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High school science teacher salary
Average high school science teacher salary
$53,404
Average High School Science Teacher Salary
The average High School Science Teacher salary is approximately $53,404 annually, translating to around $26 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on factors such as state, years of experience, and educational background. For instance, teachers in states like California and New York tend to earn more, reflecting the higher cost of living in those areas.
Where Can You Earn More?
Some of the highest-paying states for High School Science Teachers include:
- California
- New York
- Massachusetts
- Connecticut
- New Jersey
Furthermore, advancing your education or gaining additional certifications can lead to higher pay. By pursuing roles in specialized fields or administrative positions, educators can significantly increase their earning potential.
Understanding these salary dynamics is crucial for aspiring teachers. By staying informed about salary trends and regional variations, you can better navigate your career path and make strategic decisions that enhance your professional growth.
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Where can a High School Science Teacher earn more?
High school science teacher salary estimates from across the web
Average high school science teacher salary by state
The average high school science teacher salary in New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average high school science teacher salary states are Mississippi, New Mexico, and Arizona.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for high school science teachers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $73,250 | $35.22 |
| 2 | New York | $76,988 | $37.01 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $68,525 | $32.94 |
| 4 | Vermont | $72,522 | $34.87 |
| 5 | Maryland | $69,943 | $33.63 |
| 6 | Delaware | $66,116 | $31.79 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $65,924 | $31.69 |
| 8 | Wyoming | $61,276 | $29.46 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $67,304 | $32.36 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $62,987 | $30.28 |
| 11 | Illinois | $57,692 | $27.74 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $56,068 | $26.96 |
| 13 | Minnesota | $57,127 | $27.46 |
| 14 | Alaska | $63,194 | $30.38 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $60,043 | $28.87 |
| 16 | District of Columbia | $65,085 | $31.29 |
| 17 | Georgia | $59,679 | $28.69 |
| 18 | Michigan | $53,326 | $25.64 |
| 19 | Maine | $57,854 | $27.81 |
| 20 | Nebraska | $54,826 | $26.36 |
| 21 | Ohio | $55,467 | $26.67 |
| 22 | Virginia | $57,238 | $27.52 |
| 23 | Florida | $56,395 | $27.11 |
| 24 | Washington | $56,636 | $27.23 |
| 25 | Nevada | $50,776 | $24.41 |
| 26 | North Dakota | $55,467 | $26.67 |
| 27 | South Carolina | $52,299 | $25.14 |
| 28 | Indiana | $52,274 | $25.13 |
| 29 | Oregon | $51,762 | $24.89 |
| 30 | Kentucky | $52,583 | $25.28 |
| 31 | Idaho | $49,798 | $23.94 |
| 32 | California | $54,175 | $26.05 |
| 33 | Texas | $49,924 | $24.00 |
| 34 | West Virginia | $51,160 | $24.60 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $47,393 | $22.79 |
| 36 | Hawaii | $55,639 | $26.75 |
| 37 | Kansas | $46,046 | $22.14 |
| 38 | Iowa | $48,273 | $23.21 |
| 39 | New Mexico | $42,855 | $20.60 |
| 40 | Colorado | $44,067 | $21.19 |
| 41 | Montana | $40,997 | $19.71 |
| 42 | Utah | $48,681 | $23.40 |
| 43 | Missouri | $44,407 | $21.35 |
| 44 | Alabama | $47,912 | $23.03 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $45,248 | $21.75 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $45,214 | $21.74 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $39,019 | $18.76 |
| 48 | Tennessee | $44,322 | $21.31 |
| 49 | Arizona | $41,430 | $19.92 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $43,867 | $21.09 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $37,532 | $18.04 |
Highest paying cities for high school science teachers
The highest-paying cities for high school science teachers are New York, NY, Baltimore, MD, and Camden, NJ.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $77,138 | $37.09 |
| 2 | Baltimore, MD | $69,960 | $33.63 |
| 3 | Camden, NJ | $68,573 | $32.97 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $67,259 | $32.34 |
| 5 | Philadelphia, PA | $63,248 | $30.41 |
| 6 | Savannah, GA | $61,011 | $29.33 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $58,071 | $27.92 |
| 8 | Fort Lauderdale, FL | $57,101 | $27.45 |
| 9 | Santa Rosa, CA | $56,792 | $27.30 |
| 10 | Detroit, MI | $53,601 | $25.77 |
| 11 | Columbia, SC | $52,372 | $25.18 |
| 12 | Sugar Land, TX | $50,409 | $24.24 |
| 13 | Winston-Salem, NC | $47,436 | $22.81 |
| 14 | Baton Rouge, LA | $45,331 | $21.79 |
| 15 | Denver, CO | $44,066 | $21.19 |
| 16 | Memphis, TN | $43,179 | $20.76 |
| 17 | Santa Fe, NM | $42,728 | $20.54 |
| 18 | Phoenix, AZ | $41,442 | $19.92 |
High school science teacher salary details
A high school science teacher's salary ranges from $39,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $72,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a high school science teacher's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $72,000 | $6,000 | $35 |
| 75th Percentile | $62,000 | $5,167 | $30 |
| Average | $53,404 | $4,450 | $26 |
| 25th Percentile | $45,000 | $3,750 | $22 |
| 10th Percentile | $39,000 | $3,250 | $19 |
Highest paying high school science teacher jobs
The highest paying types of high school science teachers are science teacher, student teacher, and history teacher.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher | $47,989 | $3,999 | $23.07 | 71,918 |
| Science Instructor | $48,925 | $4,077 | $23.52 | 40,936 |
| Math Teacher | $51,088 | $4,257 | $24.56 | 59,347 |
| Language Teacher | $51,413 | $4,284 | $24.72 | 74,479 |
| Certified Teacher | $50,708 | $4,226 | $24.38 | 92,051 |
| Peer Teacher | $49,811 | $4,151 | $23.95 | 54,705 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for high school science 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 science teachers now:
Which companies pay high school science teachers the most?
