Elementary School Teacher Salaries by State (2025 Data + Comparison Table)

Today, I want to have a straightforward conversation about something that matters to a lot of elementary school teachers and educators across the United States: fairness of salaries. As someone who works closely with elementary school teachers and has seen their dedication firsthand, I believe it’s crucial to highlight the realities of compensation across the U.S. and how it impacts our education system as a whole. Let's get started...

Key Insights of Salary Date in 2025

Based on my initial overview, it seems that elementary school teacher salaries vary widely from state to state. Now, salaries aren’t just a matter of numbers—it’s about how much we, as a society, value the people who shape the next generation. These are some of the numbers I could find based on the all the states I found from Salary.com:

Higher-paying states like California (average $95,000), New York ($92,000), and Massachusetts ($91,000) set a strong benchmark when it comes to salaries for elementary school teachers. However, the cost of living in these states often offsets the benefits of these higher salaries. A teacher in San Francisco may earn a significant paycheck but still struggle with the cost of housing.
Mid-range states like Texas ($60,000) and Georgia ($64,000) provide somewhat better alignment between salaries and living costs. These states offer a middle ground, though challenges remain for many teachers.
Lower-paying states such as Mississippi ($53,000) and South Dakota ($53,000) present a stark contrast. Teachers in these states often face financial challenges despite their critical roles in shaping young minds.

State	Average Salary	Range (Low to High)	Cost of Living Impact
Alabama	$54,271	$45,000 - $60,000	Low
Alaska	$76,371	$65,000 - $90,000	High
Arizona	$60,275	$50,000 - $70,000	Moderate
Arkansas	$54,309	$45,000 - $60,000	Low
California	$95,160	$80,000 - $110,000	High
Colorado	$60,775	$50,000 - $72,000	Moderate
Connecticut	$83,400	$70,000 - $95,000	High
Delaware	$68,787	$55,000 - $75,000	Moderate
Florida	$53,098	$45,000 - $60,000	Moderate
Georgia	$64,461	$52,000 - $75,000	Moderate
Hawaii	$70,947	$60,000 - $80,000	High
Idaho	$56,365	$45,000 - $65,000	Moderate
Illinois	$73,916	$60,000 - $85,000	Moderate
Indiana	$57,015	$47,000 - $67,000	Moderate
Iowa	$61,231	$50,000 - $70,000	Moderate
Kansas	$56,481	$46,000 - $65,000	Moderate
Kentucky	$56,296	$45,000 - $65,000	Moderate
Louisiana	$54,248	$44,000 - $63,000	Low
Maine	$59,964	$50,000 - $70,000	Moderate
Maryland	$79,420	$65,000 - $90,000	High
Massachusetts	$91,000	$76,000 - $102,000	High
Michigan	$67,011	$55,000 - $75,000	Moderate
Minnesota	$70,005	$58,000 - $82,000	Moderate
Mississippi	$53,354	$40,000 - $57,000	Low
Missouri	$53,999	$43,000 - $63,000	Low
Montana	$55,909	$45,000 - $65,000	Moderate
Nebraska	$58,763	$48,000 - $68,000	Moderate
Nevada	$61,719	$50,000 - $72,000	Moderate
New Hampshire	$64,169	$53,000 - $75,000	Moderate
New Jersey	$81,102	$68,000 - $95,000	High
New Mexico	$63,580	$52,000 - $73,000	Moderate
New York	$92,696	$78,000 - $105,000	High
North Carolina	$56,559	$45,000 - $65,000	Moderate
North Dakota	$56,792	$45,000 - $65,000	Moderate
Ohio	$66,390	$55,000 - $75,000	Moderate
Oklahoma	$55,505	$45,000 - $63,000	Low
Oregon	$72,476	$62,000 - $85,000	Moderate
Pennsylvania	$74,945	$62,000 - $87,000	Moderate
Rhode Island	$79,289	$65,000 - $90,000	Moderate
South Carolina	$57,778	$46,000 - $67,000	Moderate
South Dakota	$53,153	$40,000 - $55,000	Low
Tennessee	$55,369	$45,000 - $65,000	Moderate
Texas	$60,716	$50,000 - $70,000	Moderate
Utah	$63,481	$52,000 - $74,000	Moderate
Vermont	$66,536	$55,000 - $75,000	Moderate
Virginia	$63,103	$52,000 - $72,000	Moderate
Washington	$86,804	$75,000 - $98,000	High
West Virginia	$52,870	$42,000 - $60,000	Low
Wisconsin	$62,524	$51,000 - $73,000	Moderate
Wyoming	$61,979	$50,000 - $72,000	Moderate

Why Do Salaries Vary So Much?

