357 metro areas

Middle School Teacher Salary by City (2026)

Middle school teachers earn the most in El Centro, CA, an average of $117,020 a year, against $72,030 nationally. After local prices, pay goes furthest in El Centro, CA ($122,950 in national-average dollars). Every metro area with its own BLS estimate is ranked below.

US average (mean): $72,030BLS OEWS, May 2025
Highest-paying city: $117,020El Centro, CA
Best after cost of living: $122,950El Centro, CA
Metro areas: 357With their own estimate

Top cities

Highest-paying cities for middle school teachers

Mean annual wage

Top 10 metro areas

El Centro, CA$117,020
San Jose, CA$109,140
Mount Vernon, WA$106,790
Seattle, WA$103,680
Bremerton, WA$102,020
Riverside, CA$101,660
Napa, CA$100,500
Modesto, CA$98,910
Bellingham, WA$98,070
Olympia, WA$96,680

Top 10 metro areas by mean wage for middle school teachers
Item	Value
El Centro, CA	$117,020
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$109,140
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA	$106,790
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$103,680
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA	$102,020
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	$101,660
Napa, CA	$100,500
Modesto, CA	$98,910
Bellingham, WA	$98,070
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA	$96,680

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025

At national-average prices

Mean wage ÷ BEA price level

El Centro, CA$117,020 nominal$122,950
Mount Vernon, WA$106,790 nominal$104,240
San Jose, CA$109,140 nominal$98,840
Bremerton, WA$102,020 nominal$96,600
Yakima, WA$91,920 nominal$96,210
Merced, CA$94,430 nominal$96,090
Kennewick, WA$96,050 nominal$95,970
Riverside, CA$101,660 nominal$95,510
Modesto, CA$98,910 nominal$95,010
Bellingham, WA$98,070 nominal$94,910

Top 10 metro areas by price-adjusted mean wage for middle school teachers
Item	Value
El Centro, CA	$122,950
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA	$104,240
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$98,840
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA	$96,600
Yakima, WA	$96,210
Merced, CA	$96,090
Kennewick-Richland, WA	$95,970
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	$95,510
Modesto, CA	$95,010
Bellingham, WA	$94,910

Source: BLS OEWS 2025 · BEA RPP 2024

Every city

Middle School Teacher salary in every metro area

Mean annual wage, with the Department of Labor's entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) prevailing-wage benchmarks for the same metro, and the mean at national-average prices. Sorted by mean pay.

