Guide
Best States for Teachers: Ranked by Pay (2024-25)
Published
The best states for teachers on pay are California, New York, Washington, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, Alaska, Pennsylvania, and Hawaii, which appear in both top-pay groups; California has the highest average salary at $103,552, and Washington has the highest average starting salary at $60,658.
This ranking compares average teacher salary, average starting salary, and statewide minimum salary for 2024-25. The national averages are $74,495 for teacher salary and $48,112 for starting salary; 16 states are above the average teacher salary, and 23 are above the average starting salary.
The ranking covers pay only. Cost of living, benefits, pensions, class sizes, and working conditions are outside it.
Key Takeaways
- California leads in average teacher salary, while Washington leads in average starting salary.
- Several states rank highly on both salary measures.
- A statewide minimum salary figure is available for 24 states.
Average teacher pay across all states
- Under $55k (1 state)
- $55–65k (20 states)
- $65–75k (14 states)
- $75–85k (8 states)
- $85k+ (7 states)
View chart data
| Location | Amount |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $62,985 |
| Alaska | $81,450 |
| Arizona | $64,291 |
| Arkansas | $59,193 |
| California | $103,552 |
| Colorado | $72,781 |
| Connecticut | $89,593 |
| Delaware | $76,570 |
| Florida | $56,663 |
| Georgia | $71,524 |
| Hawaii | $75,860 |
| Idaho | $62,786 |
| Illinois | $78,495 |
| Indiana | $61,661 |
| Iowa | $65,312 |
| Kansas | $61,470 |
| Kentucky | $60,594 |
| Louisiana | $56,785 |
| Maine | $65,621 |
| Maryland | $87,409 |
| Massachusetts | $93,554 |
| Michigan | $71,023 |
| Minnesota | $76,234 |
| Mississippi | $54,975 |
| Missouri | $57,366 |
| Montana | $59,305 |
| Nebraska | $63,326 |
| Nevada | $74,812 |
| New Hampshire | $69,432 |
| New Jersey | $84,974 |
| New Mexico | $69,736 |
| New York | $98,655 |
| North Carolina | $60,323 |
| North Dakota | $60,704 |
| Ohio | $70,586 |
| Oklahoma | $61,931 |
| Oregon | $81,657 |
| Pennsylvania | $79,078 |
| Rhode Island | $85,772 |
| South Carolina | $64,050 |
| South Dakota | $58,486 |
| Tennessee | $61,222 |
| Texas | $63,749 |
| Utah | $72,882 |
| Vermont | $71,871 |
| Virginia | $69,254 |
| Washington | $96,589 |
| West Virginia | $58,099 |
| Wisconsin | $67,794 |
| Wyoming | $65,668 |
Highest state average starting salaries
Which States Rank Highly on Both Salary Measures?
The states that rank highly on both average and starting salary include New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, Alaska, Pennsylvania, and Hawaii, alongside California and Washington. Their average salary ranks range from first to fifteenth, and their starting salary ranks range from first to thirteenth.
| State | Average salary rank | Average teacher salary, 2024-25 | Starting salary rank | Average starting salary, 2024-25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 1 | $103,552 | 2 | $59,424 |
| New York | 2 | $98,655 | 12 | $51,612 |
| Washington | 3 | $96,589 | 1 | $60,658 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $93,554 | 7 | $54,216 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $89,593 | 13 | $51,053 |
| Maryland | 6 | $87,409 | 5 | $57,293 |
| New Jersey | 8 | $84,974 | 3 | $58,727 |
| Alaska | 10 | $81,450 | 8 | $53,650 |
| Pennsylvania | 11 | $79,078 | 9 | $52,198 |
| Hawaii | 15 | $75,860 | 10 | $51,835 |
For a broader look at average pay, see the guide to highest paying states for teachers. Statewide minimums differ across this group: Maryland, Pennsylvania and Hawaii have figures; for the other states, see each state page.
Where Do New Teachers Earn the Most?
