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The average salary for a history teacher in the United States is $53,780 per year, translating to approximately $26 per hour. Factors influencing this salary include geographic location, years of experience, and the level of education attained. For instance, history teachers in states like California and New York often command higher salaries due to higher living costs and demand for qualified educators.
In addition to state-specific salaries, experience also plays a significant role. Entry-level history teachers typically earn less than their seasoned counterparts. Those with advanced degrees or specializations may see increased earning potential. For a comprehensive salary overview, check local job listings and salary surveys to find the best opportunities in education.
As educational institutions continue to prioritize history education, the demand for qualified history teachers remains strong. By understanding the salary landscape and job opportunities in different regions, prospective educators can make informed decisions about their career paths.
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The highest-paying states for history teachers are Hawaii, Maryland, and New York. The lowest average history teacher salary states are Missouri, Mississippi, and Tennessee.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | $81,755 | $39.31 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $77,685 | $37.35 |
| 3 | New York | $79,540 | $38.24 |
| 4 | Delaware | $70,370 | $33.83 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $70,568 | $33.93 |
| 6 | Nevada | $60,921 | $29.29 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $73,688 | $35.43 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $67,438 | $32.42 |
| 9 | Vermont | $62,801 | $30.19 |
| 10 | Wyoming | $61,324 | $29.48 |
| 11 | Hawaii | $87,418 | $42.03 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $66,499 | $31.97 |
| 13 | District of Columbia | $67,656 | $32.53 |
| 14 | Illinois | $56,137 | $26.99 |
| 15 | Alaska | $70,100 | $33.70 |
| 16 | California | $68,636 | $33.00 |
| 17 | Michigan | $53,207 | $25.58 |
| 18 | Ohio | $59,289 | $28.50 |
| 19 | Minnesota | $55,211 | $26.54 |
| 20 | Idaho | $54,724 | $26.31 |
| 21 | Oregon | $62,715 | $30.15 |
| 22 | Washington | $63,303 | $30.43 |
| 23 | Nebraska | $53,787 | $25.86 |
| 24 | New Hampshire | $51,207 | $24.62 |
| 25 | Georgia | $52,575 | $25.28 |
| 26 | North Dakota | $53,382 | $25.66 |
| 27 | Virginia | $54,300 | $26.11 |
| 28 | North Carolina | $50,535 | $24.30 |
| 29 | New Mexico | $47,245 | $22.71 |
| 30 | Utah | $52,363 | $25.17 |
| 31 | South Carolina | $47,975 | $23.06 |
| 32 | Maine | $49,314 | $23.71 |
| 33 | Florida | $47,686 | $22.93 |
| 34 | Texas | $48,366 | $23.25 |
| 35 | West Virginia | $50,417 | $24.24 |
| 36 | Indiana | $45,976 | $22.10 |
| 37 | Iowa | $47,134 | $22.66 |
| 38 | Arizona | $44,045 | $21.18 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $48,553 | $23.34 |
| 40 | Colorado | $44,648 | $21.47 |
| 41 | Wisconsin | $48,653 | $23.39 |
| 42 | Kansas | $44,894 | $21.58 |
| 43 | Montana | $41,106 | $19.76 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $44,920 | $21.60 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $39,831 | $19.15 |
| 46 | Alabama | $45,490 | $21.87 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $43,438 | $20.88 |
| 48 | Missouri | $42,797 | $20.58 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $42,468 | $20.42 |
| 50 | Tennessee | $41,520 | $19.96 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $36,775 | $17.68 |
The highest-paying cities for history teachers are Baltimore, MD, New York, NY, and Lafayette, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baltimore, MD | $82,224 | $39.53 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $80,317 | $38.61 |
| 3 | Lafayette, CA | $80,192 | $38.55 |
| 4 | New Haven, CT | $71,155 | $34.21 |
| 5 | Springfield, MA | $69,044 | $33.19 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $68,336 | $32.85 |
| 7 | Washington, DC | $67,678 | $32.54 |
| 8 | Las Vegas, NV | $59,648 | $28.68 |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | $56,573 | $27.20 |
| 10 | Cincinnati, OH | $55,615 | $26.74 |
| 11 | Duluth, MN | $55,267 | $26.57 |
| 12 | Springville, UT | $51,864 | $24.93 |
| 13 | Edinburg, TX | $49,992 | $24.03 |
| 14 | Miami, FL | $48,716 | $23.42 |
| 15 | Cedar Falls, IA | $47,793 | $22.98 |
