Junior High Teacher Salary in the United States

How much does a Junior High Teacher make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Junior High Teacher in the United States is $54,800 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $26.

However, a Junior High Teacher's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $68,020
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $46,480 to $61,720
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $38,905

Key Factors That Influence Junior High Teacher Salaries

A Junior High Teacher's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Junior High Teacher Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Junior High Teacher's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $52,068
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $52,316
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $55,316
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $58,208
  • Expert (over 8 years): $58,415
Levels Salary
Entry Level Junior High Teacher$52,068
Intermediate Level Junior High Teacher$52,316
Senior Level Junior High Teacher$55,316
Specialist Level Junior High Teacher$58,208
Expert Level Junior High Teacher$58,415

Top Paying Cities for Junior High Teachers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $69,120
  • San Francisco: $68,370
  • Oakland: $66,930

What Skills Can Increase a Junior High Teacher's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Learning Strategies (Mentioned in 8.62% Job Postings): A learning strategy is an individual's way of organizing and using a particular set of skills in order to learn content or accomplish other tasks more effectively and efficiently in school as well as in non-academic settings
  • Certification Programs (Mentioned in 5.17% Job Postings): A certificate program is a specialized education designed to develop or strengthen specific career skills. Considered as continuing education in some cases because it builds on your knowledge of a particular career or industry.
  • CPR (Mentioned in 1.72% Job Postings): Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) combines rescue breathing (mouth-to-mouth) and chest compressions to temporarily pump enough blood to the brain until specialized treatment is available.
Skills Demand Percentage
Learning Strategies 8.62%
Certification Programs 5.17%
CPR 1.72%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Junior High Teacher's salary.

  • Video Production: Can increase your salary by up to 20%.
  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Coaching: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Video Production $65,760
20%
Collaboration $56,992
4%
Coaching $56,992
4%

Junior High Teacher Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Junior High Teacher salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $58,649. While startup companies pay approximate $49,789.

Junior High Teacher Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $49,789
Growth Stage 51~500 $52,612
Established 501~5000 $56,681
Enterprise 5000+ $58,649

Junior High Teacher Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Junior High Teacher roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 25% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare, offers compensation 10% above the average. Conversely, Junior High Teacher positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Junior High Teacher as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Junior High Teacher

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$60,280$29.010%
Hospitality & Leisure$57,540$28.05%

Junior High Teacher Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Junior High Teacher's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$46,480
Average $54,800/year
$61,720
$3,873
Average $4,567/month
$5,143
$894
Average $1,054/week
$1,187
$22
Average $26/hour
$30
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $61,720 $5,143 $1,187 $30
Average $54,800 $4,567 $1,054 $26
25th Percentile $46,480 $3,873 $894 $22

Most common benefits for Junior High Teacher

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Junior High Teacher

Here are companies hiring for Junior High Teacher and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Junior High Teacher

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Junior High Teacher?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Junior High Teacher roles, with salaries approximately 10% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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