Original research · 2026-27 salary schedules
Neighboring school districts can pay the same teacher $12,117 more a year
$12,117
A 10th-year teacher with a master’s earns $83,924 at Mason City Schools and $71,807 at Lakota Local Schools, Ohio. The district offices are 6.8 miles apart.
- Neighboring pairs
- 48
- States
- 37
- comparable pairs differ by $5,000+ at master’s year 10
- 14 of 27
Find a pair near you
Featured gap:$8k+$5–8k$2–5kunder $2kno pair yet
The biggest gaps
Download the data (CSV)Among the 48 checked pairs. Master’s degree, 10th year on the schedule, same school year (2026-27 unless marked). Gold dot is the higher-paying district.
- Mason City Schools vs Lakota Local SchoolsOH · 6.8 mi · 2026-27$12,117$83,924 vs $71,807
- Naperville Community Unit School District 203 vs Oswego Community Unit School District 308IL · 11.3 mi · 2026-27$10,844$85,638 vs $74,794
- Cumberland School Department vs Providence Public SchoolsRI · 10.3 mi · 2026-27$10,761$100,356 vs $89,595
- Downingtown Area School District vs West Chester Area School DistrictPA · 5.5 mi · 2026-27$10,640$89,140 vs $78,500
- Woonsocket Education Department vs Providence Public SchoolsRI · 13.7 mi · 2026-27$10,594$100,189 vs $89,595
- Little Rock School District vs Pulaski County Special School DistrictAR · 5.5 mi · 2026-27$9,955$62,357 vs $52,402
- Cumberland School Department vs North Providence School DepartmentRI · 7.3 mi · 2026-27$9,706$100,356 vs $90,650
- Woonsocket Education Department vs North Providence School DepartmentRI · 10.3 mi · 2026-27$9,539$100,189 vs $90,650
- Indian Prairie School District 204 vs Oswego Community Unit School District 308IL · 7.3 mi · 2026-27$8,754$83,548 vs $74,794
- Livonia Public Schools vs Walled Lake Consolidated SchoolsMI · 11.3 mi · 2026-27$8,099$85,446 vs $77,347
Starting pay moves less. The median gap for a new teacher with a bachelor’s is $1,826 across 46 pairs; 13 pairs differ by $5,000 or more. The biggest: $65,000 at Prince William County Public Schools vs $54,000 at Stafford County Public Schools, Virginia.
The gap grows with experience. By year 10 with a master’s, the median gap is $5,910 across the 27 pairs where both schedules count one row per year.
Same start, different path. Little Rock and Pulaski County Special both start a bachelor’s teacher at $50,000. At year 10 with a master’s, Little Rock pays $62,357 and Pulaski County $52,402. Both list 190 contract days.
Your area
One featured pair per state: the master’s 10th-year gap where both schedules allow it; otherwise the larger of the starting-pay and top-of-schedule gaps. Each card links to a shareable image.
Alabama
$6,496
Master’s, top of schedule, 2026-27
Huntsville City Schools $87,559
Madison County Schools $81,063Arizona
$6,039
Starting pay, bachelor’s, 2026-27
Mesa Public Schools $55,886
Scottsdale Unified School District $49,847Arkansas
$9,955
Master’s, 10th year, 2026-27
Little Rock School District $62,357
Pulaski County Special School District $52,402Colorado
$12,842
Master’s, top of schedule, 2026-27
Adams 12 Five Star Schools $101,663
Boulder Valley School District $88,821Connecticut
$6,449
Starting pay, bachelor’s, 2026-27
Waterbury Public Schools $61,497
Meriden Public Schools $55,048Delaware
$7,041
Master’s, 10th year, 2026-27
Appoquinimink School District $81,740
Smyrna School District $74,699Georgia
$1,146
Starting pay, bachelor’s, 2026-27
Gwinnett County Public Schools $61,146
DeKalb County School District $60,000Idaho
$8,976
Master’s, top of schedule, 2026-27
Nampa School District $76,327
Vallivue School District $67,351Illinois
$10,844
Master’s, 10th year, 2026-27
Naperville Community Unit School District 203 $85,638
Oswego Community Unit School District 308 $74,794Indiana
$6,746
Starting pay, bachelor’s, 2025-26
MSD Lawrence Township $52,685
Carmel Clay Schools $45,939Iowa
$10,231
Master’s, top of schedule, 2026-27
Johnston Community School District $86,967
Des Moines Public Schools $76,736Kansas
$16,252
Master’s, top of schedule, 2026-27
