 |
| Connecticut | $80,970 | +12% | 14,800 |
| Illinois | $79,990 | +11% | 44,670 |
| Alaska | $79,650 | +11% | 2,790 |
All 51 states, highest to lowest
| State | Annual median | 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 |
| D.C. | $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 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state estimates, May 2025, all industries.
What affects this salary
Pay drivers for High School Teachers
High school teachers instruct students in grades 9–12 in one or more subjects. The role requires a bachelor's degree, a state-issued teaching license, and (in most states) completion of a teacher preparation program.
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread is $48,780 – $107,600. That gap reflects experience, certification, employer type, geographic cost of living, and shift differentials where applicable.
Geography matters. The best-paying states for this role are Washington, California and New York. Pay in Washington runs 2.1 times the level in Oklahoma, before any adjustment for cost of living.
Getting in. BLS lists the typical entry-level education as bachelor's degree, and projects about 63,500 openings a year over 2025-35. Employment is projected to shrink 0.2% over the same period, against 3.5% for all occupations.
Frequently asked
Questions readers ask
Frequently asked
What is the average High School Teacher salary in the US?
How much do High School Teachers make at the low and high end?
Which state pays High School Teachers the most?
Is the average High School Teacher salary higher than the median?
Is High School Teacher a growing career?
Open positions
Open High School Teacher roles hiring now
Browse current High School Teacher listings on Indeed and ZipRecruiter, filtered to your role.
Source & methodology
Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 release. Standard Occupational Classification: 25-2031. Figures represent the national median, mean, and percentile distribution across all employers and industries. Hourly equivalents assume a 2,080-hour work year. Job growth, annual openings and typical education are from the BLS Employment Projections program, 2025-35; see the Occupational Outlook Handbook entry. Read our methodology for details on how the data is sourced, transformed, and refreshed.