High school science teacher salaries at Baltimore City Public Schools and California State University are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average high school science teacher salary at companies like The University of Chicago and Springs Charter Schools are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baltimore City Public Schools | $73,997 | $35.58 |
| 2 | California State University | $73,428 | $35.30 |
| 3 | The University of Chicago | $66,052 | $31.76 |
| 4 | Springs Charter Schools | $65,432 | $31.46 |
| 5 | Prince George's County Memorial Library System | $65,265 | $31.38 |
| 6 | Springfield City Library | $64,239 | $30.88 |
| 7 | Newark Public Schools | $63,403 | $30.48 |
| 8 | COMPTON UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT | $62,037 | $29.83 |
| 9 | Savannah-Chatham County Public School System | $61,612 | $29.62 |
| 10 | Edmond Public Schools | $61,495 | $29.56 |
| 11 | San Jacinto Unified School District | $60,555 | $29.11 |
| 12 | Denver Public Schools | $59,727 | $28.71 |
| 13 | Youth Performing Arts School | $59,517 | $28.61 |
| 14 | Windsor Central School | $59,441 | $28.58 |
| 15 | Santa Rosa City Schools | $58,867 | $28.30 |
| 16 | Lourdes University | $58,681 | $28.21 |
| 17 | California Academy of Sciences | $58,582 | $28.16 |
| 18 | Bright Star Schools | $58,384 | $28.07 |
| 19 | LREI | $58,263 | $28.01 |
| 20 | Sheldon College | $58,168 | $27.97 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
High school science teacher salary trends
The average high school science teacher salary has risen by $7,305 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average high school science teacher earned $46,099 annually, but today, they earn $53,404 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for high school science teachers over the last decade.
Compare high school science teacher salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average high school science teacher salary over time
Compare high school science teacher salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
High school science teacher salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $53,400 | $25.68 | +1.9% |
| 2025 | $52,400 | $25.18 | +2.2% |
| 2024 | $51,200 | $24.63 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | $50,300 | $24.16 | +1.9% |
| 2022 | $49,300 | $23.70 | +1.4% |
Recently added high school science teacher salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Educate Kansas | High School Science Teacher | Grainfield, KS | 06/30/2025 | $41,700 |
| State of South Dakota | High School Science Teacher | Yankton, SD | 06/30/2025 | $52,300 |
| High Tech High | High School Science Teacher | San Diego, CA | 06/29/2025 | $63,280 |
| Kipp Dc | ] Science Teacher-High School | New York, NY | 06/29/2025 | $70,829 |
| Purpose Built Schools Atlanta | High School Science Teacher | Atlanta, GA | 06/29/2025 | $62,580 |
| NIEA | High School Teacher, Science (Biology, Chemistry, General Science) | Shonto, AZ | 06/29/2025 | $38,795 |
| South Middleton School District | Anticipated: High School Earth and Physical Science Teacher | Kane, PA | 06/28/2025 | $56,973 |
| Sealy ISD | High School Agricultural Science Teacher | Sealy, TX | 06/25/2025 | $55,000 |
| Victor Central School District | Science Teacher-Physics-High School | Victor, NY | 06/22/2025 | $48,502 |
| Montana Office of Public Instruction | High School Computer Science and Robotics Teacher | Helena, MT | 06/21/2025 | $42,873 |
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