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The average salary for a middle school art teacher is $52,198 per year, or approximately $25 per hour. This figure reflects the diverse roles and responsibilities these educators hold, from lesson planning to fostering creativity in students. Salaries can vary significantly based on factors such as experience, geographic location, and school type.
Compensation for middle school art teachers often depends on their level of education and years of experience. Entry-level teachers may start at lower salaries, while those with advanced degrees and several years in the field can command higher pay. In addition, teachers often receive benefits such as health insurance and retirement plans, which contribute to overall compensation.
States like California, New York, and Massachusetts typically offer higher salaries for middle school art teachers compared to other states. Urban districts often pay more due to higher living costs and a greater demand for qualified educators. Understanding the salary landscape can help prospective teachers choose the best locations for their careers.
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The average middle school art teacher salary in New York, Washington, and Connecticut are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average middle school art teacher salary states are Nebraska, Indiana, and Mississippi.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $72,256 | $34.74 |
| 2 | New York | $75,019 | $36.07 |
| 3 | Maryland | $66,558 | $32.00 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $63,594 | $30.57 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $62,393 | $30.00 |
| 6 | Vermont | $60,103 | $28.90 |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $73,297 | $35.24 |
| 8 | Washington | $72,819 | $35.01 |
| 9 | Maine | $67,236 | $32.33 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $66,244 | $31.85 |
| 11 | Alaska | $62,750 | $30.17 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | $56,384 | $27.11 |
| 13 | Illinois | $51,482 | $24.75 |
| 14 | Oklahoma | $51,937 | $24.97 |
| 15 | Nevada | $49,241 | $23.67 |
| 16 | Virginia | $58,657 | $28.20 |
| 17 | Delaware | $51,886 | $24.95 |
| 18 | Michigan | $49,380 | $23.74 |
| 19 | North Dakota | $54,953 | $26.42 |
| 20 | Kentucky | $53,445 | $25.69 |
| 21 | Oregon | $50,075 | $24.07 |
| 22 | Kansas | $48,321 | $23.23 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $50,848 | $24.45 |
| 24 | California | $56,440 | $27.13 |
| 25 | Texas | $48,162 | $23.15 |
| 26 | Arkansas | $49,030 | $23.57 |
| 27 | Minnesota | $47,213 | $22.70 |
| 28 | South Carolina | $47,404 | $22.79 |
| 29 | Utah | $49,767 | $23.93 |
| 30 | Wyoming | $46,061 | $22.14 |
| 31 | Georgia | $49,085 | $23.60 |
| 32 | New Hampshire | $44,851 | $21.56 |
| 33 | Ohio | $48,083 | $23.12 |
| 34 | West Virginia | $48,369 | $23.25 |
| 35 | Montana | $42,442 | $20.40 |
| 36 | Missouri | $45,252 | $21.76 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $45,110 | $21.69 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $45,034 | $21.65 |
| 39 | Colorado | $43,701 | $21.01 |
| 40 | New Mexico | $42,686 | $20.52 |
| 41 | Florida | $46,053 | $22.14 |
| 42 | Iowa | $44,413 | $21.35 |
| 43 | Hawaii | $51,005 | $24.52 |
| 44 | Alabama | $45,467 | $21.86 |
| 45 | Nebraska | $42,167 | $20.27 |
| 46 | Arizona | $38,401 | $18.46 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $43,233 | $20.79 |
| 48 | Idaho | $40,236 | $19.34 |
| 49 | Indiana | $40,421 | $19.43 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $40,338 | $19.39 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $35,687 | $17.16 |
The highest-paying cities for middle school art teachers are New York, NY, Washington, DC, and Frederick, MD.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $75,411 | $36.26 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $73,270 | $35.23 |
| 3 | Frederick, MD | $66,485 | $31.96 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $65,946 | $31.70 |
| 5 | Paramus, NJ | $62,087 | $29.85 |
| 6 | Santa Rosa, CA | $59,629 | $28.67 |
| 7 | Edmond, OK | $51,953 | $24.98 |
| 8 | Corvallis, OR | $50,367 | $24.21 |
| 9 | Detroit, MI | $49,706 | $23.90 |
| 10 | Austin, TX | $48,304 | $23.22 |
| 11 | Columbus, OH | $47,770 | $22.97 |
| 12 | Saint Louis, MO | $45,540 | $21.89 |
| 13 | Greeley, CO | $43,931 | $21.12 |
| 14 | Baton Rouge, LA | $43,284 | $20.81 |
