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Updated · 2026 tax rules · Data: IRS, BLS, BEA, HUD · How we calculate

Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education Salary

Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education earn a median $64,370 a year nationally. Educational Instruction and Library Occupations

U.S. median
$64,370
$30.95 per hour
Range
$48,080 – $102,540
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
620,090
across the U.S.
▲2.2%
Pay trend: The median for middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education in the U.S. rose from $62,970 (May 2024) to $64,370 (May 2025). That roughly kept pace with inflation (2.4%).

What middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education do

Teach one or more subjects to students at the middle, intermediate, or junior high school level.

Typical education
Bachelor's degree
Work experience
None required
On-the-job training
None
Job outlook, 2025–35
-0.4% (slower than average)
Openings per year
38,800

Employment of middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education is projected to shrink 0.4% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 38,800 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.

Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.

Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education take-home pay calculator

Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.

Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Deductions, kids & local tax

2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

Your take-home pay
$53,901
per year · effective tax rate 16.3%
$4,492Monthly
$2,246Twice a month
$2,073Every 2 weeks
$25.91Hourly
  • Federal income tax$5,544
  • Social Security (6.2%)$3,991
  • Medicare (1.45%)$933
  • Texas income tax$0
  • Take-home pay$53,901

Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state

Pay by experience

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-home (no state tax)
10th percentile (entry level)$48,080$23.12$40,812
25th percentile$58,530$28.14$49,209
Median (50th)$64,370$30.95$53,901
75th percentile$80,490$38.70$65,455
90th percentile (top earners)$102,540$49.30$80,967

Best cities for middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education (after tax & cost of living)

#Metro areaMedianTake-homeReal value*Jobs
1Seattle, WA$102,560$80,981$72,8695,230
2Buffalo, NY$89,950$67,843$70,7852,870
3Hartford, CT$96,030$72,680$70,7382,490
4Bridgeport, CT$99,360$74,840$70,0332,340
5Pittsburgh, PA$84,800$65,883$69,5924,390
6Riverside, CA$100,810$73,294$68,8584,860
7San Jose, CA$105,030$75,815$68,6593,330
8Cleveland, OH$80,580$64,084$68,2316,750
9Providence, RI$89,450$69,021$67,8183,810
10Kiryas Joel, NY$97,900$72,967$66,6842,390
11Boston, MA$94,170$70,590$65,20111,530
12New York, NY$96,500$72,065$64,02139,310
13Los Angeles, CA$98,370$71,836$63,25512,780
14Portland, OR$89,590$64,847$61,5123,540
15McAllen, TX$62,560$52,447$61,0592,730
16Philadelphia, PA$78,130$61,396$59,86713,090
17Baltimore, MD$79,360$61,254$58,6236,420
18Atlanta, GA$75,490$58,642$58,60813,650
19Chicago, IL$78,000$59,987$57,90517,300
20Cincinnati, OH$67,180$55,026$57,6974,480
21Denver, CO$77,340$60,544$57,2356,600
22Houston, TX$65,830$55,074$55,84019,340
23Columbus, OH$64,410$52,945$55,4576,640
24Las Vegas, NV$66,300$55,452$55,3332,570
25San Antonio, TX$62,050$52,037$54,9406,700

*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).

