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The average salary for an economics teacher is $123,585 per year, or approximately $59 per hour. This figure reflects the importance of specialized education in economics, where teachers play a crucial role in shaping students' understanding of complex financial systems. Salaries can vary based on factors such as geographic location, level of education, and years of experience.
Economics teachers in states like California, New York, and Massachusetts typically earn higher salaries due to cost of living and demand for educators. For instance, California ranks as one of the highest-paying states, offering salaries significantly above the national average, often exceeding $130,000 annually.
As the education sector evolves, the demand for qualified economics teachers continues to grow. Tracking salary trends over the years reveals a steady increase, reflecting the profession's value. This is especially important for those entering the field or seeking advancement. By understanding these dynamics, prospective educators can make informed career choices aligned with their financial goals.
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The highest-paying states for economics teachers are Massachusetts, Vermont, and New York. The lowest average economics teacher salary states are West Virginia, Hawaii, and Idaho.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois | $160,567 | $77.20 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $174,024 | $83.67 |
| 3 | New York | $171,001 | $82.21 |
| 4 | Wyoming | $159,597 | $76.73 |
| 5 | Vermont | $173,520 | $83.42 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $147,555 | $70.94 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $170,345 | $81.90 |
| 8 | Delaware | $154,688 | $74.37 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $137,842 | $66.27 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $142,221 | $68.38 |
| 11 | Washington | $152,684 | $73.41 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $143,881 | $69.17 |
| 13 | Ohio | $138,116 | $66.40 |
| 14 | North Dakota | $146,020 | $70.20 |
| 15 | Maryland | $141,642 | $68.10 |
| 16 | Kentucky | $144,383 | $69.41 |
| 17 | District of Columbia | $148,150 | $71.23 |
| 18 | Nebraska | $134,679 | $64.75 |
| 19 | Oklahoma | $131,332 | $63.14 |
| 20 | South Carolina | $133,396 | $64.13 |
| 21 | Nevada | $129,263 | $62.15 |
| 22 | California | $152,458 | $73.30 |
| 23 | Florida | $132,903 | $63.90 |
| 24 | Minnesota | $132,347 | $63.63 |
| 25 | Iowa | $132,998 | $63.94 |
| 26 | Arkansas | $133,425 | $64.15 |
| 27 | Tennessee | $131,308 | $63.13 |
| 28 | Georgia | $132,180 | $63.55 |
| 29 | Texas | $128,152 | $61.61 |
| 30 | Virginia | $134,258 | $64.55 |
| 31 | Utah | $133,062 | $63.97 |
| 32 | Oregon | $136,026 | $65.40 |
| 33 | Louisiana | $131,027 | $62.99 |
| 34 | Michigan | $120,406 | $57.89 |
| 35 | Colorado | $127,345 | $61.22 |
| 36 | North Carolina | $122,095 | $58.70 |
| 37 | Alaska | $137,660 | $66.18 |
| 38 | Indiana | $119,646 | $57.52 |
| 39 | Alabama | $127,885 | $61.48 |
| 40 | Missouri | $126,322 | $60.73 |
| 41 | New Mexico | $117,836 | $56.65 |
| 42 | Kansas | $119,854 | $57.62 |
| 43 | Maine | $127,903 | $61.49 |
| 44 | Montana | $100,471 | $48.30 |
| 45 | Wisconsin | $118,854 | $57.14 |
| 46 | Arizona | $88,988 | $42.78 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $115,355 | $55.46 |
| 48 | West Virginia | $112,726 | $54.20 |
| 49 | Idaho | $101,521 | $48.81 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $110,476 | $53.11 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $100,920 | $48.52 |
The highest-paying cities for economics teachers are Amherst, MA, Rochester, NY, and Providence, RI.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amherst, MA | $184,591 | $88.75 |
| 2 | Rochester, NY | $183,099 | $88.03 |
| 3 | Providence, RI | $178,783 | $85.95 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $168,976 | $81.24 |
| 5 | Berkeley, CA | $161,917 | $77.84 |
| 6 | Pullman, WA | $153,421 | $73.76 |
| 7 | Washington, DC | $151,907 | $73.03 |
| 8 | Pittsburgh, PA | $151,484 | $72.83 |
| 9 | New Haven, CT | $146,223 | $70.30 |
| 10 | Baltimore, MD | $144,323 | $69.39 |
| 11 | Columbus, OH | $140,815 | $67.70 |
| 12 | Charlottesville, VA | $136,625 | $65.69 |
| 13 | Duluth, MN | $136,303 | $65.53 |
| 14 | Fayetteville, AR | $134,993 | $64.90 |
