Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary in North Carolina
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education in North Carolina earn a median of $57,650 a year, based on BLS data for 28,620 workers.
Pay ranges from $45,430 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,460 for the top 10%. That is 20% lower than the national median of $72,040. North Carolina ranks 47th of 51 states for secondary school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education pay. There are 5.8 secondary school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $55,760, close to the median.
Pay range for secondary school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education in North Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,430 |
| 25th percentile | $47,760 |
| Median | $57,650 |
| 75th percentile | $60,740 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $64,460 |
| Average (mean) | $55,760 |
Half of secondary school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,804.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,402.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,217.31 |
| Weekly | $1,108.65 |
BLS publishes only yearly pay for this job, because secondary school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education are usually paid a salary and may not work a full 2,080-hour year. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
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Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary in cities in North Carolina
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $76,790 | 5,520 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $60,380 | 4,210 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $60,300 | 8,500 |
| Asheville, NC | $59,320 | 1,080 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $58,990 | 2,300 |
| Wilmington, NC | $57,980 | 730 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $57,930 | 1,330 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $57,870 | 1,620 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $57,790 | 630 |
| Greenville, NC | $57,230 | 360 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $56,280 | 240 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $52,180 | 360 |
| Burlington, NC | $49,680 | 350 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $49,580 | 1,030 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $47,770 | 320 |
Highest-paying states for secondary school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $102,670 |
| California | $101,370 |
| New York | $97,070 |
| Massachusetts | $95,260 |
| Rhode Island | $92,610 |
| District of Columbia | $82,750 |
| New Jersey | $82,200 |
| Connecticut | $80,970 |
| Illinois | $79,990 |
| Alaska | $79,650 |
See Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education pay in every state.
Related jobs in North Carolina
More: Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · all salaries in North Carolina
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 25-2031. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a secondary school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education make in North Carolina?
The median salary for secondary school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education in North Carolina is $57,650 a year. Pay ranges from $45,430 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,460 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid secondary school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education make in North Carolina?
The top 10% of secondary school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education in North Carolina earn at least $64,460 a year. The top 25% earn $60,740 or more.
What is the starting pay for secondary school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education in North Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $45,430 a year, and a quarter of secondary school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education earn $47,760 or less.
How many secondary school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education work in North Carolina?
About 28,620 secondary school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education are employed in North Carolina, not counting the self-employed.