High School Teacher salary
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A High School Teacher earns a median of $72,040 a year in the US, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The average is $76,320. About 1,065,210 people work in this job.
Take-home pay on $72,040
- Gross pay
- $2,770.77
- Federal income tax
- −$269.95
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$171.79
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$40.18
- Texas income tax
- $0.00No state income tax on wages
- Take-home pay
- $2,288.85
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $72,040
- Federal
- $7,019
- FICA
- $5,511
- State + local
- $0
- Net
- $59,510
- Marginal federal rate
- 22.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 0.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
High School Teacher salary by state
| State | Median salary | Average | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $102,670 | $99,350 | 14,880 |
| California | $101,370 | $105,880 | 99,230 |
| New York | $97,070 | $97,220 | 70,660 |
| Massachusetts | $95,260 | $90,270 | 28,460 |
| Rhode Island | $92,610 | $84,120 | 4,910 |
| District of Columbia | $82,750 | $88,460 | 2,800 |
| New Jersey | $82,200 | $87,100 | 38,140 |
| Connecticut | $80,970 | $84,460 | 14,800 |
| Illinois | $79,990 | $89,320 | 44,670 |
| Alaska | $79,650 | $82,460 | 2,790 |
| Oregon | $79,570 | $79,050 | 11,730 |
| Ohio | $78,800 | $78,110 | 49,540 |
| Pennsylvania | $78,800 | $77,650 | 52,240 |
| Maryland | $78,670 | $79,820 | 16,640 |
| Delaware | $77,960 | $74,240 | 5,360 |
| New Hampshire | $77,060 | $72,040 | 5,860 |
| Minnesota | $76,460 | $80,020 | 16,020 |
| Utah | $76,330 | $75,460 | 11,030 |
| Vermont | $76,220 | $72,350 | 2,450 |
| New Mexico | $75,900 | $72,920 | 8,120 |
| Georgia | $75,480 | $72,000 | 25,730 |
| Hawaii | $74,310 | $73,230 | 5,590 |
| Colorado | $72,900 | $73,330 | 18,310 |
| Virginia | $72,170 | $75,060 | 31,100 |
| Michigan | $66,030 | $71,200 | 25,540 |
| Nevada | $65,520 | $68,570 | 8,920 |
| Maine | $64,880 | $66,820 | 5,540 |
| Texas | $63,590 | $65,740 | 111,660 |
| Nebraska | $63,450 | $65,520 | 7,170 |
| Wisconsin | $62,870 | $66,880 | 15,910 |
| Wyoming | $62,690 | $66,020 | 1,600 |
| South Carolina | $62,580 | $65,340 | 16,080 |
| Alabama | $61,990 | $62,280 | 15,880 |
| Indiana | $61,880 | $67,640 | 20,430 |
| Tennessee | $61,860 | $62,950 | 21,230 |
| Idaho | $61,690 | $66,470 | 6,570 |
| Kentucky | $61,560 | $63,450 | 12,780 |
| North Dakota | $61,210 | $61,830 | 3,070 |
| Iowa | $61,200 | $61,860 | 12,310 |
| Montana | $60,990 | $61,550 | 3,670 |
| Florida | $60,410 | $61,570 | 49,810 |
| Kansas | $59,920 | $58,930 | 10,860 |
| Louisiana | $59,850 | $61,170 | 15,210 |
| Arkansas | $59,660 | $59,710 | 12,890 |
| Missouri | $59,240 | $60,310 | 24,380 |
| Arizona | $58,360 | $64,440 | 21,190 |
| North Carolina | $57,650 | $55,760 | 28,620 |
| West Virginia | $56,610 | $56,630 | 3,590 |
| South Dakota | $51,050 | $53,960 | 3,360 |
| Mississippi | $50,980 | $53,690 | 10,400 |
| Oklahoma | $48,710 | $54,950 | 15,480 |
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BLS occupation: Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (SOC 25-2031). Excludes the self-employed. BLS publishes annual pay only for this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a High School Teacher make an hour?
BLS reports annual pay only for this job: a median of $72,040 a year.
Which state pays secondary school teachers the most?
Washington ($102,670 median), followed by California and New York.
What is the salary range for a High School Teacher?
The bottom 10% earn under $48,780 and the top 10% earn over $107,600 a year.
How much is $72,040 after taxes?
About $59,510 a year in Texas (no state income tax) or $56,036 in California for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.