Complete salary data for teachers by state, country, and subject area. Plus insights on the teacher shortage crisis and what it means for education.
The teaching profession in the United States shows significant variation in compensation, with salaries ranging from under $54,000 to over $101,000 depending on location, experience, and specialization.
High school teachers earn more on average due to subject specialization requirements, especially in STEM fields.
Public school teachers earn about $6,400 more than private school teachers on average, reflecting stronger collective bargaining power.
Teachers in states with strong collective bargaining rights earn 24% more than those in states without such protections.
Teacher salaries vary dramatically across the United States. A teacher in New York earns nearly twice as much as one in Mississippi. Here's the complete state-by-state breakdown.
A teacher in California ($101K) earns nearly double what a teacher in Mississippi ($54K) makes. The $47,000+ difference highlights stark regional disparities in how educators are valued and compensated.
Sources: NEA Educator Pay Data 2026, World Population Review
How do teacher salaries compare globally? OECD data reveals significant disparities, with some countries paying teachers more than double the average.
| Country | Starting Salary | After 15 Years | Top Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇱🇺 Luxembourg#1 | ~$100,000 | $137,418 | $173,165 |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | $63,000 | $82,000 | $95,000+ |
| 🇨🇭 Switzerland | $70,000 | $90,000 | $110,000+ |
| 🇺🇸 United States | $52,893 | $76,442 | $83,410 |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | $48,000 | $68,000 | $82,000 |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | $50,000 | $65,000 | $75,000 |
| OECD Average | $38,000 | $57,399 | $76,000 |
| 🇬🇷 GreeceLowest | $23,363 | $30,627 | $45,153 |
| 🇭🇺 Hungary | $16,137 | $22,000 | $28,000 |
The highest-paid teachers (Luxembourg at $173K) earn more than double the OECD average top salary of ~$76,000, highlighting how wide the global pay gap can be.
Between 2015 and 2023, teacher salaries in primary education increased in three-quarters of OECD countries, by 7% in real terms on average.
The United States faces a severe teacher shortage that continues to worsen. Low pay relative to other professions, challenging working conditions, and burnout are driving educators out of the field.
Source: Learning Policy Institute, 2025
Annual Teacher Turnover Rate
Turnover rates jumped to 14-16% in 2023-24, about 2 percentage points higher than pre-pandemic years. In Mississippi, turnover exceeded 23%.
Districts Struggled to Fill Positions
74% of districts had trouble filling open positions for 2024-25. Special education, science, and foreign language positions are hardest to fill.
Schools Hiring Underqualified Teachers
More than 40% of schools report having to hire underqualified teachers. Nearly 30% have increased class sizes, and 25% have cut course offerings.
Of Demand Comes from Attrition
Teacher attrition accounts for approximately 90% of annual demand for new teachers. Most openings are from teachers leaving, not enrollment growth.
Every state and DC reported shortages in multiple subject areas. The most commonly cited shortages:
Special Education
Science
Mathematics
Foreign Languages
Teacher salaries are primarily determined by state and local education budgets funded through tax revenue. Wealthier states and districts can afford higher salaries.
High-salary states like California and New York also have higher costs of living. Adjusted for purchasing power, the salary gap narrows somewhat.
States with strong teacher unions and collective bargaining rights consistently pay teachers 24% more than states without such protections.
STEM teachers and those with specialized credentials often earn more. Districts compete aggressively for qualified science and math teachers.
Adjusted for inflation, today's average teacher earns roughly 5.1% less than in 2015-16.
A decade of annual raises, and purchasing power still went backward. The nominal gains are real; the real gains are not. While salaries have increased numerically, teachers can buy less today than they could 10 years ago.