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 Auburn-Opelika, AL is $61,250/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $78K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.93), which stretches that salary to about $69,658 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $995/month, or 24.7% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $61K get you in Auburn-Opelika?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Auburn-Opelika’s Regional Price Parity (87.93). 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 secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations
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What this looks like in Auburn-Opelika
Pay for secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education in Auburn-Opelika runs about 15% below the U.S. median of $72K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $995/month, 24.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.93 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Auburn-Opelika can be a reasonable trade-off for secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations in metros near Auburn-Opelika, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | $63K | $68K |
| Huntsville | $64K | $69K |
| Montgomery | $62K | $69K |
| Mobile | $62K | $70K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Auburn-Opelika, AL
Entry-level secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $61K. Top earners bring in $78K or more, a $29K spread from bottom to top.
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $103K | +43% | 14,880 |
| California | $101K | +41% | 99,230 |
| New York | $97K | +35% | 70,660 |
| Massachusetts | $95K | +32% | 28,460 |
| Rhode Island | $93K | +29% | 4,910 |
| District of Columbia | $83K | +15% | 2,800 |
| New Jersey | $82K | +14% | 38,140 |
| Connecticut | $81K | +12% | 14,800 |
| Illinois | $80K | +11% | 44,670 |
| Alaska | $80K | +11% | 2,790 |
| Oregon | $80K | +10% | 11,730 |
| Ohio | $79K | +9% | 49,540 |
| Pennsylvania | $79K | +9% | 52,240 |
| Maryland | $79K | +9% | 16,640 |
| Delaware | $78K | +8% | 5,360 |
| New Hampshire | $77K | +7% | 5,860 |
| Minnesota | $76K | +6% | 16,020 |
| Utah | $76K | +6% | 11,030 |
| Vermont | $76K | +6% | 2,450 |
| New Mexico | $76K | +5% | 8,120 |
| Georgia | $75K | +5% | 25,730 |
| Hawaii | $74K | +3% | 5,590 |
| Colorado | $73K | +1% | 18,310 |
| Virginia | $72K | +0% | 31,100 |
| Michigan | $66K | -8% | 25,540 |
| Nevada | $66K | -9% | 8,920 |
| Maine | $65K | -10% | 5,540 |
| Texas | $64K | -12% | 111,660 |
| Nebraska | $63K | -12% | 7,170 |
| Wisconsin | $63K | -13% | 15,910 |
| Wyoming | $63K | -13% | 1,600 |
| South Carolina | $63K | -13% | 16,080 |
| Alabama | $62K | -14% | 15,880 |
| Indiana | $62K | -14% | 20,430 |
| Tennessee | $62K | -14% | 21,230 |
| Idaho | $62K | -14% | 6,570 |
| Kentucky | $62K | -15% | 12,780 |
| North Dakota | $61K | -15% | 3,070 |
| Iowa | $61K | -15% | 12,310 |
| Montana | $61K | -15% | 3,670 |
| Florida | $60K | -16% | 49,810 |
| Kansas | $60K | -17% | 10,860 |
| Louisiana | $60K | -17% | 15,210 |
| Arkansas | $60K | -17% | 12,890 |
| Missouri | $59K | -18% | 24,380 |
| Arizona | $58K | -19% | 21,190 |
| North Carolina | $58K | -20% | 28,620 |
| West Virginia | $57K | -21% | 3,590 |
| South Dakota | $51K | -29% | 3,360 |
| Mississippi | $51K | -29% | 10,400 |
| Oklahoma | $49K | -32% | 15,480 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
Can a secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education afford a 2BR apartment alone in Auburn-Opelika?
Yes — at the median salary of $61K, rent takes 24.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $995/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 Auburn-Opelika?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,926/month. At HUD’s $995/month FMR, rent would take 34% 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 Auburn-Opelika?
Local pay runs 15% below the national median — $61K here vs. $72K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Auburn-Opelika compare to the national average for secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations?
Auburn-Opelika pays $61K median vs. the U.S. average of $72K — that’s -15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.93), the purchasing-power equivalent is $70K — below the national median.
How much do secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations make in Auburn-Opelika, AL?
The median is $61,250 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,760, and experienced secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations can clear $77,810. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $61K enough to live in Auburn-Opelika?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,030/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $995/month, which eats 24.7% 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 Auburn-Opelika?
Auburn-Opelika has a Regional Price Parity of 87.93 (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 $69,658 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.