Teachers and educators can find job opportunities all over the United States with varying wages and salaries. There are many options for those that are interested in pursuing a career in teaching at both private and public schools.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the national average salary for public school teachers from elementary through high school is $63,645, though average wages vary by location. For example, teachers in Massachusetts and California can expect higher average salaries than their colleagues in South Dakota and Florida, which can be attributed to a variety of factors including demand and number of teachers per capita.
Those interested in a career in teaching, or current teachers looking to move to a new state, may want to check out the highest paying states for teachers in the US.
States With Highest Teacher Salaries
1. New York
Average Teacher Salary: $87,543
Number of Teachers: 212,157
Student-to-Teacher Ratio: 12.7
2. California
Average Teacher Salary: $84,659
Number of Teachers: 271,805
Student-to-Teacher Ratio: 23.1
3. Massachusetts
Average Teacher Salary: $83,622
Number of Teachers: 73,868
Student-to-Teacher Ratio: 13.0
4. District of Columbia
Average Teacher Salary: $79,350
Number of Teachers: 7,312
Student-to-Teacher Ratio: 12.1
5. Connecticut
Average Teacher Salary: $78,350
Number of Teachers: 42,828
Student-to-Teacher Ratio: 12.3
6. New Jersey
Average Teacher Salary: $76,376
Number of Teachers: 116,189
Student-to-Teacher Ratio: 12.0
7. Maryland
Average Teacher Salary: $73,444
Number of Teachers: 60,699
Student-to-Teacher Ratio: 14.8
8. Washington
Average Teacher Salary: $72,965
Number of Teachers: 61,837
Student-to-Teacher Ratio: 18.2
9. Alaska
Average Teacher Salary: $70,877
Number of Teachers: 7,657
Student-to-Teacher Ratio: 17.1
10. Pennsylvania
Average Teacher Salary: $70,258
Number of Teachers: 123,350
Student-to-Teacher Ratio: 14.0
11. Illinois
Average Teacher Salary: $68,305
Number of Teachers: 132,423
Student-to-Teacher Ratio: 15.0
12. Oregon
Average Teacher Salary: $67,685
Number of Teachers: 30,152
Student-to-Teacher Ratio: 20.2
13. Rhode Island
Average Teacher Salary: $67,323
Number of Teachers: 10,749
Student-to-Teacher Ratio: 13.3
14. Hawaii
Average Teacher Salary: $65,409
Number of Teachers: 12,132
Student-to-Teacher Ratio: 14.9
15. Delaware
Average Teacher Salary: $64,853
Number of Teachers: 9,624
Student-to-Teacher Ratio: 14.4
16. Michigan
Average Teacher Salary: $62,185
Number of Teachers: 85,015
Student-to-Teacher Ratio: 17.7
17. Vermont
Average Teacher Salary: $61,108
Number of Teachers: 8,317
Student-to-Teacher Ratio: 10.5
18. Georgia
Average Teacher Salary: $60,578
Number of Teachers: 117,159
Student-to-Teacher Ratio: 15.1
19. New Hampshire
Average Teacher Salary: $60,003
Number of Teachers: 14,644
Student-to-Teacher Ratio: 12.2
20. Ohio
Average Teacher Salary: $59,713
Number of Teachers: 101,739
Student-to-Teacher Ratio: 16.7
21. Wisconsin
Average Teacher Salary: $59,176
Number of Teachers: 59,484
Student-to-Teacher Ratio: 14.4
22. Wyoming
Average Teacher Salary: $59,014
Number of Teachers: 7,327
Student-to-Teacher Ratio: 12.9
23. Iowa
Average Teacher Salary: $58,917
Number of Teachers: 35,618
Student-to-Teacher Ratio: 14.5
24. Minnesota
Average Teacher Salary: $58,663
Number of Teachers: 57,698
Student-to-Teacher Ratio: 15.4
25. Colorado
Average Teacher Salary: $57,269
Number of Teachers: 53,147
Student-to-Teacher Ratio: 17.2
26. Texas
Average Teacher Salary: $57,091
Number of Teachers: 359,576
Student-to-Teacher Ratio: 15.1
27. Nevada
Average Teacher Salary: $56,572
Number of Teachers: 23,240
Student-to-Teacher Ratio: 21.2
28. Nebraska
Average Teacher Salary: $55,267
Number of Teachers: 23,912
Student-to-Teacher Ratio: 13.6
29. Maine
