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Middle School Teacher Salary by State (2026)

Middle School Teachers (Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education) hold 620,080 jobs across the US. Typical pay is $71,125 per year, but the median ranges from $48,440 in Oklahoma to $102,140 in Washington. Pick your state for the full pay range and an estimated take-home after taxes.

Median Middle School Teacher salary in every state

StateMedian salaryJobs
Washington $102,140 10,510
California $98,950 37,300
New York $94,840 38,670
Connecticut $93,610 7,920
Rhode Island $92,760 2,370
Massachusetts $89,450 16,570
District of Columbia $79,900 1,540
Utah $79,180 5,960
Alaska $78,940 1,150
New Jersey $78,770 23,650
Maryland $78,510 14,530
Oregon $78,350 6,940
Pennsylvania $77,930 22,720
Ohio $77,090 30,450
Illinois $76,110 24,770
New Mexico $75,240 4,260
Vermont $73,940 1,620
New Hampshire $71,140 3,120
Hawaii $69,230 2,480
Delaware $67,780 2,350
Nevada $66,300 3,910
Georgia $64,780 23,610
Michigan $63,790 15,420
Colorado $63,760 13,280
Maine $63,590 2,780
Virginia $63,520 18,290
Texas $63,390 80,160
Minnesota $62,640 8,890
Nebraska $62,510 4,150
Wyoming $62,480 1,290
Wisconsin $61,960 14,460
Alabama $61,770 10,000
Montana $61,550 1,980
Kentucky $61,120 8,040
Idaho $60,930 2,360
South Carolina $60,810 9,750
Indiana $60,700 11,700
Tennessee $60,690 13,060
Kansas $60,580 6,230
Iowa $60,450 6,270
North Dakota $60,100 1,400
Arizona $59,710 9,020
Arkansas $59,570 6,140
Missouri $59,310 11,330
Florida $58,940 31,370
Louisiana $58,760 5,560
West Virginia $57,210 4,090
North Carolina $52,010 20,650
South Dakota $50,980 2,130
Mississippi $50,790 6,260
Oklahoma $48,440 7,620

Frequently asked questions

What is the average Middle School Teacher salary in the US?
The typical (employment-weighted median) Middle School Teacher salary in the US is about $71,125 per year, based on the latest BLS data covering 620,080 jobs nationwide.
Which state pays Middle School Teachers the most?
Washington has the highest median Middle School Teacher salary at $102,140 per year. Remember that taxes and cost of living vary — a high gross salary can shrink after state taxes.
Which state pays Middle School Teachers the least?
Oklahoma has the lowest median at $48,440 per year. Lower-paying states often also have lower living costs and, in some cases, no state income tax.

Sources and methodology

All figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) (Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education, code 25-2022). “Typical pay” is the employment-weighted average of state medians. Take-home estimates on state pages use 2026 federal and verified state tax rules from our PaycheckTally engine.