States That Pay Teachers the Most and Least, Ranked From 1 to 50

Teachers are an important part of students’ lives in the United States. Unfortunately, teachers are viewed as notoriously undervalued, especially when it comes to their pay. 

People going into the education profession do it partially for the passion of molding a new generation. Popular opinion indicates that teachers sacrifice not only their time but also the possibility of a higher-paying career when they sign up to lead a class. 

World Population Review looked through the numbers to rank which states pay teachers the most and least. If you or your loved ones work in education, you need to see the results. 

Teachers’ Pay Per State

World Population Review used data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the National Education Association to determine which states pay teachers the most. They analyzed teachers’ mean pay against the average salary of other residents in each state, as detailed by Forbes. 

Pay and retirement benefits are important factors for teachers-to-be to consider. South Carolina ranks highest in the nation when it comes to the quality of retirement benefits in the education profession. But where does the Palmetto State rank in terms of teachers’ pay before retirement? 

These are the states paying teachers the most and least annual wages.

1: California

• Annual mean teacher’s salary: $92,960
• 10th percentile teacher’s wage: $60,640
• 90th percentile teacher’s wage: $128,680

2: New York

• Annual mean teacher’s salary: $91,290
• 10th percentile teacher’s wage: $48,570
• 90th percentile teacher’s wage: $129,880

3: Washington

• Annual mean teacher’s salary: $88,530
• 10th percentile teacher’s wage: $61,760
• 90th percentile teacher’s wage: $111,580

4: Massachusetts

• Annual mean teacher’s salary: $82,960
• 10th percentile teacher’s wage: $49,820
• 90th percentile teacher’s wage: $111,040

5: Connecticut

• Annual mean teacher’s salary: $80,230
• 10th percentile teacher’s wage: $48,470
• 90th percentile teacher’s wage: $106,620

6: Oregon

• Annual mean teacher’s salary: $79,780
• 10th percentile teacher’s wage: $47,980
• 90th percentile teacher’s wage: $117,320

7: New Jersey

• Annual mean teacher’s salary: $79,460
• 10th percentile teacher’s wage: $60,150
• 90th percentile teacher’s wage: $103,490

8: Alaska

• Annual mean teacher’s salary: $74,870
• 10th percentile teacher’s wage: $49,260
• 90th percentile teacher’s wage: $99,480

9: Rhode Island

• Annual mean teacher’s salary: $74,640
• 10th percentile teacher’s wage: $47,540
• 90th percentile teacher’s wage: $96,750

10: Virginia

• Annual mean teacher’s salary: $74,120
• 10th percentile teacher’s wage: $47,230
• 90th percentile teacher’s wage: $131,920

11: Pennsylvania

• Annual mean teacher’s salary: $73,810
• 10th percentile teacher’s wage: $48,930
• 90th percentile teacher’s wage: $101,220

12: Maryland

• Annual mean teacher’s salary: $73,730
• 10th percentile teacher’s wage: $49,230
• 90th percentile teacher’s wage: $102,030

13: Illinois

• Annual mean teacher’s salary: $72,480
• 10th percentile teacher’s wage: $46,550
• 90th percentile teacher’s wage: $102,270

14: Ohio

• Annual mean teacher’s salary: $70,320
• 10th percentile teacher’s wage: $45,920
• 90th percentile teacher’s wage: $100,650

15: Delaware

• Annual mean teacher’s salary: $68,810
• 10th percentile teacher’s wage: $48,410
• 90th percentile teacher’s wage: $82,540

16: New Hampshire

• Annual mean teacher’s salary: $68,250
• 10th percentile teacher’s wage: $47,290
• 90th percentile teacher’s wage: $93,030

17: Georgia

• Annual mean teacher’s salary: $67,520
• 10th percentile teacher’s wage: $45,760
• 90th percentile teacher’s wage: $88,380

18: Michigan

• Annual mean teacher’s salary: $66,840
• 10th percentile teacher’s wage: $40,980
• 90th percentile teacher’s wage: $93,840

19: Nevada

• Annual mean teacher’s salary: $66,620
• 10th percentile teacher’s wage: $48,510
• 90th percentile teacher’s wage: $84,800

20: Utah

• Annual mean teacher’s salary: $66,290
• 10th percentile teacher’s wage: $48,000
• 90th percentile teacher’s wage: $93,420

21: Minnesota

• Annual mean teacher’s salary: $64,500
• 10th percentile teacher’s wage: $46,400
• 90th percentile teacher’s wage: $80,460

22: Wyoming

• Annual mean teacher’s salary: $63,730
• 10th percentile teacher’s wage: $49,940
• 90th percentile teacher’s wage: $77,640

23: Florida

• Annual mean teacher’s salary: $63,470
• 10th percentile teacher’s wage: $47,600
• 90th percentile teacher’s wage: $82,530

24: Colorado

• Annual mean teacher’s salary: $62,730
• 10th percentile teacher’s wage: $44,710
• 90th percentile teacher’s wage: $82,710

25: New Mexico

• Annual mean teacher’s salary: $62,500
• 10th percentile teacher’s wage: $46,910
• 90th percentile teacher’s wage: $81,150

26: Wisconsin

• Annual mean teacher’s salary: $62,500
• 10th percentile teacher’s wage: $46,810
• 90th percentile teacher’s wage: $79,100

27: Vermont

• Annual mean teacher’s salary: $62,320
• 10th percentile teacher’s wage: $46,630
• 90th percentile teacher’s wage: $79,060

