Here’s How Much Teachers Are Paid in Every State

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Teacher and students in a robotics class
Monkey Business Images / Shutterstock.com

The coronavirus pandemic continues to rage on, but one way or another, teachers have continued doing their jobs.

Elementary school teachers in the U.S. earned an average annual wage of $65,420 as of 2020, according to the latest data from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. Middle school teachers earned an average of $64,990 at that same time. High school teachers averaged $67,340 per year.

But teacher pay varies considerably by state. States also vary as to which school level pays best. Often, elementary school teachers make less than their middle school and high school counterparts, but not always.

Following are the average annual wages for elementary, middle and high school teachers in each state for 2020, as well as the number of teachers employed in each state. The states are ranked based on elementary-school pay.

50. Mississippi

Mississippi road sign
Peek Creative Collective / Shutterstock.com

Elementary school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $43,280
  • Employment: 12,150

Middle school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $48,210
  • Employment: 5,750

High school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $46,100
  • Employment: 9,040

49. South Dakota

Teacher in a face mask explaining math
Deliris / Shutterstock.com

Elementary school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $44,790
  • Employment: 3,880

Middle school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $45,580
  • Employment: 1,800

High school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $45,810
  • Employment: 3,090

48. West Virginia

Male teacher
Monkey Business Images / Shutterstock.com

Elementary school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $47,780
  • Employment: 6,080

Middle school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $49,090
  • Employment: 4,110

High school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $49,750
  • Employment: 4,040

47. Arizona

Teacher and student in classroom
Asia Images Group / Shutterstock.com

Elementary school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $47,910
  • Employment: 23,370

Middle school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $46,540
  • Employment: 11,640

High school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $53,620
  • Employment: 15,600

46. Oklahoma

Oklahoma Route 66
Peek Creative Collective / Shutterstock.com

Elementary school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $48,570
  • Employment: 16,670

Middle school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $49,030
  • Employment: 7,540

High school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $50,000
  • Employment: 13,550

45. Arkansas

KPG_Payless / Shutterstock.com

Elementary school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $49,380
  • Employment: 12,750

Middle school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $51,360
  • Employment: 5,750

High school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $52,540
  • Employment: 12,030

44. Louisiana

Woman writing a math equation on a chalk board
stockfour / Shutterstock.com

Elementary school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $49,620
  • Employment: 21,580

Middle school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $50,140
  • Employment: 7,030

High school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $52,420
  • Employment: 14,610

43. North Carolina

Teacher in a face mask disinfecting student desks
Halfpoint / Shutterstock.com

Elementary school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $50,130
  • Employment: 43,200

Middle school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $51,450
  • Employment: 16,290

High school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $51,460
  • Employment: 24,820

42. Montana

DGLImages / Shutterstock.com

Elementary school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $50,270
  • Employment: 4,610

Middle school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $55,240
  • Employment: 1,610

High school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $52,680
  • Employment: 2,960

41. Idaho

Teach online
Agenturfotografin / Shutterstock.com

Elementary school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $50,850
  • Employment: 8,050

Middle school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $53,070
  • Employment: 1,600

High school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $51,790
  • Employment: 5,680

40. Alabama

Young teacher using internet to remotely teach during the coronavirus crisis
Timothy Kuiper / Shutterstock.com

Elementary school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $51,280
  • Employment: 20,750

Middle school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $52,720
  • Employment: 10,760

High school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $53,170
  • Employment: 12,570

39. Missouri

Teacher in a classroom
India Picture / Shutterstock.com

Elementary school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $52,050
  • Employment: 20,580

Middle school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $54,430
  • Employment: 11,140

High school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $48,570
  • Employment: 30,850

38. Kentucky

Students in masks at school
FamVeld / Shutterstock.com

Elementary school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $52,950
  • Employment: 18,170

Middle school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $53,900
  • Employment: 7,710

High school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $55,740
  • Employment: 11,680

37. South Carolina

DGLImages / Shutterstock.com

Elementary school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $52,960
  • Employment: 20,740

Middle school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $54,020
  • Employment: 8,680

High school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $53,950
  • Employment: 12,850

36. Tennessee

Undrey / Shutterstock.com

Elementary school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $53,430
  • Employment: 27,870

Middle school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $53,720
  • Employment: 11,720

