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 Columbia, MO is $58,720/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $45K at the entry level to $77K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.44), which stretches that salary to about $65,653 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,160/month, about 30.1% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $59K get you in Columbia?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Columbia’s Regional Price Parity (89.44). 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
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Columbia
Pay for secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education in Columbia runs about 18% below the U.S. median of $72K. Rent runs $1,160/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.44 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations in metros near Columbia, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis | $62K | $65K |
| Kansas City | $61K | $66K |
| Springfield | $60K | $68K |
| Jefferson City | $51K | $58K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Columbia, MO
Entry-level secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations (10th percentile) start around $45K. Mid-career wages sit at $59K. Top earners bring in $77K or more, a $33K 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
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Columbia numbers change.
Related careers in Education
Frequently asked questions
Can a secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education afford a 2BR apartment alone in Columbia?
Yes — at the median salary of $59K, rent takes 29.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,160/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 Columbia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations typically earn — is $45K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,676/month. At HUD’s $1,160/month FMR, rent would take 43% 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 Columbia?
Local pay runs 18% below the national median — $59K here vs. $72K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Columbia compare to the national average for secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations?
Columbia pays $59K median vs. the U.S. average of $72K — that’s -18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.44), the purchasing-power equivalent is $66K — below the national median.
How much do secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations make in Columbia, MO?
The median is $58,720 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $44,600, and experienced secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations can clear $77,160. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $59K enough to live in Columbia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,935/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,160/month, which eats 29.5% 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 Columbia?
Columbia has a Regional Price Parity of 89.44 (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 $65,653 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.