Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education (SOC 25-2031) earn a median $72,040 a year in the United States, with 1,065,210 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Washington.
What secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education do
Secondary school teachers handle one or more subjects for students in secondary school. Lessons given through lectures, discussions, and demonstrations cover subjects such as English, mathematics, or social studies, and alternate titles show many other specialties, including accounting, algebra, art, and athletics. They prepare materials and classrooms, adapt teaching methods and materials to students' varying needs and interests, prepare, administer, and grade tests and assignments, and set clear objectives for lessons, units, and projects. They set and enforce behavior rules, watch students' performance, behavior, social growth, and health, and encourage students to explore learning opportunities in preparation for later grades. Career and technical education teachers at the secondary level, special education teachers, and short-term substitutes are counted in separate categories.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, the most commonly reported level of education for this occupation is a bachelor's degree.
Also called: Accounting Teacher, After School Teacher, Algebra Teacher, Art Educator, Art Instructor.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 1,065,210 |
| Annual | $48,780 | $59,980 | $72,040 | $92,570 | $107,600 | $76,320 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Washington | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 14,880 | 4.19 | 0.61 |
| Annual | $62,950 | $81,360 | $102,670 | $121,100 | $128,410 | $99,350 | ||||
| California | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 99,230 | 5.45 | 0.80 |
| Annual | $64,600 | $79,710 | $101,370 | $125,920 | $132,600 | $105,880 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 70,660 | 7.29 | 1.06 |
| Annual | $60,070 | $76,050 | $97,070 | $131,980 | $136,450 | $97,220 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 28,460 | 7.82 | 1.14 |
| Annual | $61,500 | $77,890 | $95,260 | $102,530 | $122,660 | $90,270 | ||||
| Rhode Island | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 4,910 | 9.80 | 1.43 |
| Annual | $51,670 | $66,470 | $92,610 | $97,230 | $100,370 | $84,120 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Texas | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 111,660 | 7.94 | 1.16 |
| Annual | $50,410 | $61,390 | $63,590 | $73,720 | $78,020 | $65,740 | ||||
| California | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 99,230 | 5.45 | 0.80 |
| Annual | $64,600 | $79,710 | $101,370 | $125,920 | $132,600 | $105,880 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 70,660 | 7.29 | 1.06 |
| Annual | $60,070 | $76,050 | $97,070 | $131,980 | $136,450 | $97,220 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 52,240 | 8.61 | 1.26 |
| Annual | $51,440 | $61,750 | $78,800 | $92,980 | $102,360 | $77,650 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 49,810 | 5.02 | 0.73 |
| Annual | $49,210 | $52,340 | $60,410 | $64,770 | $77,100 | $61,570 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 240 | 4.57 | 0.67 |
| Annual | $62,880 | $92,700 | $121,190 | $126,900 | $132,300 | $107,640 | ||||
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 2,210 | 6.84 | 1.00 |
| Annual | $65,590 | $88,560 | $108,850 | $126,530 | $130,250 | $106,480 | ||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 4,130 | 3.64 | 0.53 |
| Annual | $70,820 | $89,170 | $108,230 | $131,140 | $151,810 | $111,240 | ||||
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 490 | 3.80 | 0.55 |
