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Secondary School Teachers salary in Washington, DC

Secondary School Teachers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metropolitan area earn a median of $80,300 a year, an average of $84,940. About 20,400 people work in this occupation there. Figures are from the May 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS).

Secondary School Teachers pay at a glance

Annual median wage
$80,300
Half earn more, half earn less
Annual mean wage
$84,940
Pulled up by top earners
10th percentile
$57,290
Bottom of the range
90th percentile
$117,160
Top of the range
People employed
20,400
In Washington metro area
Rent share of median wage
28.4%
Median rent ÷ median wage

What this wage buys in Washington

Rent from the ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, compared with the wage above

Median gross rent
$1,900
per month, in Washington, DC
Income needed for median rent
$76,000
Keeps rent at 30% of gross pay
Median secondary school teachers wage
$80,300
5.7% above income needed for median rent
Rent as share of this wage
28.4%
12 months rent ÷ median wage
City median household income
$106,287
All households, not one occupation

Occupations are not paid the same everywhere, and this page does not explain why. It reports what the survey measured for the Washington area. Read the Washington, DC cost of living page for rent, income and the price level, or the methodology for how the numbers are compiled.

Secondary School Teachers pay in other cities

Median annual wage, same occupation, same survey

El Paso, TX
-22.1%
Median $62,570
Mean $64,030
Employed 3,620
Boston, MA
+23.1%
Median $98,850
Mean $92,430
Employed 20,600
Nashville-Davidson, TN
-19.4%
Median $64,710
Mean $66,390
Employed 6,080
Oklahoma City, OK
-36.9%
Median $50,650
Mean $59,100
Employed 5,530
Las Vegas, NV
-18.4%
Median $65,520
Mean $67,870
Employed 6,760
Portland, OR
+4.8%
Median $84,120
Mean $86,120
Employed 6,790
Detroit, MI
-3.5%
Median $77,520
Mean $74,170
Employed 9,080
Denver, CO
-1.3%
Median $79,230
Mean $78,560
Employed 9,070

See secondary school teachers pay in every covered city.

Take-home pay calculator

Estimate your net pay after federal, state, and FICA taxes. Adjust filing status and allowances for your situation.

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Gross annual income $80,300 / year
$80,300
Federal income tax 2024 brackets, Single filing
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State income tax District of Columbia (DC)
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FICA (Social Security + Medicare) 7.65% up to wage base
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Pre-tax deductions 401(k), HSA, etc.
$0
Take-home pay (annual) After all taxes
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Take-home per paycheck Monthly
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Effective tax rate Total tax ÷ gross income
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Estimates use 2024 federal tax brackets, FICA rates (6.2% SS up to $168,600, 1.45% Medicare + 0.9% >$200k), and state rates from Tax Foundation. Does not include local taxes, AMT, or tax credits. Consult a tax professional for actual liability.

Definitions used on this page

Annual median wage
The wage that half of the people in this occupation earn more than and half earn less than, for one year of work.
Annual mean wage
The average of all reported wages. It is higher than the median when a few very high earners pull it up.
Percentiles
The 10th percentile is the wage below which 10% of workers fall; the 90th is the wage above which only 10% rise. The gap between them shows how wide the pay range is.
Employment
The estimated number of jobs in this occupation in the metropolitan area, not the number of residents who hold it.

Sources and limits

Wages describe the metropolitan area, while rent and income describe the city boundaries. The two areas do not cover exactly the same ground. Wages are also averaged across a year and across every industry, so a specific employer can differ widely from the median shown here.