Average Teacher Salary: $54,967
Number of Teachers: 15,034
Student-to-Teacher Ratio: 12.0
30. North Carolina
Average Teacher Salary: $54,682
Number of Teachers: 100,220
Student-to-Teacher Ratio: 15.5
31. New Mexico
Average Teacher Salary: $54,256
Number of Teachers: 21,139
Student-to-Teacher Ratio: 15.8
32. Alabama
Average Teacher Salary: $54,095
Number of Teachers: 42,114
Student-to-Teacher Ratio: 17.6
33. Oklahoma
Average Teacher Salary: $54,038
Number of Teachers: 42,448
Student-to-Teacher Ratio: 16.5
34. Virginia
Average Teacher Salary: $53,933
Number of Teachers: 86,974
Student-to-Teacher Ratio: 14.8
35. Kentucky
Average Teacher Salary: $53,907
Number of Teachers: 41,827
Student-to-Teacher Ratio: 16.2
36. Idaho
Average Teacher Salary: $52,875
Number of Teachers: 16,745
Student-to-Teacher Ratio: 18.5
37. Utah
Average Teacher Salary: $52,819
Number of Teachers: 29,753
Student-to-Teacher Ratio: 22.8
38. Kansas
Average Teacher Salary: $52,554
Number of Teachers: 36,724
Student-to-Teacher Ratio: 13.6
39. North Dakota
Average Teacher Salary: $52,328
Number of Teachers: 9,470
Student-to-Teacher Ratio: 12.0
40. Montana
Average Teacher Salary: $52,135
Number of Teachers: 10,575
Student-to-Teacher Ratio: 14.1
41. Tennessee
Average Teacher Salary: $51,862
Number of Teachers: 64,116
Student-to-Teacher Ratio: 15.7
42. Indiana
Average Teacher Salary: $51,508
Number of Teachers: 61,155
Student-to-Teacher Ratio: 17.3
43. South Carolina
Average Teacher Salary: $72,965
Number of Teachers: 52,730
Student-to-Teacher Ratio: 14.8
44. Missouri
Average Teacher Salary: $50,817
Number of Teachers: 68,498
Student-to-Teacher Ratio: 13.3
45. Arizona
Average Teacher Salary: $50,381
Number of Teachers: 48,510
Student-to-Teacher Ratio: 23.5
46. West Virginia
Average Teacher Salary: $50,238
Number of Teachers: 18,912
Student-to-Teacher Ratio: 14.2
47. Louisiana
Average Teacher Salary: $50,217
Number of Teachers: 38,913
Student-to-Teacher Ratio: 18.3
48. Arkansas
Average Teacher Salary: $49,822
Number of Teachers: 38,019
Student-to-Teacher Ratio: 13.0
49. South Dakota
Average Teacher Salary: $49,220
Number of Teachers: 9,865
Student-to-Teacher Ratio: 14.1
50. Florida
Average Teacher Salary: $48,800
Number of Teachers: 164,399
Student-to-Teacher Ratio: 17.3
51. Mississippi
Average Teacher Salary: $45,192
Number of Teachers: 31,963
Student-to-Teacher Ratio: 14.7
How To Increase Your Salary
You can potentially increase your salary by moving to a different state, but continued education provides a reliable way to secure a pay bump and possibly a promotion. Many teaching professionals pursue additional degrees such as a master’s or Ph.D. to further their knowledge of the subject and raise their projected salary post-graduation.
Due to the competitive nature of the field, it is important to note that applicants with graduate degrees can apply for college and university-level positions that recent bachelor’s degree graduates may not be eligible for. Colleges and universities offer 1-2 year master’s programs, and Ph.D.’s for those that can spend up to 5 years in school.
Methodology
To further our understanding of teaching, the team referenced data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics from 2020 to inform our knowledge about job opportunities, projected salaries, and geographic implications (i.e. cost of living) of accepting a position in the field.
Analyzing employment data is an effective way to research any career regardless of the industry, and is a powerful tool for prospective students and professionals looking to further their job opportunities locally and elsewhere. Note that the BLS only reports wage data and job projections, which does not guarantee that future teachers will secure a job or earn a specific salary.