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 Texas is $63,590/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $78K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.49), which stretches that salary to about $69,505 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,415/month, about 32% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Texas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $64K get you in Texas?
About secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations
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What this looks like in Texas
Pay for secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education in Texas runs about 12% below the U.S. median of $72K. Rent runs $1,415/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.49 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% 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, Texas
Entry-level secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $64K. Top earners bring in $78K or more, a $28K spread from bottom to top.
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary by metro in Texas
25 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Odessa | $67K | +5% | 580 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $66K | +4% | 28,000 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $66K | +3% | 26,260 |
| Midland | $66K | +3% | 680 |
| Laredo | $65K | +2% | 1,070 |
| Killeen-Temple | $64K | +0% | 1,670 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur | $63K | -1% | 1,320 |
| Corpus Christi | $63K | -1% | 1,470 |
| El Paso | $63K | -2% | 3,620 |
| Sherman-Denison | $63K | -2% | 400 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission | $63K | -2% | 4,010 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen | $62K | -2% | 1,970 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | $62K | -2% | 8,160 |
| Wichita Falls | $62K | -3% | 480 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | $62K | -3% | 10,130 |
| Lubbock | $61K | -4% | 1,820 |
| Waco | $61K | -4% | 1,220 |
| Tyler | $61K | -4% | 900 |
| Longview | $61K | -4% | 1,110 |
| Abilene | $60K | -6% | 610 |
| Texarkana | $60K | -6% | 610 |
| San Angelo | $59K | -6% | 440 |
| Amarillo | $59K | -7% | 980 |
| College Station-Bryan | $59K | -8% | 880 |
| Victoria | $58K | -8% | 300 |
Showing 1–10 of 25 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 Texas 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 Texas?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $64K, rent takes 32% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,415/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,300/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 Texas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,025/month. At HUD’s $1,415/month FMR, rent would take 47% 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 Texas?
Local pay runs 12% below the national median — $64K here vs. $72K nationally. Cost of living is 9% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Texas compare to the national average for secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations?
Texas pays $64K median vs. the U.S. average of $72K — that’s -12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.49), the purchasing-power equivalent is $70K — below the national median.
How much do secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations make in Texas?
The median is $63,590 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $50,410, and experienced secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations can clear $78,020. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $64K enough to live in Texas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,427/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,415/month, which eats 32% 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 Texas?
Texas has a Regional Price Parity of 91.49 (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 $69,505 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.