Middle School Teacher pay in every metro area with a BLS estimate
#	Metro area	Mean	Entry (Level I)	Experienced (Level IV)	At US prices
1	El Centro, CA	$117,020	$74,110	$138,160	$122,950
2	San Jose, CA	$109,140	$78,910	$124,030	$98,840
3	Mount Vernon, WA	$106,790	$80,870	$119,550	$104,240
4	Seattle, WA	$103,680	$75,530	$117,550	$93,290
5	Bremerton, WA	$102,020	$69,650	$117,970	$96,600
6	Riverside, CA	$101,660	$73,450	$115,560	$95,510
7	Napa, CA	$100,500	$66,480	$117,250	$89,290
8	Modesto, CA	$98,910	$69,250	$113,520	$95,010
9	Bellingham, WA	$98,070	$69,960	$111,920	$94,910
10	Olympia, WA	$96,680	$73,520	$108,090	$93,260
11	New York, NY-NJ	$96,560	$65,840	$111,690	$85,780
12	Kennewick, WA	$96,050	$73,890	$106,970	$95,970
13	Kingston, NY	$95,490	$66,480	$109,770	$94,820
14	Oxnard, CA	$94,810	$70,380	$106,850	$85,770
15	Merced, CA	$94,430	$69,400	$106,760	$96,090
16	Kiryas Joel, NY	$94,260	$65,220	$108,570	$86,140
17	Bridgeport, CT	$92,990	$66,590	$106,000	$87,020
18	San Francisco, CA	$92,730	$58,810	$109,440	$80,210
19	Fresno, CA	$92,720	$68,900	$104,450	$90,760
20	Los Angeles, CA	$92,660	$67,650	$104,980	$81,590
21	Hanford, CA	$92,650	$67,860	$104,870	$91,180
22	Vallejo, CA	$92,520	$65,460	$105,850	$85,290
23	Santa Rosa, CA	$92,020	$70,540	$102,600	$85,370
24	Yakima, WA	$91,920	$67,120	$104,130	$96,210
25	Visalia, CA	$91,770	$69,060	$102,960	$91,930
26	Barnstable Town, MA	$91,270	$67,880	$102,790	$92,800
27	Sacramento, CA	$91,090	$63,960	$104,450	$85,390
28	Bakersfield, CA	$91,020	$67,240	$102,740	$90,220
29	Spokane, WA	$90,940	$67,670	$102,410	$90,630
30	Wenatchee, WA	$90,320	$68,780	$100,920	$86,970
31	Longview, WA	$90,190	$69,830	$100,210	$92,460
32	San Luis Obispo, CA	$89,660	$65,910	$101,360	$82,560
33	Stockton, CA	$88,860	$64,190	$101,010	$84,560
34	Boston, MA-NH	$88,780	$64,880	$100,550	$82,000
35	Walla Walla, WA	$88,430	$66,940	$99,010	$89,760
36	Salt Lake City, UT	$88,030	$62,890	$100,410	$87,270
37	Boulder, CO	$87,770	$65,820	$98,570	$83,430
38	Portland, OR-WA	$87,380	$60,700	$100,530	$82,890
39	Santa Cruz, CA	$87,380	$63,230	$99,270	$79,510
40	Yuba City, CA	$87,030	$60,380	$100,160	$83,500
41	Hartford, CT	$86,050	$60,840	$98,470	$83,750
42	New Haven, CT	$85,020	$61,090	$96,800	$81,310
43	Waterbury, CT	$85,000	$62,040	$96,300	$85,190
44	Santa Maria, CA	$84,680	$64,270	$94,730	$77,830
45	San Diego, CA	$84,530	$60,740	$96,250	$75,550
46	Chico, CA	$84,460	$62,390	$95,340	$83,460
47	Pittsburgh, PA	$84,350	$53,410	$99,580	$89,100
48	Buffalo, NY	$83,920	$54,500	$98,420	$87,560
49	Worcester, MA	$83,820	$62,700	$94,220	$81,760
50	Atlantic City, NJ	$83,570	$61,520	$94,440	$84,540
51	Anchorage, AK	$83,140	$69,080	$90,060	$78,870
52	Albany, NY	$82,580	$59,180	$94,110	$82,940
53	Baltimore, MD	$82,530	$59,610	$93,830	$78,990
54	Norwich, CT	$82,300	$60,250	$93,160	$81,940
55	Providence, RI-MA	$81,570	$57,700	$93,330	$80,150
56	Salisbury, MD	$81,520	$56,960	$93,610	$85,260
57	Chicago, IL-IN	$81,000	$55,110	$93,750	$78,190
58	Ithaca, NY	$80,730	$56,910	$92,460	$78,140
