Teacher Salary by State

Teachers bring a slew of different skills, backgrounds, and degrees to their classrooms. Teacher salaries can be greatly impacted by the professional’s academic history. Teachers with more advanced degrees may negotiate better contracts with higher pay and benefits. The U.S. Department of Labor records median weekly earnings of $836 with an associate degree. At the bachelor’s level, the average weekly income is $1,173. Master’s degree graduates have a $1,401 mean weekly wage. Doctorates garner the biggest weekly average of $1,743. Educational attainment similarly helps to increase a teacher’s salary. The National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) found that 88 percent of K-12 school districts increase pay for master’s degrees. Starting teacher salaries for master’s graduates are $2,760 higher on average. In five years, the annual master’s degree salary bump expands to $7,358.

If you’re thinking about becoming a teacher, your motivations probably go beyond monetary considerations. However, you’ve probably still asked yourself, ”how much money does a teacher make a year?” It’s a difficult question to answer; the average teacher salary in America varies significantly from one state to another. As a teacher, your level of education and degree of experience also make a big difference when it comes to the salary that you can expect to receive. Two of the most common questions we get is ”how much do teachers make in Florida?” and ”how much do teachers make in Texas?” Our table above will show you not only the average starting salary for teachers in each state, but also the average salary for teachers who hold a bachelor’s degree, those who hold a master’s degree, and those earning the top salary for teachers in their state.

Becoming a teacher is an extensive process that has its pros and cons. Understanding what kind of salary to expect based on where you currently live or where you would like to live can be very helpful if you are considering teaching as a career path but feel that you need more information before jumping in. If you are interested in a more detailed look at teacher pay across the country, you might want to explore the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), which keeps detailed information on national and state salary averages for a wide variety of professions.

Teacher Salaries By Grade Level

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) calculates a median annual wage of $50,790 for all education occupations. That’s higher than America’s average yearly salary of $39,810. However, teacher salaries vary greatly based on the grade level being taught. Elementary school teachers have a median pay of $59,420. Middle school or junior high teachers report mean earnings of $59,660. High school teachers bring home an average paycheck of $61,660 annually. Adult literacy and GED teachers reap median profits of $54,350. Career and technical education teachers have a mean yearly income of $58,110. Vocational education teachers at junior colleges collect median remuneration of $56,630. Preschool teachers have the lowest teaching salaries with a $30,520 average. College professors have the highest teaching salaries with a $79,540 average. As a general rule of thumb, teachers are paid more when the rigor of the class curriculum advances.

Answering how much do teachers make requires taking into account where teachers can work. Different school types have different pay structures for their teaching staff. For example, elementary and secondary schools have a standard annual mean wage of $63,980. Teachers employed by religious entities, including parochial schools, make $52,380 on average. Teachers at child daycare centers have median yearly earnings of $34,950. Teachers employed by local government agencies report mean pay of $64,340. Teachers who work at social advocacy organizations are given a $59,330 average annual paycheck. Mean teacher income at educational support services centers is $49,590. Colleges and universities present a median teacher salary of $75,750. Technical trade schools deliver a mean wage of $57,680. Medical schools provide the highest teacher salaries worth $126,890 on average.

Advance Your Education

Pursuing a teaching graduate degree with different concentration options can lead to a rewarding teaching career. If you are looking into San Diego teaching programs, discover how Point Loma Nazarene University’s Master of Arts in Teaching program can prepare you with its specialized courses and distinguished faculty members. You can also explore a variety of concentrations offered through the Master of Arts in Education program, including counseling and guidance, educational administration, and leadership in learning.

You can contact PLNU for more information if you have questions about the school or specific programs. You can also apply now if you are ready to take the first step towards advancing your teaching career and increasing your salary.

McKenna Themm earned her Bachelor of Arts in Literature and Writing and is currently pursuing her Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. She works as a freelance writer and lives in San Diego, California.

Sources:

https://study.com/academy/popular/teacher-salary-by-state.html
https://www.topeducationdegrees.org/faq/how-much-money-does-an-average-teacher-make-a-year/
https://www.pointloma.edu/resources/education/how-much-can-masters-degree-increase-teachers-salary-0