Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education Salary in Washington, DC
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median $77,350 a year — 20% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $59,639 take-home, or $4,970 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education salary in Washington, DC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,187
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,796
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,122
- District of Columbia income tax$3,606
- Take-home pay$59,639
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 8.50% state
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro spans District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education pay by experience in Washington, DC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $53,210 | $25.58 | $42,908 | $3,576 |
| 25th percentile | $61,980 | $29.80 | $49,399 | $4,117 |
| Median (50th) | $77,350 | $37.19 | $59,639 | $4,970 |
| 75th percentile | $99,370 | $47.77 | $73,259 | $6,105 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $119,810 | $57.60 | $85,901 | $7,158 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, District of Columbia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $77,350 buys in Washington, DC
Prices in Washington, DC are 8.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education's $59,639 take-home pay has the buying power of $54,773 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education jobs are about as common in Washington, DC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.19).
Best-paying cities for middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education, adjusted for cost of living
Washington, DC ranks #26 of 50 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $102,560 | $80,981 | $72,869 |
| 2 | Buffalo, NY | $89,950 | $67,843 | $70,785 |
| 3 | Hartford, CT | $96,030 | $72,680 | $70,738 |
| 4 | Bridgeport, CT | $99,360 | $74,840 | $70,033 |
| 5 | Pittsburgh, PA | $84,800 | $65,883 | $69,592 |
| 6 | Riverside, CA | $100,810 | $73,294 | $68,858 |
| 7 | San Jose, CA | $105,030 | $75,815 | $68,659 |
| 8 | Cleveland, OH | $80,580 | $64,084 | $68,231 |
| 26 | Washington, DC | $77,350 | $59,639 | $54,773 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 50 metros →
About the job: middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education
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)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education make in Washington, DC?
The median middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education salary in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $77,350 a year, or about $37.19 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $61,980 and $99,370.
What is a middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education’s take-home pay in Washington, DC?
On the median $77,350 salary, a single filer living in District of Columbia takes home about $59,639 a year ($4,970 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,606 in District of Columbia taxes in 2026.
Is Washington, DC a good place to work as a middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education?
Pay here is 20% above the national median of $64,370. Local prices are 8.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $54,773 would in a typical U.S. city. Washington, DC ranks #26 of 50 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education afford rent in Washington, DC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Washington, DC is $1,990 a month ($2,223 for two bedrooms) — 40% of a median middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Washington, DC
- Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary — $135,670
- Instructional Coordinator — $105,220
- Postsecondary Teachers, All Other — $99,240
- Teachers and Instructors, All Other — $97,920
- Librarian and Media Collections Specialist — $95,480
- Special Education Teachers, Secondary School — $85,000
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $80,300
- Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School — $79,880
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $79,470
- Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education — $77,200
- Special Education Teachers, Middle School — $77,050
- Self-Enrichment Teacher — $59,760