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 North Carolina is $52,010/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $45K at the entry level to $62K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $56,130 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,284/month, about 36.9% 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 $52K get you in North Carolina?
About middle school teachers, except special and career/technical educations
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What this looks like in North Carolina
Pay for middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education in North Carolina runs about 19% below the U.S. median of $64K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,284/month, which is 37.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. 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. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for middle school teachers, except special and career/technical educations.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, North Carolina
Entry-level middle school teachers, except special and career/technical educations (10th percentile) start around $45K. Mid-career wages sit at $52K. Top earners bring in $62K or more, a $17K spread from bottom to top.
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary by metro in North Carolina
12 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $59K | +14% | 6,270 |
| Asheville | $58K | +11% | 1,020 |
| Raleigh-Cary | $57K | +10% | 1,230 |
| Greensboro-High Point | $57K | +9% | 2,380 |
| Winston-Salem | $55K | +5% | N/A |
| Greenville | $55K | +5% | 320 |
| Wilmington | $52K | +1% | 680 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton | $52K | -0% | 850 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $51K | -1% | 1,210 |
| Fayetteville | $49K | -6% | 560 |
| Rocky Mount | $48K | -8% | 360 |
| Goldsboro | $48K | -9% | 300 |
Showing 1–10 of 12 metros
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Track middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education 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 middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Carolina?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $52K, rent takes 37.1% 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 $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for middle school teachers, except special and career/technical educations in North Carolina?
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 $2,680/month. At HUD’s $1,284/month FMR, rent would take 48% 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 North Carolina?
Local pay runs 19% below the national median — $52K here vs. $64K 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 middle school teachers, except special and career/technical educations?
North Carolina pays $52K median vs. the U.S. average of $64K — that’s -19%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $56K — below the national median.
How much do middle school teachers, except special and career/technical educations make in North Carolina?
The median is $52,010 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $44,660, and experienced middle school teachers, except special and career/technical educations can clear $61,770. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $52K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,457/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 37.1% 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 middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education 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 middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education salary is worth about $56,130 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.