Data / Rankings / Secondary school teacher mean annual wage / US states

US states by secondary school teacher mean annual wage

New York had the highest secondary school teacher mean annual wage of 51 states in 2018, at $85,300. Oklahoma had the lowest, at $42,540. The median was $58,050 and the figure for the United States was $64,340. Source: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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Highest85,300New York
Lowest42,540Oklahoma
Median58,05051 states
United States64,340History

Map of states, 2018

Alabama: 51,180 USDAlaska: 77,920 USDArizona: 48,610 USDArkansas: 51,780 USDCalifornia: 80,510 USDColorado: 55,110 USDConnecticut: 76,980 USDDelaware: 65,040 USDDistrict of Columbia: 65,180 USDFlorida: 54,120 USDGeorgia: 58,050 USDHawaii: 60,810 USDIdaho: 51,170 USDIllinois: 72,370 USDIndiana: 53,030 USDIowa: 56,510 USDKansas: 51,490 USDKentucky: 56,200 USDLouisiana: 51,810 USDMaine: 54,240 USDMaryland: 72,610 USDMassachusetts: 80,020 USDMichigan: 62,950 USDMinnesota: 64,610 USDMississippi: 47,190 USDMissouri: 54,280 USDMontana: 50,670 USDNebraska: 57,500 USDNevada: 57,910 USDNew Hampshire: 61,510 USDNew Jersey: 76,390 USDNew Mexico: 55,380 USDNew York: 85,300 USDNorth Carolina: 47,580 USDNorth Dakota: 55,400 USDOhio: 61,930 USDOklahoma: 42,540 USDOregon: 72,640 USDPennsylvania: 64,830 USDRhode Island: 71,440 USDSouth Carolina: 54,400 USDSouth Dakota: 42,960 USDTennessee: 53,620 USDTexas: 58,190 USDUtah: 59,070 USDVermont: 65,850 USDVirginia: 68,770 USDWashington: 67,550 USDWest Virginia: 47,050 USDWisconsin: 58,360 USDWyoming: 60,620 USD
  • Under 51K
  • 51K to 54K
  • 54K to 58K
  • 58K to 64K
  • 64K to 72K
  • 72K and over
USD, 2018. Source: BLS, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May estimates, state cross-industry file: annual mean wage, secondary school teachers except special and career or technical education (25-2031). Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