59	Lexington Park, MD	$80,710	$55,500	$93,130	$80,100
60	Trenton, NJ	$80,560	$62,070	$89,660	$78,080
61	Utica, NY	$80,560	$57,080	$92,120	$86,920
62	Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV	$80,560	$57,170	$92,080	$73,990
63	Burlington, VT	$80,330	$60,000	$90,340	$79,570
64	Cleveland, OH	$79,960	$54,440	$92,540	$85,130
65	York, PA	$79,820	$57,580	$90,770	$83,150
66	Allentown, PA-NJ	$79,720	$58,020	$90,420	$79,750
67	Reading, PA	$79,660	$57,690	$90,490	$82,070
68	Springfield, MA	$79,490	$63,130	$87,550	$82,750
69	St. George, UT	$79,130	$58,230	$89,430	$81,310
70	Lancaster, PA	$78,280	$57,550	$88,490	$79,670
71	Glens Falls, NY	$78,230	$57,380	$88,500	$82,460
72	Syracuse, NY	$78,080	$61,930	$86,040	$81,550
73	Scranton, PA	$78,010	$54,870	$89,410	$83,380
74	Brunswick, GA	$77,640	$57,030	$87,790	$88,520
75	Fairbanks, AK	$77,550	$60,190	$86,110	$75,140
76	Ogden, UT	$77,300	$50,790	$90,370	$77,030
77	Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$76,870	$54,040	$88,110	$74,960
78	Amherst Town, MA	$76,710	$56,080	$86,870	$76,520
79	Vineland, NJ	$75,860	$59,730	$83,810	$79,050
80	Williamsport, PA	$75,630	$55,310	$85,640	$81,890
81	Binghamton, NY	$75,550	$58,150	$84,110	$81,360
82	Provo, UT	$75,520	$52,190	$87,010	$76,880
83	State College, PA	$75,090	$54,610	$85,170	$77,600
84	Denver, CO	$74,890	$55,660	$84,360	$70,800
85	Pittsfield, MA	$74,760	$54,650	$84,660	$78,610
86	Logan, UT-ID	$74,580	$50,080	$86,650	$77,750
87	Salem, OR	$74,580	$55,540	$83,960	$71,950
88	Eugene, OR	$74,470	$53,550	$84,770	$73,320
89	Lewiston, ID-WA	$74,380	$55,410	$83,730	$81,590
90	Chambersburg, PA	$74,190	$57,760	$82,290	$78,390
91	Bend, OR	$73,980	$54,230	$83,700	$71,400
92	Albuquerque, NM	$73,450	$62,650	$78,780	$76,870
93	Akron, OH	$73,280	$49,760	$84,870	$78,480
94	Atlanta, GA	$73,160	$54,430	$82,380	$73,120
95	Columbus, OH	$73,150	$47,490	$85,790	$76,620
96	Farmington, NM	$73,050	$58,870	$80,030	$83,290
97	Virginia Beach, VA-NC	$73,010	$55,800	$81,490	$74,540
98	Watertown, NY	$73,000	$57,150	$80,810	$83,250
99	Harrisburg, PA	$72,970	$56,500	$81,090	$73,970
100	Rockford, IL	$72,790	$51,300	$83,380	$78,990
101	Springfield, IL	$72,670	$52,350	$82,680	$78,350
102	Kahului, HI	$72,300	$56,330	$80,170	$66,090
103	Corvallis, OR	$72,040	$52,920	$81,460	$69,260
104	Minneapolis, MN-WI	$71,980	$49,980	$82,810	$68,670
105	Altoona, PA	$71,890	$51,730	$81,820	$80,320
106	Urban Honolulu, HI	$71,710	$54,220	$80,320	$64,630
107	Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	$71,460	$47,250	$83,390	$74,930
108	Rochester, NY	$71,460	$52,720	$80,690	$73,640
109	Dayton, OH	$71,340	$50,510	$81,590	$76,960
110	Fort Collins, CO	$71,230	$57,570	$77,960	$70,440
111	Canton, OH	$70,890	$46,870	$82,720	$79,290
112	Medford, OR	$70,880	$49,970	$81,180	$69,880
113	Madison, WI	$70,820	$52,740	$79,730	$72,790
114	Springfield, OH	$70,650	$47,900	$81,850	$78,080
115	Harrisonburg, VA	$70,540	$57,360	$77,040	$74,340
116	Traverse City, MI	$70,420	$50,010	$80,470	$75,420