High school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $54,700
  • Employment: 20,060

35. Maine

Young girl in online class with geometry teacher on her laptop
Aleksandra Suzi / Shutterstock.com

Elementary school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $53,640
  • Employment: 5,760

Middle school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $58,720
  • Employment: 3,150

High school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $56,810
  • Employment: 5,060

34. Indiana

Students playing instruments with teacher in music class
Monkey Business Images / Shutterstock.com

Elementary school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $53,650
  • Employment: 25,360

Middle school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $55,000
  • Employment: 11,260

High school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $54,090
  • Employment: 19,450

33. Kansas

Teacher in a mask
Kwame Amo / Shutterstock.com

Elementary school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $54,460
  • Employment: 15,250

Middle school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $58,010
  • Employment: 6,280

High school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $55,170
  • Employment: 11,290

32. Iowa

Teacher teaching a student how to tell time at a classroom chalkboard
iofoto / Shutterstock.com

Elementary school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $55,040
  • Employment: 16,290

Middle school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $56,910
  • Employment: 7,640

High school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $57,920
  • Employment: 9,690

31. North Dakota

Older teach wearing a face mask in an empty classroom
vladaphotowiz / Shutterstock.com

Elementary school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $55,850
  • Employment: 4,190

Middle school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $61,040
  • Employment: 1,340

High school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $56,610
  • Employment: 2,630

30. Colorado

Asian woman teacher checking homework at her desk.
Monkey Business Images / Shutterstock.com

Elementary school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $56,150
  • Employment: 25,130

Middle school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $56,030
  • Employment: 12,650

High school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $57,950
  • Employment: 16,600

29. Texas

Teacher and student in classroom
Monkey Business Images / Shutterstock.com

Elementary school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $56,760
  • Employment: 131,370

Middle school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $57,010
  • Employment: 65,580

High school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $58,040
  • Employment: 97,060

28. Nevada

A female teacher in an empty classroom during the pandemic
POP-THAILAND / Shutterstock.com

Elementary school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $56,780
  • Employment: 9,870

Middle school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $60,060
  • Employment: 3,830

High school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $58,150
  • Employment: 5,810

27. Florida

A teacher helps a student with face masks on during the coronavirus crsis
Halfpoint / Shutterstock.com

Elementary school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $57,520
  • Employment: 73,840

Middle school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $59,820
  • Employment: 34,530

High school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $61,530
  • Employment: 48,600

26. Wisconsin

GagliardiImages / Shutterstock.com

Elementary school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $58,340
  • Employment: 26,790

Middle school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $59,910
  • Employment: 12,550

High school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $59,650
  • Employment: 17,160

25. Wyoming

Face mask-wearing students and teacher in a classroom during the coronavirus crisis
Halfpoint / Shutterstock.com

Elementary school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $59,300
  • Employment: 2,440

Middle school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $61,330
  • Employment: 1,220

High school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $62,170
  • Employment: 1,620

24. Utah

Students in a classroom during the pandemic
saravutpics / Shutterstock.com

Elementary school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $59,680
  • Employment: 12,800

Middle school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $66,910
  • Employment: 7,640

High school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $66,140
  • Employment: 8,440

23. New Hampshire

Monkey Business Images / Shutterstock.com

Elementary school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $60,730
  • Employment: 6,480

Middle school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $61,190
  • Employment: 2,960

High school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $62,210
  • Employment: 4,350

22. New Mexico

sebra / Shutterstock.com

Elementary school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $60,740
  • Employment: 7,860

Middle school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $52,730
  • Employment: 3,240

High school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $56,710
  • Employment: 6,180

21. Georgia

classroom
Oksana Kuzmina / Shutterstock.com

Elementary school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $61,290
  • Employment: 43,610

Middle school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $61,150
  • Employment: 30,420

High school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $61,930
  • Employment: 25,310

20. Nebraska

Teacher and student in an art class
Sumeth anu / Shutterstock.com

Elementary school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $61,890
  • Employment: 9,020

Middle school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $62,740
  • Employment: 4,070

High school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $62,530
  • Employment: 6,320

19. Minnesota

Monkey Business Images / Shutterstock.com

Elementary school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $62,560
  • Employment: 23,200

Middle school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $63,670
  • Employment: 8,490

High school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $64,570
  • Employment: 18,900

