Teacher Starting Salary by State: 2024-25 Averages for All 50 States

Washington has the highest average teacher starting salary, $60,658 in 2024-25, followed by California at $59,424. Montana is lowest at $36,682, about $24,000 less, with Nebraska next at $39,561.

These are NEA statewide averages. Your actual offer comes from the district salary schedule: the first step in the column that matches your degree.

Key Takeaways

• The middle state starts teachers at about $47,200.
• 22 states set a minimum teacher salary in law, from $18,500 to $60,000.
• Big-city districts in California, Illinois, Massachusetts and New York start teachers above $70,000.

Which States Have the Highest Starting Teacher Salaries?

Washington and California lead at $60,658 and $59,424. New Jersey, Utah and Maryland round out the top five.

The top ten states by average starting salary are:

• Washington: $60,658
• California: $59,424
• New Jersey: $58,727
• Utah: $57,849
• Maryland: $57,293
• New Mexico: $54,372
• Massachusetts: $54,216
• Alaska: $53,650
• Pennsylvania: $52,198
• Hawaii: $51,835

Utah stands out: it ranks fourth for starting pay but 17th for average pay. New Mexico also ranks high, helped by its $55,000 minimum for Level 1 teachers.

Which States Have the Lowest Starting Teacher Salaries?

Montana has the lowest average starting salary, at $36,682, followed by Nebraska at $39,561. The rest of the bottom ten fall between $40,682 and $44,010.

From highest to lowest, the bottom ten are:

• New Hampshire: $44,010
• Mississippi: $43,814
• Wisconsin: $43,288
• Michigan: $43,093
• Ohio: $42,222
• Kentucky: $41,901
• Oklahoma: $41,294
• Missouri: $40,682
• Nebraska: $39,561
• Montana: $36,682

Most of these states are in the Midwest. A low state average does not set your pay, so check the district schedule before ruling a state out.

How Wide Is the Gap Between States?

The middle state starts teachers at about $47,200. Half of all states fall between roughly $44,700 and $51,200.

Washington's average start is about 1.65 times Montana's. Seven states average $54,000 or more for new teachers, while three average under $41,000.

How Does Starting Pay Differ by Region?

By Census region, the West has the highest median starting pay at $51,776, but also the widest spread, from Montana to Washington. The Northeast follows at $51,053, led by New Jersey.

The South's median is $48,191, with Maryland highest at $57,293 and Oklahoma lowest at $41,294. The Midwest trails at $44,708, where even the top state, Iowa, averages only $48,139.

Which States Set a Minimum Teacher Salary?

22 states set a minimum salary for teachers in state law or a state schedule. The floors range from $60,000 in Maryland to $18,500 in Pennsylvania.

• Maryland: $60,000 (from July 1, 2026)
• New Mexico: $55,000 (Level 1 license)
• South Carolina: $50,500
• Idaho: $50,252
• Arkansas: $50,000 (flat floor for all teachers)
• Iowa: $50,000 (under 12 years)
• Tennessee: $50,000
• Alabama: $48,552
• North Carolina: $48,000
• South Dakota: $46,201
• Georgia: $43,592
• Illinois: $43,543
• Mississippi: $43,500
• West Virginia: $43,015
• Oklahoma: $41,601
• Maine: $40,000
• Missouri: $40,000
• Ohio: $35,000
• Texas: $33,960 (2025-26)
• Kentucky: $29,804 (2025-26)
• North Dakota: $27,500
• Pennsylvania: $18,500 (unchanged since 1988-89)

Two more states publish a single statewide figure that works differently. Hawaii is one statewide district, and its union schedule starts at $55,259. Delaware pays a state-share base of $39,370 that districts add to.

Old floors sit far below real pay. Pennsylvania's $18,500 has not changed since 1988-89, yet its average start is $52,198. North Dakota's $27,500 floor dates to 2014-15, against a $45,252 average start.

How Fast Does Pay Rise After the First Year?

State schedules show how slowly some floors climb. Texas starts at $33,960 and reaches $55,030 only after 20 years. Georgia runs from $43,592 to $60,787 at 21 or more years for a bachelor's degree.

Others start higher but stay flat. North Carolina starts at $48,000 and reaches $59,000 at 25 years. South Carolina runs from $50,500 to $64,500 at 28 or more years.

Alabama has one of the longer state ladders, from $48,552 to $70,492 over 35 years for a bachelor's degree. A master's degree raises each step, so check the column that matches your degree.

What Do Big Districts Pay New Teachers?

District first steps can beat state averages by a wide margin. Corona-Norco Unified in California starts bachelor's-degree teachers at $79,380 for 2026-27, and San Francisco Unified at $77,499.

Los Angeles Unified starts at $75,311, Chicago Public Schools at $74,612, Boston at $71,501 and New York City at $71,314. Most of these are 2026-27 figures, two years newer than the state averages.

How Does Starting Pay Compare With Average Teacher Pay?

Average teacher pay is higher than starting pay in every state. The average covers veteran teachers, so it shows where a career can go.

California's average salary is $103,552, against a $59,424 start. In Montana the figures are $59,305 and $36,682. Florida has the smallest gap, $56,663 against $49,435, so raises there are slim.

How Do Starting Salaries Compare Across All 50 States?

The table compares each state's 2024-25 average starting salary with its average teacher salary and any statewide minimum.