Washington ranks first for average starting salary at $60,658, followed by California at $59,424 and New Jersey at $58,727. The other states in the top starting-salary ranks are Utah, Maryland, New Mexico, Massachusetts, Alaska, Pennsylvania, and Hawaii.
| Starting salary rank | State | Average starting salary, 2024-25 | Average salary rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $60,658 | 3 |
| 2 | California | $59,424 | 1 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $58,727 | 8 |
| 4 | Utah | $57,849 | 17 |
| 5 | Maryland | $57,293 | 6 |
| 6 | New Mexico | $54,372 | 23 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $54,216 | 4 |
| 8 | Alaska | $53,650 | 10 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $52,198 | 11 |
| 10 | Hawaii | $51,835 | 15 |
A starting-salary average gives you a state-level comparison for early-career pay. For more state-by-state detail, see teacher starting salary by state.
Which States Set a Statewide Minimum Salary?
A statewide minimum teacher salary figure is available for 24 states, with Maryland at $60,000 and Pennsylvania at $18,500 at the top and bottom of this group. The figures below are state minimum salaries, shown alongside each state’s average starting salary.
| State | State minimum salary | Average starting salary, 2024-25 |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $60,000 | $57,293 |
| Hawaii | $55,259 | $51,835 |
| New Mexico | $55,000 | $54,372 |
| South Carolina | $50,500 | $48,426 |
| Idaho | $50,252 | $46,253 |
| Arkansas | $50,000 | $50,076 |
| Iowa | $50,000 | $48,139 |
| Tennessee | $50,000 | $47,230 |
| Alabama | $48,552 | $47,955 |
| North Carolina | $48,000 | $44,952 |
| South Dakota | $46,201 | $47,196 |
| Georgia | $43,592 | $48,722 |
| Illinois | $43,543 | $46,655 |
| Mississippi | $43,500 | $43,814 |
| West Virginia | $43,015 | $45,294 |
| Oklahoma | $41,601 | $41,294 |
| Maine | $40,000 | $44,152 |
| Missouri | $40,000 | $40,682 |
| Delaware | $39,370 | $49,344 |
| Ohio | $35,000 | $42,222 |
| Texas | $33,960 | $49,465 |
| Kentucky | $29,804 | $41,901 |
| North Dakota | $27,500 | $45,252 |
| Pennsylvania | $18,500 | $52,198 |
These state minimum figures give you a separate reference point from the average starting salaries. For states outside this table, salary rules vary; check the state page for its current pay structure.
What Does This Pay Ranking Leave Out?
This ranking measures teacher pay through average salaries, average starting salaries, and statewide minimum salary figures. It leaves out cost of living, benefits, pensions, class sizes, and working conditions, so use state and district details to weigh those factors.
A statewide minimum figure also does not describe every district’s salary schedule. Some state pages explain that pay is set locally or that a single statewide schedule is not available, as shown in the full table below.
For a separate comparison focused on the lowest average salaries, see lowest paying states for teachers.
How Do All 50 States Rank by Average Teacher Salary?
California ranks first by average teacher salary at $103,552, and Mississippi ranks fiftieth at $54,975. The table also shows each state’s starting-salary rank and average starting salary, plus a statewide minimum figure or the state’s stated salary arrangement.
| Average salary rank | State | Average teacher salary, 2024-25 | Starting salary rank | Average starting salary, 2024-25 | State minimum salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $103,552 | 2 | $59,424 | No state minimum teacher salary schedule; salaries are set by each district's collective bargaining agreement. |
| 2 | New York | $98,655 | 12 | $51,612 | No state minimum teacher salary schedule; salaries are negotiated locally under the Taylor Law and set in each district's collective bargaining agreement. |
| 3 | Washington | $96,589 | 1 | $60,658 | No single printed statewide minimum salary schedule. |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $93,554 | 7 | $54,216 | No statewide teacher salary schedule. |
| 5 | Connecticut | $89,593 | 13 | $51,053 | No statewide minimum teacher salary schedule; pay is set district by district through collective bargaining. |
