Teacher Salary By State: Highest-Paid Teachers by State [2026]
Research Summary. The Zippia data science team has conducted comprehensive research to provide the latest insights on teacher salaries across the United States for 2026:
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Maryland offers the highest average teacher salary at $61,254
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Montana has the lowest average teacher salary at $34,041
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The national average salary for teachers is $47,989
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The national hourly rate for teachers stands at $23.07
For detailed insights on our research methodology, please refer to the link.
Background
Salary remains the most significant factor for job seekers, including teachers. Many individuals inquire, “How much do teachers earn where I live?” Understanding this can greatly influence career decisions.
While various factors affect individual salaries, reliable data on average teacher salaries by state, segmented by experience level, provides essential benchmarks. Your specific city may vary from state averages, but these figures offer a helpful guideline to gauge expected earnings.
As of 2026, Maryland leads the pack with the highest teacher salaries, demonstrating a commitment to educational investment.
Here’s a quick overview of the top ten states for teacher salaries:
Now, let’s delve into the complete ranking of teacher salaries by state.
Highest-Paid Teachers By State
| Rank | State | Average Teacher Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | $61,254 | $40,000 | $93,000 |
| 2 | Hawaii | $59,222 | $36,000 | $97,000 |
| 3 | New York | $57,919 | $37,000 | $89,000 |
| 4 | California | $57,193 | $39,000 | $83,000 |
| 5 | Alaska | $54,655 | $41,000 | $71,000 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $53,838 | $34,000 | $84,000 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $53,435 | $34,000 | $83,000 |
| 8 | Washington | $53,255 | $36,000 | $77,000 |
| 9 | Virginia | $51,980 | $34,000 | $77,000 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $50,693 | $32,000 | $78,000 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $49,690 | $31,000 | $77,000 |
| 12 | Oregon | $48,930 | $33,000 | $71,000 |
| 13 | Illinois | $48,469 | $34,000 | $68,000 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $47,859 | $31,000 | $73,000 |
| 15 | Texas | $47,693 | $35,000 | $63,000 |
| 16 | Michigan | $46,247 | $31,000 | $68,000 |
| 17 | Georgia | $45,908 | $33,000 | $62,000 |
| 18 | Ohio | $45,004 | $30,000 | $65,000 |
| 19 | Wyoming | $44,652 | $32,000 | $60,000 |
| 20 | Alabama | $44,472 | $32,000 | $60,000 |
| 21 | Kentucky | $44,120 | $31,000 | $61,000 |
| 22 | Florida | $43,926 | $31,000 | $61,000 |
| 23 | Delaware | $43,641 | $28,000 | $66,000 |
| 24 | Nevada | $42,775 | $29,000 | $61,000 |
| 25 | New Mexico | $42,397 | $31,000 | $57,000 |
| 26 | Nebraska | $42,129 | $30,000 | $57,000 |
| 27 | West Virginia | $41,909 | $28,000 | $61,000 |
| 28 | Tennessee | $41,591 | $30,000 | $56,000 |
| 29 | Minnesota | $41,413 | $29,000 | $58,000 |
| 30 | Utah | $41,116 | $29,000 | $57,000 |
| 31 | Iowa | $40,723 | $29,000 | $56,000 |
| 32 | Louisiana | $40,425 | $30,000 | $53,000 |
| 33 | New Hampshire | $40,231 | $25,000 | $62,000 |
| 34 | Kansas | $40,196 | $29,000 | $54,000 |
| 35 | Wisconsin | $40,132 | $27,000 | $57,000 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $40,110 | $28,000 | $55,000 |
| 37 | Colorado | $39,734 | $29,000 | $53,000 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $39,642 | $27,000 | $56,000 |
| 39 | Mississippi | $39,537 | $29,000 | $52,000 |
| 40 | Arizona | $38,865 | $28,000 | $53,000 |
| 41 | Vermont | $38,680 | $25,000 | $59,000 |
| 42 | North Dakota | $38,308 | $27,000 | $53,000 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $38,244 | $28,000 | $51,000 |
| 44 | Indiana | $37,673 | $26,000 | $53,000 |
| 45 | Idaho | $37,629 | $26,000 | $53,000 |
| 46 | Missouri | $36,768 | $26,000 | $50,000 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $35,931 | $26,000 | $47,000 |
| 48 | Maine | $35,260 | $22,000 | $54,000 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $35,107 | $25,000 | $48,000 |
| 50 | Montana | $34,041 | $24,000 | $47,000 |
Methodology: Teacher Salary By State
To analyze teacher pay by state accurately, Zippia compiles data from various sources, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and other official statistics. This data is augmented with actual salaries from job postings. Our data science team then calculates a weighted average of these inputs to derive the average teacher salary for each state.
We ranked all states based on the average annual salary, categorizing them by the highest average salary for teachers.
Teacher Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for teachers?
The highest-paid state for teachers is Maryland, with an average salary of $61,254 per year.
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What city pays teachers the most?
Baltimore, MD has the highest pay for teachers, averaging $61,238 annually.
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What is the worst state for teachers?
The state with the lowest average pay for teachers is Montana, averaging $34,041 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