| 15 | Albuquerque, NM | $42,678 | $20.52 |
| 16 | Phoenix, AZ | $38,441 | $18.48 |
A middle school art teacher's salary ranges from $36,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $73,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $73,000 | $6,083 | $35 |
| 75th Percentile | $62,000 | $5,167 | $30 |
| Average | $52,198 | $4,350 | $25 |
| 25th Percentile | $43,000 | $3,583 | $21 |
| 10th Percentile | $36,000 | $3,000 | $17 |
The highest paying types of middle school art teachers are science teacher, student teacher, and reading teacher.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher | $47,989 | $3,999 | $23.07 | 71,918 |
| Reading Teacher | $55,452 | $4,621 | $26.66 | 68,234 |
| Head Teacher | $51,715 | $4,310 | $24.86 | 73,756 |
| Resource Teacher | $43,487 | $3,624 | $20.91 | 73,796 |
| ESL Teacher | $52,701 | $4,392 | $25.34 | 63,897 |
| Science Teacher | $59,788 | $4,982 | $28.74 | 71,133 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for middle school art 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 middle school art teachers now:
Middle school art teacher salaries at The Nueva School and California State University are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average middle school art teacher salary at companies like Santa Rosa City Schools and Piedmont Unified School District are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Nueva School | $77,400 | $37.21 |
| 2 | California State University | $67,056 | $32.24 |
| 3 | Santa Rosa City Schools | $59,848 | $28.77 |
| 4 | Piedmont Unified School District | $59,647 | $28.68 |
| 5 | Sheridan School District | $57,116 | $27.46 |
| 6 | San José Unified School District | $56,638 | $27.23 |
| 7 | California Academy of Sciences | $55,630 | $26.75 |
| 8 | South Orange-Maplewood School District | $55,472 | $26.67 |
| 9 | Bright Star Schools | $55,250 | $26.56 |
| 10 | Connections Academy | $55,197 | $26.54 |
| 11 | Centennial BOCES | $54,788 | $26.34 |
| 12 | St. Clare Catholic School | $54,278 | $26.10 |
| 13 | Edmond Public Schools | $54,272 | $26.09 |
| 14 | Paulding County High School | $54,080 | $26.00 |
| 15 | KIPP Massachusetts | $54,032 | $25.98 |
| 16 | KIPP Austin Public Schools | $53,966 | $25.95 |
| 17 | Democracy Prep Public Schools | $53,839 | $25.88 |
| 18 | Camino Nuevo Charter Academy | $53,537 | $25.74 |
| 19 | Travis Unified School District | $53,371 | $25.66 |
| 20 | KIPP DC | $52,917 | $25.44 |
The average middle school art teacher salary has risen by $6,592 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average middle school art teacher earned $45,606 annually, but today, they earn $52,198 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for middle school art teachers over the last decade.
Compare middle school art teacher salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare middle school art teacher salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $52,200 | $25.10 | +1.9% |
| 2025 | $51,200 | $24.62 | +1.8% |
| 2024 | $50,300 | $24.18 | +1.5% |
| 2023 | $49,500 | $23.82 | +1.7% |
| 2022 | $48,700 | $23.41 | +1.5% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Get It Recruit-Educational Services | Program Middle School Language Arts Teacher-Remote | WFH | Knoxville, TN | 06/29/2025 | $40,000 |
| Calvary Chapel Fellowship | Middle School/High School Art Teacher | West Melbourne, FL | 06/28/2025 | $35,000 |
| Crowley ISD | Middle School Theatre Art Teacher | Nome, TX | 06/28/2025 | $61,810 |
| Bullis School | Middle School Language Arts Teacher | Potomac, MD | 06/27/2025 | $65,000 |
| Middletown Township Public Schools | Middle School Language Arts Teacher-Replacement | Leonardo, NJ | 06/27/2025 | $60,023 |
| Northern Burlington County Regional School District | Middle School Language Arts Teacher (Full Year Leave Replacement) | Juliustown, NJ | 06/26/2025 | $64,200 |
| Paramus Public Schools | Anticipated Leave Replacement Middle School Teacher of Language Arts | Paramus, NJ | 06/25/2025 | $57,547 |
| California Department of Education-State Special Schools | Middle School Bilingual Language Arts Teacher | Riverside, CA | 06/24/2025 | $57,240 |
| Charter Oak Recruitment | Teacher, Renaissance Academy Charter School of The Arts | Rochester, NY | 06/20/2025 | $52,000 |
| Becker Public Schools | Art Teacher-Middle School | Nore, MN | 06/19/2025 | $47,057 |
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