High School Teacher Salary: BLS Data & Full Breakdown
The median high school teacher salary sits just above elementary and middle school pay β but subject, certification, and extra duties can move an individual paycheck far more than grade level alone.
High school teacher salary sits at a median of $64,580 a year, according to the most recent federal wage data β modestly higher than elementary and middle school pay, but with a wide enough range that the median alone tells only part of the story.
This guide breaks down what actually drives that range: how high school pay compares to other grade levels, whether subject matters, how certification and experience move the number, and what extra-duty stipends can add on top of base pay.
- The median annual wage for the role was $64,580 in May 2024, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- The middle 80% of high school teachers earn between $47,330 and $104,670 a year.
- High school pay runs only slightly above elementary and middle school pay nationally.
- Shortage subjects, extra duties, and advanced certification move individual pay more than grade level does.
What Is the Average High School Teacher Salary? #
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook, the median annual wage for high school teachers was $64,580 in May 2024. Unlike a state-level average, this is a median drawn from the roughly 1.09 million people employed in the role nationally β meaning half of high school teachers earned more than that figure, and half earned less.
It’s worth noting that private salary-data sites sometimes publish different numbers for the same job title, often because they pull from self-reported user submissions or narrower samples rather than a full federal wage survey. BLS remains the most authoritative source for this figure specifically because it’s built from a large-scale employer survey covering the entire occupation, not a self-selected sample.
The Full BLS Wage Range #
A single median hides a lot of spread. BLS also reports the 10th and 90th percentile, which shows how wide the real range actually is once experience, state, and district are factored in.
| Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $47,330 |
| Median (50th) | $64,580 |
| Highest 10% | $104,670 |
That’s more than a $57,000 spread between the bottom and top deciles β a range shaped mainly by state, district, years of experience, and education level, not by anything specific to teaching high school as opposed to another grade. A first-year teacher in a lower-paying state and a 25-year veteran with a master’s degree in a high-paying district can both hold the same job title while landing at opposite ends of that range.
High School vs. Other Grade Levels #
BLS breaks out median wages by grade level separately, which makes a direct comparison possible against figures from its kindergarten and elementary school teachers report and its middle school teachers report.
| Grade Level | Median Annual Wage (May 2024) |
|---|---|
| Elementary school teachers | $62,340 |
| Middle school teachers | $62,970 |
| High school teachers | $64,580 |
The gap between grade levels is fairly small β a few thousand dollars at the median β which suggests grade level itself is a modest factor compared to state, district, and experience. For the national picture across every grade level combined, see our guide to teacher salary in the U.S., or the full average teacher salary by state ranking.
Does Pay Vary by Subject? #
Base salary schedules almost never differentiate by subject directly β a high school math teacher and a high school English teacher on the same step and lane are paid identically under most district contracts. What actually varies is access to supplemental pay: districts facing chronic shortages in math, science, special education, and bilingual education increasingly offer signing bonuses, recruitment incentives, or dedicated pay supplements to attract candidates in those subjects specifically.
A shortage-subject teacher and a non-shortage-subject teacher can sit on the exact same base salary schedule, while the shortage-subject teacher receives an additional bonus or stipend layered on top β meaning the pay gap shows up in total compensation, not in the base pay grid itself.
Experience and Certification #
Most public high schools place teachers on a step-and-lane salary schedule: automatic annual raises (“steps”) tied to years of service, combined with pay “lanes” tied to education level. Earning a master’s degree, an additional endorsement, or National Board Certification typically moves a teacher to a higher lane at the same step β a meaningful raise that doesn’t require changing schools or districts.
National Board Certification in particular carries a real return in many states: it comes with a one-time certification cost, but states offering an ongoing NBC bonus can let a teacher recoup that cost within the first year and continue earning the premium for the rest of their career.
Before assuming a raise requires a new job, check whether your district offers lane movement for coursework, endorsements, or National Board Certification β it’s often the fastest legitimate path to a higher paycheck without leaving your current school.
Coaching, Advising, and Stipends #
High schools generally have more extra-duty opportunities than elementary or middle schools β sports programs, academic clubs, and department chair roles are far more common at the secondary level. Each typically comes with its own stipend, layered on top of base salary rather than replacing it.
- Coaching a sports team β stipend amounts vary widely by sport and district, from a few hundred dollars to several thousand for a head coaching role.
- Advising a club or activity β smaller stipends than coaching, but still additional pay on top of the base salary schedule.
- Department chair or lead teacher roles β often the highest-value stipend, reflecting the added administrative responsibility.
Job Outlook #
Employment of high school teachers is projected to decline 2% from 2024 to 2034 β but that doesn’t mean fewer opportunities. About 66,200 openings are still projected each year on average over the decade, almost entirely from teachers transferring to other occupations or retiring, rather than from job growth.
That distinction matters for anyone weighing the career long-term: a shrinking occupation and a shrinking hiring market aren’t the same thing. Turnover alone keeps generating tens of thousands of open positions annually, which is part of why so many districts continue to offer signing bonuses and shortage-subject incentives even as overall projected headcount edges down.
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Explore Teacher Tools βHow to Increase Your Salary #
- Check whether your district offers lane movement for a master’s degree, endorsement, or National Board Certification.
- Ask about shortage-subject stipends if you teach math, science, special education, or a bilingual program.
- Consider a coaching, advising, or department chair stipend if the time commitment fits your schedule.
- Compare your district’s step-and-lane schedule with neighboring districts before assuming you’re paid at market rate.
- Track your own placement on the salary schedule each year to confirm you’re credited for every step and lane you’ve earned.
Summary: What High School Teachers Earn #
The median sits at $64,580, running only modestly above elementary and middle school pay β but the real range, from roughly $47,000 to $105,000, is shaped far more by state, experience, certification, and extra duties than by grade level itself. Base pay rarely varies by subject directly, but shortage-area stipends and coaching or advising add-ons can meaningfully change what an individual educator actually takes home.
Frequently Asked Questions #
What is the average high school teacher salary? +
Do high school teachers earn more than elementary teachers? +
Does high school teacher salary vary by subject? +
Do coaching and advising add to high school teacher salary? +
What is the job outlook for high school teachers? +
Does a master’s degree increase high school teacher salary? +
Want the full national picture?
See how high school pay fits into the bigger national and state-by-state breakdown.
Read the Full Guide β