There is frequent debate over what teachers get paid. But do you really know how the individual states differ in terms of salaries?
There’s a good argument to be made that even in states such as California, where pay is better than almost any other place in the nation, teachers should be paid more. That’s especially true for those who continue their education and add to their skill sets by taking professional development courses.
In California, teachers are paid more than most of the rest of the United States and there is an abundance of job opportunities. The following numbers present a good picture of how well California teacher pay stacks up against other states.
These numbers are compiled from information provided as of May 2017 (the latest available) by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
High School Teachers
Nationwide, high school teachers make an average salary of $59,170, but few occupations are more impacted by geography than teaching. For example, teachers in Oklahoma ($41,880). Mississippi ($46,370), and Idaho ($48,540) make far less than the national average.
California high school teachers make one of the best salaries in the nation at an annual income of $77,390 a year. That’s good for the fourth best in the country. The state with the highest pay is Alaska ($85,420).
California also employs the second highest number of high school teachers at 107,680, second only to Texas at 113,120. However, the average annual pay for teachers in Texas is $57,830, below the national average.
Middle School Teachers
Middle school teachers nationwide make an annual average salary of $57,720. California middle school teachers earn much more than this, with an annual average salary of $74,190.
Again, Texas and California are first and second with the number of middle school teachers employed, with 69,770 and 50,820, respectively. However, the annual average pay for middle school teachers in Texas is less than the national average at $56,770.
Middle school teachers make the most in New York at $80,940.
Elementary School Teachers
Nationwide, elementary school teachers made an annual average salary of $57,160.
California excels in this area. The state employs the most elementary school teachers in the nation at 157,240. The state also offers the second highest salary for elementary school teachers in the nation at $77,990. That’s behind only New York, at $80,540.
Kindergarten
Nationwide, kindergarten teachers make an average annual salary of $54,230. In California, they make $66,140, one of the highest in the nation. California also employs the second most kindergarten teachers (again, behind only Texas) with 13,900.
Clearly, California is a leader in all four areas in terms of the number of people employed and salary earned. Teachers who seek to improve their career with professional development courses can earn California teacher pay that is much higher than the national average.