Just out of curiosity, I see such a huge range in salaries. Some say they make great money and this always shocks me. I know it varies. I’ve been teaching 12 years, rural Illinois and just now make $44,000.
Where do you teach, for how long and how much do you make?
Teacher Support &/or AdviceUser deleted comment
5d
As a college student who wants to teach abroad in Asia, how did you go about teaching in China? :)
I am a former teacher (now school counselor) from the US, and we worked abroad in Trinidad at the International School Port of Spain. We (including my husband, who was a principal at the time) were also offered jobs in 2 schools in China. We have 4 friends who taught in China at the International School of Beijing.
There are several companies that list jobs in international private schools, which is where the majority of certified teachers go. If you will not be a certified teacher, then you are talking more about teaching English (speaking, writing, reading English to Chinese people. Not English, the subject we all took in high school). Those are wildly different jobs/experiences.
If you are going to be a certified teacher and want to teach core subjects in a Chinese private school, send me a message and I can try to answer any questions you have. If you are talking more about teaching the English language, I know a little about it, but never did that type of job.
I applied to international schools. Most international schools are going to require you to have a teaching license and at least 2 yrs experience teaching. If you can get some AP or IB experience before that will also help. Once you have these basic qualifications you can sign up for a job site. I used Schrole, but there are a lot of them like ISS, Search Associates, etc. Focus on finishing school first and getting some teaching experience so you can get a job in a reputable school. Good luck!
I really might cry - Tampa, FL 49k
Hate this state
Oh yea… year 4 same pay as year 1
Pinellas County enters the chat. :(
I had to leave FL. I was at 47500 with a masters that they no longer counted. (Curriculum and Instruction) Left after 2018 school year. Moved to OR. I will be around 99 to 100k. In the fall. I am top of the scale and all the way over to the right.
I do not know how anyone can teach in FL today unless they have no other options.
You'll make around 55k/year plus the chance for title one bonuses (5k/year) and up to 1k/mo extra in prep buys teaching middle school or high school in CCSD in Nevada. Our district is a dumpster fire but there are islands of sanity and we're still more sane than Florida.
Move to Baltimore! We have a strong union and always need teachers!
I'm a county over and making the same. You didn't mention the number of years you have. I'm entering year 10.
Come to NJ! We're a blue state and we value teachers here!
I hear you. It's hard not to feel resentful.
Whew that's tough. The cost of living in Tampa has skyrocketed. I almost couldn't believe the housing costs smh
24 years in NC making $50k 🥴😢
Bay Area, CA, 3rd year, $73k. Rent is $1000 which is a bargain around here.
Bargain is an insane understatement for the Bay Area! I haven't heard of anything like that for more than 15 years! 22 years in education, not all of it in public k12. Next year's contract is $98k.
One word: roommates. I have a partner, plus another roomie. The supply of 2-3br spots is vastly superior and cost effective to the studios/1brs.
Bay Area. 8 years. Position is 70% admin, 30% teaching. $149k. Mortgage is ~5k.
Did you grow up in the Bay Area? I’m always curious about teaching there because my husband could relocate for his job. I have a license in another state, but my family is toxic as heck and it’s fun to dream! Haha
I visited last summer and was just enamored. I love it so much.
I did indeed grow up here, hence my username. I went to the east coast for college because I wanted to see what the rest of the country was like / what non-Californians were like. It was a great decision because I not only understand what’s out there, but also I’m now deeply appreciative of what I have here. The bay is just an amazing place to be. The demand to live here is partially why rent is so expensive!
If you’re okay with forgoing any chance of owning a home (unless your partner makes hella $$$$), I’d say come here. We definitely have some of the best schools and salaries in the country—however for the bay area I am making just barely enough to feel comfortable. It’s an expensive place, and you can expect that most of your social circle will be making a lot more than you.
Whoa! How did you swing that rent?!?! You can’t even find that in much cheaper areas of the country.
You make the same salary I do after 32 years and a master's degree, lol. And 1br apts start at $1500 in my town.
