Secondary School Teacher Salary in North Carolina
Secondary school teachers in North Carolina earned a median of $57,650 a year and a mean of $55,760 in May 2025. The median is 20.0% below the U.S. median of $72,040, ranking 50th of 54 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $57,650
- Median hourly
- not published
- Mean annual
- $55,760
- Jobs on record
- 28,620
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state file, May 2025. Wage and salary jobs only; the self-employed are not counted. OEWS pay excludes overtime, shift differentials and non-production bonuses. Confirm any figure on bls.gov/oes. Latest BLS release: May 2025, published May 15, 2026; checked November 10, 2026.
How does North Carolina compare on pay for secondary school teachers?
North Carolina ranks 50th of 54 states and territories. Washington is highest at $102,670, $45,020 more than the North Carolina median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Puerto Rico | 48 | $59,100 | -18% | 5,640 |
| Arizona | 49 | $58,360 | -19% | 21,190 |
| North Carolina | 50 | $57,650 | -20% | 28,620 |
| West Virginia | 51 | $56,610 | -21% | 3,590 |
| South Dakota | 52 | $51,050 | -29% | 3,360 |
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025. Rank 1 is the highest median among 54 states and territories with a published figure. See every state.
Does North Carolina pay go further after prices?
Prices in North Carolina run 5.7% below the U.S. average, so the $57,650 median buys about what $61,118 buys at average U.S. prices, below the $72,040 U.S. median. On this measure North Carolina ranks 46th of 51, up from 47th before the adjustment.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025; BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024. The adjustment divides pay by the state's price level.
Which areas in North Carolina pay secondary school teachers the most?
Raleigh-Cary, NC is highest at $60,380, 4.7% above the North Carolina median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $57,240 | 1,760 |
| Greenville, NC | $57,230 | 360 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $56,280 | 240 |
| Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $53,490 | 2,080 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $52,180 | 360 |
| Burlington, NC | $49,680 | 350 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $49,580 | 1,030 |
| Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $49,390 | 2,230 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $47,770 | 320 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in North Carolina is shown; an area that crosses state lines is listed under the first state in its BLS title.
How many secondary school teachers work in North Carolina?
BLS counts 28,620 jobs in North Carolina, 2.7% of the 1,065,210 in the U.S. That is the 10th largest count among the 54 states and territories with a published figure. That is 5.8 of every 1,000 jobs in North Carolina, a location quotient of 0.85: the occupation's share of local jobs is 0.85 times its national share, so it is less concentrated here than in the U.S. as a whole.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025 and national file.
Related jobs in North Carolina
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.