Highest-paying cities

Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary by state

StateMedian1-yr changeTake-homeRangeJobs
Washington $102,140+3.0%$80,685 $65,250 – $128,17010,510
California $98,950+2.2%$72,182 $62,410 – $129,50037,300
New York $94,840+14.8%$70,995 $60,040 – $137,37038,670
Connecticut $93,610+15.5%$71,111 $60,070 – $110,1207,920
Rhode Island $92,760+3.6%$71,225 $46,460 – $99,1502,370
Massachusetts $89,450+6.1%$67,506 $60,590 – $107,61016,570
District of Columbia $79,900+2.3%$61,217 $59,860 – $108,7301,540
Utah $79,180+4.9%$61,936 $54,940 – $102,4005,960
Alaska $78,940+3.9%$64,364 $62,630 – $97,1101,150
New Jersey $78,770+1.5%$61,417 $61,450 – $104,79023,650
Maryland $78,510+2.7%$60,696 $59,890 – $115,54014,530
Oregon $78,350+0.4%$57,923 $49,360 – $100,2506,940
Pennsylvania $77,930+1.6%$61,261 $48,610 – $105,33022,720
Ohio $77,090+15.4%$61,725 $46,040 – $101,94030,450
Illinois $76,110+17.5%$58,751 $47,810 – $105,58024,770
New Mexico $75,240+2.3%$59,391 $61,630 – $82,8804,260
Vermont $73,940+18.4%$58,427 $49,300 – $97,6301,620
New Hampshire $71,140+9.8%$58,877 $47,600 – $92,6603,120
Hawaii $69,230+7.6%$53,802 $51,180 – $96,7202,480
Delaware $67,780+6.3%$53,381 $48,310 – $94,7602,350
Nevada $66,300+4.2%$55,452 $49,610 – $83,1603,910
Georgia $64,780+1.4%$51,491 $47,540 – $97,96023,610
Michigan $63,790+3.6%$50,975 $46,530 – $95,37015,420
Colorado $63,760+3.1%$51,314 $49,580 – $99,40013,280
Maine $63,590+4.2%$50,164 $47,640 – $80,6502,780
Virginia $63,520+4.3%$50,380 $50,590 – $99,37018,290
Texas $63,390+2.6%$53,114 $51,410 – $75,75080,160
Minnesota $62,640+1.6%$49,775 $47,560 – $99,3408,890
Nebraska $62,510+0.1%$50,442 $38,790 – $78,2904,150
Wyoming $62,480+0.1%$52,383 $51,900 – $78,6701,290
Wisconsin $61,960+0.0%$50,020 $47,870 – $79,99014,460
Alabama $61,770+3.1%$48,989 $48,320 – $74,09010,000
Montana $61,550+0.1%$49,499 $39,140 – $80,2901,980
Kentucky $61,120+3.9%$49,268 $46,270 – $79,6508,040
Idaho $60,930+1.1%$49,016 $46,870 – $79,0702,360
South Carolina $60,810+1.7%$48,549 $48,090 – $78,1609,750
Indiana $60,700+2.7%$49,191 $47,720 – $79,75011,700
Tennessee $60,690+4.3%$50,944 $48,540 – $76,83013,060
Kansas $60,580+3.0%$48,275 $48,290 – $78,4306,230
Iowa $60,450+4.7%$49,106 $40,920 – $79,1106,270
North Dakota $60,100+2.2%$50,470 $47,090 – $79,7601,400
Arizona $59,710+1.1%$48,873 $46,940 – $81,4209,020
Arkansas $59,570+4.5%$47,934 $49,780 – $74,1006,140
Missouri $59,310−1.3%$47,985 $43,760 – $91,13011,330
Florida $58,940+14.0%$49,538 $49,310 – $75,52031,370
Louisiana $58,760+10.6%$48,017 $46,260 – $78,0205,560
West Virginia $57,210+15.2%$46,307 $45,540 – $63,1304,090
North Carolina $52,010+3.3%$42,404 $44,660 – $61,77020,650
South Dakota $50,980+2.5%$43,142 $47,000 – $60,7902,130
Mississippi $50,790+2.2%$41,690 $46,020 – $60,8606,260
Oklahoma $48,440+0.5%$39,467 $43,400 – $68,9907,620

Related jobs

JobMedian salaryEducationGrowth 2025–35
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$63,970Bachelor's degree-0.4%
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School$65,030Bachelor's degree-0.5%
Special Education Teachers, Preschool$64,830Bachelor's degree+2.4%
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$65,120Bachelor's degree-0.4%
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$62,680Bachelor's degree-0.3%
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$66,270Bachelor's degree-0.4%
Special Education Teachers, Middle School$66,810Bachelor's degree-0.4%
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$72,040Bachelor's degree-0.2%
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$74,260Bachelor's degree-0.2%
Special Education Teachers, All Other$76,580Bachelor's degree+1.9%

Frequently asked questions

How much does a middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education make?

The national median salary for middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education is $64,370 a year ($30.95 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $48,080 and the top 10% earn over $102,540. Source: BLS, May 2025.

Which state pays middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education the most?

Washington has the highest median pay at $102,140. After taxes and local prices, Seattle, WA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.

How many middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education are there in the U.S.?

About 620,090 people work as middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education nationwide.

All 50 cities