Guide
Highest-Paid Teachers in the US: Top-Paying Districts
Published
Rochester City School District in New York has the highest top-of-schedule salary at $171,142. That makes Rochester the district-level leader for the highest paid teachers in the US, with a single salary schedule that reaches its maximum at step 99-23.
The ranking covers 444 large-district schedules on the site. Of those, 164 reach $100,000 or more at the top of at least one lane, and 27 reach $130,000 or more.
Schedule maximums take many years and, in some districts, extra education or approved credentials to reach. Your own pay depends on the lane and step you qualify for, along with the rules attached to that schedule.
Key Takeaways
- Rochester’s schedule reaches $171,142 at its top step.
- Delaware and Washington lead in the count of six-figure district schedules.
- State averages provide a separate view of teacher pay across each state.
Highest district schedule maximums
Why District-Level Pay Matters More Than State Labels
District schedules show how pay changes with experience, education, and other salary rules, so your state’s average cannot tell you what a specific district pays at its top step. A district’s maximum also describes a salary path, not the starting pay available to every new teacher.
The schedules use different structures. Rochester has one salary schedule, while other districts use degree or credit lanes; some add longevity steps or require particular credentials for higher lanes.
The ranking covers 444 large-district schedules on the site, not every district in the country. When you compare a district with another, check the schedule’s contract days, lane requirements, step rules, and any pay items excluded from its base figures.
Which Districts Have the Highest Salary Schedule Maximums?
Rochester leads the top 25 schedules at $171,142. The schedules below show what each maximum includes or requires. These are schedule maximums, and reaching them can require many years of service, additional units, or a specific credential.
| Rank | District and state | School year | Top schedule amount | What the maximum reflects |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rochester City School District, New York | 2025-26 | $171,142 | Single salary schedule; top step 99-23. Degree credit affects initial step placement. |
| 2 | Prince William County Public Schools, Virginia | 2026-27 | $153,763 | Ed.D. lane at longevity step LS06; this is above step 30. |
| 3 | Corona-Norco Unified, California | 2026-27 | $148,405 | Class D, year 25; the lane requires the stated unit and degree qualifications or equivalency. |
| 4 | Tacoma Public Schools, Washington | 2026-27 | $144,309 | PhD lane at step 20; the base schedule excludes the Professional Responsibility Stipend and optional PD hours. |
| 5 | Indian Prairie School District 204, Illinois | 2026-27 | $143,808 | PhD lane at step 23; the lane is closed to new entrants. |
| 6 | Greenwich Public Schools, Connecticut | 2025-26 | $141,759 | Doctorate lane at step 15. |
| 7 | New York City Public Schools, New York | 2026-27 | $141,384 | Master's (C2+PD) lane maximum at 8B+L22; longevity amounts are built into the grid. The schedule's C6+PD lane reaches $150,236. |
| 8 | Community Unit School District 300, Illinois | 2026-27 | $140,457 | Doctorate lane; figures use the schedule’s “With Board Paid TRS” side. |
| 9 | Boulder Valley School District, Colorado | 2026-27 | $140,381 | PhD lane on the 186-day schedule. |
| 10 | Boston Public Schools, Massachusetts | 2026-27 | $140,365 | Doctorate column on the schedule, with steps 1-9. |
| 11 | Arlington Public Schools, Virginia | 2026-27 | $139,828 | Doctorate lane; the plan says steps do not equal years of experience. |
| 12 | Chicago Public Schools, Illinois | 2026-27 | $139,672.08 | “Total Comp” includes the board’s 7% pension pickup. |
| 13 | Long Beach Unified, California | 2026-27 | $139,095 | Schedule A4, column 916; the column requires the stated master’s and unit qualifications. |
| 14 | Kent School District, Washington | 2026-27 | $137,889 | MA+90 lane at 20+ years; base pay excludes PEE and PLE supplemental schedules. |
| 15 | Fairfax County Public Schools, Virginia | 2026-27 | $136,647 | PhD lane on the 195-day standard teacher scale, steps 1-26. |
