The Best and Worst States for Teacher Pay

As many parents who are suddenly homeschooling children have come to realize, teaching is far from easy. In many ways, it has become much more complicated, as teachers juggle new technologies while trying to teach as many as 20 to 30 kids from afar, or return to the classroom with distancing, hygiene, and infection to worry about. Bottom line: The COVID-19 pandemic has helped make it clear how valuable teachers are, but that value isn’t always reflected by their pay.

A Business.org analysis found that nationally, teachers make about $61,189, which is 6.7% less than the national average salary. And how you fare as a teacher really depends on where you live: Educators in six states actually make more than the average occupations in their area. Here’s a look at the 15 best- and 15 worst-paying states for teachers, compared with average earnings for all full-time, year-round employees.

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15th-Best: Wyoming

Average teacher salary: $58,618
Average employee earnings: $60,252
How teacher pay compares: 2.7% less
Change since 2010: Down 10.2%
Change since 2018: Down 1.6%

14th-Best: Delaware

Average teacher salary: $62,308
Average employee earnings: $63,906
How teacher pay compares: 2.5% less
Change since 2010: Down 6.6%
Change since 2018: Down 1.2%

13th-Best: Montana

Average teacher salary: $54,034
Average employee earnings: $55,401
How teacher pay compares: 2.5% less
Change since 2010: Up 1.1%
Change since 2018: Up 0.3%

12th-Best: Washington

Average teacher salary: $72,965
Average employee earnings: $74,808
How teacher pay compares: 2.5% less
Change since 2010: Up 17.8%
Change since 2018: 28.4%

11th-Best: Massachusetts

Average teacher salary: $82,042
Average employee earnings: $83,898
How teacher pay compares: 2.2% less
Change since 2010: Up 1.3%
Change since 2018: None

10th-Best: Michigan

Average teacher salary: $61,825
Average employee earnings: $62,736
How teacher pay compares: 1.5% less
Change since 2010: Down 8.7%
Change since 2018: Down 2.2%

9th-Best: Hawaii

Average teacher salary: $59,757
Average employee earnings: $60,432
How teacher pay compares: 1.1% less
Change since 2010: Down 7.10%
Change since 2018: Up 1.2%

8th-Best: Rhode Island

Average teacher salary: $67,040
Average employee earnings: $67,216
How teacher pay compares: 0.3% less
Change since 2010: Down 3.9%
Change since 2018: Down 1.6%

7th-Best: Oregon

Average teacher salary: $64,385
Average employee earnings: $64,401
How teacher pay compares: 0%
Change since 2010: Down 0.2%
Change since 2018: None

6th-Best: Iowa

Average teacher salary: $58,140
Average employee earnings: $58,014
How teacher pay compares: 2% more
Change since 2010: Up 0.3%
Change since 2018: Down 0.10%

5th-Best: Alaska

Average teacher salary: $70,277
Average employee earnings: $68,781
How teacher pay compares: 2.2% more
Change since 2010: Up 0.8%
Change since 2018: Down 1.2%

4th-Best: Vermont

Average teacher salary: $61,027
Average employee earnings: $59,416
How teacher pay compares: 2.7% more
Change since 2010: Up 6.4%
Change since 2018: Down 1.3%

3rd-Best: Pennsylvania

Average teacher salary: $68,141
Average employee earnings: $65,346
How teacher pay compares: 4.3% more
Change since 2010: Down 1.4%
Change since 2018: Down 1.2%

2nd-Best: California

Average teacher salary: $82,282
Average employee earnings: $75,407
How teacher pay compares: 9.1% more
Change since 2010: Up 3.2%
Change since 2018: Down 0.1%

Best: New York

Average teacher salary: $85,889
Average employee earnings: $77,058
How teacher pay compares: 11.5% more
Change since 2010: Up 2.6%
Change since 2018: Down 0.1%

15th-Worst: Indiana

Average teacher salary: $50,937
Average employee earnings: $57,437
How teacher pay compares: 11.3% less
Change since 2010: Down 12.8%
Change since 2018: Down 1.4%

14th-Worst: North Dakota

Average teacher salary: $54,434
Average employee earnings: $61,702
How teacher pay compares: 13.4% less
Change since 2010: Up 6.4%
Change since 2018: Down 0.9%

13th-Worst: Texas

Average teacher salary: $54,155
Average employee earnings: $62,720
How teacher pay compares: 13.7% less
Change since 2010: Down 4%
Change since 2018: Up 0.5%

12th-Worst: Missouri

Average teacher salary: $50,064
Average employee earnings: $58,145
How teacher pay compares: 13.9% less
Change since 2010: Down 5.5%
Change since 2018: Down 0.5%

11th-Worst: Wisconsin

Average teacher salary: $51,453
Average employee earnings: $60,348
How teacher pay compares: 14.7% less
Change since 2010: Down 14.4%
Change since 2018: Down 2.1%

10th-Worst: Minnesota

Average teacher salary: $58,221
Average employee earnings: $69,045
How teacher pay compares: 15.7% less
Change since 2010: Down 5%
Change since 2018: Down 1.3%

9th-Worst: New Jersey

Average teacher salary: $70,212
Average employee earnings: $83,250
How teacher pay compares: 15.9% less
Change since 2010: Down 7.7%
Change since 2018: Down 1.6%

8th-Worst: Kansas

Average teacher salary: $49,800
Average employee earnings: $59,743
How teacher pay compares: 16.6% less
Change since 2010: Down 8.7%
Change since 2018: Down 1.9%

7th-Worst: Florida

Average teacher salary: $48,395
Average employee earnings: $58,254
How teacher pay compares: 16.9% less
Change since 2010: Down 11.3%
Change since 2018: Down 1.6%

6th-Worst: Arizona

Average teacher salary: $49,892
Average employee earnings: $60,060
How teacher pay compares: 16.9% less
Change since 2010: Down 9.1%
Change since 2018: Up 0.3%

5th-Worst: New Hampshire

Average teacher salary: $58,146
Average employee earnings: $72,025
How teacher pay compares: 19.3% less
Change since 2010: Down 3.3%
Change since 2018: Down 1.5%

4th-Worst: Utah

Average teacher salary: $50,342
Average employee earnings: $63,026
How teacher pay compares: 20.1% less
Change since 2010: Down 6.1%
Change since 2018: Down 0.7%

3rd-Worst: District of Columbia

Average teacher salary: $78,477
Average employee earnings: $99,557
How teacher pay compares: 21.2% less
Change since 2010: Up 4%
Change since 2018: Up 0.5%

2nd-Worst: Colorado

Average teacher salary: $53,301
Average employee earnings: $69,338
How teacher pay compares: 23.1% less
Change since 2010: Down 7.3%
Change since 2018: Down 0.7%

Worst: Virginia

Average teacher salary: $52,466
Average employee earnings: $72,833
How teacher pay compares: 28% less
Change since 2010: Down 10.2%
Change since 2018: Down 1.1%

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