17 years in South Mississippi…$51,875 plus an additional $6,000 for National Boards.
Exactly why I moved away from Mississippi!
That's about in line with South Dakota. The longer you're a teacher the less you make compared to the newbies.
This was 2018-2019 school year, but a 20 year veteran at my (then) district was only making $100 more per year than new hire 1st year teachers. New teachers were starting at $40,000. After 20 years, she was making $40,100. These wages were competitive as our district was near the best paid in the state. Meanwhile, I had 4 years and a Masters, and I was making $41,900 for the 3rd year in a row.
My sister has been in rural SD for 15 years, and is at 47k.
Thank God I switched states!
I am so sorry. Do you have a union?
If it’s a southern state…there’s a pretty high chance unions are illegal. In fact some of those states can pay you less than minimum wage lol.
Gee it sounds like a great place ….. 😩
Central California, 29 years $132,000
Same but in Bay Area, 12 years in
1st-year kindergarten teacher in Maryland making $56,658. But pay in Maryland is going up. By 2026, all first-year public school teachers are required to make at least $60k.
thank god, maryland teachers do not seem to get paid enough especially although i know that's just an issue with teaching in general
We’re going to lose a lot of teachers in those board counties to Maryland. WV tops out at $60
Upstate NY average first first year is close to 60,000.
Detroit...29 years ..110 k
Massachusetts, 28 years, 105K
Washington State 2 Years 85K
Also WA (45 min S of Seattle), MA +45, 15 yrs, $105k.
I just left teaching in the highest paid district in the state. I was 5th year + MS = $95k.
Seattle area? Or anywhere else?
East side of the state!
Does Washington have a high cost of living?
Yes very high
i gotta move 😳
East side and rural. Going into my 3rd year at $65k
What the hell?? Do you have a Masters?
I’m in rural Utah, just finished year 12, have a master’s degree, and my contract was for 74k. This coming year, thanks to multiple forms of a raise, I’ll be at just shy of 80k.
Salt Lake County, just finished 7 years with a masters and I made about 69k.
Utah also just finished my first year. 60k
Los Angeles area, not LAUSD, 16th year, $120k plus benefits. Masters +60 units on the scale maxed out.
You’ll love this…they changed the payscale structure in my county in Maryland. Everyone with a Master’s Degree gets paid the same now. All of those +15, + 45, +60 credits that you worked to earn…yeah, no one cares in our school district anymore. To them, a masters is a masters. They only bump up your pay if you have National Boards. Ugh.
I’m also in Los Angeles, but not LAUSD. I’m at $112k with 13 years (really have been teaching 20 but the school won’t count it) with a Masters and +98. I have to teach an additional period if I want to make 120+ a year.
I’m an hour east of Los Angeles, just finished year 24, and made 120k last school year.
Work in one of the surrounding Chicago suburbs, 5th year teaching with a masters in education, 51K.
Yeah, there's a reason I'm not leaving CPS/CPS unionized charters for a while. Chicago, 11th year no Masters, 88k.
Yikes. Poverty level pay.
Weird. I also work in a Chicago suburb. 3rd yr w/ masters and I make 60k
My friend with over 20 years experience just got hired in az for 43. Other teachers at his school make 38. I checked the local public schools and they are paying 43-54
I don't understand how some folks in red states think teachers make so much money but yet in thos red states teachers actually make the least amount compared to others
Nothing but backwards thinking and Jesus with them
They hear about a teacher with 30 years and a PhD in NYC/Chicago/LA/SF making $120k+ and presume that the teacher they don't like in nowhere, USA is making something in that ballpark, rather than being 30 years in and making 60k
In my rural town they posted teachers salaries to get a referendum to fail. When the median income for a town is 28k, teachers making 45k seems like a lot. Town voted to fail the referendum then complained when they had to close an elementary school instead of fix it up.
I was paid significantly more than that as a preschool teacher.
Moving to Northern-ish Canada in a few weeks to teach. Starting year six, I'll be making $103k (75k USD) for now and when I max out our salary grid in 5 years, it'll be closer to $120k CAD ($87k USD). I don't have a masters.