117	Niles, MI	$69,990	$50,880	$79,400	$75,770
118	Detroit, MI	$69,940	$49,040	$80,230	$69,730
119	Portland, ME	$69,860	$53,310	$78,010	$68,590
120	Las Cruces, NM	$69,560	$60,940	$73,800	$77,110
121	Bloomington, IL	$69,520	$45,490	$81,360	$74,320
122	Muskegon, MI	$69,460	$49,390	$79,350	$75,080
123	Lima, OH	$69,410	$46,760	$80,560	$77,410
124	Shreveport, LA	$69,260	$44,620	$81,400	$81,710
125	Dalton, GA	$69,180	$48,790	$79,220	$77,000
126	Toledo, OH	$69,170	$43,850	$81,640	$75,630
127	St. Louis, MO-IL	$69,120	$49,080	$79,000	$72,690
128	Las Vegas, NV	$69,030	$54,750	$76,070	$68,880
129	Manchester, NH	$68,990	$51,290	$77,710	$65,300
130	Albany, OR	$68,940	$49,790	$78,370	$67,520
131	Milwaukee, WI	$68,840	$51,700	$77,270	$71,020
132	Reno, NV	$68,830	$53,320	$76,460	$68,140
133	Mansfield, OH	$68,760	$45,480	$80,240	$77,370
134	Boise City, ID	$68,700	$51,190	$77,320	$69,820
135	Battle Creek, MI	$68,680	$52,310	$76,740	$75,860
136	Mankato, MN	$68,590	$49,400	$78,050	$75,410
137	Johnson City, TN	$68,370	$54,470	$75,220	$77,760
138	Hagerstown, MD-WV	$68,270	$55,740	$74,430	$72,500
139	Flint, MI	$68,220	$48,610	$77,880	$73,330
140	St. Cloud, MN	$68,050	$48,850	$77,500	$77,650
141	Athens, GA	$68,040	$51,240	$76,310	$72,890
142	Lansing, MI	$68,040	$49,010	$77,410	$71,630
143	Midland, TX	$67,980	$61,190	$71,320	$70,970
144	Dallas, TX	$67,760	$60,180	$71,490	$65,730
145	Dover, DE	$67,760	$52,450	$75,300	$69,490
146	Jackson, MI	$67,690	$48,080	$77,340	$73,750
147	Monroe, MI	$67,670	$48,330	$77,200	$72,380
148	Janesville, WI	$67,610	$49,320	$76,620	$72,150
149	Odessa, TX	$67,420	$61,460	$70,350	$71,800
150	Kalamazoo, MI	$67,370	$47,800	$77,010	$71,040
151	Saginaw, MI	$67,320	$47,620	$77,030	$74,070
152	Houston, TX	$67,300	$58,560	$71,600	$68,240
153	Staunton, VA	$67,150	$51,940	$74,640	$73,690
154	Rochester, MN	$67,080	$50,040	$75,470	$73,860
155	Charleston, SC	$67,020	$51,870	$74,480	$66,380
156	Ann Arbor, MI	$66,850	$48,690	$75,800	$66,270
157	Billings, MT	$66,820	$45,770	$77,180	$71,450
158	Duluth, MN-WI	$66,800	$49,090	$75,520	$75,250
159	Youngstown, OH	$66,710	$42,660	$78,560	$76,330
160	Cedar Rapids, IA	$66,660	$46,180	$76,750	$74,930
161	Omaha, NE-IA	$66,610	$51,740	$73,940	$72,470
162	Elkhart, IN	$66,540	$49,480	$74,940	$73,670
163	Davenport, IA-IL	$66,530	$47,050	$76,120	$74,690
164	Hilton Head Island, SC	$66,440	$50,740	$74,170	$67,780
165	Eau Claire, WI	$66,080	$51,270	$73,380	$71,210
166	Grand Rapids, MI	$66,070	$45,030	$76,430	$69,150
167	Jacksonville, FL	$66,040	$51,360	$73,270	$66,380
168	Grand Island, NE	$65,970	$49,110	$74,270	$76,130
169	Racine, WI	$65,920	$49,440	$74,030	$68,690
170	Charlottesville, VA	$65,830	$53,430	$71,930	$66,400
171	Green Bay, WI	$65,730	$52,120	$72,440	$70,610
172	Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	$65,690	$48,400	$74,200	$70,580
173	Port St. Lucie, FL	$65,660	$49,530	$73,600	$65,510
174	Bozeman, MT	$65,570	$46,710	$74,860	$63,960
175	Gainesville, GA	$65,550	$49,970	$73,220	$67,740
176	Kansas City, MO-KS	$65,290	$50,070	$72,790	$70,550