18. Vermont

Student in face mask raising hand
Halfpoint / Shutterstock.com

Elementary school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $62,750
  • Employment: 3,870

Middle school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $62,600
  • Employment: 1,120

High school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $66,370
  • Employment: 3,030

17. Ohio

Ohio roadway sign
Joseph Sohm / Shutterstock.com

Elementary school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $64,700
  • Employment: 52,910

Middle school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $64,620
  • Employment: 28,540

High school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $66,010
  • Employment: 50,010

16. Hawaii

Poznyakov / Shutterstock.com

Elementary school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $65,060
  • Employment: 4,810

Middle school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $65,150
  • Employment: 1,940

High school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $66,340
  • Employment: 3,600

14. Delaware (tie)

professor using a whiteboard
Rido / Shutterstock.com

Elementary school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $66,140
  • Employment: 3,810

Middle school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $64,720
  • Employment: 2,010

High school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $68,020
  • Employment: 3,140

14. Illinois (tie)

Teacher in the classroom
ESB Professional / Shutterstock.com

Elementary school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $66,140
  • Employment: 57,880

Middle school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $65,370
  • Employment: 22,110

High school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $76,010
  • Employment: 42,700

13. Michigan

Teacher writing on blackboard
l i g h t p o e t / Shutterstock.com

Elementary school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $68,850
  • Employment: 36,190

Middle school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $62,990
  • Employment: 14,430

High school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $62,930
  • Employment: 22,570

12. Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Sean Pavone / Shutterstock.com

Elementary school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $69,410
  • Employment: 53,460

Middle school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $69,670
  • Employment: 23,100

High school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $69,530
  • Employment: 50,450

11. Oregon

Hurst Photo / Shutterstock.com

Elementary school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $71,420
  • Employment: 15,030

Middle school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $67,130
  • Employment: 5,120

High school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $73,510
  • Employment: 9,070

10. Rhode Island

wavebreakmedia / Shutterstock.com

Elementary school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $71,640
  • Employment: 4,020

Middle school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $76,050
  • Employment: 1,600

High school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $76,270
  • Employment: 4,400

9. Virginia

Parent and child use hand sanitizer and face masks at school
1641857584 / Shutterstock.com

Elementary school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $72,620
  • Employment: 37,160

Middle school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $73,870
  • Employment: 17,860

High school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: Not available
  • Employment: 24,540

8. New Jersey

ESB Professional / Shutterstock.com

Elementary school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $73,330
  • Employment: 37,870

Middle school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $74,950
  • Employment: 25,670

High school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $78,900
  • Employment: 29,860

7. Washington

Students working with robotics
Syda Productions / Shutterstock.com

Elementary school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $74,400
  • Employment: 29,080

Middle school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $76,370
  • Employment: 10,370

High school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $77,140
  • Employment: 14,810

6. Alaska

Schoolboy with backpack in snow.
Romrodphoto / Shutterstock.com

Elementary school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $74,720
  • Employment: 3,380

Middle school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $80,260
  • Employment: 960

High school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $75,790
  • Employment: 2,470

5. Maryland

Rawpixel.com / Shutterstock.com

Elementary school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $77,470
  • Employment: 27,050

Middle school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $77,770
  • Employment: 12,380

High school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $78,510
  • Employment: 15,520

4. Connecticut

Teacher on camera during the pandemic
Hananeko_Studio / Shutterstock.com

Elementary school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $79,610
  • Employment: 15,000

Middle school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $81,140
  • Employment: 7,770

High school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $78,510
  • Employment: 15,850

3. New York

online school remote learning
Maria Symchych / Shutterstock.com

Elementary school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $84,380
  • Employment: 92,700

Middle school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $89,150
  • Employment: 42,380

High school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $88,890
  • Employment: 67,810

2. Massachusetts

Older man giving lessons online.
Agenturfotografin / Shutterstock.com

Elementary school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $84,810
  • Employment: 29,900

Middle school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $82,610
  • Employment: 14,580

High school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $84,130
  • Employment: 25,730

1. California

African American woman with grade school students wearing red caps.
Rawpixel.com / Shutterstock.com

Elementary school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $85,110
  • Employment: 156,920

Middle school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $81,940
  • Employment: 36,780

High school teachers:

  • Average annual wage: $86,900
  • Employment: 103,830

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