Best paying cities for high school teachers, after cost of living
After cost of living, high school teacher pay goes furthest in Sacramento (worth $98,463) and least far in Miami (worth $52,898).
| # | Metro area | Median pay | Prices (US = 100) | Worth | vs. US median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sacramento, CA | $105,060 | 106.7 | $98,463 | +37% |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $108,230 | 110.4 | $98,034 | +36% |
| 3 | Chicago, IL | $98,970 | 103.6 | $95,531 | +33% |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $102,670 | 111.1 | $92,412 | +28% |
| 5 | San Diego, CA | $102,810 | 111.9 | $91,877 | +28% |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $98,850 | 108.3 | $91,274 | +27% |
| 7 | New York, NY | $100,800 | 112.6 | $89,520 | +24% |
| 8 | San Francisco, CA | $102,880 | 115.6 | $88,997 | +24% |
| 9 | Los Angeles, CA | $100,960 | 113.6 | $88,873 | +23% |
| 10 | Pittsburgh, PA | $81,350 | 94.7 | $85,903 | +19% |
| 11 | Portland, OR | $84,120 | 105.4 | $79,810 | +11% |
| 12 | Philadelphia, PA | $80,560 | 102.6 | $78,519 | +9% |
| 13 | Detroit, MI | $77,520 | 100.3 | $77,288 | +7% |
| 14 | Atlanta, GA | $77,210 | 100.1 | $77,133 | +7% |
| 15 | Minneapolis, MN | $79,010 | 104.8 | $75,391 | +5% |
| 16 | Baltimore, MD | $78,350 | 104.5 | $74,976 | +4% |
| 17 | Denver, CO | $79,230 | 105.8 | $74,887 | +4% |
| 18 | Washington, DC | $80,300 | 108.9 | $73,737 | +2% |
| 19 | Nashville, TN | $64,710 | 96.3 | $67,196 | −7% |
| 20 | Houston, TX | $65,540 | 98.6 | $66,471 | −8% |
| 21 | Las Vegas, NV | $65,520 | 100.2 | $65,389 | −9% |
| 22 | St. Louis, MO | $62,130 | 95.1 | $65,331 | −9% |
| 23 | San Antonio, TX | $61,840 | 94.7 | $65,301 | −9% |
| 24 | Dallas, TX | $65,890 | 103.1 | $63,909 | −11% |
| 25 | Austin, TX | $62,320 | 98.1 | $63,527 | −12% |
| 26 | Charlotte, NC | $60,300 | 97.3 | $61,973 | −14% |
| 27 | Tampa, FL | $61,030 | 100.9 | $60,486 | −16% |
| 28 | Orlando, FL | $60,540 | 101.4 | $59,704 | −17% |
| 29 | Phoenix, AZ | $59,570 | 103.3 | $57,667 | −20% |
| 30 | Miami, FL | $60,410 | 114.2 | $52,898 | −27% |
U.S. median for high school teachers: $72,040. "Worth" is the median adjusted for local prices: what that pay buys at average U.S. prices, using U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metro area, 2024.
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Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025 (Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education, SOC 25-2031); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metro area, 2024. Median pay for wage and salary workers, excluding bonuses, benefits and overtime. Metro areas, not city limits.