Teacher Salaries by State

Pay for public school teachers in the United States varies wildly, from $44,926 in the lowest-paying state to $84,227 in the highest.

It’s no secret teacher pay is a hot topic. It has caught the attention of state lawmakers across the country and is one of the factors behind recent teacher walkouts. The average salaries for public school teachers, though, vary wildly from state-to-state: from $44,926 in the worst-paying state to $84,227 in the highest.

Lawmakers in many U.S. states have taken steps in recent years to boost teacher pay, partially in response to a teacher shortage and the need to address challenges with attracting and retaining teachers.

Nationwide, the average teacher salary was $60,477 during the 2017-18 school year, according to the National Education Association, the national teachers union. And salaries rose an average of 1.58 percent, compared with the previous school year.

Where does your state fall in the rankings? Here’s a look, using data from an April 2019 report “Rankings of the States 2018 and Estimates of School Statistics 2019” by the National Education Association. Numbers are from the 2017-18 school year. Median household income figures come from the United States Census Bureau’s 2017 American Community Survey one-year estimates.

Alabama

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National rank: 37

Pay increase (year over year): 0.35 percent

Statewide median household income: $48,123

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey recently signed the state’s largest-ever Education Trust Fund budget — $7.1 billion — into law. The budget includes a 4 percent raise for school employees and additional money for the state’s voluntary preschool program, the Associated Press reported.

Alaska

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National rank: 7

Pay increase (year over year): 1.33 percent

Statewide median household income: $73,181

Alaska lawmakers have allocated additional funding for public education over the last couple of years. But some education officials say the high cost of living in Alaska can be prohibitive to attracting teachers, the Alaska Journal of Commerce reported.

Arizona

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National rank: 45

Pay increase (year over year): 3.11 percent

Statewide median household income: $56,581

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey signed a plan into law in May 2018 to boost teacher pay by 20 percent by 2020, according to a statement on his website. The plan, once fully in place, is slated to boost education spending by more than $1 billion.

Arkansas

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National rank: 38

Pay increase (year over year): 4.64 percent

Statewide median household income: $45,869

In February, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson signed a bill into law that will increase the minimum teacher salary by $1,000 annually for four years, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported. Currently, the minimum salary is $31,800.

California

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National rank: 2

Pay increase (year over year): 1.96 percent

Statewide median household income: $71,805

Despite teacher pay ranking second highest in the nation, California teachers have long faced a high cost of living — particularly in coastal communities.

California saw a handful of teacher strikes this year, including a six-day strike in January in the Los Angeles Unified School District (the result included a retroactive 6 percent raise for teachers) and a seven-day strike in Oakland with an agreement reached in March (which included an 11 percent salary increase, 3 percent bonus and other concessions), EdSource reported.

Colorado

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Average salary: $52,701

National rank: 31

Pay increase (year over year): 1.72 percent

Statewide median household income: $65,458

Colorado’s kindergarten through 12th grade education budget totals $6.1 billion for the 2019-20 school year and includes funding for all-day kindergarten, Chalkbeat reported in April.

Connecticut

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National rank: 5

Pay increase (year over year): 1.87 percent

Statewide median household income: $74,168

State lawmakers in Connecticut decided to refinance teacher pension contributions, which is one of the state’s biggest budget line items, the Connecticut Mirror reported. Local cities have blocked state attempts to bill them for a portion of the expenses.

Delaware

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National rank: 14

Pay increase (year over year): 0.83 percent

Statewide median household income: $62,852

In Delaware, lawmakers are recommending a 2 percent salary increase for teachers, Delaware State News reported.

District of Columbia

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National rank: 4

Pay increase (year over year): 1.05 percent

Statewide median household income: $82,372

Despite having one of the best teacher pay rates in the nation, the District of Columbia has a lot of turnover among public school teachers — about 25 percent, compared with 16 percent nationwide, WAMU reported.

Florida

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National rank: 46

Pay increase (year over year): 1.91 percent

Statewide median household income: $52,594

In 2015, Florida created a “best and brightest” bonus program for teachers, linking bonuses to educators’ college entrance exam scores, the Tampa Bay Times reported.

Leaders did away with that criteria. Now teachers can earn a smaller retention bonus based on factors such as their school’s performance in a state grading system and if they’ve been at their school for at least two years.

