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Drama teacher salary
Average drama teacher salary
$51,164
Average Drama Teacher Salary
The average salary for a drama teacher is approximately $51,164 per year, translating to around $25 per hour. This figure reflects a variety of factors including location, years of experience, and the type of educational institution. For instance, teachers in urban areas often earn higher salaries compared to rural counterparts.
Job Opportunities
Drama teachers can find roles in public and private schools, as well as in community programs and arts organizations. States such as California, New York, and Texas tend to offer higher salaries due to their robust education budgets and demand for arts education.
Salary Variance by State
Understanding the salary variations by state can guide aspiring drama teachers in choosing where to apply. For example, a drama teacher in California may earn significantly more than one in a smaller state. Additionally, factors such as district funding and the teacher's level of experience play a crucial role in salary determination.
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Where can a Drama Teacher earn more?
Drama teacher salary estimates from across the web
Average drama teacher salary by state
The average drama teacher salary in Maryland, New Jersey, and Washington are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average drama teacher salary states are Indiana, Arkansas, and Texas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for drama teachers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | $74,034 | $35.59 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $67,370 | $32.39 |
| 3 | Michigan | $55,321 | $26.60 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $59,784 | $28.74 |
| 5 | Washington | $66,198 | $31.83 |
| 6 | New York | $59,472 | $28.59 |
| 7 | Nebraska | $55,270 | $26.57 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $55,684 | $26.77 |
| 9 | Illinois | $53,648 | $25.79 |
| 10 | District of Columbia | $64,901 | $31.20 |
| 11 | Wyoming | $52,710 | $25.34 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $51,676 | $24.84 |
| 13 | Virginia | $58,128 | $27.95 |
| 14 | Connecticut | $58,228 | $27.99 |
| 15 | Kansas | $51,273 | $24.65 |
| 16 | Rhode Island | $57,235 | $27.52 |
| 17 | Ohio | $53,425 | $25.69 |
| 18 | Utah | $54,935 | $26.41 |
| 19 | Alaska | $58,411 | $28.08 |
| 20 | Montana | $50,101 | $24.09 |
| 21 | Vermont | $52,032 | $25.02 |
| 22 | California | $57,990 | $27.88 |
| 23 | Minnesota | $49,999 | $24.04 |
| 24 | Delaware | $49,604 | $23.85 |
| 25 | Kentucky | $50,965 | $24.50 |
| 26 | Oregon | $53,928 | $25.93 |
| 27 | New Mexico | $47,338 | $22.76 |
| 28 | Iowa | $48,150 | $23.15 |
| 29 | Tennessee | $48,163 | $23.16 |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $48,761 | $23.44 |
| 31 | Florida | $46,249 | $22.24 |
| 32 | Georgia | $46,760 | $22.48 |
| 33 | Nevada | $42,984 | $20.67 |
| 34 | Idaho | $45,502 | $21.88 |
| 35 | North Dakota | $47,747 | $22.96 |
| 36 | North Carolina | $46,117 | $22.17 |
| 37 | Colorado | $44,709 | $21.49 |
| 38 | Alabama | $47,334 | $22.76 |
| 39 | Missouri | $46,364 | $22.29 |
| 40 | Indiana | $42,420 | $20.39 |
| 41 | South Carolina | $42,467 | $20.42 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $39,029 | $18.76 |
| 43 | West Virginia | $43,966 | $21.14 |
| 44 | South Dakota | $43,875 | $21.09 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $43,519 | $20.92 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $41,152 | $19.78 |
| 47 | Texas | $40,415 | $19.43 |
| 48 | Maine | $42,757 | $20.56 |
| 49 | Hawaii | $43,195 | $20.77 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $39,846 | $19.16 |
| 51 | Arizona | $39,246 | $18.87 |
Highest paying cities for drama teachers
The highest-paying cities for drama teachers are Bridgewater, NJ, Richmond, CA, and Newton, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bridgewater, NJ | $67,330 | $32.37 |
| 2 | Richmond, CA | $61,441 | $29.54 |
| 3 | Newton, MA | $59,786 | $28.74 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $59,564 | $28.64 |
| 5 | Newtown, CT | $58,302 | $28.03 |
| 6 | Fargo, ND | $47,974 | $23.06 |
| 7 | Columbus, GA | $46,521 | $22.37 |
| 8 | Kissimmee, FL | $46,273 | $22.25 |
