Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Third grade teacher salary
Average third grade teacher salary
$46,886
Understanding Third Grade Teacher Salaries
The salary for a third grade teacher can significantly impact career decisions. As of October 2025, the average salary stands at $46,886 per year, translating to approximately $23 per hour. Factors influencing salary include geographic location, years of experience, and school district funding.
Top-Paying States
States like California and New York often provide higher salaries due to their cost of living and demand for skilled educators. In contrast, states with lower living costs may offer less but can still provide rewarding opportunities.
Salary Changes Over Time
Tracking salary trends over the years reveals that teaching salaries have seen gradual increases, aligning with inflation and educational funding changes. Understanding these trends can help aspiring teachers gauge their potential earnings.
Job Opportunities
Beyond salary, exploring various job opportunities in education can lead to fulfilling careers. Schools are often seeking dedicated professionals, and positions may extend beyond classroom teaching, including educational administration and support roles.
Let Zippi find your next third grade teacher job
Let Zippi find your next third grade teacher job
Where can a Third Grade Teacher earn more?
Third grade teacher salary estimates from across the web
Average third grade teacher salary by state
The average third grade teacher salary in New York, Massachusetts, and Connecticut are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average third grade teacher salary states are Maine, South Carolina, and Missouri.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for third grade teachers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $60,393 | $29.04 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $60,936 | $29.30 |
| 3 | New York | $73,945 | $35.55 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $64,286 | $30.91 |
| 5 | Maryland | $55,856 | $26.85 |
| 6 | Michigan | $52,796 | $25.38 |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $59,557 | $28.63 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $54,398 | $26.15 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $50,535 | $24.30 |
| 10 | New Mexico | $46,568 | $22.39 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $46,351 | $22.28 |
| 12 | Nebraska | $49,521 | $23.81 |
| 13 | California | $56,914 | $27.36 |
| 14 | Illinois | $46,148 | $22.19 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $52,376 | $25.18 |
| 16 | Alaska | $56,001 | $26.92 |
| 17 | Oregon | $52,499 | $25.24 |
| 18 | Montana | $45,407 | $21.83 |
| 19 | Wyoming | $44,720 | $21.50 |
| 20 | Washington | $50,477 | $24.27 |
| 21 | Utah | $49,427 | $23.76 |
| 22 | Delaware | $44,225 | $21.26 |
| 23 | Iowa | $43,015 | $20.68 |
| 24 | Vermont | $44,970 | $21.62 |
| 25 | Hawaii | $54,106 | $26.01 |
| 26 | Nevada | $39,221 | $18.86 |
| 27 | Texas | $42,205 | $20.29 |
| 28 | Ohio | $42,831 | $20.59 |
| 29 | Kentucky | $42,783 | $20.57 |
| 30 | Colorado | $40,731 | $19.58 |
| 31 | Virginia | $43,085 | $20.71 |
| 32 | Indiana | $39,178 | $18.84 |
| 33 | Arizona | $38,560 | $18.54 |
| 34 | Wisconsin | $41,005 | $19.71 |
| 35 | North Dakota | $42,696 | $20.53 |
| 36 | Florida | $39,323 | $18.91 |
| 37 | Alabama | $41,401 | $19.90 |
| 38 | Kansas | $37,538 | $18.05 |
| 39 | Louisiana | $40,862 | $19.65 |
| 40 | North Carolina | $38,382 | $18.45 |
| 41 | South Carolina | $36,736 | $17.66 |
| 42 | Tennessee | $37,538 | $18.05 |
| 43 | West Virginia | $38,942 | $18.72 |
| 44 | Idaho | $37,296 | $17.93 |
| 45 | Georgia | $37,070 | $17.82 |
| 46 | South Dakota | $37,046 | $17.81 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $32,923 | $15.83 |
| 48 | Maine | $36,818 | $17.70 |
| 49 | Missouri | $35,646 | $17.14 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $35,341 | $16.99 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $33,408 | $16.06 |
Highest paying cities for third grade teachers
The highest-paying cities for third grade teachers are New York, NY, New Haven, CT, and Bethesda, MD.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $74,137 | $35.64 |
| 2 | New Haven, CT | $61,147 | $29.40 |
| 3 | Bethesda, MD | $55,563 | $26.71 |
| 4 | Detroit, MI | $53,019 | $25.49 |
| 5 | Roseville, MN | $50,590 | $24.32 |
| 6 | Salt Lake City, UT | $49,327 | $23.71 |
| 7 | Albuquerque, NM | $46,707 | $22.46 |
| 8 | Fargo, ND | $42,770 | $20.56 |
| 9 | Dallas, TX | $41,943 | $20.16 |
| 10 | Lafayette, LA | $40,979 | $19.70 |
