High School Teacher Salary: Pay and Take-Home by State
The typical (median) high school teacher in the US earns $72,040 a year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates for 1,065,210 jobs (May 2025, occupation: secondary school teachers). The middle half earn between $59,980 and $92,570 a year, and the top 10% earn more than $107,600.
After federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare, the median salary leaves a single filer about $59,510 a year ($4,959 a month) in a state with no income tax. Using each state's own median pay for this job, take-home is highest in Washington ($79,634 a year) and lowest in Oklahoma ($39,680).
Not quite your job? See elementary school teacher salary (median $63,970 a year).
High School Teacher pay range
| Pay level | Yearly | Take-home a year* |
|---|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $48,780 | $41,375 |
| 25th percentile | $59,980 | $50,374 |
| Median (half earn more) | $72,040 | $59,510 |
| 75th percentile | $92,570 | $73,953 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $107,600 | $84,527 |
The average (mean) is $76,320 a year, above the median because a minority of high earners pull it up. *Take-home after federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare for a single filer in a state with no income tax (2026). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, occupation 25-2031. Source
High School Teacher salary by state
The highest median pay for high school teachers is in Washington ($102,670), California ($101,370), New York ($97,070), Massachusetts ($95,260), Rhode Island ($92,610). The lowest is in Oklahoma ($48,710), Mississippi ($50,980), South Dakota ($51,050).
The most high school teachers work in Texas (111,660), California (99,230), New York (70,660).
After each state's taxes, the most take-home at the local median is in Washington ($79,634), California ($73,125), New York ($71,946), Massachusetts ($71,228), Rhode Island ($69,431). A state with no income tax can come out ahead of a state that pays more before tax.
Median pay in each state for this job (BLS, May 2025), and take-home at that pay. Take-home is after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and the state's income tax and payroll programs, for a single filer with a 2026 W-4 and no deductions. Local taxes are not included. *District of Columbia: federal taxes only (DC income tax is not modeled yet).
| State | Median yearly | Take-home a year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $61,990 | $49,392 | 15,880 |
| Alaska | $79,650 | $64,465 | 2,790 |
| Arizona | $58,360 | $47,905 | 21,190 |
| Arkansas | $59,660 | $48,399 | 12,890 |
| California | $101,370 | $73,125 | 99,230 |
| Colorado | $72,900 | $56,829 | 18,310 |
| Connecticut | $80,970 | $61,559 | 14,800 |
| Delaware | $77,960 | $59,559 | 5,360 |
| District of Columbia | $82,750 | $67,044* | 2,800 |
| Florida | $60,410 | $50,720 | 49,810 |
| Georgia | $75,480 | $58,912 | 25,730 |
| Hawaii | $74,310 | $56,615 | 5,590 |
| Idaho | $61,690 | $49,330 | 6,570 |
| Illinois | $79,990 | $61,288 | 44,670 |
| Indiana | $61,880 | $48,875 | 20,430 |
| Iowa | $61,200 | $49,562 | 12,310 |
| Kansas | $59,920 | $47,781 | 10,860 |
| Kentucky | $61,560 | $49,606 | 12,780 |
| Louisiana | $59,850 | $48,818 | 15,210 |
| Maine | $64,880 | $51,101 | 5,540 |
| Maryland | $78,670 | $58,445 | 16,640 |
| Massachusetts | $95,260 | $71,228 | 28,460 |
| Michigan | $66,030 | $52,680 | 25,540 |
| Minnesota | $76,460 | $57,887 | 16,020 |
| Mississippi | $50,980 | $41,842 | 10,400 |
| Missouri | $59,240 | $47,933 | 24,380 |
| Montana | $60,990 | $49,079 | 3,670 |
| Nebraska | $63,450 | $50,883 | 7,170 |
| Nevada | $65,520 | $54,825 | 8,920 |
| New Hampshire | $77,060 | $63,042 | 5,860 |
| New Jersey | $82,200 | $62,522 | 38,140 |
| New Mexico | $75,900 | $59,442 | 8,120 |
| New York | $97,070 | $71,946 | 70,660 |
| North Carolina | $57,650 | $46,656 | 28,620 |
| North Dakota | $61,210 | $51,284 | 3,070 |
| Ohio | $78,800 | $62,291 | 49,540 |
| Oklahoma | $48,710 | $39,680 | 15,480 |
| Oregon | $79,570 | $58,884 | 11,730 |
| Pennsylvania | $78,800 | $61,792 | 52,240 |
| Rhode Island | $92,610 | $69,431 | 4,910 |
| South Carolina | $62,580 | $50,040 | 16,080 |
| South Dakota | $51,050 | $43,199 | 3,360 |
