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Language arts teacher salary
Average language arts teacher salary
$51,969
Language Arts Teacher Salary Overview
The role of a Language Arts Teacher is vital in shaping students' literacy skills. As of October 2025, the average salary is approximately $51,969 per year. Salaries can vary significantly based on factors such as location, school district, and experience. For instance, states like California and New York often offer higher salaries than others.
Salary by State
Understanding salary variations across different states can help prospective teachers target their job search effectively. States such as New York, California, and Massachusetts consistently report higher average salaries for language arts educators. In contrast, teachers in lower-paying regions may earn less, emphasizing the importance of location in salary negotiations.
Experience Matters
Experience also plays a crucial role in determining salary. New teachers may start at lower salary brackets, but with additional years in the classroom, they can expect significant salary increases. For instance, teachers with over ten years of experience could earn upwards of $60,000 annually, reflecting their expertise and commitment to education.
Job Opportunities
By focusing on these aspects, aspiring language arts teachers can better navigate their career paths and maximize their earning potential in the field of education.
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Where can a Language Arts Teacher earn more?
Language arts teacher salary estimates from across the web
Average language arts teacher salary by state
The highest-paying states for language arts teachers are Massachusetts, Maryland, and Connecticut. The lowest average language arts teacher salary states are Wisconsin, Nebraska, and South Dakota.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for language arts teachers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire | $61,719 | $29.67 |
| 2 | Maryland | $67,946 | $32.67 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $65,999 | $31.73 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $72,313 | $34.77 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $65,569 | $31.52 |
| 6 | Vermont | $56,731 | $27.27 |
| 7 | Delaware | $56,434 | $27.13 |
| 8 | Michigan | $55,531 | $26.70 |
| 9 | District of Columbia | $71,508 | $34.38 |
| 10 | Maine | $63,948 | $30.74 |
| 11 | New York | $59,156 | $28.44 |
| 12 | Ohio | $56,611 | $27.22 |
| 13 | Oklahoma | $49,504 | $23.80 |
| 14 | West Virginia | $46,963 | $22.58 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $53,401 | $25.67 |
| 16 | Montana | $47,505 | $22.84 |
| 17 | California | $57,786 | $27.78 |
| 18 | North Dakota | $51,037 | $24.54 |
| 19 | Iowa | $46,989 | $22.59 |
| 20 | North Carolina | $46,635 | $22.42 |
| 21 | Alaska | $53,693 | $25.81 |
| 22 | Florida | $46,860 | $22.53 |
| 23 | Oregon | $49,798 | $23.94 |
| 24 | Texas | $46,322 | $22.27 |
| 25 | Indiana | $46,170 | $22.20 |
| 26 | Utah | $49,126 | $23.62 |
| 27 | Kansas | $43,970 | $21.14 |
| 28 | Rhode Island | $46,427 | $22.32 |
| 29 | Virginia | $48,238 | $23.19 |
| 30 | New Mexico | $43,380 | $20.86 |
| 31 | Minnesota | $46,275 | $22.25 |
| 32 | Arkansas | $46,773 | $22.49 |
| 33 | Mississippi | $45,971 | $22.10 |
| 34 | Idaho | $44,319 | $21.31 |
| 35 | Nevada | $41,194 | $19.80 |
| 36 | Wyoming | $41,811 | $20.10 |
| 37 | Colorado | $42,209 | $20.29 |
| 38 | Hawaii | $46,704 | $22.45 |
| 39 | Alabama | $43,619 | $20.97 |
| 40 | Illinois | $39,536 | $19.01 |
| 41 | South Carolina | $40,404 | $19.43 |
| 42 | Washington | $43,156 | $20.75 |
| 43 | Georgia | $42,985 | $20.67 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $42,037 | $20.21 |
| 45 | Arizona | $38,546 | $18.53 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $38,974 | $18.74 |
| 47 | Tennessee | $40,935 | $19.68 |
| 48 | Missouri | $38,934 | $18.72 |
| 49 | Wisconsin | $39,323 | $18.91 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $38,951 | $18.73 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $32,470 | $15.61 |
Highest paying cities for language arts teachers
The highest-paying cities for language arts teachers are Boston, MA, Washington, DC, and Baltimore, MD.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston, MA | $72,084 | $34.66 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $71,561 | $34.40 |
| 3 | Baltimore, MD | $68,130 | $32.75 |
| 4 | Wethersfield, CT | $64,960 | $31.23 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $61,965 | $29.79 |
| 6 | Edmond, OK | $49,418 | $23.76 |
| 7 | Doral, FL | $47,596 | $22.88 |
| 8 | Fishers, IN | $46,149 | $22.19 |
| 9 | Albuquerque, NM | $43,339 | $20.84 |
| 10 | Greeley, CO | $42,277 | $20.33 |
| 11 | Casper, WY | $41,866 | $20.13 |
| 12 | Kingman, AZ | $38,993 | $18.75 |
Language arts teacher salary details
A language arts teacher's salary ranges from $40,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $66,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a language arts teacher's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $66,000 | $5,500 | $32 |
| 75th Percentile | $59,000 | $4,917 | $28 |
| Average | $51,969 | $4,331 | $25 |
| 25th Percentile | $45,000 | $3,750 | $22 |
| 10th Percentile | $40,000 | $3,333 | $19 |
Highest paying language arts teacher jobs
The highest paying types of language arts teachers are science teacher, student teacher, and reading teacher.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biology Teacher | $51,721 | $4,310 | $24.87 | 68,958 |
| First Grade Teacher | $49,757 | $4,146 | $23.92 | 70,517 |
| History Teacher | $53,780 | $4,482 | $25.86 | 65,399 |
| French Teacher | $49,442 | $4,120 | $23.77 | 54,716 |
| 5th Grade Teacher | $46,300 | $3,858 | $22.26 | 57,358 |
| 4th Grade Teacher | $47,619 | $3,968 | $22.89 | 68,138 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for language arts teachers, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Patricia Rogan Ph.D.
