Which states pay teachers the most?
It’s Teacher Appreciation Week, a moment for students and parents to show admiration for the educators that inspire them (and an opportunity for teachers to get some first-rate deals). While teachers are rightfully celebrated, though, the occasion is a reminder of the state of the industry, as school districts across the US grapple with ongoing shortages.
Part of the problem is teacher salaries, having barely budged at the national level in 30 years and varying significantly from state to state. Indeed, the average teacher in California makes $95K+, some $25K more than the national average, and nearly double that in W. Virginia, which reported the lowest pay (~$53K).
Salary has long been a contentious roadblock to getting people back into one of the world’s oldest professions: in 2022, the wage gap between teachers and similarly educated professionals was 26%, the widest recorded level since 1960.
Part of the problem is teacher salaries, having barely budged at the national level in 30 years and varying significantly from state to state. Indeed, the average teacher in California makes $95K+, some $25K more than the national average, and nearly double that in W. Virginia, which reported the lowest pay (~$53K).
Salary has long been a contentious roadblock to getting people back into one of the world’s oldest professions: in 2022, the wage gap between teachers and similarly educated professionals was 26%, the widest recorded level since 1960.
