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Certified teacher salary
Average certified teacher salary
$50,708
Understanding Certified Teacher Salaries
As of October 2025, the average annual salary for certified teachers in the United States stands at $50,708. This amount can vary based on several factors, including geographic location, levels of experience, and specific fields of education.
Teachers in states like California and New York generally earn higher salaries due to increased living costs and demand for quality education. For instance, certified teachers in these areas can expect salaries that exceed the national average.
Experience plays a crucial role in determining salary. New teachers often start at lower pay scales, while those with several years of service, advanced degrees, or specialized training can command significantly higher wages. Furthermore, district funding impacts salaries, with wealthier districts typically offering better compensation packages.
For individuals looking to pursue a career in education, understanding these salary dynamics is essential. By researching potential salaries by state and field, aspiring teachers can make informed decisions about their career paths. Explore the variations in certified teacher salaries across different states and find opportunities that align with your professional goals.
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Where can a Certified Teacher earn more?
Certified teacher salary estimates from across the web
Average certified teacher salary by state
The average certified teacher salary in Connecticut, New York, and Maryland are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average certified teacher salary states are Mississippi, Idaho, and Arkansas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for certified teachers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $69,672 | $33.50 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $65,629 | $31.55 |
| 3 | Maryland | $68,008 | $32.70 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $71,559 | $34.40 |
| 5 | Virginia | $59,000 | $28.37 |
| 6 | California | $65,604 | $31.54 |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $67,927 | $32.66 |
| 8 | Oregon | $56,104 | $26.97 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $60,130 | $28.91 |
| 10 | Michigan | $57,469 | $27.63 |
| 11 | Wyoming | $51,472 | $24.75 |
| 12 | Alaska | $58,733 | $28.24 |
| 13 | Illinois | $50,006 | $24.04 |
| 14 | Minnesota | $54,192 | $26.05 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $57,325 | $27.56 |
| 16 | Nebraska | $53,086 | $25.52 |
| 17 | New Mexico | $50,577 | $24.32 |
| 18 | Kentucky | $48,157 | $23.15 |
| 19 | Delaware | $49,315 | $23.71 |
| 20 | Washington | $55,380 | $26.63 |
| 21 | Ohio | $51,683 | $24.85 |
| 22 | Georgia | $48,608 | $23.37 |
| 23 | Colorado | $51,914 | $24.96 |
| 24 | Rhode Island | $52,748 | $25.36 |
| 25 | Alabama | $47,579 | $22.87 |
| 26 | Florida | $50,938 | $24.49 |
| 27 | Louisiana | $46,425 | $22.32 |
| 28 | Montana | $48,933 | $23.53 |
| 29 | Arizona | $43,963 | $21.14 |
| 30 | Indiana | $43,081 | $20.71 |
| 31 | Utah | $46,157 | $22.19 |
| 32 | North Carolina | $46,536 | $22.37 |
| 33 | New Hampshire | $44,032 | $21.17 |
| 34 | Texas | $44,174 | $21.24 |
| 35 | Hawaii | $50,568 | $24.31 |
| 36 | Iowa | $45,975 | $22.10 |
| 37 | North Dakota | $46,314 | $22.27 |
| 38 | Nevada | $41,384 | $19.90 |
| 39 | South Dakota | $42,138 | $20.26 |
| 40 | West Virginia | $44,597 | $21.44 |
| 41 | Idaho | $39,742 | $19.11 |
| 42 | Vermont | $42,102 | $20.24 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $36,209 | $17.41 |
| 44 | Wisconsin | $44,058 | $21.18 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $42,518 | $20.44 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $40,137 | $19.30 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $42,263 | $20.32 |
| 48 | Kansas | $40,965 | $19.69 |
| 49 | Missouri | $33,288 | $16.00 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $37,387 | $17.97 |
| 51 | Maine | $33,911 | $16.30 |
Highest paying cities for certified teachers
The highest-paying cities for certified teachers are Danbury, CT, New York, NY, and Camden, NJ.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Danbury, CT | $72,004 | $34.62 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $70,340 | $33.82 |
| 3 | Camden, NJ | $66,440 | $31.94 |
| 4 | Philadelphia, PA | $60,624 | $29.15 |
| 5 | Detroit, MI | $57,727 | $27.75 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $56,968 | $27.39 |
| 7 | Miami, FL | $52,193 | $25.09 |
| 8 | Westminster, CO | $51,950 | $24.98 |
| 9 | Columbus, OH | $51,724 | $24.87 |
| 10 | Atlanta, GA | $48,500 | $23.32 |
| 11 | Corpus Christi, TX | $45,149 | $21.71 |
| 12 | Asheville, NC | $44,228 | $21.26 |
| 13 | Hammond, IN | $43,199 | $20.77 |
| 14 | Murfreesboro, TN | $42,480 | $20.42 |
| 15 | Columbia, SC | $42,280 | $20.33 |
| 16 | North Little Rock, AR | $37,341 | $17.95 |
| 17 | Oklahoma City, OK | $36,164 | $17.39 |
| 18 | Saint Charles, MO | $33,391 | $16.05 |
Certified teacher salary details
A certified teacher's salary ranges from $37,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $68,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a certified teacher's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $68,000 | $5,667 | $33 |
| 75th Percentile | $59,000 | $4,917 | $28 |
| Average | $50,708 | $4,226 | $24 |
| 25th Percentile | $43,000 | $3,583 | $21 |
| 10th Percentile | $37,000 | $3,083 | $18 |
Highest paying certified teacher jobs
The highest paying types of certified teachers are science teacher, student teacher, and reading teacher.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher-In-Training | $37,214 | $3,101 | $17.89 | 132,725 |
| Teacher/Tutor | $42,955 | $3,580 | $20.65 | 68,441 |
| History Teacher | $53,780 | $4,482 | $25.86 | 65,399 |
| Social Studies Teacher | $49,725 | $4,144 | $23.91 | 94,087 |
| ESL Teacher | $52,701 | $4,392 | $25.34 | 63,897 |
| French Teacher | $49,442 | $4,120 | $23.77 | 54,716 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for certified teachers, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Dr. Bryan Carter Ph.D.
