Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education Salary in St. Louis, MO
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median $62,130 a year — 14% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $50,119 take-home, or $4,177 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education salary in St. Louis, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,276
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,852
- Medicare (1.45%)$901
- Missouri income tax$1,983
- Take-home pay$50,119
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.70% state
Living in St. Louis? City residents also pay St. Louis’s Earnings Tax — about $621 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $49,497 ($4,125 a month). Choose “St. Louis” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The St. Louis, MO-IL metro spans Missouri, Illinois. 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 →
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education pay by experience in St. Louis, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,630 | $22.90 | $39,149 | $3,262 |
| 25th percentile | $50,640 | $24.35 | $41,426 | $3,452 |
| Median (50th) | $62,130 | $29.87 | $50,119 | $4,177 |
| 75th percentile | $78,970 | $37.97 | $61,611 | $5,134 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $98,540 | $47.38 | $74,459 | $6,205 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $62,130 buys in St. Louis, MO
Prices in St. Louis, MO are 4.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education's $50,119 take-home pay has the buying power of $52,708 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 about as common in St. Louis, MO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.07).
Best-paying cities for secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education, adjusted for cost of living
St. Louis, MO ranks #68 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 |
| 68 | St. Louis, MO | $62,130 | $50,119 | $52,708 |
*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.
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salaries elsewhere in Missouri
- Kansas City, MO — $61,200
Frequently asked questions
How much does a secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education make in St. Louis, MO?
The median secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education salary in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $62,130 a year, or about $29.87 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $50,640 and $78,970.
What is a secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education’s take-home pay in St. Louis, MO?
On the median $62,130 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $50,119 a year ($4,177 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,983 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is St. Louis, MO a good place to work as a secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education?
Pay here is 14% below the national median of $72,040. Local prices are 4.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $52,708 would in a typical U.S. city. St. Louis, MO ranks #68 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 St. Louis, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in St. Louis, MO is $989 a month ($1,211 for two bedrooms) — 24% 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 St. Louis, MO
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $62,180
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $60,650
- Self-Enrichment Teacher — $39,740
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education — $37,020
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $36,410
- Substitute Teachers, Short-Term — $35,900