Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education Salary
The median pay for a middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education in Altoona, PA is $74,730/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $51K at the entry level to $94K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.51), which stretches that salary to about $83,488 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,138/month, or 22.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Where the paycheck goes
What $75K actually covers in Altoona, month by month
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Altoona’s Regional Price Parity (89.51). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About middle school teachers, except special and career/technical educations
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What this looks like in Altoona
Altoona sits well above the national pay line for middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education, local pay runs about 16% higher than the U.S. median of $64K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,138/month, 23.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.51 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Altoona offers a genuinely strong financial position for middle school teachers, except special and career/technical educations at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for middle school teachers, except special and career/technical educations in metros near Altoona, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $78K | $76K |
| Pittsburgh | $85K | $90K |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre | $80K | $86K |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $80K | $80K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Altoona, PA
Entry-level middle school teachers, except special and career/technical educations (10th percentile) start around $51K. Mid-career wages sit at $75K. Top earners bring in $94K or more, a $43K spread from bottom to top.
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $102K | +59% | 10,510 |
| California | $99K | +54% | 37,300 |
| New York | $95K | +47% | 38,670 |
| Connecticut | $94K | +45% | 7,920 |
| Rhode Island | $93K | +44% | 2,370 |
| Massachusetts | $89K | +39% | 16,570 |
| District of Columbia | $80K | +24% | 1,540 |
| Utah | $79K | +23% | 5,960 |
| Alaska | $79K | +23% | 1,150 |
| New Jersey | $79K | +22% | 23,650 |
| Maryland | $79K | +22% | 14,530 |
| Oregon | $78K | +22% | 6,940 |
| Pennsylvania | $78K | +21% | 22,720 |
| Ohio | $77K | +20% | 30,450 |
| Illinois | $76K | +18% | 24,770 |
| New Mexico | $75K | +17% | 4,260 |
| Vermont | $74K | +15% | 1,620 |
| New Hampshire | $71K | +11% | 3,120 |
| Hawaii | $69K | +8% | 2,480 |
| Delaware | $68K | +5% | 2,350 |
| Nevada | $66K | +3% | 3,910 |
| Georgia | $65K | +1% | 23,610 |
| Michigan | $64K | -1% | 15,420 |
| Colorado | $64K | -1% | 13,280 |
| Maine | $64K | -1% | 2,780 |
| Virginia | $64K | -1% | 18,290 |
| Texas | $63K | -2% | 80,160 |
| Minnesota | $63K | -3% | 8,890 |
| Nebraska | $63K | -3% | 4,150 |
| Wyoming | $62K | -3% | 1,290 |
| Wisconsin | $62K | -4% | 14,460 |
| Alabama | $62K | -4% | 10,000 |
| Montana | $62K | -4% | 1,980 |
| Kentucky | $61K | -5% | 8,040 |
| Idaho | $61K | -5% | 2,360 |
| South Carolina | $61K | -6% | 9,750 |
| Indiana | $61K | -6% | 11,700 |
| Tennessee | $61K | -6% | 13,060 |
| Kansas | $61K | -6% | 6,230 |
| Iowa | $60K | -6% | 6,270 |
| North Dakota | $60K | -7% | 1,400 |
| Arizona | $60K | -7% | 9,020 |
| Arkansas | $60K | -7% | 6,140 |
| Missouri | $59K | -8% | 11,330 |
| Florida | $59K | -8% | 31,370 |
| Louisiana | $59K | -9% | 5,560 |
| West Virginia | $57K | -11% | 4,090 |
| North Carolina | $52K | -19% | 20,650 |
| South Dakota | $51K | -21% | 2,130 |
| Mississippi | $51K | -21% | 6,260 |
| Oklahoma | $48K | -25% | 7,620 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education salary changes
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education afford a 2BR apartment alone in Altoona?
Yes — at the median salary of $75K, rent takes 23.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,138/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for middle school teachers, except special and career/technical educations in Altoona?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new middle school teachers, except special and career/technical educations typically earn — is $51K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,459/month. At HUD’s $1,138/month FMR, rent would take 33% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education a high-paying job in Altoona?
Local pay is 16% above the national median — $75K here vs. $64K nationally.
How does Altoona compare to the national average for middle school teachers, except special and career/technical educations?
Altoona pays $75K median vs. the U.S. average of $64K — that’s +16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.51), the purchasing-power equivalent is $83K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do middle school teachers, except special and career/technical educations make in Altoona, PA?
The median is $74,730 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $51,080, and experienced middle school teachers, except special and career/technical educations can clear $94,410. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $75K enough to live in Altoona?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,889/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,138/month, which eats 23.3% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education salary go in Altoona?
Altoona has a Regional Price Parity of 89.51 (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 middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education salary is worth about $83,488 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do middle school teachers, except special and career/technical educations 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.