How much does a teacher make? Teacher salary by state
In the US, teachers earn a median of about $62,680 to $72,040 a year depending on the type: kindergarten teachers $62,680; elementary school teachers $63,970; middle school teachers $64,370; high school teachers $72,040.
Teacher pay calculator
Gross pay before taxes. State figures are medians; the pay level applies to US figures.
Teacher salary by type
| Type | Bottom 10% | Median | Top 10% | US jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten teacher | $46,990 | $62,680 | $101,830 | 108,870 |
| Elementary school teacher | $47,960 | $63,970 | $104,340 | 1,388,390 |
| Middle school teacher | $48,080 | $64,370 | $102,540 | 620,090 |
| High school teacher | $48,780 | $72,040 | $107,600 | 1,065,210 |
Teacher salary by state
Median annual pay by state, BLS May 2025.
| State | Elementary school teacher | High school teacher |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $61,380 | $61,990 |
| Alaska | $79,260 | $79,650 |
| Arizona | $56,590 | $58,360 |
| Arkansas | $52,700 | $59,660 |
| California | $99,650 | $101,370 |
| Colorado | $63,410 | $72,900 |
| Connecticut | $80,600 | $80,970 |
| Delaware | $75,920 | $77,960 |
| District of Columbia | $96,580 | $82,750 |
| Florida | $58,930 | $60,410 |
| Georgia | $72,290 | $75,480 |
| Hawaii | $71,410 | $74,310 |
| Idaho | $61,600 | $61,690 |
| Illinois | $75,320 | $79,990 |
| Indiana | $59,700 | $61,880 |
| Iowa | $60,580 | $61,200 |
| Kansas | $56,450 | $59,920 |
| Kentucky | $60,610 | $61,560 |
| Louisiana | $58,770 | $59,850 |
| Maine | $62,390 | $64,880 |
| Maryland | $77,680 | $78,670 |
| Massachusetts | $94,000 | $95,260 |
| Michigan | $65,110 | $66,030 |
| Minnesota | $76,350 | $76,460 |
| Mississippi | $49,790 | $50,980 |
| Missouri | $50,910 | $59,240 |
| Montana | $57,530 | $60,990 |
| Nebraska | $62,380 | $63,450 |
| Nevada | $65,040 | $65,520 |
| New Hampshire | $72,410 | $77,060 |
| New Jersey | $78,200 | $82,200 |
| New Mexico | $74,550 | $75,900 |
| New York | $85,760 | $97,070 |
| North Carolina | $54,930 | $57,650 |
| North Dakota | $60,030 | $61,210 |
| Ohio | $77,370 | $78,800 |
| Oklahoma | $48,200 | $48,710 |
| Oregon | $77,130 | $79,570 |
| Pennsylvania | $77,060 | $78,800 |
| Rhode Island | $90,930 | $92,610 |
| South Carolina | $60,820 | $62,580 |
| South Dakota | $50,130 | $51,050 |
| Tennessee | $59,980 | $61,860 |
| Texas | $62,760 | $63,590 |
| Utah | $74,810 | $76,330 |
| Vermont | $63,070 | $76,220 |
| Virginia | $65,550 | $72,170 |
| Washington | $102,350 | $102,670 |
| West Virginia | $55,630 | $56,610 |
| Wisconsin | $61,210 | $62,870 |
| Wyoming | $61,150 | $62,690 |
Highest-paying states for teachers
For high school teachers:
- Washington: $102,670
- California: $101,370
- New York: $97,070
- Massachusetts: $95,260
- Rhode Island: $92,610
Common questions
How much does a teacher make?
Median pay ranges from $62,680 (kindergarten teachers) to $72,040 (high school teachers) a year, per BLS May 2025 data.
How much does a teacher make a month?
At a median of $72,040 a year, a high school teacher earns about $6,003 a month before taxes.
Which state pays teachers the most?
For high school teachers, Washington has the highest median at $102,670, followed by California ($101,370) and New York ($97,070).
How much does an entry-level teacher make?
The lowest-paid 10% of high school teachers earn under $48,780 a year, the closest official measure of starting pay.
How much do the top 10% of teachers make?
The top 10% of high school teachers earn over $107,600 a year.
How much does a teacher make in California, Texas, Florida and New York?
Median pay for high school teachers is $101,370 in California, $63,590 in Texas, $60,410 in Florida, $97,070 in New York, per BLS May 2025 data.
Last reviewed October 31, 2026. All figures are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 survey, the most recent official release; “median” means half earn more and half earn less. Gross pay before taxes and benefits. Teacher pay is reported as an annual salary for the school year; BLS does not publish hourly rates for teachers. Figures exclude special education and career/technical teachers. See the BLS OEWS tables and the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. General information, not career or financial advice.