Secondary School Teachers in Arizona. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
What the numbers say
Arizona secondary school teachers earned a median annual wage of $59,900 in 2024, roughly 17% below the US median of $72,150. That gap is one of the larger state-level shortfalls we see for this occupation across the country.
The spread between the lowest and highest earners is wide. Teachers at the 10th percentile earned $44,510, while those at the 90th earned $100,670. That is about 2.3 times as much. The difference largely tracks experience, subject area, and district. A first-year teacher in a rural district and a veteran AP teacher in a Scottsdale school are both counted in that single median.
Arizona's cost-of-living index sits at 100.8, almost exactly the national baseline. So the nominal wage gap is close to a real one. Teachers here earn less than the US median and face roughly average prices for housing, groceries, and transportation. The headline shortfall does not shrink much after accounting for what the money buys.
BLS projects employment for secondary school teachers to decline by 1.6% between 2024 and 2034, which puts Arizona's outlook in the decline category. That projection reflects national trends: slower student enrollment growth and tighter state education budgets. The 24,100 teachers currently employed in Arizona represent a substantial workforce, and turnover will still generate openings even in a shrinking field. But net job growth is not expected over the decade.
Salary distribution
Where Arizona secondary school teachers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $49,670 and $64,890, with a median of $58,360.
Secondary School Teachers in Arizona: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 154 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $56,736. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 124 | $55,271 |
| Level II — qualified | 25 | $57,828 |
| Level III — experienced | 3 | $75,363 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 2 | $58,940 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Secondary School Teachers in Arizona. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Douglas Unified School District No. 27 | Teacher | 18 | $43,577 |
| Phoenix Union High School District | Teacher | 12 | $61,546 |
| Phoenix Union High School District 210 | Science Teacher | 10 | $68,498 |
| Tucson Unified School District | Teacher | 8 | $50,400 |
| County of Santa Cruz, Nogales Unified School District 1 | Teacher | 7 | $54,048 |
| Harvest Power Community Development Group, Inc. | General Math Interventionist Teacher | 6 | $53,858 |
| Maricopa Unified School District | High School Math Teacher | 6 | $70,720 |
| Great Hearts America | Teacher | 4 | $54,385 |
| Paragon Management Inc. | Teacher | 4 | $63,260 |
| Peach Springs Unified School District 8 | Teacher | 4 | $59,250 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Teacher at County of Santa Cruz, Nogales Unified School District 1$67,181NogalesWage Level IDecided Mar 26, 2026I-200-26078-715921
- Secondary Mathematics Teacher at Cibecue Community Education Board Inc.$66,290CibecueWage Level IIDecided Mar 18, 2026I-200-26070-695157
- Secondary School Physics Teacher at Harvest Power Community Development Group, Inc.$70,928YumaWage Level IIDecided Mar 16, 2026I-200-26068-689341
- Prep French Teacher at Great Hearts America$58,200ScottsdaleWage Level IIDecided Mar 11, 2026I-200-26063-679773
- Secondary School Math Teacher at Florence Unified School District No. 1$59,063Queen CreekWage Level IIDecided Mar 10, 2026I-200-26062-675805
- Secondary School Math Teacher at Florence Unified School District No. 1$59,063Queen CreekWage Level IIDecided Mar 10, 2026I-200-26062-675826
- Teacher at Paradise Valley Unified School District$54,958PhoenixWage Level IDecided Mar 3, 2026I-200-26055-661032
- Science Teacher at Phoenix Union High School District 210$60,141PhoenixWage Level IDecided Feb 26, 2026I-200-26050-652857
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
Where do you stand?
Get an instant percentile reading. Anonymous, no signup.
Aggregate unlocks once 5 readers have shared a salary for this role and state.
Secondary School Teachers pay by experience level in Arizona
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Secondary School Teachers specialties in Arizona
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 121 certified offers. The most common variant is Teacher at a median of $55,271.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher | Douglas Unified School District No. 27 | 88 | $55,271 |
| Public School Teacher | Chinle Unified School District 24 | 10 | $45,500 |
| Science Teacher | Phoenix Union High School District 210 | 10 | $59,812 |
| High School Math Teacher | Maricopa Unified School District | 5 | $66,618 |
| High School Science Teacher | Maricopa Unified School District | 4 | $72,404 |
| Mathematics Teacher | Phoenix Union High School District 210 | 4 | $65,885 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Arizona over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
Internship/residency
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.6 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 4.5 / 5
Education and Training
Knowledge
- 4.3 / 5
Oral Expression
Ability
- 4.1 / 5
Speaking
Basic skill
- 4.1 / 5
Instructing
Technical
- 4.1 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Learning Strategies
Cross-functional
- 4.0 / 5
Reading Comprehension
Basic skill
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.
- 02
Instruct through lectures, discussions, and demonstrations in one or more subjects, such as English, mathematics, or social studies.
- 03
Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects, and communicate those objectives to students.
- 04
Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among students.
- 05
Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests.
- 06
Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations.
- 07
Observe and evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
- 08
Plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
-1.6%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Declining
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
Sponsored
Build the skills employers list for Secondary School Teachers
Online courses from licensed providers. We may earn a commission when you enroll. The commission does not influence our rankings or wage data.
Explore coursesTop metros in Arizona
Metro-level salary data for secondary school teachers in major Arizona metropolitan areas.
- Phoenix$59,570
Compare Secondary School Teachers pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare Arizona with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Secondary School Teachers in Arizona?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Secondary School Teachers in Arizona is $58,360.
- How does Arizona compare to the national median for Secondary School Teachers?
- The Arizona median is -21.8% versus the BLS national figure of $74,587.
- What is the salary range for Secondary School Teachers in Arizona?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $46,240 and the 90th-percentile at $93,530, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Secondary School Teachers a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment declining by -1.6% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Secondary School Teachers?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.