Introduction
Teachers are vital to our society and provide the following generations with insightful guidance and knowledge that shapes and molds our shared future. Therefore, the role of a teacher is one many argue requires a reasonable salary.
The average rate of pay for teachers varies widely in school districts across the United States. If a beginning teacher has a master’s degree, in any state, they average $3,000—$4,000 more than their counterparts who only have a bachelor’s degree.
From 2020—2021, the average salary for a beginning teacher was $41,770, which represents a 1.4% increase in salary from the year prior. However, because of global inflation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the average salary of a beginning teacher actually decreased by 4%, when adjusted for the rate of inflation.
You can learn more about how much teachers are paid by state by checking the data in the charts.
| # | State | Public School Teacher Salaries | Public School Teacher Starting Salaries | Public School Teacher Top Salaries | College Faculty Salaries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $90,222 | $47,618 | $94,795 | $96,456 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $86,755 | $48,372 | $95,147 | $101,745 |
| 3 | California | $85,856 | $49,933 | $99,912 | $119,726 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $80,659 | $56,313 | $116,408 | $88,120 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $79,742 | $47,477 | $95,823 | $110,533 |
| 6 | Washington | $79,388 | $51,040 | $98,792 | $100,511 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $77,677 | $54,053 | $93,932 | $118,280 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $75,966 | $44,592 | $89,594 | $94,558 |
| 9 | Maryland | $74,006 | $48,510 | $95,142 | $97,003 |
| 10 | Alaska | $73,061 | $49,907 | $88,247 | $84,111 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | $71,479 | $46,991 | $85,503 | $99,624 |
| 12 | Hawaii | $70,922 | $50,123 | $91,948 | $107,400 |
| 13 | Illinois | $70,705 | $41,228 | $84,146 | $95,670 |
| 14 | Oregon | $68,565 | $39,338 | $74,191 | $92,540 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $66,561 | $41,234 | $73,141 | $95,980 |
| 16 | Delaware | $65,141 | $43,448 | $88,135 | $115,443 |
| 17 | Michigan | $64,262 | $37,820 | $74,803 | $102,945 |
| 18 | Ohio | $63,082 | $38,231 | $82,236 | $94,750 |
| 19 | Vermont | $62,483 | $40,810 | $77,192 | $89,279 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $61,849 | $39,737 | $71,905 | $96,076 |
| 21 | Georgia | $60,553 | $38,692 | $80,262 | $83,796 |
| 22 | Wyoming | $60,234 | $46,826 | $74,513 | $90,042 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $59,992 | $38,961 | $73,364 | $87,801 |
| 24 | Iowa | $58,831 | $38,515 | $71,877 | $98,813 |
| 25 | Virginia | $58,506 | $42,251 | $72,255 | $96,331 |
| 26 | Colorado | $58,183 | $35,724 | $64,646 | $89,017 |
| 27 | Nevada | $58,167 | $41,277 | $78,530 | $94,981 |
| 28 | Texas | $57,641 | $44,527 | $63,673 | $92,431 |
| 29 | Utah | $57,226 | $44,349 | $81,594 | $87,655 |
| 30 | Maine | $57,167 | $37,580 | $68,748 | $83,398 |
| 31 | Nebraska | $56,463 | $36,491 | $69,490 | $87,241 |
| 32 | New Mexico | $54,923 | $41,737 | $69,690 | $78,934 |
| 33 | North Dakota | $54,837 | $40,907 | $64,009 | $79,441 |
| 34 | Oklahoma | $54,762 | $38,074 | $57,151 | $78,352 |
| 35 | Alabama | $54,271 | $41,163 | $69,466 | $84,446 |
| 36 | Kentucky | $54,139 | $37,373 | $62,950 | $76,947 |