| 16 | Prince George’s County Public Schools, Maryland | 2026-27 | $136,007 | Doctorate lane G7; the schedule begins at step 4. |
| 17 | Loudoun County Public Schools, Virginia | 2026-27 | $135,640 | Doctoral lane; the district says steps do not equal years of experience. |
| 18 | Capistrano Unified, California | 2025-26 | $135,076 | A master’s or doctorate adds a flat $2,482 stipend; the bachelor’s maximum is a longevity amount at 23 years. |
| 19 | Newton Public Schools, Massachusetts | 2026-27 | $134,270 | Master’s+60/Doctorate lane; a separate schedule adds 0.75% on March 1, 2027. |
| 20 | Stamford Public Schools, Connecticut | 2026-27 | $132,824 | PhD lane; the BA lane is flat at $87,666 for steps 13-15. |
| 21 | Norwalk Public Schools, Connecticut | 2026-27 | $132,454 | The doctorate figure uses the DR-STIPEND column. A grandfathered PhD track reaches $143,559 at step 24. |
| 22 | San Diego Unified, California | 2026-27 | $132,292 | Grade 014, step 76, including longevity; the lane is reachable through the stated unit and degree paths. |
| 23 | Los Angeles Unified, California | 2026-27 | $131,378 | T Table maximum; salary points and levels set pay, with hourly MA and doctorate differentials. |
| 24 | Olentangy Local Schools, Ohio | 2026-27 | $131,117 | Shared MA+45/PhD lane, with steps 0-30. |
| 25 | Madison Metropolitan School District, Wisconsin | 2026-27 | $131,109 | Track 8 is the PhD/MFA track; the schedule shows levels A-YY as steps 1-51. |
The maximum figures describe different salary structures, so read each note before comparing amounts. For example, Tacoma’s base schedule excludes specified pay items, while Chicago’s “Total Comp” figure includes a pension pickup.
What Does It Take to Reach the Top of a Schedule?
Reaching a schedule maximum requires meeting that district’s step and lane rules, which can include long service, added coursework, or an advanced degree. The route differs by district, even when two schedules show the same degree lane.
Rochester’s single schedule reaches its maximum at step 99-23, while Prince William’s maximum is a longevity step above the scale’s step 30. Corona-Norco’s top lane is Class D at year 25, and Tacoma’s highest lane is PhD at step 20.
Some top amounts come with added conditions. Indian Prairie’s PhD lane is closed to new entrants, while San Diego’s maximum includes longevity and can be reached through the schedule’s stated unit and degree paths.
A headline maximum also may leave out pay items or use a special pay measure. Tacoma’s base excludes its Professional Responsibility Stipend and optional PD hours, while Chicago’s “Total Comp” includes the board’s 7% pension pickup.
Which States Have the Most $100,000 Schedules?
Delaware and Washington lead, with 10 districts each reaching six figures at the top of a lane. Across the 444 large-district schedules on the site, 164 meet that threshold, and 27 reach $130,000 or more.
| State | Districts at $100,000 or more |
|---|---|
| Delaware | 10 |
| Washington | 10 |
| California | 9 |
| Colorado | 9 |
| Georgia | 9 |
| Illinois | 9 |
| Connecticut | 8 |
| Massachusetts | 8 |
| Ohio | 8 |
| South Carolina | 8 |
These counts describe districts with at least one lane reaching the threshold. They do not mean every teacher in those states earns $100,000, since a schedule’s top amount is tied to its lane and step rules.
How Do State Teacher Salary Averages Compare?
California has the highest state average teacher salary at $103,552. The national average is $74,495. These averages give you statewide context; they do not show what an individual district pays at a particular step.
| Rank | State | Average teacher salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $103,552 |
| 2 | New York | $98,655 |
| 3 | Washington | $96,589 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $93,554 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $89,593 |
The national average starting teacher salary is $48,112. For a state-by-state pay comparison, see highest paying states for teachers.
When you compare a job offer with a state average, check the district’s current schedule, your lane and step placement, contract days, and which pay items the published figure includes.
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.