Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education Salary in Seattle, WA
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median $102,670 a year — 43% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $81,058 take-home, or $6,755 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education salary in Seattle, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,757
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,366
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,489
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$81,058
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education pay by experience in Seattle, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,140 | $29.39 | $51,306 | $4,275 |
| 25th percentile | $82,360 | $39.60 | $66,770 | $5,564 |
| Median (50th) | $102,670 | $49.36 | $81,058 | $6,755 |
| 75th percentile | $127,290 | $61.20 | $98,269 | $8,189 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $132,300 | $63.61 | $101,693 | $8,474 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $102,670 buys in Seattle, WA
Prices in Seattle, WA are 11.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education's $81,058 take-home pay has the buying power of $72,938 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education jobs are less concentrated in Seattle, WA than nationally (location quotient 0.54), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education, adjusted for cost of living
Seattle, WA ranks #1 of 84 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $102,670 | $81,058 | $72,938 |
| 2 | Fresno, CA | $100,750 | $73,258 | $71,710 |
| 3 | Bakersfield, CA | $99,150 | $72,302 | $71,667 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $98,970 | $73,701 | $71,144 |
| 5 | Sacramento, CA | $105,060 | $75,833 | $71,091 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $108,230 | $77,727 | $70,390 |
| 7 | Providence, RI | $92,110 | $70,792 | $69,559 |
| 8 | Akron, OH | $81,820 | $64,923 | $69,533 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 84 metros →
About the job: secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -0.2% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education make in Seattle, WA?
The median secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education salary in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $102,670 a year, or about $49.36 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $82,360 and $127,290.
What is a secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education’s take-home pay in Seattle, WA?
On the median $102,670 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $81,058 a year ($6,755 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Seattle, WA a good place to work as a secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education?
Pay here is 43% above the national median of $72,040. Local prices are 11.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $72,938 would in a typical U.S. city. Seattle, WA ranks #1 of 84 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education afford rent in Seattle, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Seattle, WA is $2,022 a month ($2,379 for two bedrooms) — 30% of a median secondary 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 Seattle, WA
- Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary — $164,860
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $102,920
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $102,560
- Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education — $101,580
- Instructional Coordinator — $97,130
- Substitute Teachers, Short-Term — $60,070
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $53,950
- Self-Enrichment Teacher — $48,530
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education — $46,380