| 37 | Kansas | $53,619 | $39,100 | $60,878 | $82,301 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $53,458 | $37,127 | $63,359 | $87,516 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $53,188 | $37,704 | $76,568 | $84,467 |
| 40 | Montana | $53,133 | $32,495 | $65,785 | $79,302 |
| 41 | Indiana | $53,072 | $38,158 | $70,398 | $92,082 |
| 42 | Tennessee | $52,871 | $39,024 | $64,967 | $82,618 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $52,472 | $42,185 | $58,470 | $71,863 |
| 44 | Arizona | $52,157 | $40,554 | $68,910 | $94,270 |
| 45 | Idaho | $51,817 | $39,842 | $59,110 | $76,047 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $51,668 | $35,803 | $54,163 | $76,068 |
| 47 | Missouri | $51,557 | $33,234 | $56,552 | $78,304 |
| 48 | Florida | $51,009 | $44,040 | $66,405 | $98,459 |
| 49 | West Virginia | $50,261 | $37,987 | $65,778 | $75,582 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $49,547 | $40,128 | $73,564 | |
| 51 | Mississippi | $46,862 | $36,653 | $70,175 | $71,333 |
Public School Teacher Salaries by State
Alabama
Public School Teacher Salaries
$54,271
Ranked in the US
#35
Public School Teacher Starting Salaries
$41,163
Ranked in the US
#24
Public School Teacher Top Salaries
$69,466
Ranked in the US
#33
College Faculty Salaries
$84,446
Ranked in the US
#34
Alaska
Public School Teacher Salaries
$73,061
Ranked in the US
#10
Public School Teacher Starting Salaries
$49,907
Ranked in the US
#6
Public School Teacher Top Salaries
$88,247
Ranked in the US
#11
College Faculty Salaries
$84,111
Ranked in the US
#35
Arizona
Public School Teacher Salaries
$52,157
Ranked in the US
#44
Public School Teacher Starting Salaries
$40,554
Ranked in the US
#27
Public School Teacher Top Salaries
$68,910
Ranked in the US
#34
College Faculty Salaries
$94,270
Ranked in the US
#21
Arkansas
Public School Teacher Salaries
$51,668
Ranked in the US
#46
Public School Teacher Starting Salaries
$35,803
Ranked in the US
#48
Public School Teacher Top Salaries
$54,163
Ranked in the US
#50
College Faculty Salaries
$76,068
Ranked in the US
#46
California
Public School Teacher Salaries
$85,856
Ranked in the US
#3
Public School Teacher Starting Salaries
$49,933
Ranked in the US
#5
Public School Teacher Top Salaries
$99,912
Ranked in the US
#2
College Faculty Salaries
$119,726
Ranked in the US
#1
Colorado
Public School Teacher Salaries
$58,183
Ranked in the US
#26
Public School Teacher Starting Salaries
$35,724
Ranked in the US
#49
Public School Teacher Top Salaries
$64,646
Ranked in the US
#40
College Faculty Salaries
$89,017
Ranked in the US
#27
Connecticut
Public School Teacher Salaries
$79,742
Ranked in the US
#5
Public School Teacher Starting Salaries
$47,477
Ranked in the US
#10
Public School Teacher Top Salaries
$95,823
Ranked in the US
#4
College Faculty Salaries
$110,533
Ranked in the US
#4
Delaware
Public School Teacher Salaries
$65,141
Ranked in the US
#16
Public School Teacher Starting Salaries
$43,448
Ranked in the US
#17
Public School Teacher Top Salaries
$88,135
Ranked in the US
#12
College Faculty Salaries
$115,443
Ranked in the US
#3
District of Columbia
Public School Teacher Salaries
$80,659
Ranked in the US
#4
Public School Teacher Starting Salaries
$56,313
Ranked in the US
#1
Public School Teacher Top Salaries
$116,408
Ranked in the US
#1
College Faculty Salaries
$88,120
Ranked in the US
#28
Florida
Public School Teacher Salaries
$51,009
Ranked in the US
#48
Public School Teacher Starting Salaries
$44,040
Ranked in the US
#16
Public School Teacher Top Salaries
$66,405
