High School Teacher salary in the United States
National median pay
$72,040/year
Middle half earns $59,980 – $92,570
National pay range
| Percentile | Yearly |
|---|---|
| 10th (entry level) | $48,780 |
| 25th | $59,980 |
| Median (50th) | $72,040 |
| 75th | $92,570 |
| 90th (top earners) | $107,600 |
Pay by city
Highest median pay: San Jose ($108,230). Lowest of the cities we track: Phoenix ($59,570).
| Metro area | Median | Middle half |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $108,230 | $89,170 – $131,140 |
| Sacramento, CA | $105,060 | $80,260 – $125,000 |
| San Francisco, CA | $102,880 | $80,000 – $126,750 |
| San Diego, CA | $102,810 | $78,920 – $124,670 |
| Seattle, WA | $102,670 | $82,360 – $127,290 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $100,960 | $81,430 – $126,650 |
| New York, NY | $100,800 | $78,760 – $130,570 |
| Chicago, IL | $98,970 | $76,440 – $126,420 |
| Boston, MA | $98,850 | $78,620 – $103,660 |
| Portland, OR | $84,120 | $66,140 – $100,910 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $81,350 | $62,070 – $94,000 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $80,560 | $62,200 – $99,590 |
| Washington, DC | $80,300 | $65,050 – $102,320 |
| Denver, CO | $79,230 | $63,130 – $98,460 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $79,010 | $62,070 – $101,090 |
| Baltimore, MD | $78,350 | $62,440 – $98,570 |
| Detroit, MI | $77,520 | $60,580 – $91,450 |
| Atlanta, GA | $77,210 | $61,630 – $79,460 |
| Dallas, TX | $65,890 | $63,450 – $75,770 |
| Houston, TX | $65,540 | $61,950 – $74,670 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $65,520 | $54,850 – $83,190 |
| Nashville, TN | $64,710 | $60,240 – $76,550 |
| Austin, TX | $62,320 | $61,080 – $64,240 |
| St. Louis, MO | $62,130 | $50,640 – $78,970 |
| San Antonio, TX | $61,840 | $60,600 – $72,690 |
| Tampa, FL | $61,030 | $50,840 – $74,570 |
| Orlando, FL | $60,540 | $57,700 – $64,770 |
| Miami, FL | $60,410 | $53,230 – $66,470 |
| Charlotte, NC | $60,300 | $48,740 – $62,590 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $59,570 | $50,090 – $77,750 |
Pay depends a lot on location, so compare an on-site job with its local figures. For fully remote jobs, national pay is usually the fairest comparison.
🏆 Best paying cities for high school teachers, after cost of living →
Is your offer fair?
$
/year
- Below market under $59,980. Fine for a first job in the field, otherwise worth negotiating.
- Typical $59,980 to $92,570. The middle half of what people in this job earn.
- Strong offer over $92,570. Higher than three quarters of workers here.
Before you accept
- Teacher pay is usually set by a district salary schedule based on years of experience and degree level, so ask for the schedule.
- Pay here is yearly. BLS doesn't publish hourly figures for teachers because the school year isn't a standard full-time schedule.
- Coaching, club advising and summer school often come with extra stipends.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025. Occupation: Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education (SOC 25-2031). Figures cover wage and salary workers and don't include bonuses, benefits or overtime.