| 6 | Maryland | $87,409 | 5 | $57,293 | $60,000 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $85,772 | 22 | $48,242 | No statewide minimum teacher salary. |
| 8 | New Jersey | $84,974 | 3 | $58,727 | Not confirmed; see the state page. |
| 9 | Oregon | $81,657 | 28 | $46,854 | No statewide minimum teacher salary or state salary schedule; each district bargains its own schedule with its local union. |
| 10 | Alaska | $81,450 | 8 | $53,650 | No statewide minimum teacher salary schedule. |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | $79,078 | 9 | $52,198 | $18,500 |
| 12 | Illinois | $78,495 | 30 | $46,655 | $43,543 |
| 13 | Delaware | $76,570 | 19 | $49,344 | $39,370 |
| 14 | Minnesota | $76,234 | 31 | $46,477 | No statewide minimum teacher salary schedule; each district bargains pay with its teachers' union, so every figure here comes from a local contract. |
| 15 | Hawaii | $75,860 | 10 | $51,835 | $55,259 |
| 16 | Nevada | $74,812 | 16 | $49,731 | Nevada does not set a statewide minimum teacher salary schedule. |
| 17 | Utah | $72,882 | 4 | $57,849 | Utah does not set a statewide minimum teacher salary schedule; each district negotiates its own. |
| 18 | Colorado | $72,781 | 34 | $45,489 | No statewide minimum teacher salary; each district sets its own salary schedule. |
| 19 | Vermont | $71,871 | 27 | $46,963 | No statewide minimum teacher salary; each school district or supervisory union negotiates its salary schedule with the local teachers' union. |
| 20 | Georgia | $71,524 | 20 | $48,722 | $43,592 |
| 21 | Michigan | $71,023 | 44 | $43,093 | No state minimum teacher salary schedule; salaries are set by each district's collective bargaining agreement. |
| 22 | Ohio | $70,586 | 45 | $42,222 | $35,000 |
| 23 | New Mexico | $69,736 | 6 | $54,372 | $55,000 |
| 24 | New Hampshire | $69,432 | 41 | $44,010 | No statewide minimum salary or salary schedule for teachers; pay is set district by district through collective bargaining agreements. |
| 25 | Virginia | $69,254 | 14 | $50,448 | No state minimum teacher salary schedule; each school division sets its own scale. |
| 26 | Wisconsin | $67,794 | 43 | $43,288 | Not confirmed; see the state page. |
| 27 | Wyoming | $65,668 | 11 | $51,776 | Wyoming does not set a statewide minimum teacher salary schedule; pay is set by each school district's board. |
| 28 | Maine | $65,621 | 40 | $44,152 | $40,000 |
| 29 | Iowa | $65,312 | 23 | $48,139 | $50,000 |
| 30 | Arizona | $64,291 | 38 | $44,869 | No state minimum teacher salary schedule; each school district sets its own scale. |
| 31 | South Carolina | $64,050 | 21 | $48,426 | $50,500 |
| 32 | Texas | $63,749 | 17 | $49,465 | $33,960 |
| 33 | Nebraska | $63,326 | 49 | $39,561 | No statewide minimum teacher salary schedule; districts negotiate pay with local teacher associations under the state's Industrial Relations Act. |
| 34 | Alabama | $62,985 | 24 | $47,955 | $48,552 |
| 35 | Idaho | $62,786 | 32 | $46,253 | $50,252 |
| 36 | Oklahoma | $61,931 | 47 | $41,294 | $41,601 |
| 37 | Indiana | $61,661 | 33 | $45,958 | No state minimum salary schedule; districts set pay through local collective bargaining. |
| 38 | Kansas | $61,470 | 39 | $44,163 | No statewide minimum teacher salary schedule. |
| 39 | Tennessee | $61,222 | 25 | $47,230 | $50,000 |
| 40 | North Dakota | $60,704 | 36 | $45,252 | $27,500 |
| 41 | Kentucky | $60,594 | 46 | $41,901 | $29,804 |
| 42 | North Carolina | $60,323 | 37 | $44,952 | $48,000 |
| 43 | Montana | $59,305 | 50 | $36,682 | No statewide minimum teacher salary schedule; districts bargain pay locally. |
| 44 | Arkansas | $59,193 | 15 | $50,076 | $50,000 |
| 45 | South Dakota | $58,486 | 26 | $47,196 | $46,201 |
| 46 | West Virginia | $58,099 | 35 | $45,294 | $43,015 |
| 47 | Missouri | $57,366 | 48 | $40,682 | $40,000 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $56,785 | 29 | $46,850 | No statewide minimum teacher salary schedule. |
| 49 | Florida | $56,663 | 18 | $49,435 | No state minimum teacher salary schedule. |
| 50 | Mississippi | $54,975 | 42 | $43,814 | $43,500 |
Figures come from the official salary schedules linked on our state and district pages. Districts revise schedules, so confirm the school year and placement rules with the official source before you rely on a number.