Professor, Special Education/Urban Teacher Education, Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis
Top companies hiring language arts teachers now:
Which companies pay language arts teachers the most?
Language arts teacher salaries at Boston Public Schools and Baltimore City Public Schools are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average language arts teacher salary at companies like DC International School and Paramount High School are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston Public Schools | $67,460 | $32.43 |
| 2 | Baltimore City Public Schools | $65,862 | $31.66 |
| 3 | DC International School | $64,928 | $31.22 |
| 4 | Paramount High School | $63,352 | $30.46 |
| 5 | Broward County Public Schools | $57,401 | $27.60 |
| 6 | Educational | $55,881 | $26.87 |
| 7 | Prince George's County Memorial Library System | $55,708 | $26.78 |
| 8 | Maxim Healthcare Group | $55,156 | $26.52 |
| 9 | Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy | $54,720 | $26.31 |
| 10 | Dry Creek Joint Elementary School District | $54,524 | $26.21 |
| 11 | Teaneck High School | $53,940 | $25.93 |
| 12 | Centennial BOCES | $53,751 | $25.84 |
| 13 | Hillsboro School District | $53,568 | $25.75 |
| 14 | Summit Public Schools | $53,453 | $25.70 |
| 15 | The Camphill School | $53,288 | $25.62 |
| 16 | South Orange-Maplewood School District | $53,142 | $25.55 |
| 17 | Temecula Valley Unified School District | $52,640 | $25.31 |
| 18 | ACES | $52,033 | $25.02 |
| 19 | Robbinsdale Area Schools | $51,950 | $24.98 |
| 20 | Linden Public Schools | $51,823 | $24.91 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Language arts teacher salary trends
The average language arts teacher salary has risen by $6,563 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average language arts teacher earned $45,406 annually, but today, they earn $51,969 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for language arts teachers over the last decade.
Compare language arts teacher salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average language arts teacher salary over time
Compare language arts teacher salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Language arts teacher salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $52,000 | $24.99 | +1.9% |
| 2024 | $51,000 | $24.51 | +1.8% |
| 2023 | $50,100 | $24.08 | +1.5% |
| 2022 | $49,300 | $23.72 | +1.7% |
| 2021 | $48,500 | $23.30 | +1.5% |
Recently added language arts teacher salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Douglas County School District | Teacher-Language Arts | Castle Rock, CO | 06/28/2025 | $51,914 |
| Illinois Association of School | 7Th/8Th Grade Language Arts Position | Belleville, IL | 06/28/2025 | $29,000 |
| International Leadership of Texas | Dual Language Spanish Language Arts Teacher (4TH) | Garland, TX | 06/28/2025 | $58,500 |
| Idea Public Schools | Reading Language Arts Teacher-Idea Sports Park Academy) | Brownsville, TX | 06/28/2025 | $56,500 |
| Thompson School District R2-J | History/Language Arts Teacher-Middle School/Secondary | Boone, CO | 06/27/2025 | $84,753 |
| Oregon Public Schools | Language Arts Teacher-Crook County High School | Prineville, OR | 06/26/2025 | $48,092 |
| Crook County Sd | Language Arts Teacher-Crook County High School | Ione, OR | 06/26/2025 | $48,092 |
| Orange Schools | Teacher of Language Arts | Downe, NJ | 06/24/2025 | $70,488 |
| Carbon County School District | Language Arts Teacher | Rawlins, WY | 06/19/2025 | $52,750 |
| Wright State University | Stem School High School Language Arts Teacher | Dayton, OH | 06/18/2025 | $44,290 |
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