I'm going to teach in Saudi Arabia to teach for a year. I thought I was getting a good deal for about 35k a year. I am Canadian but I've been teaching in Thailand for the last decade. Any chance you can DM me to give a link to take a look at these Northern Canadian teaching positions. I'll try to Google it too. Sounds decent! I would like to make some money. Made nothing in Thailand.
Don’t forget to factor in your housing, too, which isn’t an additional expense. Once that’s done, it’ll be equivalent to working in northern Canada. Enjoy the ME!
Year 2- 66,000$ - Central California
This is my salary too. Year 16, NC
San Jose, CA 20 years, $124k
Suburban school district outside of Dallas, TX. 18 years of experience. Made $69,000 this past school year. Would have made $75,000 based on the new pay raise incentive if I chose to stay another year.
9 (recognized) years, western WA, MA+90, $106k
NYC, working 13 years, bachelor's only.
82k base plus 7.5k for being dept chair
Why would you only have a BA? Do you have a permanent certification? The older one? You could make so much more with the MA and the +30.
Editing to add…
NYC, just finished my first year in the DOE, but at year 5 on the salary scale. 68k with our most recent raise. Just finished MSEd and would be making 77k in the fall, with two additional raises next year. But I’m moving to VA and taking a cut.
Honest answer is no time haha. I have some credits towards a Masters that I did from 2016-2018 but think I'm not even halfway. Don't know if I'll finish it
Ik’m permanently certified and only have a BA. Not work the 25 cents per check increase
Imagine getting paid extra for being in a leadership position...
New York, NY, USA - Starting in September, I'll be making $107,619, but in Jan 2025, our raise kicks in... Bringing it up to $110,848. This is after 10 years of teaching.
Rural Colorado. 8 years, bachelor’s only. $49K gross.
Is this livable on your own? I want to move to Colorado but skeptical because of the pay for teachers
It definitely depends on where you’re at. Metro Denver is crazy HCOL, but the districts also pay more. I’m close enough to the metro area that a lot of people commute, so it’s pretty HCOL here too. Luckily I have a nice 1BR apartment over a private garage for $1200 a month, but rent for pretty much anything averages about $1800. It’s definitely not easy, but I scrape by.
Edit: Also, there’s literally no way I could ever afford a house on my own. Median home prices are well over $600K, and even a 600 sq. ft. 1BR house goes for over $300K. So there’s that to consider, too.
Heads up - teacher with 20+ years of experience and want to teach special ed/super high needs. I can't find ANY school district in or around Denver that will recognize more than 3/4 years of service. It's INSANE.
I lived in Rural CO and made $39,000. I am a single mom and it was really hard.
So cal, year 11, my taxable gross last year was just shy of 140,000, plus full paid benefits (almost 2000 a month)
Also in SoCal. What district are you in?
Probably a Southern OC one like Newport Mesa, they get paid very well due to the property tax revenue.
Victor valley
Ah the high desert. Cheap housing AND great pay? You guys are tempting but I’m very hesitant on leaving the San Bernardino school district haha
Where at in rural Illinois? I also teach in rural Illinois and just finished my 2nd year and I'm getting paid about 43,000, not including our cash option for health insurance.
6 years, suburban Minneapolis MN, $54k, BA+ 60; if I got my master’s my salary (the next lane I could move) would increase by only $700
Side note: I paid $120 a month for union dues. I got a 1% raise this last school year and that was after we were a step away from striking.
I left teaching at the end of this school year.
Central California, 9 years, MA degree. gross pay: 82k.
North San Joaquin valley. 7th year. 84k. Going for my masters. Hopefully finish next year.
Stockton/Modesto area in SpEd, bless your soul.
You should be getting paid much more my friend.
May the Force be with you!
I’m retired. I taught for 17 years from 2003 to 2019. Yep, I dodged COVID! The last year I taught, I was making around $75000 plus a $3,000 stipend for running the Debate Team. This was in Washjngton State. I started at 35K in Arizona and only got that salary because I taught at a Title I school in one of the worst neighborhoods in Phoenix. When I went back to Washington, I was earning close to 50K with coaching added.
I would also mention that I exited teaching due to burnout from working within a system that seems determined to aim at the lowest common denominator. To those still slugging it out, I can only salute you for fighting the good fight.
Ukraine, college, 1 year experience, ~150$ month salary
Just finished my 3rd year. California. Jumping from 70k to 80k in August due to a union raise and getting 75 graduate units to move to the highest column on the salary scale
Netherlands. 5 years. 60k euro / 64k usd
Melbourne, Australia. Private preschool. Third year as an ECT (nine in the field). $77k AUD.
Suburb of Seattle, 15 years, 125k
D1 district in Wisconsin, teaching 2 years, finished my Masters this summer so I’ll be at 51k not including cost of living percentage this next year. Started around 45k.
Washington, 25 years Montessori certificates for 6-12, $51K
Chicago, 5 years, just earned my M.Ed., make over $75k (bargaining new contract)
Made ~$74,500 last year as a year 4
Arkansas, 16 years, $80,000 (12 month contract)
Greater Phoenix Area, AZ, 8 years, would be $60,500 w/masters but I got a promotion to instructional coach & that comes with a raise.
CA, 11 years, 110K
First year, NJ, 61,000 and I taught ELA. Math next year
The NEA published this resource that shows state by state data which might be helpful as well: https://www.nea.org/resource-library/educator-pay-and-student-spending-how-does-your-state-rank
30 years, Florida. $59K. Union in my county just announced all first year teachers will now start at 50k in 24-25 school year. Wish they would do something to bridge the gap for those of us with experience.
Georgia, 9 years, MA, = 70k
Philly Suburbs, 1 year, Masters, 59k. I'll have my plus 18 this fall, 65k
Sacramento area, 12 years, $116k base.
Kalamazoo Michigan
Year 20 and base will be $92,099
South Carolina - 23 years experience with a Masters degree $80,000. Also make about $10-12k extra from National Boards and other stipends. Sad that my daughter in healthcare makes same amount 3rd year out of college
Western suburbs of Chicago. Year 30 is coming up. $140K
13 years, Masters, NW Washington, $110k
Suburb of MD, masters degree, just finished year 7, $78k
Central CA, 16 years $96,000
Louisville, KY 47,944 with and 8k Ais bonus so 55,944. Teacher for almost 2 years.
Las Vegas, NV charter school with a masters degree. Ended year 5 at $60,000.
South Texas, this will be year 4 and gross I make $63k
Very similar to upstate NY
San Jose CA 24 years in and $134k I think.
Small city in Los Angeles metrop. 12 years, 115k. Masters really helped boost my salary along with a raise teachers got around COVID.
9 years, middle school math, central California, masters degree+ an incentive/benefit makes for 102k this year.
Going into my second year and just started my masters. $69,000. Oakland, CA
Hell yeah! East Bay teachers represent! ✊🏾
Central California, 26 years, $116k
Vietnam (international school), 6 years' experience, masters. Pay structure is not the same, but I ultimately take home a bit over $50k/year. Health insurance is fully covered for my whole family and we basically never pay for health care of any kind.
NJ in the NYC metro area. 8 years, MA+60, $80,000.
About to start year 4 in CA’s central coast. As long as I complete the one unit class I just dubbed up for and get my transcript in time, I should make just shy of 83k next year.
Ga, year 1, 54k feeling super blessed
NJ, year 8. $80k with 30 credited towards a masters and stipends.
Texas, 13yrs bachelor's only. About $68,000 base pay with an additional $32,000 in stipends and state bonus for the upcoming school year will put me at $100,000
Just retired in Georgia after 19 years. Specialist degree, $89,000.
Estonia, right under Finland (nobody here assumes people know where Estonia is). I taught for 8 years.
