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The average salary for an 8th grade teacher in the United States stands at $51,263 annually. This figure reflects a variety of factors including geographic location, teaching experience, and the specific school district. In general, teachers in urban areas and those with advanced degrees tend to earn higher salaries.
In states like California and New York, salaries can exceed $60,000, reflecting the higher cost of living and demand for qualified educators. Conversely, states with lower living costs, such as Mississippi, report average salaries closer to $40,000.
As the demand for educators continues to grow, especially in regions with increasing student populations, opportunities in teaching are expanding. With additional qualifications or specializations, such as special education or STEM fields, teachers can access even higher paying roles.
For those considering a career in education, understanding salary dynamics and potential growth can inform your choices and career path.
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The average 8th grade teacher salary in New York, Maryland, and New Jersey are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average 8th grade teacher salary states are Idaho, Nevada, and Arkansas.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $67,181 | $32.30 |
| 2 | Maryland | $67,898 | $32.64 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $66,830 | $32.13 |
| 4 | New York | $71,424 | $34.34 |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $67,401 | $32.40 |
| 6 | Michigan | $58,610 | $28.18 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $61,009 | $29.33 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $62,586 | $30.09 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $53,796 | $25.86 |
| 10 | Illinois | $51,804 | $24.91 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $49,505 | $23.80 |
| 12 | Virginia | $57,072 | $27.44 |
| 13 | Nebraska | $51,389 | $24.71 |
| 14 | Ohio | $52,059 | $25.03 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $56,379 | $27.11 |
| 16 | Texas | $48,324 | $23.23 |
| 17 | New Mexico | $46,205 | $22.21 |
| 18 | Oregon | $52,609 | $25.29 |
| 19 | Montana | $46,603 | $22.41 |
| 20 | Alaska | $55,608 | $26.73 |
| 21 | Delaware | $49,639 | $23.86 |
| 22 | Washington | $51,756 | $24.88 |
| 23 | Vermont | $49,134 | $23.62 |
| 24 | Florida | $46,516 | $22.36 |
| 25 | Kentucky | $46,665 | $22.44 |
| 26 | California | $49,716 | $23.90 |
| 27 | Wyoming | $45,402 | $21.83 |
| 28 | Iowa | $44,849 | $21.56 |
| 29 | North Carolina | $43,859 | $21.09 |
| 30 | Alabama | $45,861 | $22.05 |
| 31 | North Dakota | $45,686 | $21.96 |
| 32 | Indiana | $42,371 | $20.37 |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $44,000 | $21.15 |
| 34 | South Carolina | $42,055 | $20.22 |
| 35 | Colorado | $41,722 | $20.06 |
| 36 | Louisiana | $44,438 | $21.36 |
| 37 | West Virginia | $43,718 | $21.02 |
| 38 | Nevada | $37,317 | $17.94 |
| 39 | Georgia | $41,763 | $20.08 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $40,915 | $19.67 |
| 41 | Kansas | $39,120 | $18.81 |
| 42 | Utah | $43,192 | $20.77 |
| 43 | Hawaii | $45,791 | $22.01 |
| 44 | Arizona | $34,873 | $16.77 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $34,114 | $16.40 |
| 46 | South Dakota | $40,939 | $19.68 |
| 47 | Idaho | $37,337 | $17.95 |
| 48 | Maine | $40,195 | $19.32 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $38,561 | $18.54 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $35,540 | $17.09 |
| 51 | Missouri | $32,040 | $15.40 |
The highest-paying cities for 8th grade teachers are New York, NY, Catonsville, MD, and Jersey City, NJ.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $71,824 | $34.53 |
| 2 | Catonsville, MD | $68,083 | $32.73 |
| 3 | Jersey City, NJ | $67,101 | $32.26 |
| 4 | Bristol, CT | $66,206 | $31.83 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $62,378 | $29.99 |
| 6 | Detroit, MI | $59,065 | $28.40 |
| 7 | Salem, OR | $52,808 | $25.39 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $52,185 | $25.09 |
| 9 | Burlingame, CA | $52,025 | $25.01 |
| 10 | Kennewick, WA | $50,714 | $24.38 |
| 11 | Nashua, NH | $49,977 | $24.03 |
| 12 | Houston, TX | $48,946 | $23.53 |