| Annual | $66,450 | $81,380 | $105,200 | $107,630 | $122,980 | $98,210 | ||||
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 6,040 | 5.59 | 0.82 |
| Annual | $66,570 | $80,260 | $105,060 | $125,000 | $125,920 | $101,820 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 75,780 | 7.98 | 1.17 |
| Annual | $63,480 | $78,760 | $100,800 | $130,570 | $136,340 | $100,020 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 32,790 | 7.27 | 1.06 |
| Annual | $60,380 | $76,440 | $98,970 | $126,420 | $140,600 | $97,150 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 32,250 | 5.14 | 0.75 |
| Annual | $67,190 | $81,430 | $100,960 | $126,650 | $133,850 | $106,820 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 28,000 | 6.91 | 1.01 |
| Annual | $61,470 | $63,450 | $65,890 | $75,770 | $77,760 | $68,930 | ||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 26,260 | 7.98 | 1.17 |
| Annual | $56,760 | $61,950 | $65,540 | $74,670 | $80,470 | $67,740 | ||||
Top industries employing secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
Elementary and Secondary Schools employ 99.0% of secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education nationally (1,055,050 jobs) at a median $72,340 a year, followed by Educational Support Services (0.2%) and Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (0.2%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary and Secondary Schools NAICS 611100 | 1,055,050 | 99.0% | $72,340 | * |
| Educational Support Services NAICS 611700 | 2,170 | 0.2% | $59,530 | * |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools NAICS 611300 | 1,890 | 0.2% | $63,000 | * |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 1,380 | 0.1% | $72,240 | * |
| Other Schools and Instruction NAICS 611600 | 1,000 | 0.1% | $52,920 | * |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (1,065,210). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $61,820 for secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education in May 2021 and $72,040 in May 2025, with employment of 1,020,240 and 1,065,210.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $61,820 | * | 1,020,240 |
| May 2022 | $62,360 | * | 1,042,090 |
| May 2023 | $65,220 | * | 1,045,170 |
| May 2024 | $64,580 | * | 1,072,540 |
| May 2025 | $72,040 | * | 1,065,210 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
51 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington profile | * | $102,670 | $62,950 | $128,410 | 14,880 | 4.19 | 0.61 |
| 2 | California profile | * | $101,370 | $64,600 | $132,600 | 99,230 | 5.45 | 0.80 |
| 3 | New York profile | * | $97,070 | $60,070 | $136,450 | 70,660 | 7.29 | 1.06 |
| 4 | Massachusetts profile | * | $95,260 | $61,500 | $122,660 | 28,460 | 7.82 | 1.14 |
| 5 | Rhode Island profile | * | $92,610 | $51,670 | $100,370 | 4,910 | 9.80 | 1.43 |
| 6 | District of Columbia profile | * | $82,750 | $50,750 | $128,170 | 2,800 | 3.99 | 0.58 |
| 7 | New Jersey profile | * | $82,200 | $63,040 | $108,230 | 38,140 | 8.90 | 1.30 |
| 8 | Connecticut profile | * | $80,970 | $51,710 | $113,610 | 14,800 | 8.73 | 1.27 |
| 9 | Illinois profile | * | $79,990 | $49,020 | $135,960 | 44,670 | 7.33 | 1.07 |
| 10 | Alaska profile | * | $79,650 | $63,360 | $98,140 | 2,790 | 8.57 | 1.25 |
| 11 | Oregon profile | * | $79,570 | $49,640 | $101,310 | 11,730 | 5.96 | 0.87 |
| 12 | Ohio profile | * | $78,800 | $48,370 | $103,150 | 49,540 | 8.93 | 1.30 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania profile | * | $78,800 | $51,440 | $102,360 | 52,240 | 8.61 | 1.26 |
| 14 | Maryland profile | * | $78,670 | $58,150 | $102,690 | 16,640 | 6.02 | 0.88 |
| 15 | Delaware profile | * | $77,960 | $51,420 | $95,220 | 5,360 | 11.06 | 1.61 |