| Tennessee | $61,860 | $51,885 | 21,230 |
| Texas | $63,590 | $53,275 | 111,660 |
| Utah | $76,330 | $59,122 | 11,030 |
| Vermont | $76,220 | $59,601 | 2,450 |
| Virginia | $72,170 | $56,266 | 31,100 |
| Washington | $102,670 | $79,634 | 14,880 |
| West Virginia | $56,610 | $45,943 | 3,590 |
| Wisconsin | $62,870 | $49,761 | 15,910 |
| Wyoming | $62,690 | $52,551 | 1,600 |
Overtime and pay rules for high school teachers
Teachers are exempt from federal overtime rules whatever they are paid: the salary requirements do not apply to teachers whose main job is teaching. Source Some state and local government workers are covered by a public pension plan instead of Social Security, so no 6.2% Social Security tax comes out of their pay (they pay a pension contribution instead, which this page does not include). Anyone hired by a state or local government after March 31, 1986 still pays the 1.45% Medicare tax. Source BLS publishes only yearly pay for teachers, as it does for jobs that are usually not paid by the hour or not worked full time all year.
How the exemptions work across jobs: who gets overtime pay.
Taxes on a high school teacher's pay
On the median $72,040, federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare take about 17.4% of pay for a single filer: $7,019 of income tax and $5,511 of Social Security and Medicare a year.
Tax bracket. After the $16,100 standard deduction, taxable income is $55,940, so the top federal rate is 22%. Each extra dollar from a raise or extra shifts is taxed at about 29.65% before state tax: 22% income tax plus 7.65% Social Security and Medicare. Source
401(k). Putting 5% ($3,602 a year) into a traditional 401(k) lowers federal income tax by about $792, so it costs about $2,810 of take-home pay.
If your job is covered by a public pension instead of Social Security, the 6.2% Social Security tax above does not apply, but your pension contribution comes out instead.
Self-employed or contract work
BLS pay figures cover employees only; self-employed high school teachers are not counted. If you work as a contractor (1099), you pay both halves of Social Security and Medicare (15.3% self-employment tax) and usually make quarterly estimated payments. Use the 1099 Tax Calculator to see what to set aside, and see 1099 vs W-2 take-home pay for how much more a contractor needs to earn.
Jobs with similar pay
| Job | Median yearly | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Police Officer | $76,210 | $36.64 |
| HR Specialist | $75,940 | $36.51 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $72,060 | $34.65 |
| Physical Therapist Assistant | $68,380 | $32.88 |
| Social Worker (Healthcare) | $67,880 | $32.63 |
High School Teacher salary questions
How much does a high school teacher make?
The median pay is $72,040 a year (May 2025, Bureau of Labor Statistics). The bottom 10% earn less than $48,780 and the top 10% more than $107,600.
How much does a high school teacher make after taxes?
About $59,510 a year, or $2,289 every two weeks, on the median salary for a single filer in a state with no income tax. In Oklahoma, at that state's own median pay, it is about $39,680.
How much does a high school teacher make a month?
About $6,003 a month before taxes at the median salary, and roughly $4,959 after federal taxes in a state with no income tax.
Which state pays high school teachers the most?
Washington, with a median of $102,670 a year. Next are California ($101,370) and New York ($97,070). After state taxes, take-home at the local median is highest in Washington.
Do high school teachers get paid overtime?
Teachers are exempt from federal overtime rules whatever they are paid: the salary requirements do not apply to teachers whose main job is teaching. Some state and local government workers are covered by a public pension plan instead of Social Security, so no 6.2% Social Security tax comes out of their pay (they pay a pension contribution instead, which this page does not include). Anyone hired by a state or local government after March 31, 1986 still pays the 1.45% Medicare tax. BLS publishes only yearly pay for teachers, as it does for jobs that are usually not paid by the hour or not worked full time all year.
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