177	Lexington, KY	$65,270	$49,290	$73,140	$70,270
178	Richmond, VA	$65,160	$52,040	$71,620	$66,590
179	Indianapolis, IN	$65,110	$50,430	$72,340	$68,040
180	Minot, ND	$64,990	$50,320	$72,220	$74,680
181	Lewiston, ME	$64,960	$50,840	$71,910	$68,570
182	Greeley, CO	$64,950	$50,870	$71,890	$64,840
183	Bangor, ME	$64,730	$49,840	$72,060	$67,070
184	McAllen, TX	$64,650	$56,350	$68,740	$75,270
185	El Paso, TX	$64,530	$57,540	$67,980	$71,770
186	Savannah, GA	$64,460	$48,920	$72,110	$67,710
187	Erie, PA	$64,440	$44,670	$74,170	$70,850
188	Casper, WY	$64,340	$48,530	$72,130	$68,570
189	Roanoke, VA	$64,260	$52,920	$69,840	$68,640
190	Ames, IA	$64,250	$47,480	$72,510	$72,330
191	Waterloo, IA	$64,240	$46,870	$72,790	$73,790
192	Killeen, TX	$64,140	$55,110	$68,580	$70,380
193	Helena, MT	$64,070	$44,070	$73,910	$66,970
194	Cheyenne, WY	$64,060	$56,050	$68,010	$66,390
195	Oshkosh, WI	$64,060	$51,110	$70,440	$68,930
196	Phoenix, AZ	$64,060	$48,880	$71,530	$62,000
197	Lafayette, IN	$64,020	$50,010	$70,920	$68,520
198	North Port, FL	$64,020	$49,830	$71,010	$62,510
199	Fort Wayne, IN	$63,970	$48,440	$71,610	$69,100
200	Nashville, TN	$63,800	$51,110	$70,060	$66,230
201	Baton Rouge, LA	$63,760	$49,330	$70,860	$70,240
202	Grand Forks, ND-MN	$63,530	$48,470	$70,940	$73,310
203	Blacksburg, VA	$63,430	$49,160	$70,460	$68,420
204	Pueblo, CO	$63,410	$48,860	$70,580	$69,100
205	Spartanburg, SC	$63,340	$50,390	$69,730	$69,570
206	Fayetteville, AR	$63,240	$54,470	$67,560	$69,230
207	Kenosha, WI	$63,230	$48,460	$70,510	$62,530
208	Sheboygan, WI	$63,210	$48,760	$70,330	$67,230
209	Weirton, WV-OH	$63,170	$48,570	$70,360	$70,960
210	Brownsville, TX	$63,060	$57,980	$65,560	$73,350
211	Huntsville, AL	$63,050	$52,750	$68,120	$67,740
212	Hinesville, GA	$63,040	$47,030	$70,920	$67,110
213	Fargo, ND-MN	$63,030	$45,580	$71,630	$69,360
214	Fond du Lac, WI	$62,960	$48,740	$69,970	$68,700
215	La Crosse, WI-MN	$62,920	$49,260	$69,650	$68,560
216	Laredo, TX	$62,890	$54,770	$66,890	$72,320
217	Iowa City, IA	$62,610	$45,860	$70,860	$68,420
218	San Antonio, TX	$62,570	$55,030	$66,290	$66,060
219	Wheeling, WV-OH	$62,520	$46,390	$70,460	$70,790
220	Bismarck, ND	$62,480	$51,680	$67,800	$68,640
221	Greenville, SC	$62,470	$48,620	$69,280	$66,980
222	Peoria, IL	$62,200	$44,790	$70,770	$68,180
223	Idaho Falls, ID	$62,150	$50,790	$67,750	$65,830
224	Chattanooga, TN-GA	$62,110	$48,210	$68,950	$67,910
225	Rome, GA	$62,070	$47,180	$69,400	$68,840
226	Naples, FL	$62,050	$53,220	$66,400	$60,130
227	Austin, TX	$61,690	$55,690	$64,640	$62,910
228	Decatur, AL	$61,640	$50,890	$66,940	$70,680
229	Corpus Christi, TX	$61,570	$55,740	$64,440	$66,440
230	Birmingham, AL	$61,530	$49,960	$67,230	$67,140
231	Augusta, GA-SC	$61,510	$44,300	$69,990	$66,930
232	Knoxville, TN	$61,470	$49,640	$67,300	$66,400
233	Missoula, MT	$61,360	$43,590	$70,110	$63,620
234	Cleveland, TN	$61,220	$51,330	$66,100	$69,500
235	Tampa, FL	$61,170	$50,920	$66,220	$60,630
236	Colorado Springs, CO	$61,110	$48,390	$67,380	$60,680
237	Wausau, WI	$61,000	$47,980	$67,410	$65,840
