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The average salary for a Religion Teacher in the United States is $63,400 annually, translating to about $30 per hour. Factors influencing this salary include geographic location, years of experience, and the type of educational institution. For example, teachers in private religious schools may earn differently compared to those in public institutions.
Understanding state-level salary differences is crucial for prospective Religion Teachers. Some of the highest-paying states include:
These states not only offer competitive salaries but also a diverse range of job opportunities. Furthermore, teachers with advanced degrees or certifications may command higher salaries.
In addition to traditional teaching roles, Religion Teachers can explore opportunities in counseling, administration, and curriculum development. These roles often provide additional avenues for career advancement and salary increase.
As education continues to evolve, the demand for qualified Religion Teachers remains strong, making this an appealing career choice for those passionate about imparting knowledge and values.
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The average religion teacher salary in California, New Jersey, and Connecticut are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average religion teacher salary states are Colorado, Arkansas, and Montana.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $75,355 | $36.23 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $89,691 | $43.12 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $68,038 | $32.71 |
| 4 | Delaware | $69,218 | $33.28 |
| 5 | Illinois | $67,260 | $32.34 |
| 6 | Florida | $67,598 | $32.50 |
| 7 | California | $80,760 | $38.83 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $67,527 | $32.46 |
| 9 | Oregon | $72,983 | $35.09 |
| 10 | Utah | $71,020 | $34.14 |
| 11 | Ohio | $65,306 | $31.40 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $75,168 | $36.14 |
| 13 | Indiana | $64,974 | $31.24 |
| 14 | North Dakota | $67,804 | $32.60 |
| 15 | New York | $65,437 | $31.46 |
| 16 | Maryland | $64,130 | $30.83 |
| 17 | North Carolina | $61,608 | $29.62 |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $64,422 | $30.97 |
| 19 | West Virginia | $63,476 | $30.52 |
| 20 | Nevada | $64,144 | $30.84 |
| 21 | Iowa | $59,418 | $28.57 |
| 22 | Michigan | $57,324 | $27.56 |
| 23 | Kansas | $58,472 | $28.11 |
| 24 | South Carolina | $58,149 | $27.96 |
| 25 | Alaska | $68,076 | $32.73 |
| 26 | Wisconsin | $58,778 | $28.26 |
| 27 | Oklahoma | $55,997 | $26.92 |
| 28 | Mississippi | $60,054 | $28.87 |
| 29 | New Hampshire | $56,606 | $27.21 |
| 30 | New Mexico | $56,286 | $27.06 |
| 31 | Texas | $57,295 | $27.55 |
| 32 | Arizona | $61,681 | $29.65 |
| 33 | Alabama | $58,356 | $28.06 |
| 34 | Missouri | $57,393 | $27.59 |
| 35 | Washington | $59,708 | $28.71 |
| 36 | Minnesota | $55,328 | $26.60 |
| 37 | Louisiana | $56,906 | $27.36 |
| 38 | Vermont | $58,055 | $27.91 |
| 39 | Idaho | $57,021 | $27.41 |
| 40 | Kentucky | $56,873 | $27.34 |
| 41 | Virginia | $55,359 | $26.61 |
| 42 | Colorado | $52,012 | $25.01 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $53,277 | $25.61 |
| 44 | Montana | $50,087 | $24.08 |
| 45 | Wyoming | $52,485 | $25.23 |
| 46 | Georgia | $52,105 | $25.05 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $51,737 | $24.87 |
| 48 | Tennessee | $49,443 | $23.77 |
| 49 | Hawaii | $52,196 | $25.09 |
| 50 | Maine | $48,043 | $23.10 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $49,063 | $23.59 |
The highest-paying cities for religion teachers are Washington, DC, San Francisco, CA, and Tampa, FL.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $89,678 | $43.11 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $83,313 | $40.05 |
| 3 | Tampa, FL | $69,712 | $33.52 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $67,722 | $32.56 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $66,981 | $32.20 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $65,967 | $31.71 |
| 7 | Providence, RI | $64,170 | $30.85 |
| 8 | Bloomington, IN | $63,728 | $30.64 |
| 9 | Cincinnati, OH | $62,203 | $29.91 |
| 10 | San Antonio, TX | $58,545 | $28.15 |
| 11 | Saint Louis, MO | $58,085 | $27.93 |
| 12 | Annandale, VA | $55,633 | $26.75 |
| 13 | Denver, CO | $51,886 | $24.95 |
| 14 | Mayagez, PR | $50,781 | $24.41 |
| 15 | Knoxville, TN | $50,210 | $24.14 |
A religion teacher's salary ranges from $41,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $97,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $97,000 | $8,083 | $47 |
| 75th Percentile | $79,000 | $6,583 | $38 |
| Average | $63,400 | $5,283 | $30 |
| 25th Percentile | $50,000 | $4,167 | $24 |
| 10th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
The highest paying types of religion teachers are biblical studies professor, associate professor of religious studies, and philosophy professor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Substitute Teacher | $32,904 | $2,742 | $15.82 | 69,292 |
| English Language Teacher | $57,831 | $4,819 | $27.80 | 74,779 |
| Language Teacher | $51,413 | $4,284 | $24.72 | 74,479 |
| Spanish Teacher | $52,445 | $4,370 | $25.21 | 54,666 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for religion teachers, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Dr. Corinne Bloch-Mullins Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Marquette University
Top companies hiring religion teachers now:
Religion teacher salaries at Providence College and City College of San Francisco are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average religion teacher salary at companies like University of Southern California and Lauralton Hall are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Providence College | $82,478 | $39.65 |
| 2 | City College of San Francisco | $75,681 | $36.39 |
| 3 | University of Southern California | $71,649 | $34.45 |
| 4 | Lauralton Hall | $71,052 | $34.16 |
| 5 | The University of Chicago | $70,734 | $34.01 |
| 6 | University of Massachusetts Boston | $68,258 | $32.82 |
| 7 | University of California-Berkeley | $67,523 | $32.46 |
| 8 | St Michael's Manchester | $62,973 | $30.28 |
| 9 | University of Michigan | $61,358 | $29.50 |
| 10 | State University of New York College at Cortland | $61,347 | $29.49 |
| 11 | Xavier University | $59,978 | $28.84 |
| 12 | University of Virginia | $58,433 | $28.09 |
| 13 | Boston College | $58,055 | $27.91 |
| 14 | Indiana University Bloomington | $54,319 | $26.11 |
| 15 | Southwestern University | $53,900 | $25.91 |
| 16 | Syracuse University | $53,045 | $25.50 |
| 17 | Rice University | $52,673 | $25.32 |
| 18 | University of North Carolina | $52,118 | $25.06 |
| 19 | Denison University | $50,360 | $24.21 |
| 20 | University of Tennessee | $46,683 | $22.44 |
The average religion teacher salary has risen by $9,207 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average religion teacher earned $54,193 annually, but today, they earn $63,400 a year. That works out to a 11% change in pay for religion teachers over the last decade.
Compare religion teacher salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare religion teacher salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $63,400 | $30.48 | +1.2% |
| 2024 | $62,600 | $30.11 | +4.5% |
| 2023 | $59,800 | $28.77 | +3.2% |
| 2022 | $57,900 | $27.85 | +1.8% |
| 2021 | $56,900 | $27.36 | +2.9% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois Association of School | Junior High Science & Religion Teacher | Streator, IL | 06/07/2025 | $30,000 |
| AOB | Teacher, Religion (EX) | Hagerstown, MD | 05/23/2025 | $40,000 |
| Archdiocese of Washington | Religion Teacher-Middle School-Little Flower School-Bethesda Maryland | Bethesda, MD | 03/25/2025 | $45,000 |
| Notre Dame Preparatory School | Upper Level Campus Minister Religion Teacher School Year | Towson, MD | 02/26/2025 | $48,000 |
| AOB | Teacher, Stem & Religion (EX)-Immaculate Heart of Mary School, Towson MD | Towson, MD | 02/23/2025 | $46,000 |
| Notredameprep | Middle Level Religion Teacher School Year) | Towson, MD | 02/15/2025 | $45,000 |
| Archdiocese of Washington | Religion Teacher-ST. Mary's School of Piscataway-Clinton Maryland | Clinton, MD | 02/11/2025 | $37,566 |
| Diocese of Austin Catholic Schools | Prek Classroom and Religion Teacher | Austin, TX | 02/08/2025 | $53,000 |
| California Department of Education | Upper School History & Religion Teacher | San Juan Capistrano, CA | 01/15/2025 | $69,000 |
| Catholicschoolsny | Teacher of Religion 11 and Religion 12 | New York, NY | 09/25/2024 | $55,000 |
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