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The average salary for literacy teachers in the United States is approximately $54,453 per year. This figure can change significantly based on factors such as location, years of experience, and educational background. For example, states like California and New York tend to offer higher salaries due to increased demand and living costs.
Literacy teachers can expect to earn more in urban areas where educational resources are prioritized. Additionally, those with advanced degrees or specialized certifications often see a salary boost. According to recent data, teachers in metropolitan areas can make upwards of $60,000 annually.
Comparing various salary sources shows consistency in the average wage for literacy teachers, reinforcing the idea of a stable career path in education. By analyzing these salary estimates, prospective teachers can make informed decisions about their career trajectory.
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The highest-paying states for literacy teachers are Maryland, New Jersey, and California. The lowest average literacy teacher salary states are Mississippi, Nevada, and Indiana.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | $75,147 | $36.13 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $69,645 | $33.48 |
| 3 | Minnesota | $62,955 | $30.27 |
| 4 | Washington | $67,595 | $32.50 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $60,754 | $29.21 |
| 6 | New York | $64,428 | $30.98 |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $65,689 | $31.58 |
| 8 | Nebraska | $57,895 | $27.83 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $58,447 | $28.10 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $63,048 | $30.31 |
| 11 | California | $68,562 | $32.96 |
| 12 | Michigan | $55,557 | $26.71 |
| 13 | Oregon | $61,588 | $29.61 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $54,755 | $26.32 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $60,130 | $28.91 |
| 16 | Wyoming | $56,409 | $27.12 |
| 17 | Virginia | $59,239 | $28.48 |
| 18 | Alaska | $62,742 | $30.16 |
| 19 | Kansas | $54,559 | $26.23 |
| 20 | Illinois | $54,121 | $26.02 |
| 21 | Montana | $52,772 | $25.37 |
| 22 | Utah | $56,743 | $27.28 |
| 23 | Ohio | $53,733 | $25.83 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $50,903 | $24.47 |
| 25 | Florida | $52,903 | $25.43 |
| 26 | Vermont | $55,416 | $26.64 |
| 27 | Tennessee | $51,240 | $24.63 |
| 28 | Colorado | $50,429 | $24.24 |
| 29 | Kentucky | $52,381 | $25.18 |
| 30 | Alabama | $51,316 | $24.67 |
| 31 | Delaware | $50,806 | $24.43 |
| 32 | Georgia | $50,740 | $24.39 |
| 33 | North Carolina | $48,225 | $23.19 |
| 34 | Wisconsin | $49,310 | $23.71 |
| 35 | Missouri | $48,672 | $23.40 |
| 36 | North Dakota | $49,613 | $23.85 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $45,933 | $22.08 |
| 38 | Nevada | $43,386 | $20.86 |
| 39 | Louisiana | $47,734 | $22.95 |
| 40 | Hawaii | $53,431 | $25.69 |
| 41 | Texas | $44,164 | $21.23 |
| 42 | Idaho | $46,453 | $22.33 |
| 43 | Indiana | $43,085 | $20.71 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $42,352 | $20.36 |
| 45 | Arizona | $42,084 | $20.23 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $44,391 | $21.34 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $45,604 | $21.93 |
| 48 | Maine | $45,797 | $22.02 |
| 49 | West Virginia | $44,381 | $21.34 |
| 50 | Iowa | $42,836 | $20.59 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $43,450 | $20.89 |
The highest-paying cities for literacy teachers are San Francisco, CA, New York, NY, and Portsmouth, VA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $69,780 | $33.55 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $64,491 | $31.01 |
| 3 | Portsmouth, VA | $59,370 | $28.54 |
| 4 | Detroit, MI | $55,657 | $26.76 |
| 5 | Woodstock, IL | $54,274 | $26.09 |
| 6 | Great Falls, MT | $52,861 | $25.41 |
| 7 | Denver, CO | $50,391 | $24.23 |
| 8 | Greensboro, NC | $48,197 | $23.17 |
| 9 | New Orleans, LA | $47,924 | $23.04 |
| 10 | Nampa, ID | $46,620 | $22.41 |
| 11 | Lewiston, ME | $45,679 | $21.96 |
| 12 | El Paso, TX | $44,989 | $21.63 |
| 13 | Henderson, NV | $43,264 | $20.80 |
| 14 | Oklahoma City, OK | $42,369 | $20.37 |
A literacy teacher's salary ranges from $43,000 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 | $60,000 | $5,000 | $29 |
| Average | $54,453 | $4,538 | $26 |
| 25th Percentile | $48,000 | $4,000 | $23 |
| 10th Percentile | $43,000 | $3,583 | $21 |
The highest paying types of literacy teachers are science teacher, student teacher, and reading teacher.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Language Arts Teacher | $48,483 | $4,040 | $23.31 | 88,793 |
| Elementary School Teacher | $52,161 | $4,347 | $25.08 | 84,607 |
| Language Arts Teacher | $51,969 | $4,331 | $24.99 | 88,551 |
| Long Term Substitute Teacher | $42,808 | $3,567 | $20.58 | 69,133 |
| Reading Teacher | $55,452 | $4,621 | $26.66 | 68,234 |
| Summer School Teacher | $52,828 | $4,402 | $25.40 | 86,467 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for literacy teachers, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Patricia Rogan Ph.D.
