Teacher / K-12 Salary.
Across 81 U.S. cities.
$62,000
national median salary
$51,000 to $79,000. Last updated July 2026.
Highest Paying
$85,000
San Jose, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$65,000
Honolulu, HI
Lowest Paying
$49,000
Charleston, WV
Salary data sourced from Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, H-1B Labor Condition Applications (DOL), state pay-transparency job postings, and community submissions. Most ranges are anchored to BLS OES occupation wage percentiles and placed by seniority level (entry near the 25th, mid at the median, senior at the 75th); a minority of emerging roles retain a modeled estimate where BLS has no matching series. Cost-of-living adjustments use Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (2025 index). Last updated July 2026. Baseline derived from BLS SOC 25-2021. Full methodology.
The average Teacher / K-12 salary in the United States is $62,000 in 2026, with the full range spanning $51,000 at the 25th percentile to $79,000 at the 75th. San Jose pays the most at $85,000, while Honolulu offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. State and district funding levels, subject area specialization, and years of experience on the salary schedule create the widest pay differences.
Teacher / K-12 salary by city.
Skills that increase Teacher / K-12 pay.
The skills below command measurable salary premiums for Teacher / K-12s based on job posting data. Learning the top skill here could add $8,680 to your annual compensation.
≈ +$8,680 per year
≈ +$8,060 per year
≈ +$7,440 per year
≈ +$6,820 per year
≈ +$6,820 per year
≈ +$6,200 per year
≈ +$6,200 per year
≈ +$5,580 per year
What you should know.
State and district funding levels, subject area specialization, and years of experience on the salary schedule create the widest pay differences. STEM and special education teachers in high-cost-of-living districts earn the most. National Board Certification adds a stipend in many states.
First-year teachers earn $40,000 to $48,000 depending on state. Teachers with 10 to 15 years and a master's degree reach $55,000 to $65,000. Department Heads and Master Teachers earn $65,000 to $80,000, while Principals and Administrators command $85,000 to $120,000.
Benefits packages including pension plans, health insurance, and summer break add significant non-salary value often worth $15,000 to $25,000. Many teachers supplement income with tutoring, coaching stipends, or summer programs adding $3,000 to $10,000.
Total compensation breakdown.
Salary by company size
Remote salary adjustment
Remote Teacher / K-12s typically earn $56,000 (10% less than on-site). This reflects location-adjusted pay policies at companies using geographic salary bands. Some companies pay flat national rates regardless of location.
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Common questions about Teacher / K-12 pay.
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