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The average salary for a high school French teacher in the United States is $52,276 per year. This figure can vary significantly based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and the specific school district. For instance, teachers in urban areas often earn more due to higher living costs and demand for language instructors.
In states like California and New York, salaries tend to be higher, reflecting both the cost of living and the competitive job market for educators. Conversely, regions with lower living costs may offer salaries closer to the national average.
Experience plays a crucial role in determining salary. Entry-level teachers may start at around $40,000, while those with significant experience can earn upwards of $70,000. Additionally, teachers with advanced degrees or special certifications often command higher salaries.
The demand for foreign language teachers, particularly in high schools, remains strong, providing numerous job opportunities across the country. As schools continue to emphasize multilingual education, the prospects for high school French teachers are promising.
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The average high school french teacher salary in Maryland, Massachusetts, and New York are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average high school french teacher salary states are Mississippi, Idaho, and Montana.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | $73,549 | $35.36 |
| 2 | New York | $70,405 | $33.85 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $71,924 | $34.58 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $65,342 | $31.41 |
| 5 | Illinois | $61,245 | $29.44 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $70,249 | $33.77 |
| 7 | Delaware | $62,303 | $29.95 |
| 8 | Vermont | $70,023 | $33.66 |
| 9 | Wyoming | $63,580 | $30.57 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $58,962 | $28.35 |
| 11 | Washington | $63,553 | $30.55 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $54,115 | $26.02 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $57,610 | $27.70 |
| 14 | Alaska | $66,579 | $32.01 |
| 15 | Oregon | $56,816 | $27.32 |
| 16 | Nevada | $53,476 | $25.71 |
| 17 | Colorado | $53,814 | $25.87 |
| 18 | California | $59,876 | $28.79 |
| 19 | North Dakota | $55,077 | $26.48 |
| 20 | Nebraska | $50,799 | $24.42 |
| 21 | Ohio | $51,791 | $24.90 |
| 22 | Oklahoma | $49,231 | $23.67 |
| 23 | District of Columbia | $58,374 | $28.06 |
| 24 | South Carolina | $49,165 | $23.64 |
| 25 | Kentucky | $52,666 | $25.32 |
| 26 | Utah | $53,387 | $25.67 |
| 27 | Virginia | $51,448 | $24.73 |
| 28 | Minnesota | $48,220 | $23.18 |
| 29 | Florida | $50,965 | $24.50 |
| 30 | Iowa | $49,351 | $23.73 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $46,330 | $22.27 |
| 32 | Texas | $47,603 | $22.89 |
| 33 | Michigan | $45,346 | $21.80 |
| 34 | Tennessee | $47,452 | $22.81 |
| 35 | Missouri | $46,554 | $22.38 |
| 36 | Louisiana | $47,978 | $23.07 |
| 37 | Maine | $48,956 | $23.54 |
| 38 | Indiana | $46,978 | $22.59 |
| 39 | Georgia | $48,498 | $23.32 |
| 40 | Kansas | $44,841 | $21.56 |
| 41 | Hawaii | $51,495 | $24.76 |
| 42 | Alabama | $45,908 | $22.07 |
| 43 | Montana | $38,756 | $18.63 |
| 44 | North Carolina | $44,218 | $21.26 |
| 45 | Wisconsin | $43,765 | $21.04 |
| 46 | Arizona | $35,922 | $17.27 |
| 47 | Idaho | $40,642 | $19.54 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $41,554 | $19.98 |
| 49 | West Virginia | $41,623 | $20.01 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $38,533 | $18.53 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $37,699 | $18.12 |
The highest-paying cities for high school french teachers are Olney, MD, New York, NY, and Santa Rosa, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Olney, MD | $73,412 | $35.29 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $70,538 | $33.91 |
| 3 | Santa Rosa, CA | $61,985 | $29.80 |