Income varies but the state minimum is 1749 eur/month, of which you receive 1400. That would make 16,8k/year. It's considered an ok wage but most teachers aren't especially happy about it due to the work environment. The people that are happy-ish are older teachers eligible for retirement who tend to have already raised their kids, own their homes etc etc etc and receive their pensions. It is possible to make more money depending on where you work as local governments have extra funds if they want to draw in better teachers. It is also possible to twist some arms and get better pay if you have less competition (science and math teachers), which I also took advantage of, a little.
For price comparison, when I was renting a good place, about 40% of my income went towards that. Food for one person, if you want to eat a varied and healthy diet, would be 200-300 eur/month. The government likes to boast about how much money goes into education, but it's mostly concrete and restructuring the department of education every couple of years. I don't have a lot of respect for the people in charge, lets put it this way.
I quit teaching this spring because even though I was well liked and respected, the effort vs reward ratio wasn't satisfying me and I don't believe in setting oneself on fire to keep others warm.
We're experiencing a shortage of teachers as well as somewhat of a mental health crisis. It's fun for people of all ages!
Western NY state, 5 years back full time (after 8 years home with my kids and 4 years part time) $56,000. Will go up a bit next year. No, it’s not enough to live on with any sort of comfort, but I’m married to a high earner.
Central California: super fortunate to be in my 8th year making $108k with $2k annual stipend for masters and I also get another stipend for coaching. With stipends, I am around $112k
I've worked for three districts in three states in my six years of teaching. Pay varies WIDELY district-to-district, even in the same state. Better districts tend to pay less - if you find a district paying a lot relative to its neighbors, it's probably a nightmare that goes through teachers like Kleenex.
I took a pay cut to be in my current job, and am happy here; went from making $62K in year 4 in an awful urban setting to $60K in year 5 in rural, nice district (CT). I'm back up to $63K this year (not counting stipends/extras). I'm a MA+12, but my district only counts to 9 after the MA.
In general, teachers are way underpaid - I made a crapload more money in the corporate world during my first career. Sometimes I feel resentful about it, then I remember the boring/meaningless nature of the work and the stupidly long hours and realize that this is still a good gig despite the insulting salary.
If you're looking for just pure money, go Vegas - they have a new salary schedule this year and it's insane (I'd be at $83K there with my six years).
Mid-sized midwest city, Masters, year 3 = $54k + coaching 2 sports = $10k
I'm not complaining about $64k in my area.
Arkansas.. 36 years. Retired now. $52000. For the hours, less than minimum wage.
Last year I taught kindergarten in Missouri and made $57,000 (2 masters degrees, 17 years experience)
This coming year I’m moving to Maryland and have a contract to teach kindergarten-5th grade STEM making $76,000
Suburb of DFW, 65k for year 18. BSEd, no advanced degree.
Man, screw those Texas politicians cheapskates. You are worth so much more.
🥲🥲 Agreed. I was making more with stipends when I was teaching math and department head but was so burnt out that I switched to an elective course and absolutely love my life again. Totally worth the pay cut.
Outside of Seattle. This upcoming year will be year 10. 100K
Alberta Canada. Bachelors degree, 10 years experience. $95k, plus excellent benefits and pension
Montana 7 years full time, $49k
Southern California, 8 years w/Masters, $93k.
West of Seattle, 7 years, MA+90, 105k.
SF Bay Area East. 15 years. $148k. (No healthcare plan).
If I drop a prep and take a 6th period it'll be a 20% raise and I'll probably be the highest paid teacher in the US, but I don't think the district wants to pay me that much even though I offered.
3rd year teacher, 54k, no masters degree, central Indiana
18 years Australia $107k
South of Tacoma, WA, 26 years, should be right around $125k this year with some stipends.
Socal. 25th year. 125k.
Vancouver Washington, entering year 11 with a masters degree, 100k
Florida, 4 years. ~ $66k
Portland, masters, year 2 60k
WA state, 16 years in the state, ~$135K
Bay Area, CA
Year 4 BA + 60
$103,000
Victoria, Australia, 4 years ~$50k usd.
