How much does a high school teacher make?
Answer: A typical high school teacher in the United States makes $72,040 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 1.1 million people work in this job. Well above the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
High school teacher pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $48,780 | $72,040 | $107,600 | about 1.1 million |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $102,670 | about 15,000 |
| California | $101,370 | about 99,000 |
| New York | $97,070 | about 71,000 |
| Massachusetts | $95,260 | about 28,000 |
| Rhode Island | $92,610 | about 5,000 |
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., pay can depend on teaching experience and education credentials, and states and school districts may use different salary scales. Location and employer matter too: local public schools and private schools can pay differently.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a high school teacher do?
Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level. Excludes “Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School” (25-2032), “Special Education Teachers” (25-2050), and “Substitute Teachers, Short-Term” (25-3031).
What's a typical day like?
They teach a subject to ninth- through 12th-graders, checking understanding and adjusting lessons. Between classes or after school, they grade work, plan lessons, meet families, and may coach a team or club.
How to get this job
In the U.S., earn a bachelor’s degree in education or your subject, then complete student teaching. To teach in a public school, pass your state’s required teaching and subject tests, a background check, and get a state license; requirements vary.
Usually a bachelor's degree (preparation level 4 of 5)
Good for people who like helping and teaching and creating.
Did you know?
Most U.S. high school teachers don’t teach in summer; many work a 10-month school year with a two-month summer break.
What about Japan?
Nearly the same jobThe US figure is the median and the Japan figure is the average, so it's not a perfect comparison. Prices differ too.
Similar jobs
Jobs using similar skills (O*NET)Earn more in the same field
Educational Instruction and Library jobs that pay a bit moreSources and data
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/high-school-teachers.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/details/25-2031.00
- nces.ed.gov/FastFacts/display.asp?id=28
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY