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The Master Teacher position offers a salary that averages around $38,699 annually in the United States. This figure can vary significantly based on factors such as location, experience, and the specific educational institution. For instance, states like California and New York often provide higher salaries due to their cost of living and demand for quality education.
On average, a Master Teacher earns approximately $19 per hour. However, this rate can fluctuate based on the type of school, whether it is public or private, and the teacher's level of experience. Many educators find that furthering their education or specializing in certain subjects can lead to higher pay.
To maximize earnings, Master Teachers should consider positions in urban areas or states with a high demand for teachers. Additionally, roles in specialized educational sectors, such as special education or STEM fields, often come with increased compensation. Exploring these paths can greatly enhance a teacher's career trajectory and financial stability.
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The highest-paying states for master teachers are New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. The lowest average master teacher salary states are Mississippi, Idaho, and Utah.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $68,347 | $32.86 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $59,318 | $28.52 |
| 3 | New York | $73,195 | $35.19 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $57,741 | $27.76 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $59,719 | $28.71 |
| 6 | Michigan | $50,422 | $24.24 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $48,048 | $23.10 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $53,264 | $25.61 |
| 9 | Maryland | $49,507 | $23.80 |
| 10 | Minnesota | $47,324 | $22.75 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $52,830 | $25.40 |
| 12 | New Mexico | $43,489 | $20.91 |
| 13 | Vermont | $47,968 | $23.06 |
| 14 | Nebraska | $44,104 | $21.20 |
| 15 | California | $50,790 | $24.42 |
| 16 | Alaska | $52,930 | $25.45 |
| 17 | Delaware | $43,278 | $20.81 |
| 18 | Montana | $41,486 | $19.95 |
| 19 | Ohio | $43,692 | $21.01 |
| 20 | Colorado | $43,155 | $20.75 |
| 21 | Oregon | $46,085 | $22.16 |
| 22 | Wyoming | $42,809 | $20.58 |
| 23 | Illinois | $40,171 | $19.31 |
| 24 | Washington | $45,779 | $22.01 |
| 25 | Virginia | $41,877 | $20.13 |
| 26 | Texas | $38,915 | $18.71 |
| 27 | Arizona | $38,377 | $18.45 |
| 28 | Georgia | $39,757 | $19.11 |
| 29 | Kentucky | $39,743 | $19.11 |
| 30 | North Dakota | $40,326 | $19.39 |
| 31 | Louisiana | $39,227 | $18.86 |
| 32 | Alabama | $39,353 | $18.92 |
| 33 | Nevada | $35,935 | $17.28 |
| 34 | Maine | $39,840 | $19.15 |
| 35 | Iowa | $38,386 | $18.45 |
| 36 | North Carolina | $37,037 | $17.81 |
| 37 | Florida | $37,088 | $17.83 |
| 38 | Indiana | $35,839 | $17.23 |
| 39 | Wisconsin | $38,078 | $18.31 |
| 40 | Hawaii | $45,486 | $21.87 |
| 41 | West Virginia | $36,843 | $17.71 |
| 42 | Tennessee | $35,127 | $16.89 |
| 43 | Kansas | $33,980 | $16.34 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $33,853 | $16.28 |
| 45 | South Dakota | $35,571 | $17.10 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $26,950 | $12.96 |
| 47 | Idaho | $32,920 | $15.83 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $33,453 | $16.08 |
| 49 | Missouri | $27,666 | $13.30 |
| 50 | Utah | $32,040 | $15.40 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $30,935 | $14.87 |
The highest-paying cities for master teachers are New York, NY, Randolph, MA, and Newark, NJ.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $73,391 | $35.28 |
| 2 | Randolph, MA | $59,893 | $28.79 |
| 3 | Newark, NJ | $59,328 | $28.52 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $57,790 | $27.78 |
| 5 | Pacifica, CA | $51,496 | $24.76 |
| 6 | Detroit, MI | $50,729 | $24.39 |
| 7 | Alexandria, VA | $43,363 | $20.85 |
| 8 | Columbus, OH | $42,919 | $20.63 |
| 9 | Palatine, IL | $40,512 | $19.48 |
| 10 | San Antonio, TX | $39,645 | $19.06 |
| 11 | Shreveport, LA | $38,783 | $18.65 |
| 12 | Morgantown, WV | $38,355 | $18.44 |
| 13 | Miami, FL | $37,409 | $17.99 |
