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The average salary for an English Language Arts Teacher is approximately $48,483 per year, translating to about $23 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on factors such as location, experience, and the type of school (public vs. private). For instance, teachers in states like California and New York often earn higher wages due to the higher cost of living and demand for skilled educators.
When evaluating salary offers, it’s also beneficial to consider additional benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, and professional development opportunities. The job market for English Language Arts teachers remains stable, with numerous openings in elementary, middle, and high schools. Teachers can enhance their earning potential by pursuing advanced degrees or certifications in specialized areas such as curriculum design or educational leadership.
Understanding salary trends and regional differences is crucial for making informed career choices. Resources like job boards and salary comparison websites can provide valuable insights into where English Language Arts teachers are compensated the best. Engaging with professional networks can also help educators discover new opportunities and gain insights into salary negotiations.
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The average english language arts teacher salary in New York, Washington, and Maine are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average english language arts teacher salary states are Nebraska, Missouri, and Mississippi.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | $60,622 | $29.15 |
| 2 | New York | $71,044 | $34.16 |
| 3 | Vermont | $55,179 | $26.53 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $61,649 | $29.64 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $56,399 | $27.11 |
| 6 | Washington | $63,800 | $30.67 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $58,085 | $27.93 |
| 8 | Maine | $62,518 | $30.06 |
| 9 | Rhode Island | $56,985 | $27.40 |
| 10 | District of Columbia | $67,125 | $32.27 |
| 11 | Nevada | $46,879 | $22.54 |
| 12 | Illinois | $48,844 | $23.48 |
| 13 | Virginia | $52,171 | $25.08 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $53,299 | $25.62 |
| 15 | California | $56,038 | $26.94 |
| 16 | Oregon | $51,838 | $24.92 |
| 17 | West Virginia | $44,920 | $21.60 |
| 18 | Delaware | $46,980 | $22.59 |
| 19 | North Dakota | $49,330 | $23.72 |
| 20 | Minnesota | $49,366 | $23.73 |
| 21 | Oklahoma | $47,593 | $22.88 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $47,656 | $22.91 |
| 23 | Texas | $46,367 | $22.29 |
| 24 | South Carolina | $45,279 | $21.77 |
| 25 | Georgia | $47,387 | $22.78 |
| 26 | Michigan | $43,850 | $21.08 |
| 27 | Hawaii | $51,680 | $24.85 |
| 28 | Indiana | $44,073 | $21.19 |
| 29 | Ohio | $46,242 | $22.23 |
| 30 | Kansas | $43,953 | $21.13 |
| 31 | Florida | $43,426 | $20.88 |
| 32 | Kentucky | $45,416 | $21.83 |
| 33 | New Hampshire | $40,761 | $19.60 |
| 34 | Arkansas | $44,917 | $21.59 |
| 35 | Alaska | $47,596 | $22.88 |
| 36 | North Carolina | $43,377 | $20.85 |
| 37 | Wyoming | $40,026 | $19.24 |
| 38 | Arizona | $39,089 | $18.79 |
| 39 | Iowa | $40,668 | $19.55 |
| 40 | New Mexico | $38,449 | $18.49 |
| 41 | Utah | $44,494 | $21.39 |
| 42 | Colorado | $38,966 | $18.73 |
| 43 | Tennessee | $41,946 | $20.17 |
| 44 | Alabama | $42,009 | $20.20 |
| 45 | Montana | $36,391 | $17.50 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $39,226 | $18.86 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $37,806 | $18.18 |
| 48 | Idaho | $35,554 | $17.09 |
| 49 | Missouri | $37,522 | $18.04 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $37,107 | $17.84 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $31,701 | $15.24 |
The highest-paying cities for english language arts teachers are New York, NY, Washington, DC, and Boston, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $71,440 | $34.35 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $67,087 | $32.25 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $61,473 | $29.55 |
| 4 | Baltimore, MD | $60,628 | $29.15 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $60,369 | $29.02 |
| 6 | Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ | $57,860 | $27.82 |
| 7 | Salem, OR | $51,973 | $24.99 |
| 8 | Saint Paul, MN | $49,402 | $23.75 |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | $49,150 | $23.63 |
| 10 | Duluth, GA | $47,555 | $22.86 |
| 11 | El Paso, TX | $46,705 | $22.45 |
| 12 | Columbus, OH | $46,249 | $22.24 |
| 13 | Columbia, SC | $45,441 | $21.85 |