238	Albany, GA	$60,800	$43,270	$69,440	$69,350
239	Daphne, AL	$60,630	$50,510	$65,620	$64,030
240	Sherman, TX	$60,620	$55,720	$63,040	$64,650
241	Champaign, IL	$60,580	$45,810	$67,850	$65,350
242	Wichita, KS	$60,580	$49,730	$65,920	$68,110
243	Valdosta, GA	$60,470	$37,800	$71,630	$68,500
244	Kokomo, IN	$60,400	$47,930	$66,550	$67,370
245	Owensboro, KY	$60,350	$46,910	$66,960	$68,110
246	Miami, FL	$60,340	$50,760	$65,050	$52,860
247	Columbus, GA-AL	$60,310	$45,680	$67,510	$67,540
248	Grand Junction, CO	$60,290	$49,990	$65,370	$63,150
249	Macon, GA	$60,280	$45,570	$67,530	$68,090
250	Evansville, IN	$60,230	$45,710	$67,380	$65,800
251	Tyler, TX	$60,180	$52,600	$63,910	$65,300
252	Memphis, TN-MS-AR	$60,170	$49,750	$65,300	$65,280
253	Clarksville, TN-KY	$60,150	$45,900	$67,160	$66,140
254	Amarillo, TX	$60,140	$54,890	$62,730	$65,500
255	Sierra Vista, AZ	$60,020	$41,970	$68,900	$67,250
256	Wichita Falls, TX	$59,970	$49,100	$65,320	$67,000
257	Columbia, SC	$59,940	$46,790	$66,420	$64,000
258	Orlando, FL	$59,880	$50,560	$64,470	$59,040
259	Tucson, AZ	$59,860	$46,470	$66,460	$61,780
260	Muncie, IN	$59,790	$48,490	$65,360	$67,830
261	Michigan City, IN	$59,720	$45,500	$66,720	$65,140
262	Kankakee, IL	$59,630	$46,220	$66,230	$61,860
263	Little Rock, AR	$59,630	$49,860	$64,440	$66,730
264	Crestview, FL	$59,600	$50,100	$64,290	$61,420
265	Beaumont, TX	$59,540	$47,870	$65,280	$66,120
266	Lynchburg, VA	$59,540	$51,310	$63,600	$66,630
267	Florence, SC	$59,460	$47,840	$65,190	$68,520
268	Fort Smith, AR-OK	$59,450	$49,080	$64,560	$69,220
269	Appleton, WI	$59,440	$48,430	$64,860	$64,320
270	Hot Springs, AR	$59,320	$51,460	$63,190	$69,190
271	Elizabethtown, KY	$59,290	$48,810	$64,440	$65,460
272	Paducah, KY-IL	$59,240	$45,420	$66,050	$68,820
273	Mobile, AL	$59,210	$48,070	$64,690	$67,210
274	Sioux City, IA-NE-SD	$59,210	$43,220	$67,080	$68,490
275	New Orleans, LA	$59,180	$43,680	$66,820	$63,910
276	Terre Haute, IN	$59,040	$46,860	$65,050	$67,250
277	Lawton, OK	$59,010	$46,640	$65,100	$68,660
278	Dothan, AL	$58,950	$46,660	$65,000	$70,320
279	Montgomery, AL	$58,880	$45,380	$65,530	$65,650
280	Kingsport, TN-VA	$58,860	$48,080	$64,160	$68,090
281	Auburn, AL	$58,840	$46,570	$64,880	$66,910
282	Houma, LA	$58,690	$52,810	$61,580	$68,960
283	South Bend, IN-MI	$58,690	$46,600	$64,640	$63,200
284	Cape Coral, FL	$58,660	$51,510	$62,180	$57,310
285	Lubbock, TX	$58,630	$48,310	$63,710	$64,200
286	Ponce, PR	$58,610	$49,680	$63,000	N/A
287	Huntington, WV-KY-OH	$58,580	$48,340	$63,620	$66,250
288	Arecibo, PR	$58,570	$48,390	$63,580	N/A
289	Tuscaloosa, AL	$58,530	$47,770	$63,840	$66,720
290	Longview, TX	$58,450	$48,260	$63,470	$65,320
291	Des Moines, IA	$58,380	$44,400	$65,260	$63,660
292	Waco, TX	$58,350	$49,560	$62,670	$63,050
293	Flagstaff, AZ	$58,310	$46,810	$63,980	$58,120
294	Decatur, IL	$58,300	$43,970	$65,360	$65,930
295	Charlotte, NC-SC	$58,270	$46,260	$64,180	$59,860
296	Bowling Green, KY	$57,990	$46,880	$63,460	$64,310
297	Jonesboro, AR	$57,890	$50,120	$61,710	$67,410
