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The average salary for an art teacher stands at approximately $50,188 annually, or around $24 per hour. This figure can fluctuate based on several factors, including geographic location, years of experience, and the specific school district. For instance, art teachers in urban areas may earn more due to higher living costs and demand for specialized educators.
Art teacher salaries vary significantly across different states. For example, states like California and New York often offer higher salaries compared to states with lower costs of living. Understanding these salary differences can help prospective art teachers make informed career decisions.
In addition to state variations, certain industries pay more for art teachers. Positions in private schools or specialized art institutions may provide more competitive salaries. Exploring job listings and salary reports can reveal the highest paying opportunities for aspiring art teachers, ensuring they find a position that aligns with their financial goals.
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The average art teacher salary in Connecticut, New York, and Alaska are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average art teacher salary states are Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Florida.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $63,404 | $30.48 |
| 2 | Illinois | $55,639 | $26.75 |
| 3 | New York | $59,998 | $28.85 |
| 4 | Maryland | $55,836 | $26.84 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $53,606 | $25.77 |
| 6 | Washington | $59,467 | $28.59 |
| 7 | Nebraska | $53,502 | $25.72 |
| 8 | Ohio | $53,216 | $25.58 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $54,512 | $26.21 |
| 10 | Kansas | $51,799 | $24.90 |
| 11 | Alaska | $59,501 | $28.61 |
| 12 | Michigan | $48,697 | $23.41 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $53,882 | $25.90 |
| 14 | Minnesota | $50,039 | $24.06 |
| 15 | New Hampshire | $48,051 | $23.10 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $48,532 | $23.33 |
| 17 | California | $55,172 | $26.52 |
| 18 | Wyoming | $49,563 | $23.83 |
| 19 | District of Columbia | $53,469 | $25.71 |
| 20 | New Mexico | $46,881 | $22.54 |
| 21 | Oregon | $52,244 | $25.12 |
| 22 | Vermont | $48,639 | $23.38 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $48,655 | $23.39 |
| 24 | Virginia | $51,333 | $24.68 |
| 25 | Nevada | $45,654 | $21.95 |
| 26 | Iowa | $47,365 | $22.77 |
| 27 | Montana | $46,738 | $22.47 |
| 28 | Texas | $46,520 | $22.37 |
| 29 | North Dakota | $48,030 | $23.09 |
| 30 | Kentucky | $46,542 | $22.38 |
| 31 | Delaware | $45,560 | $21.90 |
| 32 | Maine | $46,910 | $22.55 |
| 33 | Colorado | $43,672 | $21.00 |
| 34 | Utah | $46,427 | $22.32 |
| 35 | Georgia | $45,403 | $21.83 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $43,141 | $20.74 |
| 37 | North Carolina | $44,185 | $21.24 |
| 38 | Idaho | $45,767 | $22.00 |
| 39 | Missouri | $44,760 | $21.52 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $40,805 | $19.62 |
| 41 | Hawaii | $48,038 | $23.10 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $43,515 | $20.92 |
| 43 | Florida | $40,042 | $19.25 |
| 44 | Indiana | $42,259 | $20.32 |
| 45 | West Virginia | $42,465 | $20.42 |
| 46 | Arizona | $39,140 | $18.82 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $41,061 | $19.74 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $41,218 | $19.82 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $38,098 | $18.32 |
| 50 | Alabama | $41,494 | $19.95 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $39,596 | $19.04 |
The highest-paying cities for art teachers are New York, NY, Anchorage, AK, and San Francisco, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $60,037 | $28.86 |
| 2 | Anchorage, AK | $59,492 | $28.60 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $57,004 | $27.41 |
| 4 | Baltimore, MD | $55,871 | $26.86 |
| 5 | Chicago, IL | $55,777 | $26.82 |
| 6 | New Brunswick, NJ | $53,645 | $25.79 |
| 7 | Washington, DC | $53,455 | $25.70 |
| 8 | Salem, OR | $52,312 | $25.15 |
| 9 | Roseville, MN | $50,060 | $24.07 |
| 10 | Detroit, MI | $48,727 | $23.43 |
| 11 | Philadelphia, PA | $48,559 | $23.35 |
| 12 | Dallas, TX | $46,575 | $22.39 |
| 13 | Atlanta, GA | $45,582 | $21.91 |
| 14 | Las Vegas, NV | $45,456 | $21.85 |
| 15 | Kansas City, MO | $44,901 | $21.59 |
| 16 | Denver, CO | $43,745 | $21.03 |
| 17 | Coral Gables, FL | $39,678 | $19.08 |
| 18 | Surprise, AZ | $39,311 | $18.90 |
| 19 | Spartanburg, SC | $38,641 | $18.58 |
An art teacher's salary ranges from $40,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $62,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $62,000 | $5,167 | $30 |
| 75th Percentile | $56,000 | $4,667 | $27 |
| Average | $50,188 | $4,182 | $24 |
| 25th Percentile | $44,000 | $3,667 | $21 |
| 10th Percentile | $40,000 | $3,333 | $19 |
The highest paying types of art teachers are student teacher, reading teacher, and history teacher.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher Internship | $48,398 | $4,033 | $23.27 | 105,496 |
| Elementary School Teacher | $52,161 | $4,347 | $25.08 | 84,607 |
| Long Term Substitute Teacher | $42,808 | $3,567 | $20.58 | 69,133 |
| Summer School Teacher | $52,828 | $4,402 | $25.40 | 86,467 |
| Spanish Teacher | $52,445 | $4,370 | $25.21 | 54,666 |
| Reading Teacher | $55,452 | $4,621 | $26.66 | 68,234 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for art teachers, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Barbara Bonnekessen Ph.D.
