Guide
How Much Do Teachers Make? Average, Starting and Top Pay
Published
When you ask how much do teachers make, the national average is $74,495 a year and average starting pay is $48,112. Average pay is highest in California at $103,552 and lowest in Mississippi at $54,975.
Your own base pay comes from your school district’s salary schedule. The schedule’s experience steps and education lanes help you see how pay changes as your career and qualifications progress.
Key Takeaways
- The national average teacher salary is $74,495, and average starting pay is $48,112.
- District schedules show a median bachelor's starting salary of $52,800.
- Your district’s schedule sets base pay by experience and education.
State average teacher salaries
- 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 |
The Short Answer
For a quick estimate, use $74,495 as the national average annual salary; your district’s schedule sets your actual base pay. The national average starting salary is $48,112, while district schedules show a median bachelor's starting salary of $52,800.
A statewide average combines teacher pay across a state, while a district schedule shows the pay levels available in a specific school system. Check your state page to find district schedules that apply to the job you’re considering.
Average Teacher Pay by State
Your state’s average teacher salary gives you a statewide benchmark, while local district schedules show the pay available in specific school systems. The state averages below are for 2024-25.
You can use the table to compare average pay with average starting pay in each state. For more detail on state averages, see highest paying states for teachers.
What New Teachers Start At
New teachers earn an average starting salary of $48,112 nationally, while the median bachelor's starting salary across 435 district schedules is $52,800. The figures describe different measures: one is a national state-level average, and the other is the median from district schedules.
Your district’s schedule shows the starting salary for your education lane and experience step. To compare state starting averages, see teacher starting salary by state, then check your state page for local schedules.
How High Teacher Pay Can Go
The median top-of-schedule salary is $94,659 across 410 district schedules, and 164 districts have a schedule that reaches $100,000 or more. The top-of-schedule figure is the highest amount in any lane on each schedule.
A schedule’s top amount gives you a view of its highest scheduled base salary. Your own salary path follows the experience steps and education lanes in the district schedule.
Why Two Teachers in the Same State Earn Different Pay
Two teachers in the same state can have different base salaries because their school districts set pay through schedules with experience steps and education lanes. Those steps reflect years of experience, while lanes reflect education.
Check the district salary schedule on your state page to see how its steps and lanes apply to your qualifications. Compare the row for your experience with the lane that matches your education.
All 50 States: Average and Starting Salary
The table gives you the average teacher salary and average starting salary for each state in 2024-25. Use the figures as statewide benchmarks, then check your state page for district schedules.
| State | Average teacher salary 2024-25 | Average starting salary 2024-25 |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $62,985 | $47,955 |
| Alaska | $81,450 | $53,650 |
| Arizona | $64,291 | $44,869 |
| Arkansas | $59,193 | $50,076 |
| California | $103,552 | $59,424 |
| Colorado | $72,781 | $45,489 |
| Connecticut | $89,593 | $51,053 |
| Delaware | $76,570 | $49,344 |
| Florida | $56,663 | $49,435 |
| Georgia | $71,524 | $48,722 |
| Hawaii | $75,860 | $51,835 |
| Idaho | $62,786 | $46,253 |
| Illinois | $78,495 | $46,655 |
| Indiana | $61,661 | $45,958 |
| Iowa | $65,312 | $48,139 |
| Kansas | $61,470 | $44,163 |
| Kentucky | $60,594 | $41,901 |
| Louisiana | $56,785 | $46,850 |
| Maine | $65,621 | $44,152 |
| Maryland | $87,409 | $57,293 |
| Massachusetts | $93,554 | $54,216 |
| Michigan | $71,023 | $43,093 |
| Minnesota | $76,234 | $46,477 |
| Mississippi | $54,975 | $43,814 |
| Missouri | $57,366 | $40,682 |
| Montana | $59,305 | $36,682 |
| Nebraska | $63,326 | $39,561 |
| Nevada | $74,812 | $49,731 |
| New Hampshire | $69,432 | $44,010 |
| New Jersey | $84,974 | $58,727 |
| New Mexico | $69,736 | $54,372 |
| New York | $98,655 | $51,612 |
| North Carolina | $60,323 | $44,952 |
| North Dakota | $60,704 | $45,252 |
| Ohio | $70,586 | $42,222 |
| Oklahoma | $61,931 | $41,294 |
| Oregon | $81,657 | $46,854 |
| Pennsylvania | $79,078 | $52,198 |
| Rhode Island | $85,772 | $48,242 |
| South Carolina | $64,050 | $48,426 |
| South Dakota | $58,486 | $47,196 |
| Tennessee | $61,222 | $47,230 |
| Texas | $63,749 | $49,465 |
| Utah | $72,882 | $57,849 |
| Vermont | $71,871 | $46,963 |
| Virginia | $69,254 | $50,448 |
| Washington | $96,589 | $60,658 |
| West Virginia | $58,099 | $45,294 |
| Wisconsin | $67,794 | $43,288 |
| Wyoming | $65,668 | $51,776 |
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.