How much are teachers paid?

USA Facts - Last year, the nationwide median annual wage for teachers — ranging from pre-K to high school — was about $65,100. For comparison, the median wage across all occupations in the US was about $51,000, or about 21.7% lower than the median wage for teachers. But, as any teacher would tell you, pay varies depending on grade level, state, and other factors. It’s back to school time, so let’s talk about the numbers.

Preschool teachers earned the least of all educators nationwide, with an annual average of $56,800. High school teachers earned the most at around $72,300. Teachers of students with disabilities earned between 2% to 16% more than general education teachers at the same grade level.

Median salaries for high school teachers ranged from $48,700 in Oklahoma to $102,700 in Washington state. Washington, DC, outpaced every state for preschool teacher pay at $97,400. Alabama had the lowest median at $34,100. You can view teacher pay in your state here.