Professor and Dean, Eastern Illinois University
Art teacher salaries at Brooklyn Friends School and Success Academy Charter Schools are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average art teacher salary at companies like Greens Farms Academy and Atlanta International School are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brooklyn Friends School | $76,577 | $36.82 |
| 2 | Success Academy Charter Schools | $62,352 | $29.98 |
| 3 | Greens Farms Academy | $59,745 | $28.72 |
| 4 | Atlanta International School | $57,662 | $27.72 |
| 5 | Pacific Rim Christian University | $55,365 | $26.62 |
| 6 | South Orange-Maplewood School District | $54,979 | $26.43 |
| 7 | Niskayuna High School | $54,957 | $26.42 |
| 8 | Montgomery County Public Schools | $54,906 | $26.40 |
| 9 | KIPP DC | $54,440 | $26.17 |
| 10 | Madera High School | $54,299 | $26.11 |
| 11 | Oaks Christian School | $54,106 | $26.01 |
| 12 | Springs Charter Schools | $54,061 | $25.99 |
| 13 | Larchmont Schools | $53,981 | $25.95 |
| 14 | Connections Academy | $53,962 | $25.94 |
| 15 | Magnolia Educational and Research Foundation | $53,952 | $25.94 |
| 16 | Santa Rosa City Schools | $53,887 | $25.91 |
| 17 | YES Prep Public Schools | $53,867 | $25.90 |
| 18 | Paulding County High School | $53,789 | $25.86 |
| 19 | Aspire Public Schools | $53,716 | $25.82 |
| 20 | Gompers Preparatory Academy | $53,601 | $25.77 |
The average art teacher salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Education | $49,855 | $23.97 |
| 2 | Retail | $49,816 | $23.95 |
| 3 | Non Profits | $47,728 | $22.95 |
| 4 | Government | $43,054 | $20.70 |
The average art teacher salary has risen by $6,671 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average art teacher earned $43,517 annually, but today, they earn $50,188 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for art teachers over the last decade.
Compare art teacher salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare art teacher salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $50,200 | $24.13 | +2.1% |
| 2024 | $49,100 | $23.63 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $48,000 | $23.06 | +1.8% |
| 2022 | $47,100 | $22.63 | +2.4% |
| 2021 | $46,000 | $22.09 | +1.6% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lansing School District | K-8 Art Teacher | Lansing, MI | 06/29/2025 | $46,942 |
| Zetacharterschools | Art Teacher | New York, NY | 06/29/2025 | $62,000 |
| Linwood Center | Art Teacher | Ellicott City, MD | 06/28/2025 | $30,000 |
| Sheldon ISD | Art Teacher | Nome, TX | 06/28/2025 | $65,000 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Sarasota and Desoto Counties | Art Teacher | Venice, FL | 06/28/2025 | $27,131 |
| Bank Street College of Education | After School Fiber Arts Teacher | New York, NY | 06/27/2025 | $104,350 |
| Burlington Township School District | Anticipated Opening: Art Teacher | Burlington, NJ | 06/27/2025 | $66,354 |
| Sauvie Island School | Art Teacher | Portland, OR | 06/27/2025 | $62,610 |
| Eagle County School District | Art Teacher-Gcms | Boone, CO | 06/27/2025 | $50,500 |
| Middletown Township Public Schools | Art Teacher-Replacement | Downe, NJ | 06/27/2025 | $60,023 |
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