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Head teacher salary
Average head teacher salary
$51,715
Understanding Head Teacher Salaries
The average Head Teacher salary as of October 2025 stands at $51,715 per year, or approximately $25 per hour. This figure reflects a variety of factors, including years of experience, the type of institution, and geographic location. For instance, Head Teachers in metropolitan areas tend to earn more compared to those in rural settings.
In addition, various states offer different salary scales based on their education budgets and cost of living. For instance, states like New York and California are among the highest paying for Head Teachers, providing competitive compensation packages that reflect the local demand for quality education.
To further understand salary trends, it's beneficial to consider average salaries over time. Reviewing historical salary data can provide insights into how the role is evolving and what future Head Teachers might expect in terms of compensation.
For individuals pursuing a career as a Head Teacher, it’s essential to stay informed about regional salary differences and job openings. This knowledge can guide career decisions and help in negotiating salaries effectively.
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Where can a Head Teacher earn more?
Head teacher salary estimates from across the web
Average head teacher salary by state
The highest-paying states for head teachers are Massachusetts, New York, and Rhode Island. The lowest average head teacher salary states are Arkansas, North Dakota, and Montana.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for head teachers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $60,745 | $29.20 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $70,587 | $33.94 |
| 3 | New York | $68,859 | $33.11 |
| 4 | Michigan | $58,729 | $28.24 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $58,572 | $28.16 |
| 6 | Maryland | $59,927 | $28.81 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $63,948 | $30.74 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $54,566 | $26.23 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $51,266 | $24.65 |
| 10 | Nevada | $49,960 | $24.02 |
| 11 | Minnesota | $53,198 | $25.58 |
| 12 | Washington | $57,534 | $27.66 |
| 13 | District of Columbia | $58,966 | $28.35 |
| 14 | California | $58,934 | $28.33 |
| 15 | New Mexico | $49,660 | $23.88 |
| 16 | Virginia | $55,359 | $26.61 |
| 17 | Kansas | $49,567 | $23.83 |
| 18 | Delaware | $51,469 | $24.74 |
| 19 | Ohio | $49,597 | $23.84 |
| 20 | Nebraska | $49,579 | $23.84 |
| 21 | Colorado | $48,673 | $23.40 |
| 22 | Vermont | $51,508 | $24.76 |
| 23 | Oregon | $51,767 | $24.89 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $48,179 | $23.16 |
| 25 | Illinois | $46,815 | $22.51 |
| 26 | Maine | $49,680 | $23.88 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $45,754 | $22.00 |
| 28 | Iowa | $44,994 | $21.63 |
| 29 | Kentucky | $46,531 | $22.37 |
| 30 | Utah | $46,864 | $22.53 |
| 31 | Georgia | $45,525 | $21.89 |
| 32 | Alaska | $48,472 | $23.30 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $42,766 | $20.56 |
| 34 | Wyoming | $44,384 | $21.34 |
| 35 | Arizona | $41,039 | $19.73 |
| 36 | Texas | $42,790 | $20.57 |
| 37 | West Virginia | $44,402 | $21.35 |
| 38 | Oklahoma | $41,043 | $19.73 |
| 39 | Idaho | $44,334 | $21.31 |
| 40 | Montana | $39,377 | $18.93 |
| 41 | Indiana | $42,342 | $20.36 |
| 42 | Florida | $40,988 | $19.71 |
| 43 | Hawaii | $46,337 | $22.28 |
| 44 | Mississippi | $42,268 | $20.32 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $42,152 | $20.27 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $38,656 | $18.58 |
| 47 | Alabama | $41,909 | $20.15 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $40,626 | $19.53 |
| 49 | North Dakota | $39,607 | $19.04 |
| 50 | Missouri | $34,654 | $16.66 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $38,054 | $18.30 |
Highest paying cities for head teachers
The highest-paying cities for head teachers are Boston, MA, Yonkers, NY, and Chico, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston, MA | $70,389 | $33.84 |
| 2 | Yonkers, NY | $69,106 | $33.22 |
| 3 | Chico, CA | $65,696 | $31.58 |
| 4 | Vancouver, WA | $60,653 | $29.16 |
| 5 | Baltimore, MD | $60,262 | $28.97 |
| 6 | Fort Lee, NJ | $58,836 | $28.29 |
| 7 | Newport News, VA | $55,171 | $26.52 |
| 8 | Beaverton, OR | $51,132 | $24.58 |
| 9 | Cleveland, OH | $51,086 | $24.56 |
| 10 | Aurora, CO | $48,584 | $23.36 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $46,965 | $22.58 |
| 12 | Atlanta, GA | $45,529 | $21.89 |
| 13 | Tucson, AZ | $40,647 | $19.54 |
| 14 | Saint Louis, MO | $35,039 | $16.85 |
Head teacher salary details
A head teacher's salary ranges from $32,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $83,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a head teacher's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $83,000 | $6,917 | $40 |
| 75th Percentile | $66,000 | $5,500 | $32 |
| Average | $51,715 | $4,310 | $25 |
| 25th Percentile | $40,000 | $3,333 | $19 |
| 10th Percentile | $32,000 | $2,667 | $15 |
Highest paying head teacher jobs
The highest paying types of head teachers are student teacher, reading teacher, and summer school teacher.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infant And Toddler Teacher | $29,606 | $2,467 | $14.23 | 63,094 |
| Elementary School Teacher | $52,161 | $4,347 | $25.08 | 84,607 |
| Summer School Teacher | $52,828 | $4,402 | $25.40 | 86,467 |
| Early Childhood Teacher | $33,205 | $2,767 | $15.96 | 56,821 |
| Kindergarten Teacher | $48,029 | $4,002 | $23.09 | 65,972 |
| Day Care Teacher | $31,231 | $2,603 | $15.01 | 138,110 |
Top companies hiring head teachers now:
Which companies pay head teachers the most?