28: Texas

• Annual mean teacher’s salary: $61,210
• 10th percentile teacher’s wage: $48,280
• 90th percentile teacher’s wage: $76,970

29: Hawaii

• Annual mean teacher’s salary: $60,790
• 10th percentile teacher’s wage: $47,000
• 90th percentile teacher’s wage: $78,170

30: Iowa

• Annual mean teacher’s salary: $60,490
• 10th percentile teacher’s wage: $39,800
• 90th percentile teacher’s wage: $79,850

31: Nebraska

• Annual mean teacher’s salary: $60,250
• 10th percentile teacher’s wage: $47,560
• 90th percentile teacher’s wage: $77,010

32: Arizona

• Annual mean teacher’s salary: $59,490
• 10th percentile teacher’s wage: $39,930
• 90th percentile teacher’s wage: $82,340

33: Maine

• Annual mean teacher’s salary: $59,260
• 10th percentile teacher’s wage: $39,640
• 90th percentile teacher’s wage: $77,100

34: Indiana

• Annual mean teacher’s salary: $58,690
• 10th percentile teacher’s wage: $40,020
• 90th percentile teacher’s wage: $78,770

35: Kentucky

• Annual mean teacher’s salary: $58,160
• 10th percentile teacher’s wage: $40,650
• 90th percentile teacher’s wage: $79,040

36: Idaho

• Annual mean teacher’s salary: $57,780
• 10th percentile teacher’s wage: $41,420
• 90th percentile teacher’s wage: $77,440

37: Kansas

• Annual mean teacher’s salary: $56,590
• 10th percentile teacher’s wage: $45,880
• 90th percentile teacher’s wage: $74,000

38: North Dakota

• Annual mean teacher’s salary: $56,510
• 10th percentile teacher’s wage: $46,530
• 90th percentile teacher’s wage: $77,570

39: Missouri

• Annual mean teacher’s salary: $56,270
• 10th percentile teacher’s wage: $37,880
• 90th percentile teacher’s wage: $78,330

40: Tennessee

• Annual mean teacher’s salary: $55,920
• 10th percentile teacher’s wage: $45,360
• 90th percentile teacher’s wage: $73,100

41: South Carolina

• Annual mean teacher’s salary: $55,680
• 10th percentile teacher’s wage: $39,040
• 90th percentile teacher’s wage: $75,200

42: Alabama

• Annual mean teacher’s salary: $55,050
• 10th percentile teacher’s wage: $46,710
• 90th percentile teacher’s wage: $63,200

43: Oklahoma

• Annual mean teacher’s salary: $54,810
• 10th percentile teacher’s wage: $39,620
• 90th percentile teacher’s wage: $78,490

44: Montana

• Annual mean teacher’s salary: $54,630
• 10th percentile teacher’s wage: $28,970
• 90th percentile teacher’s wage: $80,090

45: Louisiana

• Annual mean teacher’s salary: $54,300
• 10th percentile teacher’s wage: $46,440
• 90th percentile teacher’s wage: $62,930

46: Arkansas

• Annual mean teacher’s salary: $53,080
• 10th percentile teacher’s wage: $39,060
• 90th percentile teacher’s wage: $64,080

47: North Carolina

• Annual mean teacher’s salary: $51,570
• 10th percentile teacher’s wage: $38,650
• 90th percentile teacher’s wage: $62,000

48: West Virginia

• Annual mean teacher’s salary: $50,770
• 10th percentile teacher’s wage: $37,590
• 90th percentile teacher’s wage: $62,710

49: Mississippi

• Annual mean teacher’s salary: $49,770
• 10th percentile teacher’s wage: $38,420
• 90th percentile teacher’s wage: $62,020

50: South Dakota

• Annual mean teacher’s salary: $49,190
• 10th percentile teacher’s wage: $38,620
• 90th percentile teacher’s wage: $59,840

Major Teacher Shortage

California and New York ranked first and second on World Population Review’s list. Although the pay is the highest in California, the Golden State faces a teacher shortage. There was a 16% decrease in new teacher credentials in California in 2023 compared to previous years. 

Meanwhile, New York is going through its own teacher shortage with approximately 2,000 fewer positions filled in 2023. Bilingual and special education teachers have the worst shortages. Burnout and stress are major factors in educators’ exit from the profession. 

Effort to Increase Pay

Aside from South Dakota being a cheaper place to live than California and New York, its 50th-place ranking for low teacher salaries reportedly has to do with inflation and the lack of state aid for teachers. Specifically, one district’s attempt to pay teachers more and offer better benefits has improved hiring numbers.

The South Dakota Legislature also attempted to infuse tax dollars into public education starting in 2016 following a state sales tax increase. However, the initiative failed to bump up South Dakota’s teacher pay higher on World Population Review’s list because the targets for teachers’ pay increases were outpaced by factors like the pandemic and inflation. 

Costs Fall on Teachers 

Out-of-pocket expenses make it harder for educators to maintain their careers and have a positive effect on teachers’ pay. Reportedly, 90% of teachers spend their hard-earned money on supplies and other necessities for their students. One teacher in Michigan says books in their school’s library are on the shelves because they were bought by teachers. 

One report states that teachers individually spent approximately $800 of their own money on supplies during the 2022 school year. Supplies teachers pay for themselves include pens, paper, organizing bins, art supplies, and even snacks. 

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