Professor, Special Education/Urban Teacher Education, Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis
Top companies hiring literacy teachers now:
Literacy teacher salaries at City of Roanoke, Virginia - Government and Guilford County Schools are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average literacy teacher salary at companies like New York City School Construction Authority and Yu Ming Charter School are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | City of Roanoke, Virginia - Government | $56,985 | $27.40 |
| 2 | Guilford County Schools | $56,900 | $27.36 |
| 3 | New York City School Construction Authority | $54,881 | $26.39 |
| 4 | Yu Ming Charter School | $54,860 | $26.38 |
| 5 | Panay Power Corporation | $54,479 | $26.19 |
| 6 | Colorado State Express | $54,447 | $26.18 |
| 7 | Americorps | $54,329 | $26.12 |
| 8 | Nyc Parks | $54,104 | $26.01 |
| 9 | Presidio Knolls School | $53,369 | $25.66 |
| 10 | Union County Public Schools | $52,062 | $25.03 |
| 11 | Addison Trail High School | $50,770 | $24.41 |
| 12 | Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES | $50,200 | $24.13 |
| 13 | Aspen School District | $50,087 | $24.08 |
| 14 | State of West Virginia | $50,025 | $24.05 |
| 15 | COPE | $49,930 | $24.00 |
| 16 | State of Colorado | $47,047 | $22.62 |
| 17 | Edmond Public Schools | $46,638 | $22.42 |
| 18 | Metropolitan State University of Denver | $46,366 | $22.29 |
| 19 | Lewiston Public Schools | $43,207 | $20.77 |
| 20 | Wayne RESA | $42,731 | $20.54 |
The average literacy teacher salary has risen by $7,238 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average literacy teacher earned $47,215 annually, but today, they earn $54,453 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for literacy teachers over the last decade.
Compare literacy teacher salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare literacy teacher salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $54,500 | $26.18 | +2.1% |
| 2024 | $53,300 | $25.63 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $52,000 | $25.02 | +1.8% |
| 2022 | $51,100 | $24.56 | +2.4% |
| 2021 | $49,900 | $23.97 | +1.6% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sierra Vista Unified School District | Elementary Literacy Interventionist | Sierra Vista, AZ | 06/28/2025 | $30,679 |
| Connor Group | Youth Financial Literacy Teacher | Dayton, OH | 06/24/2025 | $59,000 |
| Virginia Beach Public School | Literacy Teacher | Virginia Beach, VA | 06/24/2025 | $54,065 |
| International Leadership of Texas | Chinese Literacy Teacher | Houston, TX | 06/13/2025 | $56,000 |
| Putnam Public Schools | Literacy Paraeducator | Putnam, CT | 06/13/2025 | $41,051 |
| Haverhill Public Schools | Literacy Interventionist Whittier Middle School | Haverhill, MA | 06/12/2025 | $53,753 |
| Lansing School District | Literacy Teacher | Lansing, MI | 06/11/2025 | $46,942 |
| Virginia Beach Public School | Literacy Teacher | Virginia Beach, VA | 05/30/2025 | $54,065 |
| Ohio Department of Education | Literacy Teacher-Multi-Tiered System of Supports (Mtss) | Dayton, OH | 05/29/2025 | $47,496 |
| International Leadership of Texas | Chinese Literacy Teacher | Houston, TX | 05/29/2025 | $56,000 |
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