What is the highest paying state for teachers? Top 10 best states for paying Teachers 2021 new for 2022

The average teacher salary in the US is $56,383. But teachers’ salaries vary widely by state and by the school district.

Teachers are some of the hardest-working people out there, but their paychecks don’t always reflect that. If you’re looking to become a teacher or move into another field with better compensation, this guide can help you find which states offer top-paying jobs for educators.

Use our exclusive data to see how much teachers make in each state and compare it to national averages. You’ll also learn more about teaching salaries based on factors like experience level and education level.

Top 10 best states for paying Teachers

Average annual teacher salaries vary by region in the United States.

We used salary data from the National Center for Education Statistics to determine where the average pay for teachers in public elementary and secondary schools is highest. We used 2018-2019- the most recent academic-year data available to summarize the top ten best states with the highest teacher salaries in the United States.

Source: Best States For Teachers 2021 – From Worldpopulationreview (2018-2019 data)

New York ($85,889)

Average annual salary: $85,889 (2018-2019 data)

New York, where has the country’s largest school system,  has the highest per-student spending on public schools, at around $24,040. More than 1.1 million students are educated in over 1,700 public schools, which have a budget of nearly $25 billion.

Primary and secondary public school teachers in New York, earn the highest salaries in the country. The average annual salary for a teacher is $83,889, with a starting salary of $57, 845.

Since 1999-2000, the inflation-adjusted salary has increased by 12.5 percent.

New York City is an expensive place to live. This means that if you want to live here, you may have to be frugal with your money.

California ($83,059)

Average annual salary: $83,059

California is the second-highest paying state for teachers, 307,400 teachers worked in the state’s public-school classrooms in years 2018-2019 (According to the Education Data Partnership). Entry-level teachers can make about $50,000 per year.

California is the most populous state in the United States and has the most school students, with the state spending per student being $12,498.

Over the last decade, while teacher salaries in many states have stagnated, the average educator in California has seen a 3.20 percent increase in pay since 2002.

Massachusetts ($82,042)

Average annual salary: $82,042.

Furthermore, the state’s public schools are highly regarded. Massachusetts is home to some of the world’s most prestigious institutions of higher learning such as Harvard, MIT…  So,  teachers here salary is extremely high compared to other states

The average starting salary for an entry-level teacher is $48,000, but it can range from $36,000 to $55,000 depending on location.

Change in inflation-adjusted salary since 1999-2000: 17.7%

The state spends $17,058 per student per year.

If you want to teach high school in Massachusetts for a long time, you’ll need to get a master’s degree.

Massachusetts has a high cost of living as well, especially in the Boston area.

Connecticut ($76,465)

Average annual salary: $76,465.

Connecticut is a good place for educators, with an average teacher salary of more than $76,000 per year. First-year teachers can also be paid around $45,000.

Since 1999-2000, the inflation-adjusted salary has decreased by -1.3 percent.

Connecticut has an estimated 3,269 public and private PK-12  schools (kindergarten through 12th grade). The state spends $20,635 per student per year.

However, Connecticut has the highest tax burden of any state in the country. You can rethink that you are ready to pay an average of $10,364 in general charges when living here. 

New Jersey ($74,760)

Average annual salary: $74,760.

New Jersey has the fifth-highest average teacher salary in the country, at $70,212. Entry-level teachers in New Jersey can make $43,497.

 Since 1999-2000, the inflation-adjusted salary has decreased by -9.8 percent.

In 2021, New Jersey’s public kindergarten through high school system was rated as one of the best in the country. The second-highest per-student public school spending in the US, at around $20,021 per year.

Washington ($73,049)

Average annual salary: $73,049

While new teachers can expect to earn around $40,000 in their first year of teaching, an experienced teacher’s salary currently exceeds $70,000, 

Washington state could be an excellent choice for new teachers because the average educator salary has increased by a whopping 28% in the last three years.

Since 1999-2000, the inflation-adjusted salary has increased by 11.4 percent.

Washington has some of the highest-performing school districts in the country. Washington spent an average of $22,759 per student.

Washington may be the best option because its progressive tax system does not require residents to pay income taxes, from social security, pensions, and retirement accounts all are tax-free.

Maryland ($70,463)

Average annual salary: $70,463

According to Maryland Gov, Maryland is another state where teachers earn more than the average annual salary for public school teachers.

Entry Level Teacher in Maryland earns $36,803 per year. Experienced teachers can earn between $40,565 and $70,000, which varies depending on location and year of experience.

Since 1999-2000, the inflation-adjusted salary has increased by 6.9 percent.

The state spends more than $14,762 per student, which is higher than the national average. 

Maryland is also the country’s second most educated state. Maryland is ranked as one of the top-performing states in the United States in terms of K-12 academics.

Alaska ($70,277)

Average annual salary: $70,277

In Alaska, the majority of entry-level teacher salaries currently range from $24,928 (25th percentile) to $43,374 (75th percentile), with top earners (90th percentile) earning $53,844 per year.

Since 1999-2000, the inflation-adjusted salary has increased by 1.1 percent.

The public schools in Alaska are widely regarded as among the best in the country, and the Anchorage School District’s average SAT and ACT college entrance exam scores are consistently higher than the national average.

According to the most recent data (2013), this sparsely populated state had 131,489 students enrolled in 509 schools across 54 school districts. The state spends $17,726 per student.

Pennsylvania ($68,930)

Average annual salary: $68,930

According to the National Education Association, first-year teacher salaries start at just $31,000 to $33,000 per year

Experienced teachers can expect to earn around $70,000 per year.

Since 1999-2000, the inflation-adjusted salary has decreased by -5.7 percent.

Although Pennsylvania ranks near the middle of the 50 states in terms of public K-12 education, the state has dozens of highly rated school districts. Pennsylvania has 500 school districts, with enrollment ranging from 200 to over 140,000 students. The state spends approximately $16,395 per student.

Illinois ($67,049)

Average annual salary: $67,049

As of October 29, 2021, the average Entry Level Teacher salary in Illinois is $46,282, but the range typically falls between $40,405 and $53,430.

Since 1999-2000, the inflation-adjusted salary has decreased by -4.2 percent.

The state spends $15,741 per student.

F.A.Q

Which are the Best States for teachers’ cost of living?

Living in Pennsylvania is also regarded as the most cost-effective. The state also has progressive policies for teachers seeking financial aid, including a loan forgiveness program and a state grant for qualified educators.

Which states pay the lowest to teachers?

Minnesota, North Dakota, Florida, Arizona, and Colorado are states that pay the lowest salary for teachers. Mississippi has the lowest average teacher salary of $45,574, followed by West Virginia, which has a salary of $47,826. New Mexico, Florida, South Dakota, Kansas, and Arizona are the other states with average teacher salaries under $50,000 per year. (data 2018-2019)

Is there going to be a pay raise for teachers in 2021?

There is no legislation that would provide a pay raise for public school teachers in the US in 2021. However, over 100 independent schools in many states in the US have agreed to pay their staff 2%–2.5% raises, beginning in February 2021.

Conclusion

The highest paying state for teachers in New York. That’s more than double what California or other states pay on average each year. If you are considering a career as a teacher, it may be worth moving to New York if you live elsewhere! However, you can consider other factors before moving, because each state always has some pros and cons.