| 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.
Fazlur Rahman
