The median math teacher salary in Alabama was $61,990 for high school teachers and $61,770 for middle school teachers as of May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Both sit below the national medians of $72,040 and $64,370. BLS counts teachers of all subjects, including math.
If you’re planning to teach math in Alabama, two things set your pay: your grade band and your city. Neither moves the number much. Here’s what BLS reports for the state, its 13 metro areas, and the job outlook through 2034.
Math Teacher Salary in Alabama by Grade Level
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, high school teachers in Alabama earned a median annual salary of $61,990 as of May 2025, and middle school teachers earned $61,770. BLS reports these figures for teachers of all subjects, including math. It has no separate math teacher category, so these medians are the closest official measure of what Alabama math teachers earn.
The two grade bands are $220 apart at the median. That’s close enough that pay shouldn’t decide your band. Choose it for the students and the courses you want to teach.
| Occupation | Employment | Median Annual Wage | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High School Teachers | 15,880 | $61,990 | $72,470 | $76,300 |
| Middle School Teachers | 10,000 | $61,770 | $63,760 | $74,090 |
What Top-Earning Alabama Teachers Make
The top 10% of high school teachers in Alabama earned $76,300 or more as of May 2025, $14,310 above the state median. The 75th percentile was $72,470. Nationally, the 90th percentile for high school teachers was $107,600.
Middle school pay runs lower at the top. In Alabama it reached $63,760 at the 75th percentile and $74,090 at the 90th, against $102,540 at the 90th nationally. BLS percentiles aren’t experience levels, so they can’t tell you what a fifth-year teacher earns. Districts publish their own salary schedules, so check the schedule for any district you apply to for its exact step increases.
How Alabama Compares to the National Median
Alabama high school teachers earned $10,050 less than the national median of $72,040 as of May 2025. The middle school gap is smaller: Alabama sits $2,600 below the national median of $64,370. You can see how math teacher salaries by state compare on our national salary page.
Alabama’s high school median is higher than three of its four neighbors. Tennessee math teacher salaries come closest, with a $61,860 high school median ($60,690 for middle school). Florida math teacher pay runs a little lower, at $60,410 for high school and $58,940 for middle school. Mississippi math teacher salaries are the lowest of the five states: $50,980 for high school and $50,790 for middle school. Only Georgia pays more, with medians of $75,480 for high school and $64,780 for middle school.
Math Teacher Salaries in Alabama Cities
High school medians across Alabama metro areas run from $58,960 in Gadsden to $64,220 in Huntsville as of May 2025. That’s a narrow $5,260 spread. Birmingham employs the most teachers of any Alabama metro: 2,850 high school and 3,770 middle school teachers.
Two patterns are worth knowing before you compare offers. In Mobile and Montgomery, middle school teachers out-earn high school teachers at the median. And BLS doesn’t publish middle school figures for Anniston-Oxford, Florence-Muscle Shoals or Gadsden, or a middle school employment count for Auburn-Opelika.
This table lists all 13 Alabama metro areas in the BLS data, with medians for both grade bands. The Columbus, GA-AL figures cover both the Georgia and Alabama sides of that metro area.
| Metro Area | High School Median | Middle School Median | Employed (High / Middle) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anniston-Oxford, AL | $63,110 | Not available | 370 / Not available |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | $61,250 | $60,850 | 840 / Not released |
| Birmingham, AL | $62,650 | $62,580 | 2,850 / 3,770 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $62,400 | $60,460 | 820 / 370 |
| Decatur, AL | $63,350 | $61,950 | 420 / 360 |
| Dothan, AL | $61,190 | $58,750 | 550 / 210 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $62,080 | Not available | 620 / Not available |
| Gadsden, AL | $58,960 | Not available | 330 / Not available |
| Huntsville, AL | $64,220 | $62,140 | 1,580 / 760 |
| Mobile, AL | $61,550 | $62,060 | 1,110 / 810 |
| Montgomery, AL | $61,720 | $61,980 | 1,210 / 550 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | $61,630 | $60,480 | 830 / 390 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | $62,540 | $60,380 | 690 / 550 |
Job Outlook for Math Teachers in Alabama
Alabama is projected to add a small number of teaching jobs over the next decade. Projections Central estimates a 1.1% change in employment for high school teachers in Alabama between 2024 and 2034, from 18,180 to 18,370 jobs. That comes with an average of 1,160 openings per year. Middle school teaching employment is projected to change 0.8% over the same period, from 12,140 to 12,240 jobs, with about 820 openings per year.
Almost all of those openings come from teachers retiring or leaving the profession, not from new positions. These are Alabama-specific figures, drawn from Alabama’s state labor market information site.
Nationally, the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook projects little or no change for either grade band from 2025 to 2035. Employment of high school teachers is projected to go from 1,087,500 to 1,085,000 jobs, with about 63,500 openings a year. Employment of middle school teachers is projected to go from 630,100 to 627,400 jobs, with about 38,800 openings a year.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do math teachers make in Alabama?
High school teachers in Alabama earned a median annual salary of $61,990 as of May 2025, and middle school teachers earned $61,770, according to the BLS. These figures cover teachers of all subjects, including math. The top 10% of high school teachers earned $76,300 or more.
Do high school math teachers earn more than middle school math teachers in Alabama?
Only slightly. Statewide, the high school median is $220 higher. In Mobile and Montgomery the order flips: Mobile’s middle school median was $62,060 against $61,550 for high school, and Montgomery’s was $61,980 against $61,720.
Which Alabama city pays math teachers the most?
Huntsville has the highest high school median of any Alabama metro, $64,220 as of May 2025. For middle school teachers, Birmingham leads at $62,580. Gadsden has the lowest high school median, at $58,960.
How does Alabama math teacher pay compare to the national average?
Alabama sits below the national medians. High school teachers in Alabama earned $10,050 less than the national median of $72,040, and middle school teachers earned $2,600 less than the national $64,370. Alabama’s high school median is still higher than Tennessee’s, Florida’s and Mississippi’s.
Is Alabama hiring math teachers?
Yes, mostly to replace teachers who retire or leave. Projections Central estimates about 1,160 high school and 820 middle school teaching openings a year in Alabama from 2024 to 2034. Employment is projected to grow 1.1% and 0.8%. Those openings cover all subjects, not just math.
- State median: Alabama high school teachers earned a $61,990 median and middle school teachers $61,770 as of May 2025, across all subjects.
- Grade band: The two bands are $220 apart statewide, and middle school pays more at the median in Mobile and Montgomery.
- Cities: Huntsville has the highest high school median ($64,220) and Gadsden the lowest ($58,960).
- Outlook: Projections Central expects about 1,980 high school and middle school teaching openings a year in Alabama through 2034.
2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures for Middle School Teachers and High School Teachers, which include teachers of all subjects. Job growth projections (2024-2034) are from the US Department of Labor-sponsored resource, Projections Central. Figures reflect state and national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed October 2026. National job outlook figures (2025-2035) are from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Alabama pays both grade bands almost the same, so what separates programs is how fast they get you into a classroom. The schools listed here include online math education programs, and some accept applicants with a bachelor’s degree in another field.