| 13 | Orlando, FL | $46,300 | $22.26 |
| 14 | Albuquerque, NM | $46,177 | $22.20 |
| 15 | Durham, NC | $44,841 | $21.56 |
| 16 | Gary, IN | $42,929 | $20.64 |
| 17 | Goose Creek, SC | $42,066 | $20.22 |
| 18 | Thornton, CO | $41,792 | $20.09 |
| 19 | Las Vegas, NV | $37,080 | $17.83 |
| 20 | Kingman, AZ | $35,204 | $16.93 |
A 8th grade teacher's salary ranges from $40,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $64,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $64,000 | $5,333 | $31 |
| 75th Percentile | $57,000 | $4,750 | $27 |
| Average | $51,263 | $4,272 | $25 |
| 25th Percentile | $45,000 | $3,750 | $22 |
| 10th Percentile | $40,000 | $3,333 | $19 |
The highest paying types of 8th grade teachers are science teacher, student teacher, and reading teacher.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher/Tutor | $42,955 | $3,580 | $20.65 | 68,441 |
| Language Arts Teacher | $51,969 | $4,331 | $24.99 | 88,551 |
| English Language Arts Teacher | $48,483 | $4,040 | $23.31 | 88,793 |
| Biology Teacher | $51,721 | $4,310 | $24.87 | 68,958 |
| Science Teacher | $59,788 | $4,982 | $28.74 | 71,133 |
| ESL Teacher | $52,701 | $4,392 | $25.34 | 63,897 |
Top companies hiring 8th grade teachers now:
8th grade teacher salaries at Springs Charter Schools and Lifechurch.tv are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average 8th grade teacher salary at companies like Montgomery County Public Schools and Northwestern University are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Springs Charter Schools | $66,522 | $31.98 |
| 2 | Lifechurch.tv | $62,288 | $29.95 |
| 3 | Montgomery County Public Schools | $58,000 | $27.88 |
| 4 | Northwestern University | $56,365 | $27.10 |
| 5 | Orinda Union School District | $56,323 | $27.08 |
| 6 | DC Prep | $53,918 | $25.92 |
| 7 | KIPP Massachusetts | $53,883 | $25.91 |
| 8 | Garland Independent School District | $53,285 | $25.62 |
| 9 | Adams 12 Five Star Schools | $52,748 | $25.36 |
| 10 | KIPP Austin Public Schools | $52,452 | $25.22 |
| 11 | Albany Community Charter School | $52,323 | $25.16 |
| 12 | Distinctive Schools | $52,238 | $25.11 |
| 13 | Edmond Public Schools | $51,599 | $24.81 |
| 14 | INGENIUM GROUP | $50,931 | $24.49 |
| 15 | El Centro | $50,931 | $24.49 |
| 16 | CAPITAL PREP HARBOR SCHOOL | $50,909 | $24.48 |
| 17 | Eureka Ergonomic | $50,756 | $24.40 |
| 18 | Brooke Point High School | $50,582 | $24.32 |
| 19 | Lighthouse Academies | $50,530 | $24.29 |
| 20 | KIPP DC | $49,331 | $23.72 |
The average 8th grade teacher salary has risen by $6,814 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average 8th grade teacher earned $44,449 annually, but today, they earn $51,263 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for 8th grade teachers over the last decade.
Compare 8th grade teacher salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare 8th grade teacher salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $51,300 | $24.65 | +2.1% |
| 2025 | $50,200 | $24.13 | +2.4% |
| 2024 | $49,000 | $23.55 | +1.8% |
| 2023 | $48,100 | $23.12 | +2.4% |
| 2022 | $46,900 | $22.57 | +1.6% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo Public Schools | 8Th Grade Spanish Teacher | Fargo, ND | 06/29/2025 | $47,393 |
| Mcps | Fy26: Teacher, Grade 1, Burtonsville ES FTE | Burtonsville, MD | 06/29/2025 | $62,558 |
| High Tech High | 12Th Grade Elective Teacher (Government/Civic, Computer Science, Sociology, or Engineering) | Ione, CA | 06/29/2025 | $63,280 |
| International Leadership of Texas | 7Th/8Th Grade Elar Teacher | Midlothian, TX | 06/26/2025 | $61,000 |
| Catherine Cook School | 4Th-8Th Grade Music Teacher | Chicago, IL | 06/26/2025 | $50,000 |
| Eastpointe Community Schools | 8Th Grade Design/Stem Seminar Teacher | Eastpointe, MI | 06/25/2025 | $53,500 |
| Amergis | 8Th Grade General ED-Up To | Tucson, AZ | 06/25/2025 | $65,375 |
| Browning Public Schools | Blackfeet Junior Academy; 8Th Grade | Pony, MT | 06/24/2025 | $47,062 |
| Connected Health Care, LLC | 8Th Grade General ED English Teacher ', *UP To | Frankfort, IN | 06/23/2025 | $73,045 |
| Manville School District | Anticipated: Teacher, 8Th Grade ELA | Manville, NJ | 06/20/2025 | $63,110 |
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