Georgia

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National rank: 22

Pay increase (year over year): 1.44 percent

Statewide median household income: $56,183

Georgia teachers will receive a $3,000 raise next school year, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. State lawmakers also approved a 2 percent raise for university and state employees.

Hawaii

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National rank: 18

Pay increase (year over year): 2.14 percent

Statewide median household income: $77,765

With a high cost of living, paychecks for Hawaii’s teachers may not go as far as in many states in the continental U.S.

Of Hawaii’s teachers who started five years ago, only about 50 percent are still in classrooms, KITV reported.

Idaho

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National rank: 44

Pay increase (year over year): 3.62 percent

Statewide median household income: $52,225

Idaho lawmakers approved a $250 million career ladder law in 2015 to boost teacher pay over five years. Lawmakers have also taken steps to incrementally increase starting pay to $40,000 by the 2020-21 school year.

Illinois

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National rank: 11

Pay increase (year over year): 1.87 percent

Statewide median household income: $62,992

Illinois lawmakers passed a bill and sent it to Gov. J.B. Pritzker to raise the minimum teacher salary in phases to $40,000 by 2025, WSIL-TV reported.

State law currently sets the minimum salary at $10,000 for educators who have a bachelor’s degree and $11,000 for those with a master’s degree, according to the Illinois Education Association.

Indiana

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National rank: 36

Pay increase (year over year): 0.79 percent

Statewide median household income: $54,181

A commission appointed by Gov. Eric Holcomb has met at least six times behind closed doors to look at ways to potentially increase teacher salaries, Chalkbeat reported.

There was a proposal during this year’s state legislative session to raise the minimum teacher pay to $40,000, but the idea didn’t get off the ground, the Indianapolis Star reported.

Iowa

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National rank: 21

Pay increase (year over year): 2.46 percent

Statewide median household income: $58,570

In February 2019, Gov. Kim Reynolds signed the kindergarten through 12th grade education budget into law. It’s an increase of $89.3 million. Some Democratic lawmakers, though, said the increase — which amounted to 2 percent — wasn’t enough.

Kansas

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National rank: 41

Pay increase (year over year): 0.67 percent

Statewide median household income: $56,422

Kansas is increasing state funding for public education by $90 million annually for four years. Lawmakers had a mid-April 2019 deadline to take action after a ruling by the Kansas Supreme Court mandated raising school funding levels, KSHB reported.

Kentucky

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National rank: 28

Pay increase (year over year): 1.17 percent

Statewide median household income: $48,375

Kentucky Education Commissioner Wayne Lewis told the Kentucky Board of Education in early June 2019 he wants to allow school districts more flexibility in teacher pay, rather than uniform salary schedules, The Courier-Journal reported. It would allow school districts to consider options such as performance-based pay.

Louisiana

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National rank: 39

Pay increase (year over year): 1.12 percent

Statewide median household income: $46,145

Louisiana’s public education budget will increase by $140 million for the upcoming fiscal year and teachers will see a $1,000 raise, the Associated Press reported. Support staff will get a $500 raise.

Maine

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National rank: 26

Pay increase (year over year): 1.77 percent

Statewide median household income: $56,277

Maine state lawmakers were considering a bill in May 2019 to boost the minimum teacher salary to $40,000 per year — a $10,000 increase — in 2020, the Associated Press reported.

Maryland

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National rank: 8

Pay increase (year over year): 1.86 percent

Statewide median household income: $80,776

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan let an education bill — which includes an $855 million funding increase over two years — go into law in May 2019 without signing it, expressing concerns over long-term funding and accountability, the Washington Post reported.

The bill includes teacher pay increases — 1.5 percent from the state, with the expectation school districts will chip in 3 percent.

Massachusetts

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National rank: 3

Pay increase (year over year): 2.1 percent

Statewide median household income: $77,385

The Massachusetts legislature is looking at an approximately $270 million proposed education budget increase, Public News Service reported.

The legislature also approved a constitutional amendment in June — known as the “millionaires tax” — to create a tax on a person’s income above $1 million, which go toward the public education system and transportation, MassLive reported.

Michigan

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National rank: 13

Pay decrease (year over year): -0.6 percent

Statewide median household income: $54,909

Detroit teachers and staff members will see a pay increase next school year — as much as 4.3 percent for the most experienced teachers, under a tentative collective bargaining agreement reached in mid-June, the Detroit Free Press reported.