Ranked in the US
#36
College Faculty Salaries
$98,459
Ranked in the US
#11
Georgia
Public School Teacher Salaries
$60,553
Ranked in the US
#21
Public School Teacher Starting Salaries
$38,692
Ranked in the US
#35
Public School Teacher Top Salaries
$80,262
Ranked in the US
#17
College Faculty Salaries
$83,796
Ranked in the US
#36
Hawaii
Public School Teacher Salaries
$70,922
Ranked in the US
#12
Public School Teacher Starting Salaries
$50,123
Ranked in the US
#4
Public School Teacher Top Salaries
$91,948
Ranked in the US
#9
College Faculty Salaries
$107,400
Ranked in the US
#5
Idaho
Public School Teacher Salaries
$51,817
Ranked in the US
#45
Public School Teacher Starting Salaries
$39,842
Ranked in the US
#29
Public School Teacher Top Salaries
$59,110
Ranked in the US
#46
College Faculty Salaries
$76,047
Ranked in the US
#47
Illinois
Public School Teacher Salaries
$70,705
Ranked in the US
#13
Public School Teacher Starting Salaries
$41,228
Ranked in the US
#23
Public School Teacher Top Salaries
$84,146
Ranked in the US
#14
College Faculty Salaries
$95,670
Ranked in the US
#17
Indiana
Public School Teacher Salaries
$53,072
Ranked in the US
#41
Public School Teacher Starting Salaries
$38,158
Ranked in the US
#38
Public School Teacher Top Salaries
$70,398
Ranked in the US
#29
College Faculty Salaries
$92,082
Ranked in the US
#24
Iowa
Public School Teacher Salaries
$58,831
Ranked in the US
#24
Public School Teacher Starting Salaries
$38,515
Ranked in the US
#36
Public School Teacher Top Salaries
$71,877
Ranked in the US
#28
College Faculty Salaries
$98,813
Ranked in the US
#10
Kansas
Public School Teacher Salaries
$53,619
Ranked in the US
#37
Public School Teacher Starting Salaries
$39,100
Ranked in the US
#32
Public School Teacher Top Salaries
$60,878
Ranked in the US
#45
College Faculty Salaries
$82,301
Ranked in the US
#39
Kentucky
Public School Teacher Salaries
$54,139
Ranked in the US
#36
Public School Teacher Starting Salaries
$37,373
Ranked in the US
#44
Public School Teacher Top Salaries
$62,950
Ranked in the US
#44
College Faculty Salaries
$76,947
Ranked in the US
#45
Louisiana
Public School Teacher Salaries
$52,472
Ranked in the US
#43
Public School Teacher Starting Salaries
$42,185
Ranked in the US
#19
Public School Teacher Top Salaries
$58,470
Ranked in the US
#47
College Faculty Salaries
$71,863
Ranked in the US
#50
Maine
Public School Teacher Salaries
$57,167
Ranked in the US
#30
Public School Teacher Starting Salaries
$37,580
Ranked in the US
#43
Public School Teacher Top Salaries
$68,748
Ranked in the US
#35
College Faculty Salaries
$83,398
Ranked in the US
#37
Maryland
Public School Teacher Salaries
$74,006
Ranked in the US
#9
Public School Teacher Starting Salaries
$48,510
Ranked in the US
#7
Public School Teacher Top Salaries
$95,142
Ranked in the US
#6
College Faculty Salaries
$97,003
Ranked in the US
#12
Massachusetts
Public School Teacher Salaries
$86,755
Ranked in the US
#2
Public School Teacher Starting Salaries
$48,372
Ranked in the US
#8
Public School Teacher Top Salaries
$95,147
Ranked in the US
#5
College Faculty Salaries
$101,745
Ranked in the US
#7
Michigan
Public School Teacher Salaries
$64,262
Ranked in the US
#17
Public School Teacher Starting Salaries
$37,820
Ranked in the US
#41
Public School Teacher Top Salaries
$74,803
Ranked in the US
#21
College Faculty Salaries
$102,945
Ranked in the US
#6
Minnesota
Public School Teacher Salaries
$66,561
Ranked in the US
#15
Public School Teacher Starting Salaries
$41,234
Ranked in the US
#22
