All careers › Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Math teacher: pay, job outlook and how to become one
- $48,780lowest 10% earn less
- $59,98025th percentile
- $72,040median
- $92,57075th percentile
- $107,600top 10% earn more
A math teacher is one kind of secondary school teacher, and the median pay for the group was $72,040 a year[1]. Total jobs are projected to dip slightly through 2035, but many positions still open each year[2][3].
How much do math teachers make?
BLS counts math teachers in the category Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education. In May 2025, the median pay for this group was $72,040 a year[1]. The average was $76,320[7]. For comparison, the median for all occupations was $50,980[5].
Pay varies widely within the job:
| Point in the range | Annual wage | Fact |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile[4] | $48,780 | |
| 25th percentile[4] | $59,980 | |
| Median[1] | $72,040 | |
| 75th percentile[4] | $92,570 | |
| 90th percentile[4] | $107,600 |
The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $48,780, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $107,600[4]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS does not publish a starting salary[8].
BLS publishes only annual wages for this group, not hourly wages[9]. The figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed, bonuses and the cost of benefits such as health insurance[10].
Pay by state and city
Washington had the highest state median at $102,670, followed by California at $101,370 and New York at $97,070[11]. Oklahoma had the lowest listed median at $48,710[11].
Texas had the most jobs at 111,660[12]. California (99,230), New York (70,660), Pennsylvania (52,240) and Florida (49,810) came next[12].
Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA had the highest median at $121,190[13]. Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($108,850) and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($108,230) followed[13]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City area had the most jobs at 75,780, with a median of $100,800[14].
Show median pay in 50 states and DC
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Washington[11] | $102,670 | 14,880 |
| California | $101,370 | 99,230 |
| New York | $97,070 | 70,660 |
| Massachusetts | $95,260 | 28,460 |
| Rhode Island | $92,610 | 4,910 |
| District of Columbia | $82,750 | 2,800 |
| New Jersey | $82,200 | 38,140 |
| Connecticut | $80,970 | 14,800 |
| Illinois | $79,990 | 44,670 |
| Alaska | $79,650 | 2,790 |
| Oregon | $79,570 | 11,730 |
| Ohio | $78,800 | 49,540 |
| Pennsylvania | $78,800 | 52,240 |
| Maryland | $78,670 | 16,640 |
| Delaware | $77,960 | 5,360 |
| New Hampshire | $77,060 | 5,860 |
| Minnesota | $76,460 | 16,020 |
| Utah | $76,330 | 11,030 |
| Vermont | $76,220 | 2,450 |
| New Mexico | $75,900 | 8,120 |
| Georgia | $75,480 | 25,730 |
| Hawaii | $74,310 | 5,590 |
| Colorado | $72,900 | 18,310 |
| Virginia | $72,170 | 31,100 |
| Michigan | $66,030 | 25,540 |
| Nevada | $65,520 | 8,920 |
| Maine | $64,880 | 5,540 |
| Texas | $63,590 | 111,660 |
| Nebraska | $63,450 | 7,170 |
| Wisconsin | $62,870 | 15,910 |
| Wyoming | $62,690 | 1,600 |
| South Carolina | $62,580 | 16,080 |
| Alabama | $61,990 | 15,880 |
| Indiana | $61,880 | 20,430 |
| Tennessee | $61,860 | 21,230 |
| Idaho | $61,690 | 6,570 |
| Kentucky | $61,560 | 12,780 |
| North Dakota | $61,210 | 3,070 |
| Iowa | $61,200 | 12,310 |
| Montana | $60,990 | 3,670 |
| Florida | $60,410 | 49,810 |
| Kansas | $59,920 | 10,860 |
| Louisiana | $59,850 | 15,210 |
| Arkansas | $59,660 | 12,890 |
| Missouri | $59,240 | 24,380 |
| Arizona | $58,360 | 21,190 |
| North Carolina | $57,650 | 28,620 |
| West Virginia | $56,610 | 3,590 |
| South Dakota | $51,050 | 3,360 |
| Mississippi | $50,980 | 10,400 |
| Oklahoma | $48,710 | 15,480 |
How to become a math teacher
BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry education for this group. It lists no related work experience and no on-the-job training[6].
- First: earn a bachelor's degree. All states require it for public high school teachers, and the major may be in education[15]. Some states want a major in a content area such as mathematics[15].
- Next: complete a teacher education program. These programs usually include student teaching with a mentor teacher[16].
- Then: get a state license or certification. Public school teachers need one[17]. It is tied to the grade level they teach[18]. A secondary certification typically covers grades 7 through 12[19].
- Later: check your state's rules on further study. Some states require a master's degree after certification and after getting a job[20].