The agreement will also raise the maximum teacher salary to $73,000 and minimum salary for teachers with a bachelor’s degree to $38,500.

Minnesota

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National rank: 20

Pay increase (year over year): 0.76 percent

Statewide median household income: $68,388

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz signed into law a public education budget for preschool through 12th grades, with a 2 percent funding increase for next year and an additional 2 percent the following year, the Duluth News Tribune reported. Walz told reporters he wanted to see a larger increase, but called the funding for the next two years a “down payment.”

Mississippi

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National rank: 51

Pay increase (year over year): 0.6 percent

Statewide median household income: $43,529

Mississippi ranks last in the nation for average teacher salary. In March, state lawmakers approved a $1,500 pay increase for teachers and instructional assistants, the Clarion-Ledger reported.

Missouri

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National rank: 43

Pay increase (year over year): 1.41 percent

Statewide median household income: $53,578

Gov. Mike Parson signed into law the state’s budget June 10, which includes a $61 million funding increase for public education, Missourinet reported.

Montana

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National rank: 30

Pay increase (year over year): 2.63 percent

Statewide median household income: $53,386

In April, the Montana legislature wrapped up its session and passed a budget, which didn’t include funding for state-funded preschool, the Associated Press reported. A preschool pilot program was in place since 2017.

Nebraska

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National rank: 25

Pay increase (year over year): 3.58 percent

Statewide median household income: $59,970

Only about a dozen U.S. states — including Nebraska — avoided a teacher salary decline over the last decade, when adjusted for inflation, the Omaha World-Herald reported. Nebraska had a 0.4 percent increase.

Nevada

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National rank: 24

Pay decrease (year over year): -0.72 percent

Statewide median household income: $58,003

The Nevada legislature approved a handful of education-related bills this year, including a new public education funding formula and $63 million in additional funding for a program to help children read at grade level by third grade, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.

New Hampshire

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National rank: 19

Pay increase (year over year): 0.54 percent

Statewide median household income: $73,381

A Cheshire County Superior Court judge ruled in June that New Hampshire’s public education funding levels are unconstitutional, the Concord Monitor reported. Several school districts filed the lawsuit.

New Jersey

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National rank: 6

Pay increase (year over year): 0.42 percent

Statewide median household income: $80,088

Teachers in Franklin Lakes went on a one-day strike in June, protesting health insurance costs, NBC New York reported. Classes were canceled for a day and a judge ordered the teachers return to work the following day.

New Mexico

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National rank: 48

Pay increase (year over year): 0.06 percent

Statewide median household income: $46,744

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed three bills in April to boost education spending, which include a 6 percent pay raise for school employees, raising minimum salaries for teachers to $40,000 and setting a higher base pay for those with more advanced certification, the Associated Press reported.

New York

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National rank: 1

Pay increase (year over year): 2.84 percent

Statewide median household income: $64,894

New York has the highest average teacher pay in the nation, but one calculation has shown the state actually ranks 17th when cost of living is taken into account, The Staten Island Advance reported.

In New York City, teachers will receive pay raises for three years under a contract ratified in November 2018.

North Carolina

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National rank: 34

Pay increase (year over year): 2.52 percent

Statewide median household income: $52,752

In North Carolina, there’s disagreement among lawmakers about how large of a raise teachers should get, The News & Observer reported, with proposals ranging from a 3.5 percent increase over two years to 4.6 percent.

North Dakota

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National rank: 29

Pay increase (year over year): 0.6 percent

Statewide median household income: $61,843

State lawmakers in North Dakota recently made changes to the public education funding formula. School districts receive funding based on the past year’s enrollment, leading to issues if a school district has an enrollment gain, the Bismark Tribune reported.

Lawmakers opted not to change the formula entirely to be based on the current year’s enrollment since it’s too expensive, but decided to allow for some extra funding for school districts that see an enrollment increase.

Ohio

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National rank: 17

Pay decrease (year over year): -0.35 percent

Statewide median household income: $54,021

Among legislative proposals this spring, one — the “Fair School Funding Plan” — proposes a two-year, $700 million total increase, Dayton Daily News reported. Another proposal would allow teachers a tax credit of up to $250 for expenses they incur out-of-pocket, such as for classroom supplies and training.

Oklahoma

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National rank: 49

Pay increase (year over year): 2.23 percent

Statewide median household income: $50,051

A bill signed into law last year provided an average $6,100 teacher pay increase, as well as $1,250 for other staff members, KFOR reported. This year, lawmakers are looking at a proposed $1,200 increase for teachers.

