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 Arizona is $58,360/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $46K at the entry level to $94K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 96.41), that's roughly $60,533 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,437/month, about 36.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Arizona. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $58K actually covers in Arizona, month by month
About secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations
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What this looks like in Arizona
Pay for secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education in Arizona runs about 19% below the U.S. median of $72K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,437/month, which is 36.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 96.41) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arizona
Entry-level secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations (10th percentile) start around $46K. Mid-career wages sit at $58K. Top earners bring in $94K or more, a $47K spread from bottom to top.
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary by metro in Arizona
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler | $60K | +2% | 14,730 |
| Flagstaff | $57K | -2% | 380 |
| Sierra Vista-Douglas | $54K | -8% | 310 |
| Tucson | $51K | -13% | 3,320 |
| Yuma | $50K | -15% | 520 |
| Lake Havasu City-Kingman | $49K | -15% | 370 |
| Prescott Valley-Prescott | $49K | -17% | 410 |
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arizona?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $58K, rent takes 36.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,437/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations in Arizona?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations typically earn — is $46K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,170/month. At HUD’s $1,437/month FMR, rent would take 45% 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 Arizona?
Local pay runs 19% below the national median — $58K here vs. $72K nationally.
How does Arizona compare to the national average for secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations?
Arizona pays $58K median vs. the U.S. average of $72K — that’s -19%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 96.41), the purchasing-power equivalent is $61K — below the national median.
How much do secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations make in Arizona?
The median is $58,360 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,240, and experienced secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations can clear $93,530. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $58K enough to live in Arizona?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,956/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,437/month, which eats 36.3% 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 secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education salary go in Arizona?
Arizona has a Regional Price Parity of 96.41 (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 $60,533 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.