| 11 | Colorado Springs, CO | $40,604 | $19.52 |
| 12 | Tallahassee, FL | $39,426 | $18.95 |
| 13 | Indianapolis, IN | $38,945 | $18.72 |
| 14 | Las Vegas, NV | $38,877 | $18.69 |
| 15 | Winston-Salem, NC | $38,657 | $18.59 |
| 16 | Avondale, AZ | $38,639 | $18.58 |
| 17 | Duluth, GA | $37,212 | $17.89 |
| 18 | Columbia, SC | $36,873 | $17.73 |
Third grade teacher salary details
A third grade teacher's salary ranges from $33,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $64,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a third grade teacher's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $64,000 | $5,333 | $31 |
| 75th Percentile | $55,000 | $4,583 | $26 |
| Average | $46,886 | $3,907 | $23 |
| 25th Percentile | $39,000 | $3,250 | $19 |
| 10th Percentile | $33,000 | $2,750 | $16 |
Highest paying third grade teacher jobs
The highest paying types of third grade teachers are science teacher, student teacher, and reading teacher.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spanish Teacher | $52,445 | $4,370 | $25.21 | 54,666 |
| Biology Teacher | $51,721 | $4,310 | $24.87 | 68,958 |
| ESL Teacher | $52,701 | $4,392 | $25.34 | 63,897 |
| Certified Teacher | $50,708 | $4,226 | $24.38 | 92,051 |
| Math And Science Teacher | $46,589 | $3,882 | $22.40 | 71,273 |
| Math Teacher | $51,088 | $4,257 | $24.56 | 59,347 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for third grade 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 third grade teachers now:
Which companies pay third grade teachers the most?
Third grade teacher salaries at NORTH DAVIS PREPARATORY ACADEMY and Neighborhood Charter Schools are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average third grade teacher salary at companies like Montgomery County Public Schools and Legacy Traditional Schools are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NORTH DAVIS PREPARATORY ACADEMY | $59,362 | $28.54 |
| 2 | Neighborhood Charter Schools | $55,238 | $26.56 |
| 3 | Montgomery County Public Schools | $54,224 | $26.07 |
| 4 | Legacy Traditional Schools | $50,743 | $24.40 |
| 5 | Charter Schools USA | $50,683 | $24.37 |
| 6 | Winston Salem Forsyth County | $49,225 | $23.67 |
| 7 | Roaring Fork School District | $48,386 | $23.26 |
| 8 | Fargo Public Schools | $46,712 | $22.46 |
| 9 | Connections Academy | $46,369 | $22.29 |
| 10 | Albuquerque Academy | $45,878 | $22.06 |
| 11 | Zeeland Christian School | $45,344 | $21.80 |
| 12 | Jeffrey C Still Middle School | $44,057 | $21.18 |
| 13 | Roseville Area Schools | $43,867 | $21.09 |
| 14 | Dallas International School | $42,931 | $20.64 |
| 15 | Wayne RESA | $42,648 | $20.50 |
| 16 | Atlas Preparatory School | $40,667 | $19.55 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Third grade teacher salary trends
The average third grade teacher salary has risen by $6,232 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average third grade teacher earned $40,654 annually, but today, they earn $46,886 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for third grade teachers over the last decade.
Compare third grade teacher salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average third grade teacher salary over time
Compare third grade teacher salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Third grade teacher salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $46,900 | $22.54 | +2.1% |
| 2024 | $45,900 | $22.07 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $44,800 | $21.54 | +1.8% |
| 2022 | $44,000 | $21.14 | +2.4% |
| 2021 | $42,900 | $20.64 | +1.6% |
Recently added third grade teacher salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth Public Schools | Grade 1 Teacher FTE | Nore, MN | 06/28/2025 | $44,833 |
| Lawrence Public Schools | Slee Grade 3 Teacher | Lawrence, MA | 06/27/2025 | $56,415 |
| Manor Independent School District | Third Grade Teacher | Nome, TX | 06/26/2025 | $57,669 |
| Salem-Keizer School District | Esol Teacher-Grade TBD | Salem, OR | 06/22/2025 | $50,011 |
| Nashua School District | Grade 3 Teacher | Nashua, NH | 06/22/2025 | $44,200 |
| Leona Group Schools | Third Grade Teacher In The West Valley | Youngtown, AZ | 06/21/2025 | $48,000 |
| St. Andrews School | Third Grade Teacher | Saratoga, CA | 06/20/2025 | $75,082 |
| Dcsdk12 | Teacher-Grade 5-K-5 (Apply Directly With Aspen View Academy-DO NOT Apply Online With Dcsd) | Castle Rock, CO | 06/18/2025 | $52,440 |
| Salem-Keizer Public Schools | Grade 3 Teacher | Ione, OR | 06/15/2025 | $50,011 |
| Educate Kansas | Third Grade Teacher | Bucklin, KS | 06/14/2025 | $42,500 |
Third grade teacher salary FAQs
Search for third grade teacher jobs