All states, 2018

New York: 85,300 USDNew York85,300California: 80,510 USDCalifornia80,510Massachusetts: 80,020 USDMassachusetts80,020Alaska: 77,920 USDAlaska77,920Connecticut: 76,980 USDConnecticut76,980New Jersey: 76,390 USDNew Jersey76,390Oregon: 72,640 USDOregon72,640Maryland: 72,610 USDMaryland72,610Illinois: 72,370 USDIllinois72,370Rhode Island: 71,440 USDRhode Island71,440Virginia: 68,770 USDVirginia68,770Washington: 67,550 USDWashington67,550Vermont: 65,850 USDVermont65,850District of Columbia: 65,180 USDDistrict of Columbia65,180Delaware: 65,040 USDDelaware65,040Pennsylvania: 64,830 USDPennsylvania64,830Minnesota: 64,610 USDMinnesota64,610Michigan: 62,950 USDMichigan62,950Ohio: 61,930 USDOhio61,930New Hampshire: 61,510 USDNew Hampshire61,510Hawaii: 60,810 USDHawaii60,810Wyoming: 60,620 USDWyoming60,620Utah: 59,070 USDUtah59,070Wisconsin: 58,360 USDWisconsin58,360Texas: 58,190 USDTexas58,190Georgia: 58,050 USDGeorgia58,050Nevada: 57,910 USDNevada57,910Nebraska: 57,500 USDNebraska57,500Iowa: 56,510 USDIowa56,510Kentucky: 56,200 USDKentucky56,200North Dakota: 55,400 USDNorth Dakota55,400New Mexico: 55,380 USDNew Mexico55,380Colorado: 55,110 USDColorado55,110South Carolina: 54,400 USDSouth Carolina54,400Missouri: 54,280 USDMissouri54,280Maine: 54,240 USDMaine54,240Florida: 54,120 USDFlorida54,120Tennessee: 53,620 USDTennessee53,620Indiana: 53,030 USDIndiana53,030Louisiana: 51,810 USDLouisiana51,810Arkansas: 51,780 USDArkansas51,780Kansas: 51,490 USDKansas51,490Alabama: 51,180 USDAlabama51,180Idaho: 51,170 USDIdaho51,170Montana: 50,670 USDMontana50,670Arizona: 48,610 USDArizona48,610North Carolina: 47,580 USDNorth Carolina47,580Mississippi: 47,190 USDMississippi47,190West Virginia: 47,050 USDWest Virginia47,050South Dakota: 42,960 USDSouth Dakota42,960Oklahoma: 42,540 USDOklahoma42,540New York: 85,300 USDNew York85,300California: 80,510 USDCalifornia80,510Massachusetts: 80,020 USDMassachusetts80,020Alaska: 77,920 USDAlaska77,920Connecticut: 76,980 USDConnecticut76,980New Jersey: 76,390 USDNew Jersey76,390Oregon: 72,640 USDOregon72,640Maryland: 72,610 USDMaryland72,610Illinois: 72,370 USDIllinois72,370Rhode Island: 71,440 USDRhode Island71,440Virginia: 68,770 USDVirginia68,770Washington: 67,550 USDWashington67,550Vermont: 65,850 USDVermont65,850District of Columbia: 65,180 USDDistrict of Columbia65,180Delaware: 65,040 USDDelaware65,040Pennsylvania: 64,830 USDPennsylvania64,830Minnesota: 64,610 USDMinnesota64,610Michigan: 62,950 USDMichigan62,950Ohio: 61,930 USDOhio61,930New Hampshire: 61,510 USDNew Hampshire61,510Hawaii: 60,810 USDHawaii60,810Wyoming: 60,620 USDWyoming60,620Utah: 59,070 USDUtah59,070Wisconsin: 58,360 USDWisconsin58,360Texas: 58,190 USDTexas58,190Georgia: 58,050 USDGeorgia58,050Nevada: 57,910 USDNevada57,910Nebraska: 57,500 USDNebraska57,500Iowa: 56,510 USDIowa56,510Kentucky: 56,200 USDKentucky56,200North Dakota: 55,400 USDNorth Dakota55,400New Mexico: 55,380 USDNew Mexico55,380Colorado: 55,110 USDColorado55,110South Carolina: 54,400 USDSouth Carolina54,400Missouri: 54,280 USDMissouri54,280Maine: 54,240 USDMaine54,240Florida: 54,120 USDFlorida54,120Tennessee: 53,620 USDTennessee53,620Indiana: 53,030 USDIndiana53,030Louisiana: 51,810 USDLouisiana51,810Arkansas: 51,780 USDArkansas51,780Kansas: 51,490 USDKansas51,490Alabama: 51,180 USDAlabama51,180Idaho: 51,170 USDIdaho51,170Montana: 50,670 USDMontana50,670Arizona: 48,610 USDArizona48,610North Carolina: 47,580 USDNorth Carolina47,580Mississippi: 47,190 USDMississippi47,190West Virginia: 47,050 USDWest Virginia47,050South Dakota: 42,960 USDSouth Dakota42,960Oklahoma: 42,540 USDOklahoma42,540
USD. Source: BLS, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May estimates, state cross-industry file: annual mean wage, secondary school teachers except special and career or technical education (25-2031). Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankStates2018
USD		Change on 2017
1New York85,300+2.3%
2California80,510+4%
3Massachusetts80,020+5.1%
4Alaska77,920-8.8%
5Connecticut76,980-2.3%
6New Jersey76,390-0.1%
7Oregon72,640+4.3%
8Maryland72,610+5.1%
9Illinois72,370+5.8%
10Rhode Island71,440+5.6%
11Virginia68,770-1.6%
12Washington67,550+4.3%
13Vermont65,850+6.9%
14District of Columbia65,180+1.2%
15Delaware65,040+2.2%
16Pennsylvania64,830-1.8%
17Minnesota64,610-1%
18Michigan62,950+0.1%
19Ohio61,930+1.8%
20New Hampshire61,510+2.4%
21Hawaii60,810+2.6%
22Wyoming60,620+1.4%
23Utah59,070+6.4%
24Wisconsin58,360+1.8%
25Texas58,190+0.6%
26Georgia58,050+2.1%
27Nevada57,910+1.2%
28Nebraska57,500+2.9%
29Iowa56,510+3.7%
30Kentucky56,200+1.6%
31North Dakota55,400+7.8%
32New Mexico55,380-1.2%
33Colorado55,110+1.2%
34South Carolina54,400+0.8%
35Missouri54,280+4.9%
36Maine54,240+2.5%
37Florida54,120+4.5%
38Tennessee53,620+4.3%
39Indiana53,030+0.7%
40Louisiana51,810+2.2%
41Arkansas51,780+1.5%
42Kansas51,490+2%
43Alabama51,180+2.8%
44Idaho51,170+5.4%
45Montana50,670-1.2%
46Arizona48,610+1.2%
47North Carolina47,580+2.6%
48Mississippi47,190+1.8%
49West Virginia47,050+1.1%
50South Dakota42,960+2.3%
51Oklahoma42,540+1.6%