Shawnee Mission School District (USD 512) $81,729
North Kansas City Schools $65,477Kentucky
$1,093
Master’s, 10th year, 2026-27
Boone County Schools $65,767
Kenton County School District $64,674Maine
$4,895
Master’s, 10th year, 2026-27
Sanford School Department $66,486
RSU 57 / MSAD 57 $61,591Michigan
$8,099
Master’s, 10th year, 2026-27
Livonia Public Schools $85,446
Walled Lake Consolidated Schools $77,347Minnesota
$5,726
Master’s, top of schedule, 2026-27
Osseo Area Schools $100,428
Anoka-Hennepin School District $94,702Mississippi
$975
Master’s, 10th year, 2026-27
Biloxi Public School District $56,740
Harrison County School District $55,765Missouri
$16,252
Master’s, top of schedule, 2026-27
Shawnee Mission School District (USD 512) $81,729
North Kansas City Schools $65,477Montana
$7,280
Starting pay, bachelor’s, 2026-27
Helena Public Schools $52,275
East Helena Public Schools $44,995Nebraska
$7,117
Master’s, 10th year, 2026-27
Elkhorn Public Schools $70,758
Papillion La Vista Community Schools $63,641Nevada
$9,829
Master’s, top of schedule, 2026-27
Douglas County School District $79,078
Carson City School District $69,249New Jersey
$5,910
Master’s, 10th year, 2026-27
Newark Public School District $82,250
East Orange School District $76,340New Mexico
$2,067
Master’s, top of schedule, 2026-27
Albuquerque Public Schools $86,844
Rio Rancho Public Schools $84,777New York
$34,170
Master’s, top of schedule, 2026-27
New York City Public Schools $141,384
East Orange School District $107,214North Dakota
$3,696
Master’s, 10th year, 2026-27
Bismarck Public Schools $66,884
Mandan Public Schools $63,188Ohio
$12,117
Master’s, 10th year, 2026-27
Mason City Schools $83,924
Lakota Local Schools $71,807Oklahoma
$1,060
Master’s, 10th year, 2025-26
Putnam City Public Schools $52,610
Oklahoma City Public Schools $51,550Oregon
$4,836
Master’s, 10th year, 2026-27
Gresham-Barlow School District $87,259
Vancouver Public Schools $82,423Pennsylvania
$10,640
Master’s, 10th year, 2026-27
Downingtown Area School District $89,140
West Chester Area School District $78,500Rhode Island
$10,761
Master’s, 10th year, 2026-27
Cumberland School Department $100,356
Providence Public Schools $89,595South Carolina
$1,685
Master’s, 10th year, 2026-27
Richland School District Two $61,070
Richland One $59,385South Dakota
$7,799
Starting pay, bachelor’s, 2026-27
Douglas School District 51-1 $54,000
Rapid City Area School District 51-4 $46,201Utah
$10,581
Starting pay, bachelor’s, 2026-27
Canyons School District $65,825
Alpine School District $55,244Vermont
$3,202
Master’s, top of schedule, 2026-27
Champlain Valley School District $98,733
Colchester School District $95,531Virginia
$11,000
Starting pay, bachelor’s, 2026-27
Prince William County Public Schools $65,000
Stafford County Public Schools $54,000Washington
$4,836
Master’s, 10th year, 2026-27
Gresham-Barlow School District $87,259
Vancouver Public Schools $82,423West Virginia
$760
Master’s, 10th year, 2026-27
Jefferson County Schools $59,419
Berkeley County Schools $58,659
All 48 pairs
| Pair | Miles | Year | BA start gap | MA yr 10 gap | MA top gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakota Local Schools vs Mason City Schools OH | 6.8 | 2026-27 | $4,317 | $12,117 | $4,261 |
| Oswego Community Unit School District 308 vs Naperville Community Unit School District 203 IL | 11.3 | 2026-27 | $4,568 | $10,844 | $18,782 |
| Providence Public Schools vs Cumberland School Department RI | 10.3 | 2026-27 | $162 | $10,761 | $2,460 |
| Downingtown Area School District vs West Chester Area School District PA | 5.5 | 2026-27 | $2,566 | $10,640 | $2,060 |
| Providence Public Schools vs Woonsocket Education Department RI | 13.7 | 2026-27 | $1,976 | $10,594 | $2,293 |
| Little Rock School District vs Pulaski County Special School District AR | 5.5 | 2026-27 | $0 | $9,955 | $11,992 |
| Cumberland School Department vs North Providence School Department RI | 7.3 | 2026-27 | $379 | $9,706 | $2,550 |
