Which State Pays Teachers the Most? 2024-25 Rankings for All 50 States

California pays teachers the most, with a 2024-25 average salary of $103,552 (NEA). New York ($98,655) and Washington ($96,589) follow. Mississippi pays the least at $54,975, a gap of $48,577 between the top and bottom states.

These are statewide averages across all teachers, veterans included. A job offer comes from a district salary schedule, which sets pay by years of experience and degree.

Key Takeaways

• Ten states average $81,450 or more; eight average under $60,000.
• The Northeast and West Coast pay the most; the South and Plains pay the least.
• Some district schedules top out above $140,000, far beyond any state average.

The Top 10 States by Average Teacher Salary

The ten highest-paying states range from $81,450 in Alaska to $103,552 in California. Five of them are in the Northeast, four are on the West Coast or in Alaska, and Maryland is the only Southern state on the list.

California has the highest average, but Washington has the highest average starting salary in this group at $60,658. A high average often reflects a veteran workforce and long salary schedules, not just high entry pay.

Which States Have the Lowest Average Teacher Pay?

The ten lowest state averages run from $54,975 to $60,594. Mississippi ranks last, followed by Florida ($56,663) and Louisiana ($56,785).

Starting pay tells a different story inside this group. Arkansas starts teachers at an average of $50,076, backed by a $50,000 state floor, while Montana averages $36,682 for new teachers.

How Wide Is the Gap Between States?

The middle state average is about $68,500. Half of all states fall between roughly $61,400 and $77,100, so most teachers work in that band.

The extremes are far apart. California's average is about 1.9 times Mississippi's. Only ten states average $80,000 or more, and eight average less than $60,000.

Which Regions Pay Teachers the Most?

Using Census regions, the Northeast leads with a median state average of $84,974. The West follows at $72,882, then the Midwest at $64,319 and the South at $61,576.

Each region has outliers. Maryland ($87,409) and Delaware ($76,570) pay far more than the rest of the South.

Illinois ($78,495) tops the Midwest, where Missouri ($57,366) sits near the bottom. In the West, California leads and Montana trails at $59,305.

How Do Starting Salaries Compare With State Averages?

The highest-paying states do not always start teachers highest. Washington starts teachers at $60,658, the top figure nationally, while California starts at $59,424.

The gap between starting and average pay also varies. New York's average is $47,043 above its starting pay, and California's is $44,128 above. In Florida the gap is only $7,228, and in Arkansas it is $9,117, so pay rises little over a career in those states.

Where Do District Salary Schedules Top Out?

A state average hides how high a long career can go. Rochester City School District in New York tops out at $171,142 on its 2025-26 schedule. Prince William County, Virginia reaches $153,763 for a doctorate in 2026-27, and Corona-Norco Unified in California reaches $148,405.

Other high ceilings include Tacoma, Washington, at $144,309 and Indian Prairie District 204 in Illinois at $143,808.

Ceilings are much lower in some states. Durham, North Carolina, tops out at $81,210 for a doctorate, and Jefferson County, West Virginia, at $80,772. In South Dakota, the Sioux Falls schedule peaks at $79,277.

How Long Does It Take to Reach the Top Step?

Schedules differ in length as much as in pay. Corona-Norco's maximum comes at year 25, and Prince William County's top pay sits on longevity steps above step 30.

Some grids are much longer. Lee's Summit R-7 in Missouri has 43 steps and reaches $128,978 for a doctorate. Lafayette Parish in Louisiana runs steps 0 through 55 and tops out at $85,250.

A long schedule with small steps can leave mid-career pay flat. Compare the pay at year 10 and year 20, not just the first and last cells.

Do State Minimums Raise Average Pay?

A state floor lifts entry pay more than the average. Arkansas requires at least $50,000 for every teacher, yet its average is $59,193, among the lowest in the country.

Maryland's $60,000 minimum took effect July 1, 2026, after the 2024-25 averages shown here. New Mexico sets minimums by license level: $55,000, $65,000 and $75,000.

Why Does Your District Matter More Than Your State?

Your district schedule sets the pay for your job. Find the row for your years of experience and the column for your degree, and that cell is your salary.

Use the state pages linked in the rankings to find district schedules. Check how many steps the schedule has and what the top step pays, since that shapes lifetime earnings more than the first-year figure.

How Do All 50 States Rank?

The table ranks all 50 states by 2024-25 average teacher salary, from highest to lowest, with average starting pay alongside.