Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School Salary
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary Schools in North Carolina make a median of $58,600 a year. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $70K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $63,242 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,284/month, about 32.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $59K get you in North Carolina?
About career/technical education teachers, secondary schools
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What this looks like in North Carolina
Pay for career/technical education teachers, secondary school in North Carolina runs about 12% below the U.S. median of $66K. Rent runs $1,284/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.66 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, North Carolina
Entry-level career/technical education teachers, secondary schools (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $59K. Top earners bring in $70K or more, a $23K spread from bottom to top.
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School salary by metro in North Carolina
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $60K | +3% | 710 |
| Raleigh-Cary | $60K | +2% | 520 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton | $59K | +0% | 40 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $57K | -2% | 140 |
| Winston-Salem | $56K | -4% | 180 |
| Wilmington | $56K | -4% | 80 |
| Fayetteville | $55K | -6% | 110 |
| Rocky Mount | $54K | -7% | N/A |
Compare to other states
Track career/technical education teachers, secondary school salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a career/technical education teachers, secondary school afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Carolina?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $59K, rent takes 33.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,284/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for career/technical education teachers, secondary schools in North Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new career/technical education teachers, secondary schools typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,811/month. At HUD’s $1,284/month FMR, rent would take 46% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is career/technical education teachers, secondary school a high-paying job in North Carolina?
Local pay runs 12% below the national median — $59K here vs. $66K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for career/technical education teachers, secondary schools?
North Carolina pays $59K median vs. the U.S. average of $66K — that’s -12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $63K — below the national median.
How much do career/technical education teachers, secondary schools make in North Carolina?
The median is $58,600 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,850, and experienced career/technical education teachers, secondary schools can clear $69,590. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $59K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,874/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 33.1% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a career/technical education teachers, secondary school salary go in North Carolina?
North Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 92.66 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median career/technical education teachers, secondary school salary is worth about $63,242 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do career/technical education teachers, secondary schools get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.