Teacher pay remains a heated topic nationwide, driving debates among state lawmakers and fueling recent teacher walkouts. Average public school teacher salaries differ dramatically by state — ranging from about $44,926 in the lowest-paying state to $84,227 in the highest.
In response to teacher shortages and the challenge of recruiting and retaining educators, many states have taken steps in recent years to increase teacher compensation.
Nationwide, the average teacher salary was $60,477 during the 2017–18 school year, according to the National Education Association (NEA). Salaries rose about 1.58 percent compared with the prior year.
Below is a state-by-state summary using figures from the NEA’s April 2019 report “Rankings of the States 2018 and Estimates of School Statistics 2019,” which reflect 2017–18 school year data. Median household income figures are from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2017 American Community Survey one-year estimates.
Alabama
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National rank: 37
Pay increase (year over year): 0.35%
State median household income: $48,123
Alabama approved its largest Education Trust Fund budget of $7.1 billion, including a 4 percent raise for school employees and added funding for a voluntary preschool program.
Alaska
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National rank: 7
Pay increase (year over year): 1.33%
State median household income: $73,181
Alaska increased public education funding in recent years, but the state’s high cost of living remains a barrier to attracting and retaining teachers.
Arizona
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National rank: 45
Pay increase (year over year): 3.11%
State median household income: $56,581
Arizona enacted a plan to increase teacher pay by 20 percent by 2020, a measure that is expected to boost education spending by more than $1 billion once fully implemented.
Arkansas
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National rank: 38
Pay increase (year over year): 4.64%
State median household income: $45,869
Arkansas passed a law that raises the minimum teacher salary by $1,000 each year for four years; the current minimum at the time of the law was $31,800.
California
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National rank: 2
Pay increase (year over year): 1.96%
State median household income: $71,805
Although California ranks near the top for teacher pay, the high cost of living—especially on the coast—reduces purchasing power. The state also experienced multiple teacher strikes that produced pay increases and other contract gains.
Colorado
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Average salary: $52,701
National rank: 31
Pay increase (year over year): 1.72%
State median household income: $65,458
Colorado allocated $6.1 billion for K–12 education in the 2019–20 budget, including funding to support all-day kindergarten.
Connecticut
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National rank: 5
Pay increase (year over year): 1.87%
State median household income: $74,168
Connecticut lawmakers restructured teacher pension contributions to address a major budget item, though local governments resisted state proposals to shift costs to municipalities.
Delaware
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National rank: 14
Pay increase (year over year): 0.83%
State median household income: $62,852
Delaware leaders recommended a 2 percent salary increase for teachers in their budget proposals.
District of Columbia
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National rank: 4
Pay increase (year over year): 1.05%
State median household income: $82,372
Despite high pay rates, the District of Columbia faces high teacher turnover—about 25 percent compared with 16 percent nationwide.
Florida
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National rank: 46
Pay increase (year over year): 1.91%
State median household income: $52,594
Florida replaced a college exam–based “best and brightest” bonus system with a smaller retention bonus tied to school performance and teacher tenure, among other factors.
Georgia
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National rank: 22
Pay increase (year over year): 1.44%
State median household income: $56,183
Georgia approved a $3,000 raise for teachers and a 2 percent raise for university and state employees.
Hawaii
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National rank: 18
Pay increase (year over year): 2.14%
State median household income: $77,765
Hawaii’s high cost of living undermines the value of teacher pay. Only roughly half of teachers who began teaching five years earlier remained in classrooms.
Idaho
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National rank: 44
Pay increase (year over year): 3.62%
State median household income: $52,225
Idaho approved a career ladder law and measures to raise starting teacher pay to $40,000 by the 2020–21 school year.
Illinois
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National rank: 11
Pay increase (year over year): 1.87%
State median household income: $62,992
Illinois passed legislation to phase in a $40,000 minimum teacher salary by 2025, replacing outdated statutory minimums.
Indiana
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National rank: 36
Pay increase (year over year): 0.79%
State median household income: $54,181
Commissions and legislative proposals have examined raising the minimum starting salary to $40,000, though some proposals did not advance.
