Teacher Pay by State
Average and starting teacher salary in all 50 states and D.C. for 2024-25, ranked, from NEA data.
Teacher salary by state, 2024-25
This table ranks the 50 states and the District of Columbia by average public school teacher salary for 2024-25, with each state's starting salary beside it. The national average is $74,495 and the national average starting salary is $48,112. Select a state name for its own page, or compare two states side by side.
| Rank | State | Average salary | Starting salary | Start rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $103,552 | $59,424 | 3 |
| 2 | New York | $98,655 | $51,612 | 13 |
| 3 | Washington | $96,589 | $60,658 | 2 |
| 4 | District of Columbia* | $95,077 | $64,640 | 1 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $93,554 | $54,216 | 8 |
| 6 | Connecticut* | $89,593 | $51,053 | 14 |
| 7 | Maryland | $87,409 | $57,293 | 6 |
| 8 | Rhode Island* | $85,772 | $48,242 | 23 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $84,974 | $58,727 | 4 |
| 10 | Oregon | $81,657 | $46,854 | 29 |
| 11 | Alaska | $81,450 | $53,650 | 9 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | $79,078 | $52,198 | 10 |
| 13 | Illinois | $78,495 | $46,655 | 31 |
| 14 | Delaware | $76,570 | $49,344 | 20 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $76,234 | $46,477 | 32 |
| 16 | Hawaii | $75,860 | $51,835 | 11 |
| 17 | Nevada | $74,812 | $49,731 | 17 |
| 18 | Utah | $72,882 | $57,849 | 5 |
| 19 | Colorado | $72,781 | $45,489 | 35 |
| 20 | Vermont | $71,871 | $46,963 | 28 |
| 21 | Georgia | $71,524 | $48,722 | 21 |
| 22 | Michigan | $71,023 | $43,093 | 45 |
| 23 | Ohio | $70,586 | $42,222 | 46 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $69,736 | $54,372 | 7 |
| 25 | New Hampshire | $69,432 | $44,010 | 42 |
| 26 | Virginia | $69,254 | $50,448 | 15 |
| 27 | Wisconsin | $67,794 | $43,288 | 44 |
| 28 | Wyoming | $65,668 | $51,776 | 12 |
| 29 | Maine | $65,621 | $44,152 | 41 |
| 30 | Iowa | $65,312 | $48,139 | 24 |
| 31 | Arizona | $64,291 | $44,869 | 39 |
| 32 | South Carolina | $64,050 | $48,426 | 22 |
| 33 | Texas | $63,749 | $49,465 | 18 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $63,326 | $39,561 | 50 |
| 35 | Alabama | $62,985 | $47,955 | 25 |
| 36 | Idaho | $62,786 | $46,253 | 33 |
| 37 | Oklahoma | $61,931 | $41,294 | 48 |
| 38 | Indiana | $61,661 | $45,958 | 34 |
| 39 | Kansas | $61,470 | $44,163 | 40 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $61,222 | $47,230 | 26 |
| 41 | North Dakota | $60,704 | $45,252 | 37 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $60,594 | $41,901 | 47 |
| 43 | North Carolina | $60,323 | $44,952 | 38 |
| 44 | Montana* | $59,305 | $36,682 | 51 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $59,193 | $50,076 | 16 |
| 46 | South Dakota | $58,486 | $47,196 | 27 |
| 47 | West Virginia | $58,099 | $45,294 | 36 |
| 48 | Missouri | $57,366 | $40,682 | 49 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $56,785 | $46,850 | 30 |
| 50 | Florida | $56,663 | $49,435 | 19 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $54,975 | $43,814 | 43 |
* NEA marks the 2024-25 average for Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Montana and Rhode Island as estimated. Source: NEA, Rankings of the States 2025 and Estimates of School Statistics 2026 (average salary, Table B-6, April 2026) and NEA, 2024-2025 Teacher Salary Benchmark Report (starting salary, April 2026). Ranks are among the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Reviewed 2026-10-03.
How to read these numbers
Average salary covers all public school teachers and is what NEA reports for 2024-25. Starting salary is the pay at the bottom of a bachelor's-degree salary schedule, as collected in NEA's benchmark report. A state's rank can change from one year to the next even when its salary rises, because other states' pay is rising too. Salary figures do not account for the cost of living, which differs widely between states, so a high rank does not always mean more buying power.
Frequently asked questions
Where does this data come from?
All figures come from the National Education Association (NEA): average salaries from its Rankings of the States and Estimates of School Statistics report, and starting salaries from its Teacher Salary Benchmark Report. Both were published in April 2026 for the 2024-25 school year.
Why is the average so much higher than the starting salary?
The average covers all public school teachers, including those who have taught for decades or hold advanced degrees. The starting salary is what a new teacher with a bachelor's degree is paid at the bottom of the salary schedule.
Do these numbers include benefits?
No. They are salary figures only. Health insurance, retirement contributions, stipends and other benefits are not included, and they vary a lot from district to district.
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