Secondary School Teachers in New Jersey. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
What the numbers say
Secondary school teachers in New Jersey earned a median of $80,440 in 2024, about 11% above the national median of $72,150. The average wage came in higher at $84,800, which means a portion of teachers at the upper end of the pay scale pull the statewide figure up.
The spread from bottom to top is notable. Teachers at the 10th percentile earned $62,160, while those at the 90th earned $104,920. That gap of roughly $43,000 reflects how much district, tenure, and subject matter can move a teacher's pay within the same state.
New Jersey's cost of living runs about 13% above the national average. After adjusting for that, the nominal $8,290 premium over the national median shrinks to something closer to a wash. A New Jersey teacher earns more on paper than the average American teacher, but what that paycheck actually buys is close to what the national median gets elsewhere.
The BLS projects employment for secondary school teachers to decline 1.6% between 2024 and 2034. That is a slow contraction, not a collapse, but it does put New Jersey's 34,510 teachers in a field where openings will come mostly from retirements and departures rather than new positions. Anyone tracking this data should expect the job market to stay competitive through the decade.
Salary distribution
Where New Jersey 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 $75,790 and $102,410, with a median of $82,200.
Secondary School Teachers in New Jersey: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 29 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $74,000. 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 | 9 | $67,250 |
| Level II — qualified | 8 | $75,000 |
| Level III — experienced | 1 | $83,653 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 1 | $97,326 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Secondary School Teachers in New Jersey. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bound Brook Board of Education | World Language Teacher (Spanish) | 3 | $88,315 |
| The Lawrenceville School | Economics Teacher (Secondary School Teacher) | 3 | $83,653 |
| College Achieve Charter School Central | Math Teacher | 2 | $91,000 |
| East Brunswick Public Schools | World Language Teacher | 2 | $70,098 |
| Hammonton Board of Education | Teacher, Italian Language | 2 | $70,215 |
| Point Pleasant Beach Board of Education | Teacher of Italian (Grades 9-12) -- Classroom Teacher | 2 | $68,008 |
| The Pingry Corporation d/b/a The Pingry School | Middle/Upper School Mandarin Chinese Language Teac | 2 | $88,475 |
| BARACK OBAMA GREEN CHARTER SCHOOL | SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHER | 1 | $54,840 |
| Camden City School District | English as a Second Language Teacher | 1 | $55,972 |
| DOVER PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT | High School World Language Teacher -Spanish & French | 1 | $92,685 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Chinese Language Teacher at Piscataway Board of Education$85,255PiscatawayDecided Feb 26, 2026I-200-26050-651447
- Enviro and Bio Science Teacher (Secondary School Teacher) at The Lawrenceville School$65,000LawrencevilleWage Level IDecided Feb 25, 2026I-200-26049-649117
- Teacher, Italian Language at Hammonton Board of Education$70,215HammontonDecided Feb 19, 2026I-200-26042-634073
- Upper School Teacher of ELL (English Language Lab)/Mandarin at The Pennington School$73,387PenningtonWage Level IIDecided Jan 20, 2026I-200-26012-551088
- Teacher of Biology at Linden Public Schools$75,726LindenDecided Jan 13, 2026I-200-26006-538084
- World Language Teacher at East Brunswick Public Schools$72,170East BrunswickDecided Dec 16, 2025I-200-25343-469124
- World Language Teacher (Spanish) at Bound Brook Board of Education$81,685Bound BrookDecided Dec 9, 2025I-200-25336-449955
- Spanish Teacher at West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District$64,400West WindsorWage Level IDecided Nov 25, 2025I-200-25322-418698
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.
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Secondary School Teachers pay by experience level in New Jersey
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 New Jersey
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 8 certified offers. The most common variant is World Language Teacher (Spanish) at a median of $81,685.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| World Language Teacher (Spanish) | Bound Brook Board of Education | 5 | $81,685 |
| Teacher, Italian Language | Hammonton Board of Education | 3 | $70,215 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in New Jersey 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.
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Secondary School Teachers in New Jersey?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Secondary School Teachers in New Jersey is $82,200.
- How does New Jersey compare to the national median for Secondary School Teachers?
- The New Jersey median is +10.2% versus the BLS national figure of $74,587.
- What is the salary range for Secondary School Teachers in New Jersey?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $63,040 and the 90th-percentile at $108,230, 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.