| 16 | New Hampshire profile | * | $77,060 | $48,570 | $96,510 | 5,860 | 8.58 | 1.25 |
| 17 | Minnesota profile | * | $76,460 | $49,160 | $121,220 | 16,020 | 5.43 | 0.79 |
| 18 | Utah profile | * | $76,330 | $51,400 | $98,730 | 11,030 | 6.36 | 0.93 |
| 19 | Vermont profile | * | $76,220 | $49,800 | $99,830 | 2,450 | 8.06 | 1.18 |
| 20 | New Mexico profile | * | $75,900 | $59,330 | $84,170 | 8,120 | 9.32 | 1.36 |
| 21 | Georgia profile | * | $75,480 | $49,450 | $96,820 | 25,730 | 5.26 | 0.77 |
| 22 | Hawaii profile | * | $74,310 | $56,040 | $98,360 | 5,590 | 8.90 | 1.30 |
| 23 | Colorado profile | * | $72,900 | $48,970 | $101,300 | 18,310 | 6.37 | 0.93 |
| 24 | Virginia profile | * | $72,170 | $49,900 | $107,930 | 31,100 | 7.57 | 1.10 |
| 25 | Michigan profile | * | $66,030 | $47,830 | $98,720 | 25,540 | 5.80 | 0.85 |
| 26 | Nevada profile | * | $65,520 | $54,850 | $83,190 | 8,920 | 5.75 | 0.84 |
| 27 | Maine profile | * | $64,880 | $47,520 | $83,450 | 5,540 | 8.66 | 1.26 |
| 28 | Texas profile | * | $63,590 | $50,410 | $78,020 | 111,660 | 7.94 | 1.16 |
| 29 | Nebraska profile | * | $63,450 | $46,870 | $78,510 | 7,170 | 7.00 | 1.02 |
| 30 | Wisconsin profile | * | $62,870 | $48,550 | $83,340 | 15,910 | 5.41 | 0.79 |
| 31 | Wyoming profile | * | $62,690 | $51,440 | $78,830 | 1,600 | 5.71 | 0.83 |
| 32 | South Carolina profile | * | $62,580 | $48,740 | $80,700 | 16,080 | 6.98 | 1.02 |
| 33 | Alabama profile | * | $61,990 | $48,190 | $76,300 | 15,880 | 7.51 | 1.10 |
| 34 | Indiana profile | * | $61,880 | $48,300 | $95,070 | 20,430 | 6.38 | 0.93 |
| 35 | Tennessee profile | * | $61,860 | $49,050 | $79,180 | 21,230 | 6.48 | 0.95 |
| 36 | Idaho profile | * | $61,690 | $47,950 | $91,620 | 6,570 | 7.67 | 1.12 |
| 37 | Kentucky profile | * | $61,560 | $47,130 | $83,310 | 12,780 | 6.39 | 0.93 |
| 38 | North Dakota profile | * | $61,210 | $47,630 | $81,310 | 3,070 | 7.16 | 1.04 |
| 39 | Iowa profile | * | $61,200 | $47,480 | $79,270 | 12,310 | 7.90 | 1.15 |
| 40 | Montana profile | * | $60,990 | $38,120 | $81,270 | 3,670 | 7.17 | 1.05 |
| 41 | Florida profile | * | $60,410 | $49,210 | $77,100 | 49,810 | 5.02 | 0.73 |
| 42 | Kansas profile | * | $59,920 | $47,630 | $76,230 | 10,860 | 7.55 | 1.10 |
| 43 | Louisiana profile | * | $59,850 | $47,590 | $79,720 | 15,210 | 7.86 | 1.15 |
| 44 | Arkansas profile | * | $59,660 | $49,430 | $75,760 | 12,890 | 9.89 | 1.44 |
| 45 | Missouri profile | * | $59,240 | $40,540 | $79,300 | 24,380 | 8.31 | 1.21 |
| 46 | Arizona profile | * | $58,360 | $46,240 | $93,530 | 21,190 | 6.54 | 0.95 |
| 47 | North Carolina profile | * | $57,650 | $45,430 | $64,460 | 28,620 | 5.79 | 0.85 |
| 48 | West Virginia profile | * | $56,610 | $48,450 | $64,040 | 3,590 | 5.12 | 0.75 |
| 49 | South Dakota profile | * | $51,050 | $47,130 | $62,040 | 3,360 | 7.34 | 1.07 |
| 50 | Mississippi profile | * | $50,980 | $45,760 | $62,850 | 10,400 | 8.94 | 1.30 |
| 51 | Oklahoma profile | * | $48,710 | $45,150 | $71,650 | 15,480 | 9.06 | 1.32 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (25-2030), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Educational Instruction and Library Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 25-2031 Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education.
*- Wage estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked. A withheld or top-coded median in that table shows the marker explained above.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them. A withheld or top-coded cell in that table shows the marker explained above.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 25-2031, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 25-2031.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.