Licensing rules differ by state. They generally involve a degree with a minimum grade point average, student teaching, a background check, and tests of general teaching skills and subject knowledge[21][22][23][24][25]. Private school teachers do not need to meet state requirements, although private schools typically look for a bachelor's degree and a subject major[26][18].
In an ONET survey of 31 workers, 77% said a bachelor's degree was the education level required[27]. ONET places the job in Job Zone Four, which means considerable preparation is needed[28].
What secondary school teachers do
O*NET describes the job as teaching one or more subjects to secondary school students[29]. Job titles that workers report include math teacher, English teacher, science teacher and social studies teacher[30]. Typical tasks include:
- Teaching through lectures, discussions and demonstrations[31]
- Setting rules for behavior and keeping order in class[31]
- Preparing materials and classrooms for activities[31]
- Adjusting teaching methods to students' different needs and interests[31]
- Writing, giving and grading tests and assignments[31]
- Setting clear goals for lessons and units and sharing them with students[31]
- Watching how students perform and behave[31]
- Advising students with academic problems or special interests[31]
Where they work
Local elementary and secondary schools employed 81% of high school teachers in 2025[32]. Teachers generally work during school hours. They may meet with parents, students and colleagues before and after school, and they often grade and plan lessons in the evenings and on weekends[33].
Many teachers follow a traditional 10-month school year with a summer break of about two months[34]. In districts with year-round schedules, teachers typically work 9 weeks and then have 3 weeks off[35]. BLS notes that the job can be stressful, for example when classes are large or teaching tools are out of date[36].
Job outlook
BLS projects employment for this group to decline 0.2% from 2025 to 2035, from about 1,087,500 to 1,085,000 jobs[2]. For all occupations, BLS projects growth of 3.5% over the same period[37].
Even so, about 63,500 openings are projected each year[3]. Openings include jobs that come open when people retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[3]. Each year, 2.8% of workers leave the labor force and 3.1% move to a different occupation[38].
The OEWS count of jobs in May 2025 was about 1,065,210[39]. The projection figures come from a different measure and include self-employed workers[2].
Is it a good fit?
The pay is above the all-occupations median, but it depends a lot on the state[1][5][11]. Entry takes a bachelor's degree and, for public schools, a state license[6][17]. Total jobs are expected to shrink slightly, while openings from turnover continue[2][3]. BLS also describes the work as sometimes stressful, with evening and weekend grading[36][33]. Check your own state's licensing rules, since they vary[21].
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a math teacher make?
- BLS does not list math teachers alone. For secondary school teachers, the median pay was $72,040 a year in May 2025[1].
- What degree do you need to be a math teacher?
- At least a bachelor's degree, and public school teachers also need a state license or certification[17]. Some states want a major in a content area such as mathematics[15].
- Is there demand for secondary school teachers?
- Total employment is projected to decline 0.2% from 2025 to 2035, but about 63,500 openings a year are projected[2][3].
- What is the highest paying state for secondary school teachers?
- Washington, with a median of $102,670 a year, followed by California at $101,370[11].
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education in the US was $72,040 per year. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: employment of Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education is projected to decline 0.2% from 2025 to 2035, from about 1,087,500 to 1,085,000 jobs (a change of -2,500). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections: about 63,500 openings for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education: 10th percentile $48,780, 25th percentile $59,980, 75th percentile $92,570, 90th percentile $107,600. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education was $76,320 per year. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS publishes only annual wages for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education, not hourly wages, because many work fewer than 2,080 hours a year but are paid yearly. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education jobs: Texas 111,660; California 99,230; New York 70,660; Pennsylvania 52,240; Florida 49,810. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education (areas with at least 100 jobs): Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $121,190; Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA $108,850; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $108,230; Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA $105,200; Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $105,060; Walla Walla, WA $104,940; Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $104,180; Longview-Kelso, WA $104,110. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 75,780 (median $100,800); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 32,790 (median $98,970); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 32,250 (median $100,960); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 28,000 (median $65,890); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 26,260 (median $65,540); Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 25,460 (median $80,560). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- O*NET 25-2031.00 survey of workers (31 respondents), education level they say is required: Bachelor's Degree 77%, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate 8%, Post-Master's Certificate 8% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
- O*NET 25-2031.00: Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed. A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET description of Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET 25-2031.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Art Teacher, English Teacher, Math Teacher (Mathematics Teacher), Music Teacher, PE Teacher (Physical Education Teacher), Science Teacher, Secondary Teacher, Social Studies Teacher. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET task list for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education. O*NET OnLine
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of high school teachers in 2025: Elementary and secondary schools; local 81%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education: 2.8% of workers leave the labor force each year and 3.1% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 1,065,210 people were employed as Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.