Teachers make a lot of different money in every state. In fact, the average teacher salary ranges from just over $50,000 in Mississippi to over $92,000 in New York. However, there are a few states where teachers make a bit more than the national average. And there are also a few states where teachers make a little less than the national average. Read on to learn more about how much teachers in every state earn, and get ideas for how you can raise your salary as a teacher!
How Much do Teachers Make in Every State
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for a teacher in the United States is $59,970 per year. However, this number can vary greatly depending on where you are located in the country. The average salary for a teacher in Wyoming is $79,530, while the average salary for a teacher in Massachusetts is $98,280.
The Highest paying States for Teachers
The highest paying states for teachers vary greatly in terms of salary and benefits. Based on data from the National Education Association, here are the ten states with the highest average salaries for educators:
New York: $92,160 North Dakota: $90,120 Texas: $87,980 Maryland: $86,540 Oregon: $85,140 Florida: $84,580 Washington: $83,630 California: $82,540 Rhode Island: $81,440
Meanwhile, in the lowest paying state for teachers – Mississippi – average pay falls short of the national average by more than 20%. The following are the five states with the lowest average salaries for educators according to data from the National Education Association:[1]
Mississippi: $54,930 Utah: $57,170 Arkansas: $58,620 Oklahoma: $59,870 South Carolina:$60,310
The Lowest paying States for Teachers
The lowest paying states for teachers are West Virginia, Mississippi, and Arkansas. In West Virginia, the median annual salary for a teacher is just over $45,000. Mississippi and Arkansas have lower median annual salaries of just over $40,000. These three states also have the lowest average teacher salaries in the country.
The highest paying states for teachers are New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. In New York, the median annual salary for a teacher is over $70,000. Connecticut has a median annual salary of over $65,000 and Massachusetts has a median annual salary of over $75,000.
The best states to be a teacher in 2022
In every state, teachers make a median annual salary of $60,950. However, there are a few states where teachers earn more than the national median: Colorado ($76,120), Nevada ($75,590), and Washington ($73,450) all rank in the top five. Conversely, several states rank near the bottom of the list in terms of teacher pay: Mississippi ($41,030), Louisiana ($41,640), and South Carolina ($42,640) are all in the bottom five for median annual salaries.
The worst states to be a teacher in 2022
The worst states to be a teacher in 2022 vary depending on the location, but they can generally be categorized as those that are experiencing high levels of teacher shortages and those with low teacher pay.
Some of the worst states for teachers include California, Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico. In these states, salaries are lower than the national average and there is a severe shortage of teachers.
Other states that have poor rankings for being good places to teach include Florida, Texas, and Oklahoma. In these states, salaries are just above the national average but the number of teachers available is low which means that teachers are paid relatively low wages.
Finally, there are some states that rank poorly in both categories – these are Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio. In these states, salaries are high but there is a large shortfall of teachers which means that teachers receive low pay overall.
What factors affect how much a teacher makes?
There are a lot of factors that affect how much a teacher makes. For instance, the level of education required for a given position will affect salary. Additionally, the amount of experience that a teacher has can play a role in how much they earn. And finally, where teachers work can also impact their paychecks.
In general, teachers with a bachelor’s degree or higher will typically earn more than those who have less education. Furthermore, experienced teachers typically make more than new teachers. And finally, the location where a teacher works often has an impact on their paychecks as well.
Conclusion
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as teachers’ salaries vary greatly from state to state. However, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for elementary and secondary school teachers was $60,530 in 2016. Additionally, aides and support staff working in classrooms made an average of $39,740 per year. So while there isn’t a definitive answer as to how much a teacher makes in every state, it’s worth noting that the pay range can be quite significant.
