High school teacher earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level high school teacher earnings begin at:

$36.26 per hour

$75,420 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level high school teacher earnings begin at:

$29.43 per hour

$61,220 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level high school teacher earnings begin at:

$24.10 per hour

$50,130 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level high school teacher earnings begin at:

$23.06 per hour

$47,960 per year

10th percentile

Starting level high school teacher earnings begin at:

$21.82 per hour

$45,390 per year

Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.

High school teacher salary by state

State Name Average Salary
New York $97,340
California $96,390
Washington $80,740
Massachusetts $79,120
Connecticut $78,100
New Jersey $78,070
District of Columbia $77,570
Alaska $77,540
Maryland $77,360
Rhode Island $76,880
Pennsylvania $76,290
Oregon $76,090
Ohio $75,330
Virginia $73,110
Delaware $72,600
Nevada $63,730
Hawaii $62,060
New Hampshire $61,820
Illinois $61,680
Georgia $61,640
Minnesota $61,220
Vermont $61,130
Texas $61,060
Michigan $60,980
Florida $60,940
Nebraska $60,900
Wisconsin $60,900
Wyoming $60,900
Utah $60,810
Colorado $60,670
New Mexico $60,150
Kentucky $60,040
Maine $59,970
Iowa $59,820
South Carolina $58,510
Alabama $58,310
Kansas $50,150
Tennessee $50,130
West Virginia $49,850
North Dakota $49,730
Oklahoma $49,730
Louisiana $49,710
Idaho $49,550
Arizona $49,280
Indiana $48,940
North Carolina $48,670
Arkansas $48,650
Montana $48,650
Guam $48,490
Virgin Islands, U.S. $48,490
South Dakota $48,100
Mississippi $47,350
Missouri $47,310
Puerto Rico $29,740

How do high school teacher salaries compare to similar careers?

High school teachers earn 10% less than similar careers in Tennessee. On average, they make less than school principals but more than childcare program administrators.

Career Median Salary
School principal salary $77K
Professor salary $74K
Music teacher salary $62K
Physical education teacher salary $61K
Teacher salary $54K
High school teacher salary $50K
Elementary school teacher salary $50K
School counselor salary $50K
Kindergarten teacher salary $48K
Childcare program administrator salary $45K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)