| 4 | Portland, OR | $56,841 | $27.33 |
| 5 | Boulder, CO | $53,914 | $25.92 |
| 6 | Greenville, SC | $49,319 | $23.71 |
| 7 | Edmond, OK | $49,272 | $23.69 |
| 8 | Lake Charles, LA | $48,226 | $23.19 |
| 9 | Edina, MN | $48,193 | $23.17 |
| 10 | Austin, TX | $47,714 | $22.94 |
| 11 | Indianapolis, IN | $46,790 | $22.50 |
| 12 | Roswell, NM | $45,994 | $22.11 |
A high school french teacher's salary ranges from $40,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $67,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $67,000 | $5,583 | $32 |
| 75th Percentile | $59,000 | $4,917 | $28 |
| Average | $52,276 | $4,356 | $25 |
| 25th Percentile | $45,000 | $3,750 | $22 |
| 10th Percentile | $40,000 | $3,333 | $19 |
The highest paying types of high school french teachers are science teacher, history teacher, and high school science teacher.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Science Instructor | $48,925 | $4,077 | $23.52 | 40,936 |
| Teacher | $47,989 | $3,999 | $23.07 | 71,918 |
| Language Arts Teacher | $51,969 | $4,331 | $24.99 | 88,551 |
| English Language Arts Teacher | $48,483 | $4,040 | $23.31 | 88,793 |
| Math Teacher | $51,088 | $4,257 | $24.56 | 59,347 |
| Spanish Teacher | $52,445 | $4,370 | $25.21 | 54,666 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for high school french 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 high school french teachers now:
High school french teacher salaries at Campbell Union High School District and Connections Academy are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average high school french teacher salary at companies like Santa Rosa City Schools and St. Clare Catholic School are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Campbell Union High School District | $63,154 | $30.36 |
| 2 | Connections Academy | $58,021 | $27.89 |
| 3 | Santa Rosa City Schools | $57,938 | $27.85 |
| 4 | St. Clare Catholic School | $55,336 | $26.60 |
| 5 | Edmond Public Schools | $55,328 | $26.60 |
| 6 | Our Lady of Good Counsel Church | $53,557 | $25.75 |
| 7 | Boulder Valley School District | $51,085 | $24.56 |
| 8 | K12 | $42,824 | $20.59 |
The average high school french teacher salary has risen by $7,151 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average high school french teacher earned $45,125 annually, but today, they earn $52,276 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for high school french teachers over the last decade.
Compare high school french teacher salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare high school french teacher salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $52,300 | $25.13 | +1.9% |
| 2024 | $51,300 | $24.65 | +2.2% |
| 2023 | $50,200 | $24.11 | +1.9% |
| 2022 | $49,200 | $23.65 | +1.9% |
| 2021 | $48,300 | $23.20 | +1.4% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corvallis School District | High School French Teacher, .17 FTE, CHS | Corvallis, OR | 05/09/2025 | $52,980 |
| Oregon Public Schools | High School French Teacher, .17 FTE, CHS | Corvallis, OR | 05/09/2025 | $52,980 |
| Mcps | Fy26; Teacher, French, Quince Orchard High School FTE | Gaithersburg, MD | 04/28/2025 | $62,558 |
| Montgomery County Public Schools | Fy26; Teacher, French, Quince Orchard High School FTE | Gaithersburg, MD | 04/28/2025 | $62,558 |
| Everett Public Schools | Tcis Participant-Lafayette School | Everett, MA | 04/17/2025 | $52,175 |
| Everett School District | Tcis Participant-Lafayette School | Everett, MA | 04/17/2025 | $52,175 |
| Crowley ISD | French Teacher-High School | Nome, TX | 03/26/2025 | $61,810 |
| Crowley Independent School District (Tx | French Teacher-High School | Crowley, TX | 03/25/2025 | $61,810 |
| Mesa Public Schools | Teacher-French-Mountain View High School | Mesa, AZ | 03/25/2025 | $55,386 |
| San Rafael City School District | High School French Teacher School Year | Ione, CA | 03/17/2025 | $70,080 |
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