Top Paying States For Teachers 2024

Written by Thomas Short
Published on January 15, 2023 · Updated on May 28, 2023

Top Paying States For Teachers 2024

Written by Thomas Short
Published on January 15, 2023 · Updated on May 28, 2023

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.