Oregon

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National rank: 12

Pay increase (year over year): 1.94 percent

Statewide median household income: $60,212

A one-day walkout in early May drew about 25,000 people — including public school teachers — to downtown Portland to seek better school funding. As a result of the walkout, more than 20 school districts canceled classes for the day, The Oregonian reported. Several smaller walkouts were also held in other Oregon cities.

Pennsylvania

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National rank: 9

Pay increase (year over year): 1.92 percent

Statewide median household income: $59,195

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf wants to see minimum teacher pay boosted to $45,000 per year or higher, The Patriot-News reported. The current level was set 30 years ago at $18,500.

Rhode Island

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National rank: 10

Pay increase (year over year): 0.42 percent

Statewide median household income: $63,870

Members of Rhode Island’s General Assembly are considering legislation that would require public employee unions to receive notification of new employees so they can seek membership dues from them, the Providence Journal reported. It would also allow unions to charge a fee to represent non-union members in grievances brought up by a non-member.

South Carolina

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National rank: 40

Pay increase (year over year): 0.36 percent

Statewide median household income: $50,570

About 10,000 people attended a May teacher walkout in Columbia, The Post and Courier reported, and seven school districts closed for the day. The state legislature is considering giving teachers at least a 4 percent pay raise next year.

South Dakota

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National rank: 47

Pay increase (year over year): 1.39 percent

Statewide median household income: $56,521

South Dakota is among only a handful of U.S. states without state-funded preschool. But School Administrators of South Dakota is trying to boost the number of families who send their children to preschool by creating a “Levels of Excellence” program where parents can see ratings for preschools they’re interested in, the Sioux Falls Argus Leader reported.

Tennessee

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National rank: 35

Pay increase (year over year): 1.6 percent

Statewide median household income: $51,340

The Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury recently released a report showing nearly $300 million the state allocated toward teacher salaries since 2016 hasn’t made it to teachers because school districts are using the funding for other purposes, such as covering the cost of employing additional educators state funding doesn’t cover, The Tennessean reported.

Texas

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National rank: 27

Pay increase (year over year): 1.54 percent

Statewide median household income: $59,206

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill into law to provide pay raises for teachers — an average of $4,000 for experienced educators, the Associated Press reported.

Utah

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National rank: 42

Pay increase (year over year): 2.22 percent

Statewide median household income: $68,358

Public school teachers in Utah are making about $6,000 less than what’s considered a living wage in the state, The Salt Lake Tribune reported, and at least $20,000 less than what others make in similar careers, including urban planners and accountants.

Vermont

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National rank: 15

Pay increase (year over year): 2.12 percent

Statewide median household income: $57,513

Some Vermont schools say they’re struggling financially to keep up with needs and the state’s overall public school enrollment is declining, The Burlington Free Press reported.

Virginia

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National rank: 32

Pay decrease (year over year): -0.66 percent

Statewide median household income: $71,535

Hundreds of people — including educators — protested in January in Richmond over public school funding and teacher pay. Virginia teachers are now slated to receive a 5 percent raise.

Washington

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National rank: 23

Pay increase (year over year): 2.31 percent

Statewide median household income: $70,979

Under a new two-year state budget, funding for kindergarten through 12th grade public schools is slated to increase nearly 20 percent, according to the Washington Education Association, a state teachers union.

West Virginia

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National rank: 50

Pay increase (year over year): 0.19 percent

Statewide median household income: $43,469

In mid-June, West Virginia’s House of Delegates moved forward with a plan to allow charter schools in the state, the Associated Press reported. The Senate was slated to weigh in on the proposal, which is part of a larger omnibus education bill that also includes pay raises.

Wisconsin

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National rank: 33

Pay increase (year over year): 0.06 percent

Statewide median household income: $59,305

In mid-June, Wisconsin lawmakers were considering a proposal to expand partial student loan forgiveness to more schools. It would be available to those in minority ethnic groups, who teach in high demand jobs and who are at a school where more than 40 percent of the student body is non-white, the Associated Press reported.

Wyoming

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National rank: 16

Pay increase (year over year): 0.28 percent

Statewide median household income: $60,434

A National Education Association report shows Wyoming has higher teacher pay than any of its neighboring states, but other states are starting to make gains, The Associated Press reported.