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 Virginia is $72,170/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $108K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.79), which stretches that salary to about $76,137 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,646/month, about 34.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $72K actually covers in Virginia, month by month
About secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations
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What this looks like in Virginia
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education pay in Virginia tracks closely to the national median, $72K locally vs. $72K nationwide, a 0% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,646/month, which is 35.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.79 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% 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, Virginia
Entry-level secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $72K. Top earners bring in $108K or more, a $58K spread from bottom to top.
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary by metro in Virginia
9 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harrisonburg | $78K | +8% | 400 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $77K | +6% | 5,520 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft | $73K | +1% | 460 |
| Charlottesville | $63K | -12% | 910 |
| Richmond | $62K | -14% | 4,420 |
| Roanoke | $62K | -14% | 970 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford | $61K | -16% | 480 |
| Winchester | $61K | -16% | 450 |
| Lynchburg | $58K | -19% | 890 |
Compare to other states
Track secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education salary changes
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Virginia numbers change.
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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 Virginia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $72K, rent takes 35.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,646/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,400/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 Virginia?
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 $3,315/month. At HUD’s $1,646/month FMR, rent would take 50% 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 Virginia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $72K locally vs. $72K nationally, a 0% difference.
How does Virginia compare to the national average for secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations?
Virginia pays $72K median vs. the U.S. average of $72K — that’s +0%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $76K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations make in Virginia?
The median is $72,170 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,900, and experienced secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations can clear $107,930. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $72K enough to live in Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,627/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,646/month, which eats 35.6% 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 Virginia?
Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 94.79 (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 $76,137 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.