Head teacher salaries at Grand View Health and Ramaz School are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average head teacher salary at companies like Stanford University and French-American School of New York are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grand View Health | $77,727 | $37.37 |
| 2 | Ramaz School | $76,910 | $36.98 |
| 3 | Stanford University | $71,498 | $34.37 |
| 4 | French-American School of New York | $69,571 | $33.45 |
| 5 | Ethical Culture Fieldston School | $69,267 | $33.30 |
| 6 | Rowland Hall-st. Mark's School | $68,725 | $33.04 |
| 7 | Catholic Health East | $63,568 | $30.56 |
| 8 | Dublin School | $62,620 | $30.11 |
| 9 | University of Southern California | $62,585 | $30.09 |
| 10 | The MacDuffie School | $61,917 | $29.77 |
| 11 | Deaconess | $61,662 | $29.65 |
| 12 | International School of Brooklyn | $61,285 | $29.46 |
| 13 | Yale New Haven Health | $60,012 | $28.85 |
| 14 | Mustard Seed School | $58,467 | $28.11 |
| 15 | Bk | $57,242 | $27.52 |
| 16 | Bethlehem Christian School | $56,217 | $27.03 |
| 17 | Chicago Public Schools | $55,187 | $26.53 |
| 18 | Children’s School | $54,899 | $26.39 |
| 19 | British International School Istanbul | $54,167 | $26.04 |
| 20 | Montessori School of Westminster | $53,975 | $25.95 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Head teacher salary trends
The average head teacher salary has risen by $6,874 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average head teacher earned $44,841 annually, but today, they earn $51,715 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for head teachers over the last decade.
Compare head teacher salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average head teacher salary over time
Compare head teacher salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Head teacher salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $51,700 | $24.86 | +2.1% |
| 2024 | $50,600 | $24.34 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $49,400 | $23.76 | +1.8% |
| 2022 | $48,500 | $23.32 | +2.4% |
| 2021 | $47,400 | $22.77 | +1.6% |
Recently added head teacher salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vivvi | 1St. Shift Head Teacher-Liberty, North Carolina (1ST Shift AM PM) | Liberty, NC | 06/29/2025 | $33,392 |
| League School of Greater Boston Inc. | Head Teacher, Severe Special Needs Prek | Walpole, MA | 06/29/2025 | $60,850 |
| Stratton Mountain | Infant Head Teacher | Burlington, VT | 06/24/2025 | $50,088 |
| Stratton Mountain | Infant Head Teacher | Lebanon, NH | 06/24/2025 | $50,088 |
| Head Start of Lane County | Head Teacher-Junction City * NOW for Program Year! * | Junction City, OR | 06/21/2025 | $49,629 |
| AEON Learning Sciences | Head Teacher | Big Sky, MT | 06/21/2025 | $45,000 |
| Northeastern University | Head Teacher-Word Detectives Program | Boston, MA | 06/17/2025 | $104,350 |
| Healthy Kids Programs | Before and After School Preschool Head Teacher | Bristol, CT | 06/16/2025 | $41,740 |
| St. Mary's Center | Head Teacher (Head Start Preschool) | Oakland, CA | 06/12/2025 | $62,213 |
| Fusion Academy | Head of School | New York, NY | 06/12/2025 | $110,000 |
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