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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD is $80,560/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $59K at the entry level to $103K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.55), that's roughly $78,557 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,810/month, about 34.9% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $81K get you in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington’s Regional Price Parity (102.55). 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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington sits well above the national pay line for secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education, local pay runs about 12% higher than the U.S. median of $72K. Rent runs $1,810/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 102.55) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. 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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh | $81K | $86K |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $80K | $80K |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | $73K | $74K |
| Lancaster | $81K | $82K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
Entry-level secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations (10th percentile) start around $59K. Mid-career wages sit at $81K. Top earners bring in $103K or more, a $45K 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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $81K, rent takes 34.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,810/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,600/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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations typically earn — is $59K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,532/month. At HUD’s $1,810/month FMR, rent would take 51% 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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington?
Local pay is 12% above the national median — $81K here vs. $72K nationally.
How does Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington compare to the national average for secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations?
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington pays $81K median vs. the U.S. average of $72K — that’s +12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.55), the purchasing-power equivalent is $79K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations make in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD?
The median is $80,560 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $58,870, and experienced secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations can clear $103,480. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $81K enough to live in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,216/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,810/month, which eats 34.7% 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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington?
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington has a Regional Price Parity of 102.55 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education salary is worth about $78,557 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.