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 Columbus, GA-AL is $60,380/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $45K at the entry level to $77K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.3), which stretches that salary to about $67,615 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,088/month, or 27.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Where the paycheck goes
What $60K actually covers in Columbus, month by month
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Columbus’s Regional Price Parity (89.3). 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 Columbus
Middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education pay in Columbus tracks closely to the national median, $60K locally vs. $64K nationwide, a 6% difference. Rent runs $1,088/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.3 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for middle school teachers, except special and career/technical educations in metros near Columbus, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $75K | $75K |
| Augusta-Richmond County | $60K | $65K |
| Savannah | $63K | $66K |
| Gainesville | $61K | $63K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Columbus, GA-AL
Entry-level middle school teachers, except special and career/technical educations (10th percentile) start around $45K. Mid-career wages sit at $60K. Top earners bring in $77K or more, a $32K 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 Columbus?
Yes — at the median salary of $60K, rent takes 27.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,088/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 Columbus?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new middle school teachers, except special and career/technical educations typically earn — is $45K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,000/month. At HUD’s $1,088/month FMR, rent would take 36% 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 Columbus?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $60K locally vs. $64K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Columbus compare to the national average for middle school teachers, except special and career/technical educations?
Columbus pays $60K median vs. the U.S. average of $64K — that’s -6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.3), the purchasing-power equivalent is $68K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do middle school teachers, except special and career/technical educations make in Columbus, GA-AL?
The median is $60,380 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $44,770, and experienced middle school teachers, except special and career/technical educations can clear $76,590. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $60K enough to live in Columbus?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,974/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,088/month, which eats 27.4% 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 Columbus?
Columbus has a Regional Price Parity of 89.3 (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 $67,615 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.