| Woonsocket Education Department vs North Providence School Department RI | 10.3 | 2026-27 | $2,193 | $9,539 | $2,383 |
| Indian Prairie School District 204 vs Oswego Community Unit School District 308 IL | 7.3 | 2026-27 | $4,794 | $8,754 | $37,307 |
| Livonia Public Schools vs Walled Lake Consolidated Schools MI | 11.3 | 2026-27 | $7,477 | $8,099 | $8,159 |
| Papillion La Vista Community Schools vs Elkhorn Public Schools NE | 13.6 | 2026-27 | $6,997 | $7,117 | $1,227 |
| Appoquinimink School District vs Smyrna School District DE | 11.1 | 2026-27 | $1,788 | $7,041 | $9,161 |
| Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202 vs Oswego Community Unit School District 308 IL | 9.8 | 2026-27 | $4,001 | $6,837 | $31,565 |
| Newark Public School District vs East Orange School District NJ | 2.5 | 2026-27 | $7,000 | $5,910 | $5,036 |
| Sanford School Department vs RSU 57 / MSAD 57 ME | 7.3 | 2026-27 | $249 | $4,895 | $3,891 |
| Gresham-Barlow School District vs Vancouver Public Schools OR/WA | 13.1 | 2026-27 | $7,056 | $4,836 | $8,408 |
| Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202 vs Naperville Community Unit School District 203 IL | 11.9 | 2026-27 | $567 | $4,007 | $12,783 |
| Bismarck Public Schools vs Mandan Public Schools ND | 7.9 | 2026-27 | $1,837 | $3,696 | $6,617 |
| Indian Prairie School District 204 vs Naperville Community Unit School District 203 IL | 4 | 2026-27 | $226 | $2,090 | $18,525 |
| Indian Prairie School District 204 vs Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202 IL | 10.3 | 2026-27 | $793 | $1,917 | $5,742 |
| Richland School District Two vs Richland One SC | 11.5 | 2026-27 | $917 | $1,685 | $1,122 |
| Boone County Schools vs Kenton County School District KY | 7.4 | 2026-27 | $601 | $1,093 | $4,755 |
| Oklahoma City Public Schools vs Putnam City Public Schools OK | 5.3 | 2025-26 | $500 | $1,060 | $435 |
| Providence Public Schools vs North Providence School Department RI | 3.5 | 2026-27 | $217 | $1,055 | $90 |
| Harrison County School District vs Biloxi Public School District MS | 10.8 | 2026-27 | $1,195 | $975 | $4,170 |
| Berkeley County Schools vs Jefferson County Schools WV | 12.5 | 2026-27 | $610 | $760 | $1,606 |
| Woonsocket Education Department vs Cumberland School Department RI | 4.4 | 2026-27 | $1,814 | $167 | $167 |
| Prince William County Public Schools vs Stafford County Public Schools VA | 14.7 | 2026-27 | $11,000 | n/a | n/a |
| Alpine School District vs Canyons School District UT | 14.1 | 2026-27 | $10,581 | n/a | n/a |
| East Orange School District vs New York City Public Schools NJ/NY | 10.8 | 2026-27 | $8,314 | n/a | $34,170 |
| Rapid City Area School District 51-4 vs Douglas School District 51-1 SD | 9.1 | 2026-27 | $7,799 | n/a | n/a |
| Helena Public Schools vs East Helena Public Schools MT | 4.8 | 2026-27 | $7,280 | n/a | $4,051 |
| MSD Lawrence Township vs Carmel Clay Schools IN | 9 | 2025-26 | $6,746 | n/a | $2,369 |
| Waterbury Public Schools vs Meriden Public Schools CT | 12.8 | 2026-27 | $6,449 | n/a | $2,014 |
| Shawnee Mission School District (USD 512) vs North Kansas City Schools KS/MO | 13.8 | 2026-27 | $6,177 | n/a | $16,252 |
| Mesa Public Schools vs Scottsdale Unified School District AZ | 8.1 | 2026-27 | $6,039 | n/a | n/a |
| Des Moines Public Schools vs Johnston Community School District IA | 7.9 | 2026-27 | $3,263 | n/a | $10,231 |
| Adams 12 Five Star Schools vs Boulder Valley School District CO | 13.8 | 2026-27 | $2,075 | n/a | $12,842 |
| Carson City School District vs Douglas County School District NV | 14.6 | 2026-27 | $1,424 | n/a | $9,829 |
| Albuquerque Public Schools vs Rio Rancho Public Schools NM | 11.7 | 2026-27 | $1,316 | n/a | $2,067 |
| Newark Public School District vs New York City Public Schools NJ/NY | 8.8 | 2026-27 | $1,314 | n/a | $29,134 |
| Gwinnett County Public Schools vs DeKalb County School District GA | 15 | 2026-27 | $1,146 | n/a | $652 |
| Anoka-Hennepin School District vs Osseo Area Schools MN | 6 | 2026-27 | $1,137 | n/a | $5,726 |
