Education

How much do teachers get paid in the ?

Updates published annually
About $63,100 per year in 2024. That’s the annual median wage for pre-K-12 teachers across the United States, based on estimates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The median marks the middle point—half of teachers earn more and half earn less. The lowest-paid 10% earned $46,900 or less, while the highest-paid 10% earned $102,300 or more.
For comparison, the median wage across all occupations was $49,500, or about 21.6% lower than the median for teachers.

$63.1K

median annual wage for pre-K-12 teachers (all US, 2024)

$102K

annual wage for the highest-paid 10% of pre-K-12 teachers (all US, 2024)
Among teachers working in elementary, middle, and high schools, annual pay varies by the grade level taught. In 2024, preschool teachers made the least, earning around $52,800 annually. High school teachers made the most at around $64,700 per year. In other words, teachers of the oldest students earned about 22.5% more than those teaching the youngest.

High school teachers earn $64,700 annually, more than any other teachers

Median annual salary of elementary and secondary school teachers, excluding teachers of students with disabilities and technical teachers (All US, 2024)

Teacher salaries also differ between public and private schools. In 2024, teachers in public schools earned a median wage of $64,000 per year, while teachers in private schools earned $57,600. These differences may reflect how the two types of schools are funded and managed. Public schools receive funding from federal, state, and local governments and are often required to meet state certification and pay standards for teachers. Private schools rely more on tuition and other private sources of funding and may have different certification requirements for their teachers.

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Teachers in public schools made a higher wage than those in private schools at every level

Median annual salary of elementary and secondary school teachers, excluding teachers of students with disabilities and technical teachers (All US, 2024)

Pay also varies by specialization. Teachers of students with disabilities (collected in the data as “special education”), earn more than general education teachers at every grade level in the United States. In 2024, the median wages for teachers of students with disabilities ranged from 4% to 19% higher than those of other teachers at the same grade level.
The largest difference for teachers of students with disabilities was at the preschool level, where they earned $62,700 per year compared to $52,800 for other preschool teachers, a 19% difference.
Some schools, primarily middle and high schools, also employ technical teachers. These teachers provide vocational and technical training in fields such as automotive repair, culinary arts, cosmetology, and information technology, to help students develop career skills. In 2024, their median wages were $63,600 at the middle school level and $64,000 at the high school level, similar to those of general education teachers at the same levels.

Teachers of students with disabilities tend to earn a higher median wage than other teachers at every grade level

Median annual salary of elementary and secondary school teachers (All US, 2024)

Teacher pay varies across states, reflecting differences in local policies, funding, and labor markets. The figures here show the median annual salary for general education teachers, excluding special education and technical teachers.
  • Among states, preschool teachers earn the highest median salary in Alaska at $75,400 and the lowest in Utah at $34,900. Washington, DC had higher salaries than any state at $85,200.
  • Kindergarten teachers earn the highest median salary in Washington state at $87,500 and the lowest in Oklahoma at $47,600.
  • Elementary school teachers earn the highest median salary in Washington state at $99,300 and the lowest in Oklahoma at $47,500.
  • Middle school teachers earn the highest median salary in Washington state at $99,200 and the lowest in Oklahoma at $48,200.
  • High school teachers earn the highest median salary in Washington state at $99,600 and the lowest in Oklahoma at $49,200.

Preschool teachers earn the most in DC; Washington state leads for all other grades

Median annual salary of elementary and secondary school teachers, excluding teachers of students with disabilities and technical teachers (2024)

Teacher salaries don’t always tell the full story when comparing across states. A higher wage in one state might not stretch as far as a lower wage in another, depending on local prices. Adjusting for cost of living provides a clearer sense of purchasing power—how far a teacher’s wages go in each state. The figures below reflect these adjustments, using regional price parities from the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Washington state ranks highest for adjusted pay among elementary, middle school, high school teachers

Median annual salary of elementary and secondary school teachers, excluding teachers of students with disabilities and technical teachers, adjusted for cost of living (2024)

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Methodology

USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.

The analysis was generated with the help of AI and reviewed by USAFacts for accuracy.

Page sources

USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.

  • Bureau of Labor Statistics

    Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

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  • US Bureau of Economic Analysis

    Regional Data

    US Bureau of Economic Analysis logo