298	Morristown, TN	$57,760	$47,840	$62,650	$66,880
299	Palm Bay, FL	$57,550	$47,540	$62,480	$57,550
300	Great Falls, MT	$57,530	$41,660	$65,340	$59,400
301	Mayaguez, PR	$57,480	$47,560	$62,360	N/A
302	Lawrence, KS	$57,330	$47,750	$62,050	$63,530
303	Topeka, KS	$57,270	$48,400	$61,630	$64,480
304	College Station, TX	$57,180	$50,600	$60,430	$62,870
305	St. Joseph, MO-KS	$57,090	$46,450	$62,330	$66,090
306	Sumter, SC	$57,070	$42,140	$64,420	$64,840
307	Lincoln, NE	$56,770	$37,720	$66,150	$61,990
308	Raleigh, NC	$56,460	$43,600	$62,790	$57,520
309	Slidell, LA	$56,330	$46,570	$61,140	$60,750
310	Jackson, TN	$56,180	$47,280	$60,570	$65,690
311	Morgantown, WV	$56,100	$51,790	$58,220	$60,110
312	Gainesville, FL	$56,040	$48,690	$59,650	$57,930
313	Cape Girardeau, MO-IL	$56,020	$44,080	$61,900	$65,080
314	Rapid City, SD	$56,010	$45,860	$61,010	$62,820
315	Columbia, MO	$55,850	$42,500	$62,430	$62,450
316	Abilene, TX	$55,790	$45,830	$60,700	$61,740
317	San Angelo, TX	$55,630	$48,780	$59,010	$60,170
318	Charleston, WV	$55,620	$49,840	$58,470	$62,690
319	Beckley, WV	$55,220	$49,310	$58,130	$62,490
320	Tulsa, OK	$55,190	$45,090	$60,160	$61,860
321	Oklahoma City, OK	$55,110	$45,660	$59,760	$60,960
322	Texarkana, TX-AR	$55,070	$45,970	$59,560	$65,550
323	Pensacola, FL	$54,920	$49,490	$57,600	$56,200
324	Monroe, LA	$54,900	$43,340	$60,600	$65,670
325	Springfield, MO	$54,790	$44,190	$60,020	$61,850
326	Manhattan, KS	$54,700	$47,280	$58,360	$60,670
327	San Juan, PR	$54,630	$44,690	$59,520	N/A
328	Tallahassee, FL	$54,590	$46,700	$58,480	$58,120
329	Lakeland, FL	$54,570	$49,370	$57,130	$56,180
330	Durham, NC	$54,320	$44,880	$58,960	$55,670
331	Greensboro, NC	$54,280	$45,750	$58,480	$58,450
332	Gulfport, MS	$54,160	$47,820	$57,290	$60,170
333	Hammond, LA	$53,980	$46,630	$57,600	$63,910
334	Aguadilla, PR	$53,970	$40,910	$60,410	N/A
335	Guayama, PR	$53,960	$41,330	$60,180	N/A
336	Joplin, MO-KS	$53,880	$44,450	$58,530	$62,860
337	Yuma, AZ	$53,760	$45,340	$57,910	$57,990
338	Sebastian, FL	$53,630	$47,240	$56,780	$54,550
339	Wilmington, NC	$53,240	$44,430	$57,580	$55,220
340	Lake Charles, LA	$53,190	$49,080	$55,220	$61,960
341	Jackson, MS	$53,150	$45,370	$56,980	$59,690
342	Panama City, FL	$53,060	$47,930	$55,590	$54,530
343	Prescott Valley, AZ	$52,870	$43,050	$57,700	$53,810
344	Hattiesburg, MS	$52,740	$46,120	$56,000	$60,180
345	Asheville, NC	$52,550	$44,580	$56,480	$54,450
346	Victoria, TX	$52,370	$42,580	$57,200	$58,290
347	Winston, NC	$52,190	$45,030	$55,710	$56,700
348	Sioux Falls, SD-MN	$52,080	$45,740	$55,210	$57,460
349	Jefferson City, MO	$51,850	$42,000	$56,710	$58,940
350	Hickory, NC	$51,840	$43,270	$56,060	$58,590
351	Greenville, NC	$50,600	$42,840	$54,420	$57,240
352	Enid, OK	$50,140	$42,210	$54,040	$59,500
353	Fayetteville, NC	$49,730	$42,070	$53,510	$54,070
354	Lake Havasu City, AZ	$49,410	$42,590	$52,770	$52,510
355	Alexandria, LA	$49,100	$45,090	$51,070	$57,300
356	Rocky Mount, NC	$48,920	$40,490	$53,070	$55,580
357	Goldsboro, NC	$48,800	$42,540	$51,890	$55,160

