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COL-adjusted ranking

Best Cities for Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle Schools by Take-Home Pay

The cities that pay Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle Schools the most on paper aren't usually the best deals once rent and prices are factored in. Pittsburgh ranks first with a COL-adjusted equivalent of $103,972/year, better purchasing power than Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue's higher nominal pay of $102,190. The table below uses BLS OEWS May 2024 salary data and BEA Regional Price Parities.

Highest nominal pay

#1 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue$102,190
#2 Pittsburgh$98,430
#3 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin$86,220

Best purchasing power

#1 Pittsburgh$103,972
#2 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue$91,955
#3 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin$83,232

Top 25 metros by purchasing power

Ranked by COL-adjusted salary. Metros with fewer than 100 employed career/technical education teachers, middle schools excluded.

Rank
Metro
Nominal
COL-adj.
#1
Pittsburgh
16% rent burden
$98,430
$103,972
#2
$102,190
$91,955
#3
$86,220
$83,232
#4
Syracuse
21% rent burden
$78,020
$81,492
#5
$84,980
$81,072
#6
Rochester
25% rent burden
$76,500
$78,842
#7
$79,170
$78,472
#8
$78,130
$78,467
#9
$83,570
$74,245
#10
$66,590
$67,515
#11
$68,080
$66,387
#12
Cincinnati
26% rent burden
$62,050
$65,062
#13
$60,950
$64,348
#14
$62,220
$63,444
#15
$68,080
$62,528
#16
$63,660
$61,752
#17
$54,990
$56,487
#18
$61,060
$53,486
#19
Greensboro-High Point
35% rent burden
$45,280
$48,762
#20
Raleigh-Cary
46% rent burden
$45,330
$46,180

COL-adjusted = nominal salary divided by (BEA RPP divided by 100). Rent burden = annual 2BR FMR as % of nominal salary. Sources: BLS OEWS May 2024, BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents.

Common questions

What does "COL-adjusted pay" mean for Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle Schools?

COL-adjusted pay divides the BLS median salary by the BEA Regional Price Parity index (100 = national average). A salary of $102,190 in a city with RPP 120 has the same purchasing power as $85,158 at national average prices.

Why doesn't New York or San Francisco top this list?

Both cities pay above-average salaries, but rent and everyday costs eat most of that premium. A career/technical education teachers, middle school in New York might earn 30% more but pay 60-80% more in rent. The net result is often less purchasing power than mid-cost metros.

How is purchasing power calculated?

Purchasing power equals nominal median salary divided by (BEA RPP divided by 100). BEA's Regional Price Parities measure relative price levels across metro areas, updated annually from the National Income and Product Accounts.

What's the most affordable metro for Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle Schools?

Pittsburgh has one of the lowest rent burdens for Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle Schools in this dataset. HUD FMR for a 2-bedroom is $1,299/month, with a median salary of $98,430.

Where do Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle Schools get paid the most in nominal terms?

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue pays the highest nominal median salary at $102,190/year, per BLS OEWS May 2024. But check the COL-adjusted column before accepting any relocation offer.

National salary breakdown for Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle SchoolsView →How to become a career/technical education teachers, middle schoolGuide →Compare two cities side by sideCompare →