| 16 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $45,239 | $21.75 |
| 17 | New Orleans, LA | $45,190 | $21.73 |
| 18 | Denver, CO | $44,656 | $21.47 |
| 19 | Tucson, AZ | $43,383 | $20.86 |
| 20 | Fayetteville, AR | $43,333 | $20.83 |
A history teacher's salary ranges from $38,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $76,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $76,000 | $6,333 | $37 |
| 75th Percentile | $64,000 | $5,333 | $31 |
| Average | $53,780 | $4,482 | $26 |
| 25th Percentile | $44,000 | $3,667 | $21 |
| 10th Percentile | $38,000 | $3,167 | $18 |
The highest paying types of history teachers are science teacher, student teacher, and reading teacher.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher-In-Training | $37,214 | $3,101 | $17.89 | 132,725 |
| Math And Science Teacher | $46,589 | $3,882 | $22.40 | 71,273 |
| Long Term Substitute Teacher | $42,808 | $3,567 | $20.58 | 69,133 |
| Summer School Teacher | $52,828 | $4,402 | $25.40 | 86,467 |
| English Language Arts Teacher | $48,483 | $4,040 | $23.31 | 88,793 |
| Social Studies Teacher | $49,725 | $4,144 | $23.91 | 94,087 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for history teachers, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Maggie Beeber
Undergraduate Advising Coordinator & Teacher Certification Officer, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
History teacher salaries at Boston Public Schools and University of California, Berkeley are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average history teacher salary at companies like Poly Prep Country Day School and Yale University are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston Public Schools | $95,168 | $45.75 |
| 2 | University of California-Berkeley | $85,242 | $40.98 |
| 3 | Poly Prep Country Day School | $81,537 | $39.20 |
| 4 | Yale University | $81,478 | $39.17 |
| 5 | Florida International University | $81,139 | $39.01 |
| 6 | Columbia University in the City of New York | $80,389 | $38.65 |
| 7 | California State University, Fullerton | $80,194 | $38.55 |
| 8 | Harvard University | $80,042 | $38.48 |
| 9 | The University of Chicago | $79,593 | $38.27 |
| 10 | University of Southern California | $79,541 | $38.24 |
| 11 | Maxim Healthcare Group | $76,359 | $36.71 |
| 12 | Kent Place School | $74,023 | $35.59 |
| 13 | Georgetown University | $72,000 | $34.62 |
| 14 | The Thacher School | $70,258 | $33.78 |
| 15 | Gompers Preparatory Academy | $68,383 | $32.88 |
| 16 | Excel Academy Charter Schools | $67,750 | $32.57 |
| 17 | Telos | $66,545 | $31.99 |
| 18 | Northern Illinois University | $65,888 | $31.68 |
| 19 | Pingree School | $65,680 | $31.58 |
| 20 | Mastery Charter Schools | $64,979 | $31.24 |
The average history teacher salary has risen by $7,356 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average history teacher earned $46,424 annually, but today, they earn $53,780 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for history teachers over the last decade.
Compare history teacher salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare history teacher salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $53,800 | $25.86 | +1.9% |
| 2025 | $52,700 | $25.36 | +2.2% |
| 2024 | $51,600 | $24.81 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | $50,600 | $24.33 | +1.9% |
| 2022 | $49,600 | $23.87 | +1.4% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Get It Recruit-Educational Services | Upper School History Teacher-Remote | WFH | Boca Raton, FL | 06/29/2025 | $60,000 |
| Fusion Academy | English and History Teacher | Franklin, TN | 06/27/2025 | $52,175 |
| Fusion Academy | English and History Teacher | New York, NY | 06/27/2025 | $73,295 |
| Ma Hperd | History Teachers-DYS Metro Region-Dorchester (Multiple) | Rowe, MA | 06/24/2025 | $57,234 |
| Fusion Academy | English and History Teacher | Mission Viejo, CA | 06/21/2025 | $59,480 |
| Prizmah | US History Teacher-Yeshiva OHR Yisrael | Newton, MA | 06/20/2025 | $120,000 |
| Gallup-McKinley County Schools | SY-Teacher-History; Signing Incentive ; Relocation Expenses | Tome, NM | 06/19/2025 | $59,984 |
| Idea Public Schools | IB History Teacher-Idea Donna College Prep) | Donna, TX | 06/19/2025 | $56,500 |
| Fusion Academy | Texas-English and History Teacher | Houston, TX | 06/18/2025 | $52,175 |
| Denver City ISD | Texas History Teacher-Boys Coach | Nome, TX | 06/18/2025 | $7,740 |
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