What state pays teachers the most?

New York pays public school teachers the most at the state level, with elementary school teacher median pay of $92,612 per the U.S. Department of Education's NCES data, weighted average across districts. BLS OEWS May 2025 data shows Washington at $102,350 for elementary teachers and New York at $85,760. Top-paying districts are concentrated in the Northeast and West Coast, but cost of living adjustment flips much of the picture.

What state pays teachers the least?

Oklahoma reports the lowest median teacher pay at about $48,200 for elementary teachers, followed by Mississippi at $49,790 and South Dakota at $50,130 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Salaries in these states typically reflect smaller state funding formulas, lower per-pupil spending, and weaker teacher union representation.

Do teachers get paid more in states with stronger unions?

Generally yes. States with strong collective bargaining and union representation tend to pay teachers above the national median. Massachusetts, New York, California, Washington, and Connecticut combine union density with high state education funding formulas. States with right-to-work laws and weaker union representation tend to fall below the median.

How much do teachers make per hour?

At the 2025 national median teacher salary of about $64,000 per year for elementary teachers, the implied hourly rate is roughly $31 per hour assuming a 40-hour week and 50-week work year (BLS, May 2025). Actual classroom hours are about 32 per week for instruction plus significant planning, grading, and parent-communication time outside contract hours.

Does teacher pay differ by subject and grade level?

Yes. Special education teachers earn a 5% to 12% premium on average. High school math, science, and special education teachers earn about 5% more than elementary teachers. Elementary school teachers typically earn the least because state funding formulas weight years-of-experience and education credits rather than grade level. Salaries also differ by district, not just state.

Do teacher salaries include summer work?

Standard teacher contracts run 9 to 10 months with optional summer school, curriculum writing, or PD workshop pay. Summer work adds roughly $3,000 to $8,000 per year to total compensation depending on district. Year-round pay (12-month equalised) is offered by some districts and helps with cash flow, but does not change total annual pay for the same contract.

How does teacher pay compare to other college graduates?

Teachers typically earn 15% to 25% less than other college graduates in the same state, though benefits packages (pensions, healthcare) often close a portion of that gap. Education Week Research Center tracks the "pay gap" annually. States with the smallest pay gaps tend to have stronger union presence and higher education funding formulas.

Will teacher salaries rise in 2026?

Most states raised teacher pay for the 2025-2026 school year, with median increases of 3% to 5%. States like Oklahoma, Arizona, and North Carolina enacted multi-year raises. Districts in high-cost states like California and New York also passed substantial increases. Expect continued pressure for 4% to 6% raises through the 2026-2027 school year.

Teacher Salary by State 2026: K-12 Pay Guide

The median elementary school teacher in the United States earned $63,970 in the 2024-2025 school year (Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025), up from $61,690 in 2022, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey (May 2025). That national figure masks a 2x spread between the highest-paying states and the lowest. A classroom teacher in Washington state earned roughly $102,350 while one in Oklahoma earned $48,200, often with comparable lesson plans and credential requirements.

This guide uses BLS OEWS May 2025 data to rank teacher salary by state, then layers in how state funding formulas, district-level cost-of-living adjustments, and union representation explain the spread. We also separate the regional patterns that affect most mid-career teachers.

Data last verified September 2026 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release, for SOC 25-2010 (Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education).

At a glance
National median elementary teacher salary is $63,970 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Washington tops state rankings at $102,350, followed by California at $99,650 and New York at $85,760.
Oklahoma reports the lowest state median at $48,200, with Mississippi close behind at $49,790.
Northeast and West Coast pay roughly 25% to 60% above the national median when adjusted for cost of living.

Top 10 highest-paying states for teachers

The highest-paying states combine strong state funding formulas with high cost of living. Teachers in these states earn more in nominal pay, but housing and healthcare costs absorb much of the spread. Top-paying states consistently include Washington, California, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the District of Columbia.

Rank	State	Elementary teacher median (USD)
1	Washington	$102,350
2	California	$99,650
3	District of Columbia	$96,580
4	Massachusetts	$94,000
5	Rhode Island	$90,930
6	New York	$85,760
7	Connecticut	$80,600
8	Alaska	$79,260
9	New Jersey	$78,200
10	Maryland	$77,680

Lowest-paying states and what the gap looks like

The lowest-paying states cluster in the South and lower Midwest. These states typically combine lower per-pupil funding formulas, weaker union density, and lower cost of living. Pay is lower in absolute terms, but cost-adjusted purchasing power closes part of the gap. Oklahoma's $48,200 median, for example, stretches much further than Washington's $102,350 in a Seattle housing market.

Rank	State	Elementary teacher median (USD)
1	Oklahoma	$48,200
2	Mississippi	$49,790
3	South Dakota	$50,130
4	Missouri	$50,910
5	Arkansas	$52,700
6	North Carolina	$54,930
7	West Virginia	$55,630
8	Kansas	$56,450
9	Arizona	$56,590
10	Montana	$57,530

Regional patterns in teacher pay

The regional pattern in teacher pay closely tracks state K-12 funding formulas and union density. The West Coast and Northeast lead absolute pay. The Midwest is middle-tier. The South underperforms except for the District of Columbia edge case.

Region	Median (USD)	States covered	Pattern drivers
Northeast	$78,210	CT, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT	Strong union density, high state funding, high cost of living
West	$73,510	AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, MT, NM, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY	High state funding in coastal states, federal Impact Aid adjustment in Alaska
Midwest	$60,990	IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, NE, ND, OH, SD, WI	Mixed: union presence in IL/MI/WI, weak in MO/KS
South	$57,470	AL, AR, DE, FL, GA, KY, LA, MD, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV	Low per-pupil funding, weak union density outside MD/VA/DC

The teacher pay gap by subject and grade

Subject and grade level matter for teacher pay. Special education teachers earn roughly 5% to 12% above the elementary median because of supply-and-demand pressure and additional credential requirements. High school math and science teachers also earn a premium. Secondary teachers in general earn slightly more than elementary, but the gap narrows in high-paying states.

How state funding formulas work

Most states use a foundation formula that funds districts based on per-pupil enrollment, with adjustments for at-risk students, English learners, and special education. Foundation amounts range from roughly $4,000 per pupil in Mississippi to $15,000+ per pupil in New York and Vermont. Districts supplement state funding with local property taxes, which is why suburban districts can pay far more than rural districts in the same state.

Benefits that fill the gap

Total compensation for teachers includes more than salary. Most districts offer health insurance (employer-shared premiums of 70% to 90%), defined-benefit pension plans (typically 8% to 10% employer contribution), and life insurance. The National Council on Teacher Quality tracks total compensation and finds that benefits typically add 25% to 40% to total comp, narrowing the gap between high- and low-pay states when measured against private-sector wages.

Frequently asked questions

(See FAQs above for the questions and answers.)

Methodology

Salary figures are the median and 10th to 90th percentile for elementary school teachers from the BLS OEWS May 2025 release, SOC 25-2010. State-by-state pay data comes from the BLS Occupational Employment Statistics public data files. Regional medians are weighted by full-time-equivalent classroom teacher employment. Total compensation estimates include state teacher pension system contribution rates and employer health insurance premium share.

Compensation data reflects full-time wage-and-salary employment and excludes summer work, coaching stipends, and curriculum writing pay that vary widely by district. Verify current postings on your state Department of Education website.