| 14 | Detroit, MI | $44,059 | $21.18 |
| 15 | Fort Lauderdale, FL | $43,831 | $21.07 |
| 16 | Laramie, WY | $40,052 | $19.26 |
| 17 | Council Bluffs, IA | $39,352 | $18.92 |
| 18 | Phoenix, AZ | $39,142 | $18.82 |
| 19 | Colorado Springs, CO | $39,053 | $18.78 |
| 20 | Kansas City, MO | $37,254 | $17.91 |
An english language arts teacher's salary ranges from $37,000 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 | $55,000 | $4,583 | $26 |
| Average | $48,483 | $4,040 | $23 |
| 25th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
| 10th Percentile | $37,000 | $3,083 | $18 |
The highest paying types of english language arts teachers are science teacher, student teacher, and reading teacher.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher | $47,989 | $3,999 | $23.07 | 71,918 |
| Biology Teacher | $51,721 | $4,310 | $24.87 | 68,958 |
| Math Teacher | $51,088 | $4,257 | $24.56 | 59,347 |
| Head Teacher | $51,715 | $4,310 | $24.86 | 73,756 |
| Student Teacher | $59,035 | $4,920 | $28.38 | 79,071 |
| Reading Teacher | $55,452 | $4,621 | $26.66 | 68,234 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for english language arts 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 english language arts teachers now:
English language arts teacher salaries at Boston Public Schools and Chino Valley Unified School District are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average english language arts teacher salary at companies like Chicago Public Schools and Broward County Public Schools are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston Public Schools | $62,533 | $30.06 |
| 2 | Chino Valley Unified School District | $57,081 | $27.44 |
| 3 | Chicago Public Schools | $56,209 | $27.02 |
| 4 | Broward County Public Schools | $55,760 | $26.81 |
| 5 | Magnolia Educational and Research Foundation | $55,253 | $26.56 |
| 6 | Guilford County Schools | $55,125 | $26.50 |
| 7 | KIPP Northern California Public Schools | $54,726 | $26.31 |
| 8 | California State University | $54,646 | $26.27 |
| 9 | California Academy of Sciences | $53,069 | $25.51 |
| 10 | Summit Public Schools | $52,948 | $25.46 |
| 11 | High Point Christian Academy | $52,534 | $25.26 |
| 12 | Rochester City School District | $52,438 | $25.21 |
| 13 | Jackson Madison County School System | $52,002 | $25.00 |
| 14 | Jasper County School District | $51,861 | $24.93 |
| 15 | FCSD | $51,252 | $24.64 |
| 16 | Topeka Public Schools | $51,061 | $24.55 |
| 17 | Crossroads Charter Schools | $51,014 | $24.53 |
| 18 | Wicomico County Public Schools | $50,659 | $24.36 |
| 19 | Springfield City Library | $50,082 | $24.08 |
| 20 | Muckleshoot Casino | $49,573 | $23.83 |
The average english language arts teacher salary has risen by $6,123 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average english language arts teacher earned $42,360 annually, but today, they earn $48,483 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for english language arts teachers over the last decade.
Compare english language arts teacher salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare english language arts teacher salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $48,500 | $23.31 | +1.9% |
| 2025 | $47,600 | $22.87 | +1.8% |
| 2024 | $46,700 | $22.46 | +1.5% |
| 2023 | $46,000 | $22.12 | +1.7% |
| 2022 | $45,200 | $21.74 | +1.5% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teach In South Dakota | Middle School English Language Arts Teacher (7TH Grade) | Brandon, SD | 06/30/2025 | $55,531 |
| Educate Kansas | Junior High English Language Arts | Greensburg, KS | 06/29/2025 | $43,500 |
| Mastery Charter Schools | Elementary English Language Arts Teacher-3Rd-5Th Grade School Year | Philadelphia, PA | 06/29/2025 | $60,000 |
| Indiana Public Schools | English/Language Arts Teacher-Excel Center Shadeland | Indianapolis, IN | 06/29/2025 | $48,000 |
| Archdiocese of Washington | Middle School English Language Arts Teacher | Leonardtown, MD | 06/29/2025 | $44,200 |
| Diocese of Joliet | Junior High School English Language Arts/Writing Teacher (7Th/8Th) | Kankakee, IL | 06/28/2025 | $31,509 |
| Pennsauken Public Schools | Teacher of English Language Arts (ELA)-PHS | Pennsauken, NJ | 06/28/2025 | $67,055 |
| University of Chicago Charter Schools | English/Language Arts Teacher School Year (Woodlawn Campus) | Chicago, IL | 06/27/2025 | $60,000 |
| District 287 | English Language Arts or Social Studies Teacher-Care & Treatment Programs | Plymouth, MN | 06/27/2025 | $48,819 |
| Spring Education Group | Middle School English Language Arts Teacher | Fremont, CA | 06/27/2025 | $60,000 |
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