Public School Teacher Top Salaries
$73,141
Ranked in the US
#25
College Faculty Salaries
$95,980
Ranked in the US
#16
Mississippi
Public School Teacher Salaries
$46,862
Ranked in the US
#51
Public School Teacher Starting Salaries
$36,653
Ranked in the US
#46
Public School Teacher Top Salaries
$70,175
Ranked in the US
#30
College Faculty Salaries
$71,333
Ranked in the US
#51
Missouri
Public School Teacher Salaries
$51,557
Ranked in the US
#47
Public School Teacher Starting Salaries
$33,234
Ranked in the US
#50
Public School Teacher Top Salaries
$56,552
Ranked in the US
#49
College Faculty Salaries
$78,304
Ranked in the US
#44
Montana
Public School Teacher Salaries
$53,133
Ranked in the US
#40
Public School Teacher Starting Salaries
$32,495
Ranked in the US
#51
Public School Teacher Top Salaries
$65,785
Ranked in the US
#37
College Faculty Salaries
$79,302
Ranked in the US
#41
Nebraska
Public School Teacher Salaries
$56,463
Ranked in the US
#31
Public School Teacher Starting Salaries
$36,491
Ranked in the US
#47
Public School Teacher Top Salaries
$69,490
Ranked in the US
#32
College Faculty Salaries
$87,241
Ranked in the US
#32
Nevada
Public School Teacher Salaries
$58,167
Ranked in the US
#27
Public School Teacher Starting Salaries
$41,277
Ranked in the US
#21
Public School Teacher Top Salaries
$78,530
Ranked in the US
#18
College Faculty Salaries
$94,981
Ranked in the US
#18
New Hampshire
Public School Teacher Salaries
$61,849
Ranked in the US
#20
Public School Teacher Starting Salaries
$39,737
Ranked in the US
#30
Public School Teacher Top Salaries
$71,905
Ranked in the US
#27
College Faculty Salaries
$96,076
Ranked in the US
#15
New Jersey
Public School Teacher Salaries
$77,677
Ranked in the US
#7
Public School Teacher Starting Salaries
$54,053
Ranked in the US
#2
Public School Teacher Top Salaries
$93,932
Ranked in the US
#8
College Faculty Salaries
$118,280
Ranked in the US
#2
New Mexico
Public School Teacher Salaries
$54,923
Ranked in the US
#32
Public School Teacher Starting Salaries
$41,737
Ranked in the US
#20
Public School Teacher Top Salaries
$69,690
Ranked in the US
#31
College Faculty Salaries
$78,934
Ranked in the US
#42
New York
Public School Teacher Salaries
$90,222
Ranked in the US
#1
Public School Teacher Starting Salaries
$47,618
Ranked in the US
#9
Public School Teacher Top Salaries
$94,795
Ranked in the US
#7
College Faculty Salaries
$96,456
Ranked in the US
#13
North Carolina
Public School Teacher Salaries
$53,458
Ranked in the US
#38
Public School Teacher Starting Salaries
$37,127
Ranked in the US
#45
Public School Teacher Top Salaries
$63,359
Ranked in the US
#43
College Faculty Salaries
$87,516
Ranked in the US
#31
North Dakota
Public School Teacher Salaries
$54,837
Ranked in the US
#33
Public School Teacher Starting Salaries
$40,907
Ranked in the US
#25
Public School Teacher Top Salaries
$64,009
Ranked in the US
#41
College Faculty Salaries
$79,441
Ranked in the US
#40
Ohio
Public School Teacher Salaries
$63,082
Ranked in the US
#18
Public School Teacher Starting Salaries
$38,231
Ranked in the US
#37
Public School Teacher Top Salaries
$82,236
Ranked in the US
#15
College Faculty Salaries
$94,750
Ranked in the US
#19
Oklahoma
Public School Teacher Salaries
$54,762
Ranked in the US
#34
Public School Teacher Starting Salaries
$38,074
Ranked in the US
#39
Public School Teacher Top Salaries
$57,151
Ranked in the US
#48
College Faculty Salaries
$78,352
Ranked in the US
#43
Oregon
Public School Teacher Salaries
$68,565
Ranked in the US
