The average salary for educators differs across the country, but some states pay their teachers more than others, depending on a number of factors like cost of living and unions.
A report by the National Education Association found the average teacher salaries in every state to determine which states paid the highest and lowest salaries in the 2023-2024 school year.
According to the report, the national average public school teacher salary was $72,030. The state with the highest average teacher salary was California with $101,084.
But New York came in second with an average teacher salary of $95,615.
Still, New York’s teachers are getting paid 32% more every year than the average salary nationwide, according to the data. New York’s average teacher salary also increased by 3% from the year prior, which was $92,696.
Here are the top 10 highest average teacher salaries in the United States, according to data.
California – $101,084
New York – $95,615
Massachusetts – $92,076
Washington – $91,720
Washington, D.C. – $86,663
Connecticut – $86,511
Maryland – $84,338
New Jersey – $82,877
Rhode Island – $82,189
Alaska – $78,256
Here are the top 10 lowest average teacher salaries in the United States, according to data.
Mississippi – $53,704
Florida – $54,875
Missouri – $55,132
West Virginia – $55,516
Louisiana – $55,911
South Dakota – $56,328
Montana – $57,556
Kansas – $58,146
North Carolina – $58,292
Kentucky – $58,325