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Secondary School Teacher Salary by State (2026): Complete Table + FAQs
Secondary school teachers cover high school classrooms with pay that varies by state, district and union contract. This state-by-state table from the latest official U.S. BLS OEWS release shows annual wages for the role.
Source: U.S. BLS OEWS (latest release) · Last verified: 2026-10-08 · Methodology
Secondary School Teacher pay by state at a glance
| State | Hourly | Monthly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $50.90 | $8,823 | $105,880 |
| Washington | $47.76 | $8,279 | $99,350 |
| New York | $46.74 | $8,102 | $97,220 |
| Massachusetts | $43.40 | $7,523 | $90,270 |
| Illinois | $42.94 | $7,443 | $89,320 |
| District of Columbia | $42.53 | $7,372 | $88,460 |
| New Jersey | $41.88 | $7,258 | $87,100 |
| Connecticut | $40.61 | $7,038 | $84,460 |
| Rhode Island | $40.44 | $7,010 | $84,120 |
| Alaska | $39.64 | $6,872 | $82,460 |
| Minnesota | $38.47 | $6,668 | $80,020 |
| Maryland | $38.38 | $6,652 | $79,820 |
| Oregon | $38.00 | $6,588 | $79,050 |
| Ohio | $37.55 | $6,509 | $78,110 |
| Pennsylvania | $37.33 | $6,471 | $77,650 |
| Utah | $36.28 | $6,288 | $75,460 |
| Virginia | $36.09 | $6,255 | $75,060 |
| Delaware | $35.69 | $6,187 | $74,240 |
| Colorado | $35.25 | $6,111 | $73,330 |
| Hawaii | $35.21 | $6,103 | $73,230 |
| New Mexico | $35.06 | $6,077 | $72,920 |
| Vermont | $34.78 | $6,029 | $72,350 |
| New Hampshire | $34.63 | $6,003 | $72,040 |
| Georgia | $34.62 | $6,000 | $72,000 |
| Michigan | $34.23 | $5,933 | $71,200 |
| Nevada | $32.97 | $5,714 | $68,570 |
| Indiana | $32.52 | $5,637 | $67,640 |
| Wisconsin | $32.15 | $5,573 | $66,880 |
| Maine | $32.13 | $5,568 | $66,820 |
| Idaho | $31.96 | $5,539 | $66,470 |
| Wyoming | $31.74 | $5,502 | $66,020 |
| Texas | $31.61 | $5,478 | $65,740 |
| Nebraska | $31.50 | $5,460 | $65,520 |
| South Carolina | $31.41 | $5,445 | $65,340 |
| Arizona | $30.98 | $5,370 | $64,440 |
| Kentucky | $30.50 | $5,288 | $63,450 |
| Tennessee | $30.26 | $5,246 | $62,950 |
| Alabama | $29.94 | $5,190 | $62,280 |
| Iowa | $29.74 | $5,155 | $61,860 |
| North Dakota | $29.73 | $5,153 | $61,830 |
| Florida | $29.60 | $5,131 | $61,570 |
| Montana | $29.59 | $5,129 | $61,550 |
| Louisiana | $29.41 | $5,098 | $61,170 |
| Missouri | $29.00 | $5,026 | $60,310 |
| Arkansas | $28.71 | $4,976 | $59,710 |
| Kansas | $28.33 | $4,911 | $58,930 |
| West Virginia | $27.23 | $4,719 | $56,630 |
| North Carolina | $26.81 | $4,647 | $55,760 |
| Oklahoma | $26.42 | $4,579 | $54,950 |
| South Dakota | $25.94 | $4,497 | $53,960 |
| Mississippi | $25.81 | $4,474 | $53,690 |
The states that pay the most
Based on the data above, the top-paying states for this occupation are California, Washington, New York, Massachusetts, Illinois. Always compare pay against cost of living — a lower dollar wage in a cheaper state can win.
- California — $105,880 a year
- Washington — $99,350 a year
- New York — $97,220 a year
- Massachusetts — $90,270 a year
- Illinois — $89,320 a year
Frequently asked questions
Which state pays secondary school teachers the most?
The table above ranks every published state and California currently leads. District funding and contracts drive the gaps between states.
What is the average secondary school teacher salary?
The U.S. mean secondary teacher wage is about $76,320 a year in the latest BLS OEWS release, with a median near $72,040 where published.
Do teachers get paid more in the summer?
Most districts pay an annual salary across 12 months — check the contract, but the yearly figure is the one to compare in this table.
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