Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education Salary
The median pay for a secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education in Alabama is $61,990/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $76K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.36), which stretches that salary to about $70,156 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,085/month, or 26.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Alabama. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $62K get you in Alabama?
About secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations
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What this looks like in Alabama
Pay for secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education in Alabama runs about 14% below the U.S. median of $72K. Rent runs $1,085/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.36 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% 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, Alabama
Entry-level secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $62K. Top earners bring in $76K or more, a $28K spread from bottom to top.
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary by metro in Alabama
12 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville | $64K | +4% | 1,580 |
| Decatur | $63K | +2% | 420 |
| Anniston-Oxford | $63K | +2% | 370 |
| Birmingham | $63K | +1% | 2,850 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley | $62K | +1% | 820 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals | $62K | +0% | 620 |
| Montgomery | $62K | -0% | 1,210 |
| Tuscaloosa | $62K | -1% | 830 |
| Mobile | $62K | -1% | 1,110 |
| Auburn-Opelika | $61K | -1% | 840 |
| Dothan | $61K | -1% | 550 |
| Gadsden | $59K | -5% | 330 |
Showing 1–10 of 12 metros
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Track secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Alabama numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education afford a 2BR apartment alone in Alabama?
Yes — at the median salary of $62K, rent takes 26.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,085/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations in Alabama?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations typically earn — is $48K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,891/month. At HUD’s $1,085/month FMR, rent would take 38% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education a high-paying job in Alabama?
Local pay runs 14% below the national median — $62K here vs. $72K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Alabama compare to the national average for secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations?
Alabama pays $62K median vs. the U.S. average of $72K — that’s -14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.36), the purchasing-power equivalent is $70K — below the national median.
How much do secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations make in Alabama?
The median is $61,990 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,190, and experienced secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations can clear $76,300. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $62K enough to live in Alabama?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,076/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,085/month, which eats 26.6% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education salary go in Alabama?
Alabama has a Regional Price Parity of 88.36 (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 secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education salary is worth about $70,156 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do secondary 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.