Director, Center for Digital Humanities, Associate Professor, Africana Studies, University of Arizona
Top companies hiring certified teachers now:
Which companies pay certified teachers the most?
Certified teacher salaries at Universal Health Services and Scholar Academies are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average certified teacher salary at companies like Paulding County High School and Southwest Key Programs are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Universal Health Services | $56,463 | $27.15 |
| 2 | Scholar Academies | $55,533 | $26.70 |
| 3 | Paulding County High School | $54,405 | $26.16 |
| 4 | Southwest Key Programs | $54,403 | $26.16 |
| 5 | BronxWorks | $54,010 | $25.97 |
| 6 | Huntington Learning Center | $52,848 | $25.41 |
| 7 | White County | $52,807 | $25.39 |
| 8 | Adams 12 Five Star Schools | $52,431 | $25.21 |
| 9 | Crescent City Schools | $52,389 | $25.19 |
| 10 | Harbor Child Care | $52,271 | $25.13 |
| 11 | Catapult Learning | $52,262 | $25.13 |
| 12 | Albany Community Action Partnership | $51,530 | $24.77 |
| 13 | Bedford Public Schools | $51,276 | $24.65 |
| 14 | Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES | $50,140 | $24.11 |
| 15 | YMCA of Metro Knoxville | $49,537 | $23.82 |
| 16 | Guthrie North America Inc | $49,424 | $23.76 |
| 17 | Rhodes Bake-N-Serv | $49,424 | $23.76 |
| 18 | Ymca Of Metropolitan Atlanta | $49,065 | $23.59 |
| 19 | Boys & Girls Clubs of North Central Georgia | $48,933 | $23.53 |
| 20 | Laurel | $48,340 | $23.24 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Certified teacher salary trends
The average certified teacher salary has risen by $6,740 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average certified teacher earned $43,968 annually, but today, they earn $50,708 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for certified teachers over the last decade.
Compare certified teacher salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average certified teacher salary over time
Compare certified teacher salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Certified teacher salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $50,700 | $24.38 | +2.1% |
| 2024 | $49,700 | $23.87 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $48,500 | $23.29 | +1.8% |
| 2022 | $47,600 | $22.87 | +2.4% |
| 2021 | $46,400 | $22.32 | +1.6% |
Recently added certified teacher salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cambermentalhealth | Sped Certified Teacher | Kansas City, MO | 06/29/2025 | $47,000 |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida | Summer-Certified Teacher-Keystone Heights Jr/Sr | Keystone Heights, FL | 06/20/2025 | $64,697 |
| McLean County Unit District No | Certified Teacher-Special Education (Lbs1) | Kane, IL | 06/18/2025 | $41,804 |
| YMCA of Northwest North Carolina | 21St. Century Certified Teacher | Mocksville, NC | 06/17/2025 | $52,175 |
| St. Catherine s Center for Children | Certified Teacher, Special Education (GR. K-6) ***Bonus*** | Albany, NY | 06/16/2025 | $60,406 |
| St. Cath | Certified Teacher, Special Education (GR. K-6) ***Bonus*** | Albany, NY | 06/16/2025 | $60,406 |
| Francis Howell School District | Certified Teacher ~ Special Education ~ Essential Skills ~ Only | Saint Charles, MO | 06/15/2025 | $48,000 |
| Embark Behavioral Health | Certified Teacher | Lake Ozark, MO | 06/13/2025 | $43,500 |
| Beaumont ISD | Certified Teacher | Beaumont, TX | 06/13/2025 | $83,480 |
| Amergis | Certified Sped Teacher School Year | Columbia, SC | 06/13/2025 | $62,819 |
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