| 15 | Atlanta, GA | $134,296 | $64.57 |
| 16 | New Orleans, LA | $132,829 | $63.86 |
| 17 | Coral Gables, FL | $131,424 | $63.18 |
| 18 | Dallas, TX | $131,020 | $62.99 |
| 19 | Auburn, AL | $129,743 | $62.38 |
| 20 | Saint Louis, MO | $128,918 | $61.98 |
An economics teacher's salary ranges from $73,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $207,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $207,000 | $17,250 | $100 |
| 75th Percentile | $162,000 | $13,500 | $78 |
| Average | $123,585 | $10,299 | $59 |
| 25th Percentile | $94,000 | $7,833 | $45 |
| 10th Percentile | $73,000 | $6,083 | $35 |
The highest paying types of economics teachers are science teacher, student teacher, and special education teacher.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Science Instructor | $48,925 | $4,077 | $23.52 | 40,936 |
| Certified Teacher | $50,708 | $4,226 | $24.38 | 92,051 |
| Math And Science Teacher | $46,589 | $3,882 | $22.40 | 71,273 |
| High School Science Teacher | $53,404 | $4,450 | $25.68 | 84,939 |
| High School English Teacher | $50,369 | $4,197 | $24.22 | 71,673 |
| Math Teacher | $51,088 | $4,257 | $24.56 | 59,347 |
Economics teacher salaries at Stanford University and Columbia University in the City of New York are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average economics teacher salary at companies like Marshall University and University of Iowa Center for Advancement are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stanford University | $165,233 | $79.44 |
| 2 | Columbia University in the City of New York | $164,433 | $79.05 |
| 3 | Marshall University | $159,837 | $76.84 |
| 4 | University of Iowa Center for Advancement | $159,605 | $76.73 |
| 5 | Univ Of Colorado-Colorado Spgs | $159,292 | $76.58 |
| 6 | Indiana University Bloomington | $159,265 | $76.57 |
| 7 | University of California | $158,974 | $76.43 |
| 8 | California Institute of Technology | $157,641 | $75.79 |
| 9 | New York University | $157,246 | $75.60 |
| 10 | Franklin University | $155,909 | $74.96 |
| 11 | University of Washington | $155,723 | $74.87 |
| 12 | Carnegie Mellon University | $155,410 | $74.72 |
| 13 | Texas A&M International University | $155,225 | $74.63 |
| 14 | University of Florida | $154,363 | $74.21 |
| 15 | University of Pittsburgh | $153,529 | $73.81 |
| 16 | University of Southern California | $153,403 | $73.75 |
| 17 | Arizona State University | $153,059 | $73.59 |
| 18 | University of Colorado Boulder | $152,702 | $73.41 |
| 19 | Ball State University | $152,268 | $73.21 |
| 20 | The University of Texas at San Antonio | $152,231 | $73.19 |
The average economics teacher salary has risen by $16,905 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average economics teacher earned $106,680 annually, but today, they earn $123,585 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for economics teachers over the last decade.
Compare economics teacher salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare economics teacher salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $124,000 | $59.42 | +1.9% |
| 2025 | $121,000 | $58.27 | +2.2% |
| 2024 | $119,000 | $57.01 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | $116,000 | $55.92 | +1.9% |
| 2022 | $114,000 | $54.84 | +1.4% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami Arts Charter School | Government & Economics Teacher | Miami, FL | 06/13/2025 | $55,000 |
| Idea Public Schools | 12Th Grade AP Government/Economics Teacher-Idea Edgemere College Prep) | El Paso, TX | 05/28/2025 | $57,000 |
| Envision Education | Government and Economics Teacher | San Francisco, CA | 04/22/2025 | $68,672 |
| Kipp Memphis | US Government/Business Economics Teacher | Memphis, TN | 04/19/2025 | $50,000 |
| Arizona Department of Education | 2514 Teacher-Economics | Tucson, AZ | 04/17/2025 | $46,587 |
| Melissa ISD | Certified Government/Economics Teacher | Nome, TX | 03/25/2025 | $58,000 |
| Melissa Schools (Tx | Certified Government/Economics Teacher | Melissa, TX | 03/25/2025 | $58,000 |
| Uworld | Contract AP Economics Teacher-Curriculum Developer | Dallas, TX | 03/22/2025 | $73,045 |
| Uworld | Contract AP Economics Teacher-Curriculum Developer | Dallas, TX | 01/31/2025 | $73,045 |
| DSST Public Schools | Financial Literacy and AP Economics Teacher School Year) [Immediate Start] | Denver, CO | 01/26/2025 | $58,000 |
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