#14
Public School Teacher Starting Salaries
$39,338
Ranked in the US
#31
Public School Teacher Top Salaries
$74,191
Ranked in the US
#23
College Faculty Salaries
$92,540
Ranked in the US
#22
Pennsylvania
Public School Teacher Salaries
$71,479
Ranked in the US
#11
Public School Teacher Starting Salaries
$46,991
Ranked in the US
#11
Public School Teacher Top Salaries
$85,503
Ranked in the US
#13
College Faculty Salaries
$99,624
Ranked in the US
#9
Rhode Island
Public School Teacher Salaries
$75,966
Ranked in the US
#8
Public School Teacher Starting Salaries
$44,592
Ranked in the US
#13
Public School Teacher Top Salaries
$89,594
Ranked in the US
#10
College Faculty Salaries
$94,558
Ranked in the US
#20
South Carolina
Public School Teacher Salaries
$53,188
Ranked in the US
#39
Public School Teacher Starting Salaries
$37,704
Ranked in the US
#42
Public School Teacher Top Salaries
$76,568
Ranked in the US
#20
College Faculty Salaries
$84,467
Ranked in the US
#33
South Dakota
Public School Teacher Salaries
$49,547
Ranked in the US
#50
Public School Teacher Starting Salaries
$40,128
Ranked in the US
#28
College Faculty Salaries
$73,564
Ranked in the US
#49
Tennessee
Public School Teacher Salaries
$52,871
Ranked in the US
#42
Public School Teacher Starting Salaries
$39,024
Ranked in the US
#33
Public School Teacher Top Salaries
$64,967
Ranked in the US
#39
College Faculty Salaries
$82,618
Ranked in the US
#38
Texas
Public School Teacher Salaries
$57,641
Ranked in the US
#28
Public School Teacher Starting Salaries
$44,527
Ranked in the US
#14
Public School Teacher Top Salaries
$63,673
Ranked in the US
#42
College Faculty Salaries
$92,431
Ranked in the US
#23
Utah
Public School Teacher Salaries
$57,226
Ranked in the US
#29
Public School Teacher Starting Salaries
$44,349
Ranked in the US
#15
Public School Teacher Top Salaries
$81,594
Ranked in the US
#16
College Faculty Salaries
$87,655
Ranked in the US
#30
Vermont
Public School Teacher Salaries
$62,483
Ranked in the US
#19
Public School Teacher Starting Salaries
$40,810
Ranked in the US
#26
Public School Teacher Top Salaries
$77,192
Ranked in the US
#19
College Faculty Salaries
$89,279
Ranked in the US
#26
Virginia
Public School Teacher Salaries
$58,506
Ranked in the US
#25
Public School Teacher Starting Salaries
$42,251
Ranked in the US
#18
Public School Teacher Top Salaries
$72,255
Ranked in the US
#26
College Faculty Salaries
$96,331
Ranked in the US
#14
Washington
Public School Teacher Salaries
$79,388
Ranked in the US
#6
Public School Teacher Starting Salaries
$51,040
Ranked in the US
#3
Public School Teacher Top Salaries
$98,792
Ranked in the US
#3
College Faculty Salaries
$100,511
Ranked in the US
#8
West Virginia
Public School Teacher Salaries
$50,261
Ranked in the US
#49
Public School Teacher Starting Salaries
$37,987
Ranked in the US
#40
Public School Teacher Top Salaries
$65,778
Ranked in the US
#38
College Faculty Salaries
$75,582
Ranked in the US
#48
Wisconsin
Public School Teacher Salaries
$59,992
Ranked in the US
#23
Public School Teacher Starting Salaries
$38,961
Ranked in the US
#34
Public School Teacher Top Salaries
$73,364
Ranked in the US
#24
College Faculty Salaries
$87,801
Ranked in the US
#29
Wyoming
Public School Teacher Salaries
$60,234
Ranked in the US
#22
Public School Teacher Starting Salaries
$46,826
Ranked in the US
#12
Public School Teacher Top Salaries
$74,513
Ranked in the US
#22
College Faculty Salaries
$90,042
Ranked in the US
#25
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