Pennsylvania. 18 years. $66000
Central California, 1 year, 76k
London, UK, £68,000 or approx $86,000, 12 years.
Southern California, Year 3, 80k
$99,000 Central Ohio (Masters and 14 recognized years)
I live in a rural part of Florida. I am going into year 17 and I make 42,000.
I'm in Central Florida, going into my 7th year of teaching. I'll be at $52k when the new school year starts.
MA, 3 years, 66K
Taiwan, 12th year, $103k. Bonus is I don’t pay income tax on that. Should be higher if the local currency regains its historical value vs the dollar. I started teaching in Florida.
VHCOL, Northern VA, 14 years, MA+30, $93k I work my 2nd job weekends during the year and full time over summer.
My husband: same district, 11 years, MA+30, $88k; also works a 2nd job
Pay schedule: once a month, on the last workday of the month, no pay in summer
We own a 1bed/bath condo that is 800 sqft. A 3 bed/2bath townhome built in the 1970s, 1200sqft, is around $650k. Many teachers commute up to 2 hours one way to buy an affordable home (or are married to someone who makes $$$$).
Massachusetts, 8 years (2 in private, 2 long-term sub years, 4 full time public) $63,630.
Austria, 9 years, middle and high school. I make about 35.000€ a year.
Preschool teacher, 3rd year, my salary is 52k for the upcoming school year.
Upstate NY. 12 years, but only starting year 3 at this school. NY requires a Masters. Charter. Next year I'll be at 65k. I also get a stipend for having an extra class and have a second job.
I could make more in a public school, but at this particular charter I have admin who actually back up the teachers. I took a pay cut to come here (though I am now officially back where I started).
Mass. HS Severe sped. 96K for a full year position (I work summer program). Year 15 in the field.
WNY 27 years 108,000
I am a teacher turned school librarian in Kentucky. I have two masters, a Rank I, and National Board Certification. This will be my 22nd year. My pay will be just over $70k this year with stipends I will receive for extra duties.
Upstate NY, 5 years. $74K.
Western NY, 23 years, $97K
NJ. 8 years. $80k.
Edit to add: I have an MA.
Newark NJ $83k masters. Charter school. Going into second year at charter school
Louisville, KY, 23 years with a Masters. $85,000
My husband started in Arizona where his first year was $30k. After 4 years we had to move because his salary couldn’t keep up with price of living there. Now in Ohio with 16 years teaching and he’s around $90k. He has his masters and works like a dog because he loves what he does.
New York City, 17 years on salary scale, $107,000 plus per session I make as an ENL coordinator.
NE Ohio, 40 years, 100,000 per year give or take.
Suburban Toledo, OH, taught for 10 years, have M.Ed plus 36 hours, make $89,000 a year base plus $13, 000 in EDIs and Coaching stipends.
Ohio, 8 years, MA+15, $70k
Central Ohio. 13 years. 95k. Masters +45 credits. I used to live in a very southern state and moved for better pay. If you’re reading this and can move to a place with better pay and benefits, please do! You are not a tree, move. ❤️
New Jersey, year 5 with masters $68K
Connecticut, 8 years, $77k.
Okay, reading other people’s posts just makes me feel dumb….
Taught middle and high school math, science, and foreign language for two years at a private school in Florida. Only made around 21K a year……. :/
Just signed a contract in AZ, first year 47k.
🫠 I'd love to move elsewhere because I cannot afford to live on that.
Boston, 4th year, masters, $109,000
Massachusetts, teaching 11 years, $108k
NY $145,000 . 27 years. Masters plus 60.
Metrowest Boston. 131,000 with two MA degrees and 18 yrs experience. I’m very well compensated.
Texas, 5yr 63k.
Is there anyone from Texas? I’m in college to be a teacher and I’d like to know what I’m looking at
NW suburbs of Chicago. Total compensation of $160K and change last year, which included two coaching stipends, extra duty pay and sub coverages, plus retirement incentives, as I'm in excess of 30 years of teaching and have declared my intent to retire in the next few years.
Come to the north, my friend!