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 Pennsylvania is $77,930/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $105K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.97), which stretches that salary to about $82,057 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,351/month, or 25.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Pennsylvania. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $78K actually covers in Pennsylvania, month by month
About middle school teachers, except special and career/technical educations
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What this looks like in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania sits well above the national pay line for middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education, local pay runs about 21% higher than the U.S. median of $64K. Rent runs $1,351/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% 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, Pennsylvania
Entry-level middle school teachers, except special and career/technical educations (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $78K. Top earners bring in $105K or more, a $57K spread from bottom to top.
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary by metro in Pennsylvania
13 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh | $85K | +9% | 4,390 |
| York-Hanover | $82K | +5% | 810 |
| Williamsport | $82K | +5% | 230 |
| Reading | $81K | +4% | 780 |
| Lancaster | $81K | +4% | 740 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre | $80K | +3% | 1,560 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $80K | +2% | 1,460 |
| State College | $78K | +0% | 220 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $78K | +0% | 13,090 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | $76K | -2% | 1,190 |
| Chambersburg | $76K | -3% | 310 |
| Altoona | $75K | -4% | 190 |
| Erie | $62K | -20% | 600 |
Showing 1–10 of 13 metros
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Pennsylvania numbers change.
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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 Pennsylvania?
Yes — at the median salary of $78K, rent takes 26.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,351/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 Pennsylvania?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new middle school teachers, except special and career/technical educations typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,300/month. At HUD’s $1,351/month FMR, rent would take 41% 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 Pennsylvania?
Local pay is 21% above the national median — $78K here vs. $64K nationally.
How does Pennsylvania compare to the national average for middle school teachers, except special and career/technical educations?
Pennsylvania pays $78K median vs. the U.S. average of $64K — that’s +21%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $82K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do middle school teachers, except special and career/technical educations make in Pennsylvania?
The median is $77,930 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,610, and experienced middle school teachers, except special and career/technical educations can clear $105,330. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $78K enough to live in Pennsylvania?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,068/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,351/month, which eats 26.7% 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 Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a Regional Price Parity of 94.97 (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 $82,057 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.