Secondary School Teachers in Pennsylvania. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
What the numbers say
Pennsylvania's secondary school teachers posted a median annual wage of $77,990 in 2024, about 8% above the national median of $72,150. The mean came in slightly lower at $76,150, which means a smaller group of higher-paid teachers is not pulling the average up the way you see in some other occupations. The distribution here is fairly even.
The spread from bottom to top is notable. Teachers at the 10th percentile earned around $49,970, while those at the 90th percentile reached $99,100. That roughly $49,000 gap reflects how much district, seniority, and step placement on a salary schedule can matter. A teacher 20 years into a suburban Philadelphia district looks very different from a first-year hire in a rural county.
Pennsylvania's cost-of-living index sits at 97.4, just below the national baseline of 100. That means the 8% nominal wage premium over the US median translates into a slightly larger real advantage once cost of living enters the picture. What the money buys here goes a bit further than the headline number suggests.
The outlook is worth noting directly: BLS projects employment in this occupation to decline 1.6% between 2024 and 2034. That puts it in the decline category, driven largely by falling student enrollment projections in many parts of the country. Pennsylvania has its own enrollment trends, but the state-level projection data is not broken out separately from the national figure here.
Salary distribution
Where Pennsylvania 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 $61,750 and $92,980, with a median of $78,800.
Secondary School Teachers in Pennsylvania: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 12 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $63,985. 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 | 7 | $56,500 |
| Level II — qualified | 4 | $66,707 |
| Level III — experienced | 1 | $80,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Secondary School Teachers in Pennsylvania. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allegheny East Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists | Teacher | 2 | $63,985 |
| Franklin Towne Charter High School | Teacher of Italian Language and Culture | 2 | $66,197 |
| Holy Ghost Preparatory School | World Language Teacher | 1 | $58,000 |
| International Christian High School | Math Teacher | 1 | $56,500 |
| Mastery Charter Schools | Intervention Teacher – High School | 1 | $80,000 |
| Merion Mercy Academy | Spanish Teacher | 1 | $67,217 |
| Plumstead Christian School | Secondary Math/Science Teacher | 1 | $55,320 |
| Regents of The Mercersburg College | Language Teaching Fellow | 1 | $44,000 |
| The Haverford School | Chemistry Teacher | 1 | $78,000 |
| The Hill School | Instructor of History and Social Sciences | 1 | $55,320 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Spanish Teacher at Merion Mercy Academy$67,217Merion StationWage Level IIDecided Mar 9, 2026I-200-26061-673195
- Math Teacher at International Christian High School$56,500PhiladelphiaWage Level IDecided Mar 9, 2026I-200-26061-673159
- Language Teaching Fellow at Regents of The Mercersburg College$44,000MercersburgWage Level IDecided Jan 12, 2026I-200-26005-533226
- World Language Teacher at Holy Ghost Preparatory School$58,000BensalemWage Level IDecided Sep 25, 2025I-200-25261-318612
- Teacher at Allegheny East Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists$64,236Pine ForgeWage Level IDecided Jun 26, 2025I-200-25169-108741
- Instructor of History and Social Sciences at The Hill School$55,320PottstownWage Level IDecided Jun 5, 2025I-200-25149-031053
- Chemistry Teacher at The Haverford School$78,000HaverfordWage Level IIDecided Apr 22, 2025I-200-25105-864916
- Teacher at Allegheny East Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists$63,735Pine ForgeWage Level IDecided Mar 31, 2025I-200-25083-798158
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 Pennsylvania
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 in Pennsylvania, by industry
Median offered wage across 12 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Education leads with a median of $62,099.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education | Franklin Towne Charter High School | 10 | $62,099 |
| Nonprofit and civic | Allegheny East Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists | 2 | $63,985 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Pennsylvania 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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Explore coursesTop metros in Pennsylvania
Metro-level salary data for secondary school teachers in major Pennsylvania metropolitan areas.
- Pittsburgh$81,350
- Philadelphia$80,560
Compare Secondary School Teachers pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare Pennsylvania with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Secondary School Teachers in Pennsylvania?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Secondary School Teachers in Pennsylvania is $78,800.
- How does Pennsylvania compare to the national median for Secondary School Teachers?
- The Pennsylvania median is +5.6% versus the BLS national figure of $74,587.
- What is the salary range for Secondary School Teachers in Pennsylvania?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $51,440 and the 90th-percentile at $102,360, 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.