How much does a high school teacher make?
a year · about $35 an hour
A typical high school teacher in the United States makes $72,040 a year, about $35 an hour, about 1.4× a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
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.
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.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $48,780 and $107,600How do you become one?
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.
School needed: Usually a bachelor's degree
Good for people who like helping and teaching and creating
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.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Washington ($102,670), lowest in Oklahoma ($48,710).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Kids' questions
In Japan, a high school teacher averages $44,407. High 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| $48,780 | $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 |
Official definition: 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).
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