Teacher Salary, Career and Benefits Guide

Many people find teaching a rewarding career, as it offers the opportunity to help future generations learn and discover their passions. It may also offer stability and opportunities for salary growth, depending on your education and experience. This guide explains what you might expect from a teaching career, estimated salaries for teachers based on location and specialty, and how continued education, such as a master’s degree, may help you advance your teaching career.

Why Become a Teacher?

There are many reasons to become a teacher. Motivations to become a teacher might include:

• A passion for working with children, teens and young adults.
• A desire to pass on knowledge and inspire others to pursue their goals.
• A sense of enjoyment gained from working in a classroom/school environment.
• A love for learning and knowledge.
• Interest and expertise in subjects taught in educational environments.
• A desire for predictable work schedules and summers off from work, depending on the role.
• Interest in mentoring others and being a role model.
• A desire to work in a career in which every day brings new challenges and opportunities.
• The ability to see the direct results of your work.
• The opportunity to build relationships among students, parents, school leadership, other educators and communities.

Many people can remember and were influenced by at least one of the teachers they’ve had in school. A teaching career may allow professionals to directly influence their students and improve the lives of those they work with.

Types of Teaching Jobs and Careers in Education

Teachers work in a variety of educational environments. Teachers teach all ages, from primary school age through adulthood.

As a teacher, you might specialize in a certain subject and teach high school or postsecondary students. Elementary school teachers may teach a variety of subjects to a single class.

Teaching job titles vary. They include roles like:

• Preschool teachers
• Kindergarten teachers
• Early childhood educators
• Middle school teachers
• High school teachers
• English teachers
• ESL teachers (English as a second language)
• History teachers
• Math teachers
• Special education teachers
• Music teachers
• Science teachers
• Physical education teachers
• Adult and continuing education teachers

Some teachers pursue school leadership roles, such as principal, and become school administrators. As a teacher, you may stay in the classroom, change the age group or subject you teach, or move into administration. There are many opportunities for variety and career growth in education.

Degree Requirements for a Teaching Career

Unless you’re a teacher assistant, a bachelor’s degree is generally one of the requirements for becoming a teacher who works full-time in a classroom. Here are the types of education positions you might be able to pursue with each type of degree, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS):

• Bachelor’s degree/bachelor’s degree in education: Kindergarten and elementary general education school teacher, middle school teacher, high school teacher, special education teacher, English as a second language (ESL) teacher.
• Master's in teaching (MAT) or master's in education (MEd): Kindergarten and elementary school teacher, middle school teacher, high school teacher, special education teacher, ESL teacher. Learn more about MAT vs. MEd.
• Doctorate in education (EdD): While most states do not require kindergarten and elementary school teachers, middle school teachers, high school teachers, special education, or ESL teachers to obtain a doctoral degree, some may choose to pursue one. A doctorate may be required for a role as a postsecondary teacher. Learn more about EdD vs. PhD in Education.

To teach at the early childhood education/elementary education/secondary education level, you don’t necessarily need a bachelor’s degree or a Master of Education. While all states require public school teachers to be licensed or certified in the particular grade level that they will teach, all states offer an alternative route to licensure or certification for those who already have a bachelor’s degree but lack the education courses required for certification. With a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in another field, you may be able to obtain a teaching certificate to become a teacher.

If you’re interested in teaching ESL, you may want to research programs that prepare you for that specialty, like a Master of Arts in Teaching – TESOL program that helps prepare students to pass the standardized Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

If you want to teach a specific subject at a high school, community college or university, you might consider pursuing higher education in your subject of interest.

Other specialized degrees may help you pursue specific roles in education. For example, with a Master of Library Science, you might pursue a job as a school librarian. A Master’s in School Counseling may lead to a career as a school counselor.

If you want to teach at the college or university level, the BLS reports a doctoral degree in the field you teach may be required. Some community colleges and four-year colleges or universities may accept a master’s degree in lieu of a doctorate for teaching, such as when the teacher is pursuing a doctorate.

A master’s degree or higher is also typically required for administrator and educational leadership roles, such as elementary, middle and high school principals and postsecondary education administrators.

States with Best Teaching Salaries

The top-paying states for teachers depend on a variety of factors, including the demand, the cost of living and the teacher certification requirements by state. Using the most recent BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) state estimates (May 2024), the highest-paying states vary by grade level. Based on annual mean wage, the current top-paying states include:

• Elementary school teachers (except special education): California, Washington, New York, the District of Columbia, and Massachusetts.
• Middle school teachers (except special and career/technical education): Washington, California, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts.
• Secondary school teachers (except special and career/technical education): California, New York, Washington, Massachusetts, and New Jersey.