Other periods

About this ranking

Average (mean) annual wage of secondary school teachers, except special and career or technical education (Standard Occupational Classification 25-2031), in US dollars, from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Public and private high schools. Estimates refer to May of each year.

Teachers report an annual salary for the school year, so BLS publishes no hourly rate for them. Excludes special education, career and technical education and middle school teachers. Up to May 2009 the occupation was defined under the 2000 classification, which excluded vocational education teachers. Pay is straight-time gross pay: base rate, cost-of-living allowances, commissions, production bonuses and tips. Overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and employer-paid benefits are excluded.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the states are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May estimates, state cross-industry file: annual mean wage, secondary school teachers except special and career or technical education (25-2031). https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18st.zip. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2026). Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May estimates, state cross-industry file: annual mean wage, secondary school teachers except special and career or technical education (25-2031) (US states by secondary school teacher mean annual wage, 2018) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18st.zip

MLA 9

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May estimates, state cross-industry file: annual mean wage, secondary school teachers except special and career or technical education (25-2031), US states by secondary school teacher mean annual wage, 2018. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 15 May 2026, https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18st.zip. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/secondary-teacher-salary/us-states?period=2018. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2026. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May estimates, state cross-industry file: annual mean wage, secondary school teachers except special and career or technical education (25-2031). US states by secondary school teacher mean annual wage, 2018. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18st.zip. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/secondary-teacher-salary/us-states?period=2018.

Harvard

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May estimates, state cross-industry file: annual mean wage, secondary school teachers except special and career or technical education (25-2031), US states by secondary school teacher mean annual wage, 2018 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18st.zip, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/secondary-teacher-salary/us-states?period=2018 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{bureau_us_states_by_secondary_2018,
  author = {{U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics}},
  title = {{Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May estimates, state cross-industry file: annual mean wage, secondary school teachers except special and career or technical education (25-2031): US states by secondary school teacher mean annual wage, 2018}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18st.zip},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/secondary-teacher-salary/us-states?period=2018. Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May estimates, state cross-industry file: annual mean wage, secondary school teachers except special and career or technical education (25-2031). https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18st.zip. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
TI  - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May estimates, state cross-industry file: annual mean wage, secondary school teachers except special and career or technical education (25-2031): US states by secondary school teacher mean annual wage, 2018
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/05/15
PB  - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18st.zip
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/secondary-teacher-salary/us-states?period=2018
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/secondary-teacher-salary/us-states?period=2018.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May estimates, state cross-industry file: annual mean wage, secondary school teachers except special and career or technical education (25-2031). https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18st.zip. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Rank US states by secondary school teacher mean annual wage using official data, and cite the source.
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Questions

Which state has the highest secondary school teacher mean annual wage?

New York, with $85,300 in 2018, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Which state has the lowest secondary school teacher mean annual wage?

Oklahoma, with $42,540 in 2018.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May estimates, state cross-industry file: annual mean wage, secondary school teachers except special and career or technical education (25-2031). Retrieved 2026-10-12.

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