Find the average teacher salary in your state with these helpful tips.

Teaching, while a noble profession, is rarely a high-paying career. It is no surprise that teaching has one of the highest turnover rates, with many educators switching careers in pursuit of higher salaries in other fields.
If you are a teacher searching for a place to settle down, or if you are trying to choose a career path, you may want to use potential salary as a deciding factor. These tips will help you find the average teacher salary in any state:
- Find the average teacher salary for the state of your choice. Many online resources provide lists ranking states by teacher pay. Ensure you are looking at the most up-to-date data, as some reports may be outdated. The sidebar of this article includes sites that offer these lists.
- See if the website provides starting teacher salaries.
Most compiled data reflects the average salary of all teachers in a state, combining first-year educators with multi-year veterans, which does not necessarily reflect starting pay for new teachers. Try to find average salaries that align with your level of experience. You can often check a state's Board of Education website for the mandated minimum salary to get an idea of the bare minimum for that region. - Remember that these lists include ALL schools in the state. School districts set their own pay scales, meaning a specific school may offer higher or lower starting salaries than the state average. Some inner-city schools may pay more to recruit and retain teachers, while others lack the budget of affluent suburban schools. As a general rule, larger school districts offer higher salaries, though this is not always the case. Contact district administrations or check their websites for pay rates at specific schools.
You likely did not enter teaching for the money, and there is much more to consider than salary when choosing where to live. However, financial stability is essential. Teachers with advanced degrees can command higher pay, and you can improve your earning potential by pursuing a higher degree online.
Compare School Teacher Salaries by State: Teacher Pay
Find the average teacher salary in your state with these helpful tips.

Teaching, while a noble profession, is rarely a high-paying career. It is no surprise that teaching has one of the highest turnover rates, with many educators switching careers in pursuit of higher salaries in other fields.
If you are a teacher searching for a place to settle down, or if you are trying to choose a career path, you may want to use potential salary as a deciding factor. These tips will help you find the average teacher salary in any state:
- Find the average teacher salary for the state of your choice. Many online resources provide lists ranking states by teacher pay. Ensure you are looking at the most up-to-date data, as some reports may be outdated. The sidebar of this article includes sites that offer these lists.
- See if the website provides starting teacher salaries.
Most compiled data reflects the average salary of all teachers in a state, combining first-year educators with multi-year veterans, which does not necessarily reflect starting pay for new teachers. Try to find average salaries that align with your level of experience. You can often check a state's Board of Education website for the mandated minimum salary to get an idea of the bare minimum for that region. - Remember that these lists include ALL schools in the state. School districts set their own pay scales, meaning a specific school may offer higher or lower starting salaries than the state average. Some inner-city schools may pay more to recruit and retain teachers, while others lack the budget of affluent suburban schools. As a general rule, larger school districts offer higher salaries, though this is not always the case. Contact district administrations or check their websites for pay rates at specific schools.
You likely did not enter teaching for the money, and there is much more to consider than salary when choosing where to live. However, financial stability is essential. Teachers with advanced degrees can command higher pay, and you can improve your earning potential by pursuing a higher degree online.
Compare School Teacher Salaries by State: Teacher Pay
By Howtodotips
Find the average teacher salary in your state with these helpful tips.