The following are the 2024 median annual wages for each role for the entire United States, according to the BLS.

• Elementary school teachers, except special education: $62,340
• Special education teachers: $64,270
• Kindergarten teachers, except special education: $61,430
• Middle school teachers: $62,970
• High school teachers: $64,580
• Postsecondary teachers: $83,980

The median annual wage for postsecondary teachers varies, depending on the subject you teach and the school environment. For example, the 2024 median annual wage for law teachers, postsecondary, was $126,650. For postsecondary teachers in state colleges, universities, and professional schools, the 2024 median annual wage was $85,650.

Top Average Elementary Teacher Salary

The best-paying states for elementary teachers tend to have salaries that reflect the cost of living and the demand for teachers in those states. The following are the 10 top-paying states for an elementary school teacher's mean salary as of May 2024, according to the BLS:

1. California: $93,150
2. Washington: $93,080
3. New York: $91,990
4. District of Columbia: $90,700
5. Massachusetts: $84,050
6. Connecticut: $82,420
7. New Jersey: $79,730
8. Rhode Island: $78,720
9. Alaska: $77,460
10. Oregon: $75,030

Top Average Middle School Teacher Salary

The best-paying states for middle school teachers tend to be similar to those of elementary school and high school teachers, due to cost of living and demand. The following are the May 2020 10 top-paying states for a middle school teacher mean salary according to the BLS:

1. Washington: $94,230
2. California: $92,840
3. New York: $92,640
4. Connecticut: $85,560
5. Massachusetts: $85,230
6. District of Columbia: $84,260
7. New Jersey: $79,750
8. Rhode Island: $79,310
9. Maryland: $79,000
10. Alaska: $78,550

Top Average High School Teacher Salary

A high school teacher salary will vary depending on your experience and where you live. According to the BLS, these were the 10 top-paying states for a high school teacher mean salary as of May 2020:

1. California: $102,040
2. New York: $97,730
3. Washington: $95,830
4. Massachusetts: $87,200
5. New Jersey: $84,800
6. District of Columbia: $82,310
7. Illinois: $82,100
8. Connecticut: $81,370
9. Rhode Island: $81,190
10. Alaska: $80,190

Top Average Postsecondary Business Teacher Salary

A postsecondary teacher's salary will depend on their education and experience level, where they live, and the type of school where they teach. College professors and university teachers in higher education may earn more, depending on the subject they teach. Because the BLS places each postsecondary subject in its own category, here’s a look at the 10 top-paying states for postsecondary teachers based on average annual wage as of May 2024. You can use this information as an example when evaluating all subjects.

1. Nebraska: $138,280
2. California: $122,860
3. New York: $116,220
4. Missouri: $114,850
5. New Jersey: $114,560
6. Massachusetts: $113,800
7. Hawaii: $107,190
8. Maryland: $102,380
9. Virginia: $101,140
10. Idaho: $98,560

Other Top Salaries in the Education Field

You may decide to use an education degree or higher education degree to pursue a different type of role in the education field, like school superintendent, college administrator or principal. Take a look at median annual salaries for other roles in education, as reported by the BLS in May 2020.

1. Adult basic and secondary education and ESL teachers: $59,950
2. Career and technical education teachers: $62,910
3. Child, family and school social workers: $58,570
4. Educational, guidance and career counselors and advisors: $65,140
5. Elementary, middle and high school principals: $104,070
6. Instructional coordinators: $74,720
7. Postsecondary education administrators: $103,960
8. School and career counselors: $65,140
9. School psychologists: $86,930
10. Special education teachers: $64,270

Teacher Benefits

There are many benefits of being a teacher, depending on your career goals and desired work environment. Typically, teachers are entitled to health insurance for themselves and their family members, including medical, dental and vision coverage. Teachers are also entitled to sick days and paid leave.

Another benefit of being a teacher is the work schedule. While many teachers work outside normal school hours, they typically have a set schedule for classroom time and any required office hours. For elementary, middle and high school teachers, there are also typically extended breaks for students and faculty, such as summer vacation and spring break.

With online capabilities, teachers may not be required to be in one location. Virtual schools and classes may enable teachers to teach from anywhere in the world.

Teaching can be a rewarding profession, but since it requires higher education, you may want answers to frequently asked questions about teaching before you commit to a teaching career. Here are some common questions about teaching careers.