How Much Do Teachers Make in the U.S.?

The average salaries of teachers in the U.S. have failed to keep up with inflation over the past decade, but there is no quick fix. In addition, teacher salaries depend on several factors, including where you live and what you teach. Education level and type of institution play a big role, too.?

The question of teacher salaries – and whether they are adequate – is a hot-button issue with important details. According to data from the National Education Association, teacher pay has failed to keep up with inflation over the past decade. Adjusted for inflation, teachers expect to make $2,150 less than they did 10 years ago.

The teacher pay gap is real, but in some parts of the country that pay gap is smaller. Some subject matter areas and schools exist where teacher pay is less of an issue because of several factors.

How Teaching Credentials Affect Pay Scales

Most teaching jobs require teachers to attain a bachelor’s degree in either a given subject area or an overall elementary education program. Most teachers tend to obtain a bachelor’s degree in four years. A bachelor’s degree often comes with the lowest salary level, especially for new teachers.?

According to the National Education Association, the average starting salary for teachers in the United States with a bachelor’s degree is $41,770. The same data shows top-earning teachers with bachelor’s degrees earn an average of $60,381.

For teachers who take the time to earn a master’s degree, the numbers are higher – although not by much. Starting teachers with a master’s degree earn an average of $45,391. The top earners in this category, who are likely well-tenured and have been teaching for years, earn an average of $70,279.

How Much Do Teachers Make?

Teacher credentials and level of education are not the only factors influencing educator pay. Other influences on teacher salaries include:

• Years of experience
• The school’s location
• The type of school
• Union membership
• Additional roles in the school
• Grade level taught

Years of Experience

Teachers who have been in the classroom for longer can expect higher salaries independent of their education level, just by annual raises.?

Teacher salaries operate on a system of steps and lanes: Steps are the increments of salary growth year-over-year as teachers gain practical experience. Lanes are paths to higher salaries based on education level.?

Step and lane schedules are among the most common salary structures for teachers.

The School’s Location

Teacher salaries differ based on state. Teachers starting their careers in Montana and Missouri, for example, earn some of the lowest salaries in the nation – $32,495 and $33,234, respectively. Starting teachers in New Jersey, by contrast, earn an average of $54,053.

The top teaching salaries in the nation belong to Washington, D.C., whose highest-paid teachers make an average of $116,408. Note that these numbers do not account for educational credentials, like advanced degrees.?

Schools in the Northeast offer higher starting salaries to beginning teachers, largely because of collective bargaining among teacher’s unions. New York ranks highly among teacher salaries.

The Type of School

Private school teachers make about $10,000 per year less than public school teachers.

This significant pay disparity is attributed to reduced demand for private school teachers. Public schools are where the money is.

Union Membership

States with high union membership among teachers often see the highest salaries, especially for beginner teachers. This is because of collective bargaining in these areas. Teachers with the ability to strike tend to command higher earning power.

Additional Roles at School

Classroom duties are not the only way for teachers to make additional income. Becoming an athletic coach earns teachers additional money, either as a fixed amount or as an addendum to the contracted hours.?

The trade-off, of course, is the extra time to attend practices and games before and after school. For many teachers, however, the experience proves to be a rewarding one.

College Professors

When it comes to paying for instruction, college professors are among the highest earners – assuming tenure, highly specialized programs and whether the school is private or public. Full-time professors at doctoral universities can make $203,000.

For the same role at a public baccalaureate college, the salary is just over $99,000. Adjuncts earn significantly less: $2,263 per section at public institutions, versus $4,620 at private ones.

Of course, any teacher considering becoming a college professor must weigh the pros and cons of spending money to obtain an advanced degree.

High School Instructors

When it comes to K-12 teachers, high school instructors are the highest-earning members of the profession – but not by much. The median salary for a high school teacher in 2020 was $62,870. The highest-earning high school teachers made closer to $81,410. The lowest-paid educators earned salaries just shy of $50,000.

Junior High Teachers

Junior high teachers can expect a median salary of $60,810. Teachers at the higher end earn $81,410, and those at the lower end make $49,990 per year. That is not far from high school teachers, but still a noticeable gap.?

Developmental Educators

Elementary school teachers can expect similar median salaries to their junior high counterparts. The highest earning elementary teachers tend to earn around $79,120. The lowest paid elementary teachers earn $48,350.?

Elementary teachers who carry endorsements to teach subject matter for junior high or who focus on special education can often expect higher salaries because of increased demand for those skill sets.

Final Notes on Teacher Compensation

Teacher compensation varies widely from state to state and institution to institution. With so many factors influencing teacher pay, teachers must understand the ins and outs of their proposed contracts before they accept a teaching job.?

While teacher pay gaps and pay disparities are glaring, some states are doing more to fix the issue than others.

Key Takeaways

How much do teachers make?

• Average U.S. teacher salaries depend on several factors, including experience, education level, location and area of expertise.
• Teacher salaries are highest in New Jersey and lowest in Missouri and Montana.
• College professors are the highest-paid teachers, but that salary comes at a cost of years of school beyond a bachelor’s degree.

(Reporting by NPD)