| 9 | Pueblo, CO | $44,598 | $21.44 |
| 10 | San Antonio, TX | $40,591 | $19.51 |
| 11 | Phoenix, AZ | $39,389 | $18.94 |
Drama teacher salary details
A drama teacher's salary ranges from $36,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $71,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a drama teacher's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $71,000 | $5,917 | $34 |
| 75th Percentile | $60,000 | $5,000 | $29 |
| Average | $51,164 | $4,264 | $25 |
| 25th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
| 10th Percentile | $36,000 | $3,000 | $17 |
Highest paying drama teacher jobs
The highest paying types of drama teachers are science teacher, student teacher, and reading teacher.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High School English Teacher | $50,369 | $4,197 | $24.22 | 71,673 |
| English Language Arts Teacher | $48,483 | $4,040 | $23.31 | 88,793 |
| Elementary School Teacher | $52,161 | $4,347 | $25.08 | 84,607 |
| Summer School Teacher | $52,828 | $4,402 | $25.40 | 86,467 |
| Language Arts Teacher | $51,969 | $4,331 | $24.99 | 88,551 |
| Student Teacher | $59,035 | $4,920 | $28.38 | 79,071 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for drama teachers, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Maggie Beeber
Undergraduate Advising Coordinator & Teacher Certification Officer, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
Top companies hiring drama teachers now:
Which companies pay drama teachers the most?
Drama teacher salaries at Collegiate School and Orinda Union School District are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average drama teacher salary at companies like Aspire Public Schools and KIPP DC are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Collegiate School | $60,469 | $29.07 |
| 2 | Orinda Union School District | $56,654 | $27.24 |
| 3 | Aspire Public Schools | $56,066 | $26.95 |
| 4 | KIPP DC | $55,703 | $26.78 |
| 5 | Sri Lanka Army | $51,319 | $24.67 |
| 6 | Fargo Public Schools | $50,007 | $24.04 |
| 7 | Newton Public Schools | $48,667 | $23.40 |
| 8 | St. Clare Catholic School | $48,255 | $23.20 |
| 9 | Housatonic Valley Waldorf School | $47,238 | $22.71 |
| 10 | Charter Schools USA | $45,052 | $21.66 |
| 11 | Drama Kids Intl | $42,367 | $20.37 |
| 12 | Lompoc Unified School District | $41,837 | $20.11 |
| 13 | Pueblo City-County Library District | $39,704 | $19.09 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Drama teacher salary trends
The average drama teacher salary has risen by $6,801 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average drama teacher earned $44,363 annually, but today, they earn $51,164 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for drama teachers over the last decade.
Compare drama teacher salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average drama teacher salary over time
Compare drama teacher salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Drama teacher salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $51,200 | $24.60 | +2.1% |
| 2024 | $50,100 | $24.09 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $48,900 | $23.50 | +1.8% |
| 2022 | $48,000 | $23.07 | +2.4% |
| 2021 | $46,800 | $22.52 | +1.6% |
Recently added drama teacher salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drama Kids Intl | Drama Teacher | Sarasota, FL | 06/29/2025 | $93,915 |
| Drama Kids of Manasota | Assistant Drama Teacher | Sarasota, FL | 06/29/2025 | $41,740 |
| Friendship Public Charter School | Theater/Dance/Drama Teacher | Washington, DC | 06/28/2025 | $66,580 |
| Drama Kids Intl | Drama Teacher/Children's Theatre/After School/ | Spring, TX | 06/27/2025 | $41,740 |
| Friendship Schools | Theater/Dance/Drama Teacher | Washington, DC | 06/26/2025 | $66,580 |
| Rye Country Day School | Upper School Drama Teacher | Rye, NY | 06/14/2025 | $75,000 |
| Drama Kids Intl | Drama Teacher | Bridgewater, NJ | 06/09/2025 | $83,480 |
| Berkeley Unified School District | Drama Teacher FTE-Longfellow Middle School SY | Berkeley, CA | 06/07/2025 | $56,369 |
| Drama Kids Intl | Assistant Drama Teacher | Sarasota, FL | 05/27/2025 | $41,740 |
| Drama Kids Intl | Drama Teacher/Children's Theatre/After School/ | Tomball, TX | 05/25/2025 | $41,740 |
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