Iowa
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National rank: 21
Pay increase (year over year): 2.46%
State median household income: $58,570
Iowa’s K–12 budget increased by $89.3 million in 2019, an approximate 2 percent boost that drew criticism from some lawmakers as insufficient.
Kansas
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National rank: 41
Pay increase (year over year): 0.67%
State median household income: $56,422
Kansas increased state education funding by $90 million annually for four years following a state Supreme Court ruling requiring higher school funding levels.
Kentucky
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National rank: 28
Pay increase (year over year): 1.17%
State median household income: $48,375
Kentucky’s education commissioner proposed giving districts more flexibility in teacher pay, including options for performance-based compensation instead of uniform salary schedules.
Louisiana
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National rank: 39
Pay increase (year over year): 1.12%
State median household income: $46,145
Louisiana increased its public education budget by $140 million and approved a $1,000 raise for teachers and a $500 raise for support staff.
Maine
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National rank: 26
Pay increase (year over year): 1.77%
State median household income: $56,277
Maine considered raising the minimum teacher salary to $40,000 in 2020, a significant increase over the then-current minimum.
Maryland
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National rank: 8
Pay increase (year over year): 1.86%
State median household income: $80,776
Maryland approved an education funding increase of $855 million over two years; the governor allowed the bill to become law without signing it due to concerns about long-term funding and accountability. The plan included a 1.5 percent state contribution to teacher pay with an expectation that districts would contribute additional funds.
Massachusetts
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National rank: 3
Pay increase (year over year): 2.1%
State median household income: $77,385
The state considered a proposed $270 million education budget increase. Legislators also advanced a constitutional amendment to tax incomes above $1 million, intended to fund education and transportation.
Michigan
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National rank: 13
Pay change (year over year): -0.6%
State median household income: $54,909
Detroit educators reached a tentative contract raising pay for experienced teachers by as much as 4.3 percent, raising maximum and minimum salary thresholds.
Minnesota
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National rank: 20
Pay increase (year over year): 0.76%
State median household income: $68,388
Minnesota approved a public education budget that increases funding by 2 percent next year and another 2 percent the following year, described by the governor as a “down payment” on larger goals.
Mississippi
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National rank: 51
Pay increase (year over year): 0.6%
State median household income: $43,529
Mississippi ranked last in average teacher salary. Lawmakers approved a $1,500 pay increase for teachers and instructional assistants.
Missouri
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National rank: 43
Pay increase (year over year): 1.41%
State median household income: $53,578
The governor signed a state budget that included a $61 million increase in public education funding.
Montana
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National rank: 30
Pay increase (year over year): 2.63%
State median household income: $53,386
Montana passed a budget that did not include state-funded preschool after a pilot program had been in place since 2017.
Nebraska
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National rank: 25
Pay increase (year over year): 3.58%
State median household income: $59,970
Nebraska was one of the few states to avoid an inflation-adjusted decline in teacher salaries over the previous decade, with modest increases.
Nevada
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National rank: 24
Pay change (year over year): -0.72%
State median household income: $58,003
Nevada’s legislature approved a new public education funding formula and additional funding to support early reading interventions aimed at third-grade reading proficiency.
New Hampshire
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National rank: 19
Pay increase (year over year): 0.54%
State median household income: $73,381
A court ruled that New Hampshire’s public education funding system was unconstitutional, prompting debate and potential legislative action to address funding disparities.
New Jersey
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National rank: 6
Pay increase (year over year): 0.42%
State median household income: $80,088
Local disputes over insurance and compensation led to short strikes in some districts, illustrating ongoing tensions around teacher benefits and costs.
New Mexico
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National rank: 48
Pay increase (year over year): 0.06%
State median household income: $46,744
New Mexico approved several bills to increase education funding, including a 6 percent pay raise for school employees and a $40,000 minimum salary for teachers.
New York
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National rank: 1
Pay increase (year over year): 2.84%
State median household income: $64,894
New York has the highest average teacher pay, though cost-of-living adjustments can lower its rank. New York City teachers secured multi-year pay raises under a recently ratified contract.
