How much does a middle school teacher make?
a year · about $31 an hour
A typical middle school teacher in the United States makes $64,370 a year, about $31 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
A teacher may teach math or another subject to several classes, then use a free period to plan lessons, grade work, or meet colleagues. They also help students, supervise lunch, and may stay after school for clubs or parent meetings.
Did you know? Some U.S. middle schools start in 4th grade or continue through 9th—so “middle school” doesn’t always mean grades 6–8.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $48,080 and $102,540How do you become one?
After high school, most future middle school teachers earn a bachelor’s degree and complete teacher training that includes student teaching. To teach in a U.S. public school, they pass state-required checks and tests and get a license; exact rules vary by state.
School needed: Usually a bachelor's degree
Good for people who like helping and teaching and creating
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, experience and extra education or licenses can affect a teacher’s pay. Pay also differs by state and school type, such as public versus private; working full time or part time changes total earnings.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Washington ($102,140), lowest in Oklahoma ($48,440).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
In Japan, a school teacher (K-9) averages $49,011. Middle school teacher salary in Japan
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $48,080 | $64,370 | $102,540 | about 620,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $102,140 | about 11,000 |
| California | $98,950 | about 37,000 |
| New York | $94,840 | about 39,000 |
| Connecticut | $93,610 | about 8,000 |
| Rhode Island | $92,760 | about 2,000 |
Official definition: Teach one or more subjects to students at the middle, intermediate, or junior high school level. Excludes “Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School” (25-2023), “Special Education Teachers” (25-2050), and “Substitute Teachers, Short Term” (25-3031).
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/middle-school-teachers.htm
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/25-2022.00
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY