verified BLS-Verified Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) May 2025 release

High School Teacher Salary in North Carolina

Median Annual in North Carolina
$57,650/yr
Median Hourly Wage
/hr
▼ 20% below U.S. median

Salary Distribution in North Carolina

groups Employed in NC
28,620
public U.S. Median
$72,040
savings Real pay (cost-adjusted)
$61,118 #46 of 51

High School Teacher pay in North Carolina, explained

High school teachers in North Carolina earn a median of $57,650 per year (— per hour), which is 20% below the national median of $72,040. Entry-level workers earn around $45,430, while the most experienced high school teachers reach about $64,460. Pay varies by employer, setting, and metro area within North Carolina.

Is $57,650 good pay in North Carolina?

Adjusted for North Carolina's cost of living (which runs 94% of the U.S. average), that $57,650 is worth about $61,118 in national buying power — ranking North Carolina #46 for real pay (vs #47 on the sticker number).

See the full High School Teacher Real Pay Index arrow_forward

High School Teacher pay by experience in North Carolina

Entry level (10th pct)
$45,430
$21.84/hr
Median
Mid-career (50th pct)
$57,650
—/hr
Experienced (90th pct)
$64,460
$30.99/hr

High School Teacher pay in neighboring states

StateMedian / yrReal payvs NC
North Carolina (here) $57,650 $61,118
Georgia $75,480 $78,386 −$17,830
Virginia $72,170 $71,382 −$14,520
South Carolina $62,580 $66,753 −$4,930
Tennessee $61,860 $67,334 −$4,210

High School Teacher in North Carolina: FAQ

How much do high school teachers make in North Carolina?

High school teachers in North Carolina earn a median of $57,650 per year (— per hour), compared with $72,040 nationally.

Does North Carolina pay high school teachers well?

At $57,650, North Carolina pays 20% below the national median for high school teachers. An estimated 28,620 work in the state.

High School Teacher salary in other states

All 51 states ranked arrow_forward

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