| 14 | Reno, NV | $36,070 | $17.34 |
| 15 | Little Rock, AR | $30,899 | $14.86 |
| 16 | Yukon, OK | $27,025 | $12.99 |
A master teacher's salary ranges from $25,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $59,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $59,000 | $4,917 | $28 |
| 75th Percentile | $48,000 | $4,000 | $23 |
| Average | $38,699 | $3,225 | $19 |
| 25th Percentile | $30,000 | $2,500 | $14 |
| 10th Percentile | $25,000 | $2,083 | $12 |
The highest paying types of master teachers are student teacher, reading teacher, and middle school teacher.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teacher | $52,161 | $4,347 | $25.08 | 84,607 |
| Long Term Substitute Teacher | $42,808 | $3,567 | $20.58 | 69,133 |
| Learning Support Teacher | $33,914 | $2,826 | $16.30 | 120,054 |
| Early Childhood Teacher | $33,205 | $2,767 | $15.96 | 56,821 |
| Summer School Teacher | $52,828 | $4,402 | $25.40 | 86,467 |
| Infant And Toddler Teacher | $29,606 | $2,467 | $14.23 | 63,094 |
Top companies hiring master teachers now:
Master teacher salaries at New York University and Children's Hospital Los Angeles are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average master teacher salary at companies like Truckee Meadows Community College and Auburn City Schools are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York University | $87,195 | $41.92 |
| 2 | Children's Hospital Los Angeles | $63,930 | $30.74 |
| 3 | Truckee Meadows Community College | $61,141 | $29.39 |
| 4 | Auburn City Schools | $57,705 | $27.74 |
| 5 | AppleTree Institute for Education Innovation | $50,780 | $24.41 |
| 6 | Caddo Hills Schools | $48,837 | $23.48 |
| 7 | Marlboro Central School District | $47,897 | $23.03 |
| 8 | City of San Antonio | $47,310 | $22.75 |
| 9 | Boston Higashi School | $45,101 | $21.68 |
| 10 | Think Together | $44,727 | $21.50 |
| 11 | Children's Home & Aid | $44,495 | $21.39 |
| 12 | Cardinal McCloskey Community Services | $44,080 | $21.19 |
| 13 | Chicago International Charter School | $41,844 | $20.12 |
| 14 | Wayne RESA | $41,362 | $19.89 |
| 15 | Telamon | $39,815 | $19.14 |
| 16 | Ymca Of Metropolitan Atlanta | $39,448 | $18.97 |
| 17 | Crystal Stairs | $38,387 | $18.46 |
| 18 | Learning Care Group | $37,712 | $18.13 |
| 19 | County of Contra Costa | $35,052 | $16.85 |
| 20 | North Country School | $33,683 | $16.19 |
The average master teacher salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Education | $43,635 | $20.98 |
| 2 | Professional | $41,908 | $20.15 |
| 3 | Non Profits | $41,080 | $19.75 |
| 4 | Hospitality | $33,332 | $16.02 |
The average master teacher salary has risen by $5,144 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average master teacher earned $33,555 annually, but today, they earn $38,699 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for master teachers over the last decade.
Compare master teacher salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare master teacher salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $38,700 | $18.61 | +2.1% |
| 2025 | $37,900 | $18.22 | +2.4% |
| 2024 | $37,000 | $17.78 | +1.8% |
| 2023 | $36,300 | $17.45 | +2.4% |
| 2022 | $35,400 | $17.04 | +1.6% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Think Together | Early Learning Master Teacher | San Jose, CA | 06/29/2025 | $62,610 |
| Creation Kingdom | Master Teacher-Creation Kingdom | Shawnee, OK | 06/26/2025 | $29,218 |
| Drama Kids Intl | Master Job Profile-Teacher | Van Alstyne, TX | 06/09/2025 | $41,740 |
| Think Together | Early Learning Master Teacher | San Jose, CA | 05/28/2025 | $62,610 |
| United Cerebral Palsy of Central Florida | Master Teacher-K-12Th Grade | Orlando, FL | 05/20/2025 | $50,000 |
| Chicago Youth Centers | Master Teacher | Chicago, IL | 05/17/2025 | $50,000 |
| Drama Kids Intl | Master Job Profile-Teacher | Van Alstyne, TX | 05/03/2025 | $41,740 |
| Think Together | Early Learning Master Teacher | San Jose, CA | 04/30/2025 | $62,610 |
| Drama Kids Intl | Master Job Profile-Teacher | Denison, TX | 04/28/2025 | $41,740 |
| Phalen Leadership Academies | SY Master Teacher-Greater Heights Academy | Flint, MI | 04/28/2025 | $95,000 |
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