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Method

About these numbers

Mean wages are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2025 estimates for each metropolitan statistical area, as published in the Department of Labor’s 2026–27 OFLC prevailing-wage file. Only metros with their own BLS estimate are listed.
Entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) are the Department of Labor’s prevailing-wage levels for the occupation in that metro, used for employer visa filings. They are benchmarks from the same OEWS survey, not percentiles.
OEWS top-codes wages at $115 an hour ($239,200 a year); top-coded means are shown as "$239,200+" and left out of rankings.
At US prices divides the mean by the metro’s BEA Regional Price Parity (2024) over 100, a NueCareer calculation.

Questions

Middle School Teacher salary by city: FAQ

Which city pays middle school teachers the most?

El Centro, CA, where the average (mean) wage is $117,020 a year, followed by San Jose, CA ($109,140), Mount Vernon, WA ($106,790), Seattle, WA ($103,680). The national mean is $72,030 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Where do middle school teachers earn the most after cost of living?

Divided by each metro's BEA price level, pay goes furthest in El Centro, CA ($122,950 at national prices, $117,020 nominal), Mount Vernon, WA ($104,240 at national prices, $106,790 nominal), San Jose, CA ($98,840 at national prices, $109,140 nominal).

How much do middle school teachers make in the biggest cities?

New York, NY-NJ: $96,560; Los Angeles, CA: $92,660; Chicago, IL-IN: $81,000; Dallas, TX: $67,760; Houston, TX: $67,300 (mean annual wage, BLS OEWS May 2025).

Where do middle school teachers earn the least?

Of the 357 metro areas with their own estimate, Goldsboro, NC has the lowest mean wage, $48,800. At local prices that is worth $55,160.