Compensation
Median Pay
$64,370
National median annual wage for this occupation.
National Career Overview
Middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education
Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
National Median Pay
$64,370
Projected Growth
-2.0%
Annual Openings
40,500
Career outlook
National Snapshot
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National
Employment
633,700
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Outlook
Projected Growth
-2.0%
Projected employment change through 2034.
Opportunity
Annual Openings
40,500
Estimated openings created each year.
Pathway
Preparation
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
STEP 1
Education
Bachelor's degree
STEP 2
Experience
None
STEP 3
Training
None
Top Skills for Success
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Adaptability
95 / 100
95%
Interpersonal
94 / 100
94%
Leadership
94 / 100
94%
Creativity & innovation
92 / 100
92%
Speaking & listening
92 / 100
92%
Writing & reading
81 / 100
81%
Mathematics
79 / 100
79%
Problem solving & decision making
74 / 100
74%
Project management
71 / 100
71%
Science
68 / 100
68%
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Location Intelligence
Best Places for This Career
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Best Metro Areas
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
- Top-paying cities
- Fast-growing markets
- Local opportunity rankings
CAREERGPS INSIGHTS
Career Analysis for Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Is Middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education a Good Career?
Middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education, work in a large national occupation with 634,000 jobs. The role centers on teaching and supporting students in the middle grades, drawing heavily on communication, problem solving, and academic skills. Nationally, the occupation offers a median annual salary of $62,970, with some states and metro areas providing substantially higher typical pay. While projected employment growth is -2.0%, there are still 40,000 annual openings, reflecting ongoing turnover and hiring needs. Strong skills in adaptability, interpersonal communication, leadership, creativity and innovation, and core academic areas like writing, reading, mathematics, and science are important in this field. Individuals interested in related paths can also consider careers such as elementary, secondary, or special education teaching. Overall, this career combines steady demand with the need for strong people skills and a solid academic foundation, supported by a typical education level of a bachelor’s degree.
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education Salary
Nationally, middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education, earn a median annual salary of $62,970. However, salary levels vary meaningfully by location. Among the top states, Washington reports a median salary of $102,140, California $98,950, New York $94,840, and Massachusetts $89,450, all notably higher than the national median. Colorado, at $63,760, is slightly above the national median level. At the metro level, several areas stand out: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA has a median salary of $105,030, New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ reports $96,500, and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH reports $94,170. These figures show that certain states and metro areas offer higher typical pay, which may appeal to teachers open to relocating. Overall earning potential in this career is closely tied to geographic choice, with some high-opportunity metros and states offering substantially higher median salaries.
Job Outlook for Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education, account for 634,000 jobs nationally. The occupation is projected to experience -2.0% employment growth, indicating a modest decline in total positions over the projection period. Despite this, the field still offers 40,000 annual openings. These openings suggest ongoing hiring activity, even as overall employment levels are projected to dip. All of the highlighted top states and metro areas share the same projected growth rate of -2.0%, so the outlook pattern is consistent across these leading locations. For individuals considering this career, the combination of a large employment base and regular annual openings indicates continuing opportunities for new and experienced teachers. Those exploring alternative paths within education may also look at similar occupations such as elementary school teachers, secondary school teachers, and various special education roles, which can offer related employment options within the broader education field.
Where Are the Best Opportunities for Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education?
Location plays a significant role in opportunity for middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education. At the state level, California, Massachusetts, New York, Colorado, and Washington all rank highly by opportunity score. Washington and California offer the highest median salaries among these states at $102,140 and $98,950, respectively, while New York and Massachusetts also provide relatively high typical pay at $94,840 and $89,450. Employment levels differ as well: New York (38,670) and California (37,300) have larger job markets, while Colorado (13,280) and Washington (10,510) represent smaller but still notable markets. All top states share a -2.0% growth rate. Among metro areas, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ have the highest opportunity scores, with median salaries of $105,030 and $96,500. Other strong metros include San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, each offering distinct combinations of salary and employment levels.
Education for Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
The typical education requirement for middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education, is a bachelor’s degree. This level of education supports the broad mix of skills emphasized in the role. Strong speaking and listening abilities, along with writing and reading skills, align with the communication demands of teaching and working with students and colleagues. Mathematics and science skills reflect the academic content many teachers draw on in the classroom. Adaptability, interpersonal skills, and leadership are central to working effectively with middle school students and contributing to school communities. Creativity and innovation can help in developing engaging learning experiences, while problem solving and decision making support daily instructional and classroom challenges. Project management skills are also relevant as teachers coordinate lessons, activities, and educational goals over time. Together, the bachelor’s degree requirement and this wide-ranging skill set define the professional foundation expected in this career.
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