North Carolina
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National rank: 34
Pay increase (year over year): 2.52%
State median household income: $52,752
Lawmakers debated a range of proposals for teacher raises, with suggested increases varying from about 3.5 percent over two years up to 4.6 percent.
North Dakota
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National rank: 29
Pay increase (year over year): 0.6%
State median household income: $61,843
North Dakota adjusted its school funding formula to provide extra support for districts experiencing enrollment increases while avoiding a full shift to current-year enrollment funding due to cost concerns.
Ohio
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National rank: 17
Pay change (year over year): -0.35%
State median household income: $54,021
Proposals in Ohio included a two-year, $700 million Fair School Funding Plan and a potential teacher tax credit for classroom expenses up to $250.
Oklahoma
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National rank: 49
Pay increase (year over year): 2.23%
State median household income: $50,051
Oklahoma passed a bill delivering an average $6,100 pay increase for teachers and additional raises for support staff; legislators considered further increases the following year.
Oregon
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National rank: 12
Pay increase (year over year): 1.94%
State median household income: $60,212
Massive walkouts in Oregon drew tens of thousands protesting for better school funding; many districts canceled classes as educators pressed for increased investment.
Pennsylvania
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National rank: 9
Pay increase (year over year): 1.92%
State median household income: $59,195
The governor proposed raising the minimum teacher salary to $45,000 or higher, updating a minimum that had been set decades earlier.
Rhode Island
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National rank: 10
Pay increase (year over year): 0.42%
State median household income: $63,870
Legislators considered measures affecting union membership and dues collection for public employees, which could affect union funding streams and representation practices.
South Carolina
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National rank: 40
Pay increase (year over year): 0.36%
State median household income: $50,570
Large teacher walkouts drew significant public attention; lawmakers considered at least a 4 percent pay raise for teachers in the following year.
South Dakota
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National rank: 47
Pay increase (year over year): 1.39%
State median household income: $56,521
South Dakota lacks state-funded preschool programs, but initiatives aim to help parents compare and select preschools through a “Levels of Excellence” rating system.
Tennessee
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National rank: 35
Pay increase (year over year): 1.6%
State median household income: $51,340
A state audit found nearly $300 million allocated for teacher salaries since 2016 had not reached teachers directly because districts redirected funds to cover other costs.
Texas
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National rank: 27
Pay increase (year over year): 1.54%
State median household income: $59,206
Texas enacted a law delivering average raises of about $4,000 for experienced teachers statewide.
Utah
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National rank: 42
Pay increase (year over year): 2.22%
State median household income: $68,358
Utah teachers earn roughly $6,000 less than what is considered a living wage in the state and about $20,000 less than comparable professionals.
Vermont
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National rank: 15
Pay increase (year over year): 2.12%
State median household income: $57,513
Several Vermont districts reported financial strain and declining enrollment, creating budget pressures that affect staffing and services.
Virginia
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National rank: 32
Pay change (year over year): -0.66%
State median household income: $71,535
Protests and legislative pressure helped secure a 5 percent pay raise for teachers after public demonstrations calling for increased school funding.
Washington
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National rank: 23
Pay increase (year over year): 2.31%
State median household income: $70,979
Washington’s two-year budget proposed nearly a 20 percent increase in funding for K–12 public schools, according to state education advocates.
West Virginia
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National rank: 50
Pay increase (year over year): 0.19%
State median household income: $43,469
Legislators moved forward on proposals to allow charter schools and considered broader education reforms that included pay raises for educators.
Wisconsin
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National rank: 33
Pay increase (year over year): 0.06%
State median household income: $59,305
Wisconsin considered expanding partial student loan forgiveness to encourage teachers to work in high-need schools and to diversify the teaching workforce.
Wyoming
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National rank: 16
Pay increase (year over year): 0.28%
State median household income: $60,434
Wyoming’s teacher pay remains higher than neighboring states, though surrounding states are beginning to close the gap with recent increases.