Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the levels of the job satisfaction of teachers at historically disadvantaged secondary schools and to determine the correlation effects among job satisfaction dimensions as they relate to these teachers. Design/methodology/approach A quantitative survey design using Spector’s Job Satisfaction Survey was used, with 1,035 teachers from 30 secondary schools in the Sedibeng and Johannesburg South districts of the Gauteng Department of Education in the Gauteng Province of South Africa. Overall, 738 usable questionnaires were returned. Findings Teachers at well-performing, historically disadvantaged schools experience ambivalent job satisfaction levels. For this reason, they indicate satisfaction with supervision, co-workers and the nature of work; ambivalence with promotion, contingent rewards and communication; and no satisfaction with pay and operating conditions. Correlations between job satisfaction dimensions are significant. Their correlations indicate relationships that range between moderate and strong. While mostly indicating relationships of no practical effect, most of Herzberg’s hygiene factors are projected as strong moderating factors of job dissatisfaction as seen in relationships between dimensions reflecting hygiene factors and total job satisfaction. Originality/value This study pioneers the discourse on teacher job satisfaction at historically disadvantaged secondary schools, which still experience apartheid legacies: poor socio-economic conditions of their communities in South Africa. Strikingly, they consistently perform well in the National Senior Certificate – the basic education exit point. Lessons for educational management and policy practice can be learnt from these secondary schools, including lessons for underperforming schools’ leadership.