Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education Salary
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · 1.1M employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$72,040
Median hourly
$35
Average annual
$76,320
Typical range
$48,780–$107,600
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education is $72,040 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $35 an hour at a full-time schedule.
Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level..
Most earn between $48,780 and $107,600 a year. There are roughly 1.1M people employed as secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education.
- Hourly
- $34.63
- Daily
- $277
- Weekly
- $1,385
- Bi-weekly
- $2,771
- Monthly
- $6,003
- Annual
- $72,040
$72,040 a year is around the 50th percentile for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Educations. The median is $72,040.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1Washington$102,670
- 2California$101,370
- 3New York$97,070
- 4Massachusetts$95,260
- 5Rhode Island$92,610
- 6District of Columbia$82,750
- 7New Jersey$82,200
- 8Connecticut$80,970
- 9Illinois$79,990
- 10Alaska$79,650
- 11Oregon$79,570
- 12Ohio$78,800
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA$121,190
- 2Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA$108,850
- 3San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$108,230
- 4Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA$105,200
- 5Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$105,060
- 6Walla Walla, WA$104,940
- 7Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA$104,180
- 8Longview-Kelso, WA$104,110
- 9San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$102,880
- 10Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA$102,840
- 11San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$102,810
- 12Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$102,670
Related job titles
Employers advertise Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education roles under these titles.
Related occupations
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$64,370
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$63,970
- Tutors$43,350
- Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors$61,540
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School$65,030
- Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$74,260
- Special Education Teachers, Middle School$66,810
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$66,270
What a Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education does
- Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects, and communicate those objectives to students.
- Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests.
- Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations.
- Plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate.
- Confer with parents or guardians, other teachers, counselors, and administrators to resolve students' behavioral and academic problems.
- Assign and grade class work and homework.
- Prepare students for later grades by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.
- Instruct and monitor students in the use of equipment and materials to prevent injuries and damage.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education make?
- The median annual wage for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education is $72,040 ($35 per hour). Pay ranges from about $48,780 at the 10th percentile to $107,600 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $76,320, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Educations the most?
- Washington has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $102,670.
- Is Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 1.1M people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education do?
- Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects, and communicate those objectives to students.; Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests.; Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations..