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Teacher Salary in the United States

How much does a Teacher make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Teacher in the United States is $53,939 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $26.

However, a Teacher's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $67,012
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $46,042 to $60,782
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $38,853
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Teacher Salaries

A Teacher's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Teacher Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Teacher's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $50,769
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $51,012
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $53,939
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $56,757
  • Expert (over 8 years): $56,958
Levels Salary
Entry Level Teacher$50,769
Intermediate Level Teacher$51,012
Senior Level Teacher$53,939
Specialist Level Teacher$56,757
Expert Level Teacher$56,958
View as Graph

How Do Teacher Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Teachers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $59,721.
  • California: $59,495.
  • Massachusetts: $58,702.

Top Paying Cities for Teachers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $68,033
  • San Francisco: $67,288
  • Oakland: $65,870

What Skills Can Increase a Teacher's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Commitment (Mentioned in 6.13% Job Postings): An agreement or pledge to do something in the future a commitment to improve conditions at the prison especially : an engagement to assume a financial obligation at a future date.
  • Special Education (Mentioned in 5.55% Job Postings): Special education is the practice of educating students in a way that accommodates their individual differences, disabilities, and special needs.
  • Physical Education (Mentioned in 2.46% Job Postings): Physical education, often abbreviated to Phys Ed. or P.E., is a subject taught in schools around the world. It is usually taught during primary and secondary education, and encourages psychomotor learning.
Skills Demand Percentage
Commitment 6.13%
Special Education 5.55%
Physical Education 2.46%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Teacher's salary.

  • Accountability: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Physical Education: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Accountability $57,175
6%
Collaboration $56,636
5%
Physical Education $55,557
3%
Get Latest Data

Teacher Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Teacher roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 50% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Healthcare and Software & Networking sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Teacher positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Business Services typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Teacher as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Teacher

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$64,727$31.020%
Software & Networking$64,727$31.020%
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit$59,333$29.010%

How Education impacts a Teacher's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Teachers enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Teacher with a Bachelor's Degree is between $54,827 and $60,665).

Teacher Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Teacher
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.1%
High School 2.6%
Associates 2.2%
Bachelors 45.4%
Masters 46.3%
Doctorate 3.4%
View as Graph

Teacher Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Teacher's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$46,042
Average $53,939/year
$60,782
$3,837
Average $4,495/month
$5,065
$885
Average $1,037/week
$1,169
$22
Average $26/hour
$29
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $60,782 $5,065 $1,169 $29
Average $53,939 $4,495 $1,037 $26
25th Percentile $46,042 $3,837 $885 $22

Most common benefits for Teacher

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Teacher

Here are companies hiring for Teacher and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Teacher

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Teacher?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Teacher roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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