| Champlain Valley School District vs Colchester School District VT | 9.6 | 2026-27 | $1,067 | n/a | $3,202 |
| Huntsville City Schools vs Madison County Schools AL | 6.2 | 2026-27 | $663 | n/a | $6,496 |
| Nampa School District vs Vallivue School District ID | 6.7 | 2026-27 | $0 | n/a | $8,976 |
| Vancouver Public Schools vs Evergreen Public Schools WA · not ranked | 4.5 | 2026-27 | $6,785 | $11,599 | $9,771 |
| Gresham-Barlow School District vs Evergreen Public Schools OR/WA · not ranked | 9.7 | 2026-27 | $13,841 | $6,763 | $18,179 |
“n/a” means the cell is not comparable: one schedule does not run one row per year, or the pair is not ranked. Top-of-schedule gaps partly reflect how many steps each district has. Full values, contract days, experience credit and source links are in the CSV.
How we did this, and every assumption
- Districts: only salary schedules already published on this site. We found 260 district pairs within 15 miles. We re-checked by hand the pairs most likely to be cited, the biggest gap in each state plus every pair with a year-10 gap of $8,000 or more, against each district’s own document on October 30, 2026. The 48 pairs where both documents were confirmed are published here. Because of that selection, the counts and medians describe these pairs, not every neighboring district in the country. Pairs whose documents could not be opened were dropped (Nashua, Salem and Timberlane, New Hampshire, returned 403 errors).
- Distance: straight-line miles between district office locations from the NCES EDGE 2024-25 public school district geocode file, using the haversine formula. Two offices were placed with the U.S. Census Geocoder instead (New York City Public Schools at 52 Chambers St; Metro Nashville at 2601 Bransford Ave). Pairs more than 15 miles apart were excluded. Office distance is not commuting distance.
- Same school year: gaps are calculated only when both schedules are for the same school year. Most pairs are 2026-27; two pairs are both 2025-26 and are labeled.
- What “5th year” and “10th year” mean: the 5th and 10th rows of the master’s column, treating the first printed row as a first-year teacher. Where the district numbers its first row 0 or 1, we treat both as year one. Where rows are bands, half-steps, letters or are blacked out, we do not compare those cells.
- Master’s lane: the plain master’s column (MA+0 or the district’s equivalent). Where a district pays a flat master’s add-on (Providence, Cumberland), we added it as the contract states.
- Printed schedule pay only. No stipends, coaching pay, health benefits, pension pickups or cost of living. Pairs where a district adds a universal stipend outside the schedule are kept in the CSV but left out of the rankings (Evergreen, Washington).
- Contract days and daily rate: taken from the schedule or contract when it states a number; otherwise “not stated.” Daily rate is master’s 10th-year pay divided by a single stated day count. We do not guess.
- Prior-experience credit: quoted from the document where stated; otherwise “not stated.” Several districts leave placement to the superintendent.
- Cross-state pairs (Oregon/Washington, New Jersey/New York, Kansas/Missouri) differ in taxes, pensions and licensing.
Data issues we found
- Putnam City, Oklahoma: the linked schedule is 2025-26; we compare it with Oklahoma City’s 2025-26 figures.
- East Helena, Montana: the true step 0 is $44,995; new bachelor’s hires with 0–2 years are placed on step 2. We use $44,995 and do not compare its year-matched cells.
- Indian Prairie 204 caps outside experience at 10 years starting in 2027-28. Valley View 365U was excluded because its schedule is closed to teachers hired after June 30, 2013.
Download and reuse
The dataset is free under CC BY 4.0. Credit “Teacher Salary Schedules” with a link to this page. Each row links to both districts’ official schedules. Spot an error? The district’s own document always wins; tell us via the about page.