The differences in teacher pay stem from a few key factors:

State Budgets: Some states prioritize education funding, allowing for higher teacher salaries. Others allocate fewer resources, leading to lower pay.
Cost of Living: Salaries are often reflective of the living expenses in a given area. States with higher costs of living tend to pay more, though it doesn’t always translate to better financial security.
Union Strength: States with strong teacher unions often negotiate better pay, benefits, and working conditions.
Education Priorities: Local governments and school districts vary in how much emphasis they place on competitive salaries for educators.

The Challenges Teachers Face

Elementary school teachers across the country are facing many challenges (Image Credit: Plytime)

For many teachers, their salaries simply don’t match the demands of their profession nor the cost of living in their cities and towns. Beyond lesson planning and classroom management, they often take on extra responsibilities like mentoring, coaching, tutoring, or in some cases: buying supplies out of their own pockets!

Take Sarah, for example, a fifth-grade teacher in Florida which I've met a long time ago at a conference. She spends hundreds of dollars every year on classroom tools and materials. While she loves her students and her job, the financial strain sometimes makes it hard to focus entirely on teaching. “I want to give my students everything they need, but sometimes it feels like I’m doing it at my own expense,” she shared.

Another teacher I've met, Erin, works in California and earns close to the state average. Yet, she shares an apartment with two roommates because rent prices in her area are so high. “I’m doing what I love, but it’s tough to feel secure financially,” she explained.

Why This Matters

Teachers are the backbone of our education system. Their work has a direct impact on the future of our children and, by extension, our communities. Yet, when teachers struggle financially, it affects their ability to perform at their best. This isn’t just about fairness—it’s about creating an environment where educators can focus on teaching without constant financial stress.

Our nation is currently facing a teacher shortage, and low wages are a significant factor contributing to this shortage across the country. Raising salaries could be a key solution to addressing this issue. CBS News delves deeper into this topic in their insightful video...

‍

I co-founded EssayGrader AI to help alleviate some of the workload teachers face, like grading, feedback reports, and administrative tasks, so they can focus more on teaching. But no amount of innovation can replace the need for fair compensation. Teachers deserve to be valued not just in words, but in the paychecks they take home.

Concrete Policy Recommendations

To address the disparities in teacher pay, we need actionable solutions. Here are some ideas I can think of:

Create National Standards: Introduce a federally mandated minimum salary for teachers, adjusted for cost of living.
Incentivize Teaching in Low-Income Areas: Offer higher pay, student loan forgiveness, and housing subsidies to attract and retain teachers in underserved regions across our country.
Increase Education Funding: Advocate for larger state and federal budgets dedicated to teacher salaries and classroom resources.
Tax Breaks for Teachers: Provide tax credits for classroom supplies and professional development expenses.

The Role of Technology in Supporting Teachers

While fair pay is essential, technology can also alleviate some of the burdens teachers face. Platforms like EssayGrader AI:

Save teachers hours by automating grading tasks.
Offer personalized feedback to students, enhancing learning outcomes.
Provide analytics to help teachers identify trends and adapt their teaching strategies.

By reducing workload, technology empowers teachers to focus more on their students and less on administrative tasks. School boards should give their teachers and educators access to such AI tools that can help alleviate some of their workload.

A Personal Note & Final Thoughts

I wouldn’t be where I am today without the teachers who encouraged me. My fifth-grade teacher, Mrs. Patel, noticed my interest in writing and nurtured it in small but meaningful ways. That experience stayed with me and inspired me to create tools that help teachers do what they do best—educate, inspire, and make a difference.

If you’re a teacher, I want to thank you for the incredible work you do. Your efforts make a profound difference, even when the challenges seem overwhelming. At EssayGrader AI, we’re here to support you, not just with tools to make your job easier but also by advocating for a future where every teacher is fairly compensated.

Let’s work together to build a system that values teachers as much as they deserve. After all, when teachers thrive, so do our children and communities.

‍