Employment Spot

Teacher Salaries by State

Every few years the American Federation of Teachers releases a Teacher Salary Trends report about teacher salaries across the United States.  This information helps teachers decide where to teach and how much they should earn.  The latest report indicated that the average teacher salary was $47,602.  The Federation indicated that unfortunately, teachers are struggling to find housing in their areas that they can afford on their salaries.  As more teachers pursue additional education after receiving their bachelor’s degree, their student loan debt increases dramatically.  New teachers may not start at an average teacher salary and could therefore struggle even more than veteran teachers, who may have higher salaries.

In a profession with increasingly high turnover and recruiting issues, boosting the salaries of new teachers could help to increase the amount of time they spend with a particular school or school district. Additionally, wide discrepancies between teacher salaries from region to region also affect the likelihood that a qualified teacher will work for a school with low salaries. Some school districts offer high teacher salaries and great benefits, while others do not. With the rising price of gas and other inflation, teachers must make difficult choices when considering where to work. Again, the discrepancy in teacher salary from district to district can hinder the likelihood of retaining veteran teachers. Before accepting a position, teachers should research the salaries from district to district in their areas. Ask other teachers where they enjoy working and for a list of pros and cons of a particular school or school district.

The most recent report included a list of teacher salaries by state. The state with the highest average teacher salary was Connecticut, at $57,760. California was a very close second, where the average teacher salary is $57,604. New Jersey teachers make approximately $56,635 per year. Rounding out the top five were Illinois and Rhode Island, with the average teacher salary at $56,494 and $56,432, respectively. The state with the lowest average teacher salary was South Dakota, at $34,039.

According to CBSalary.com, the average teacher salary by city was as follows:

• Springfield, IL - $48,015
• Chicago, IL - $53,713
• Atlanta, GA - $35,903
• Savannah, GA - $25,008
• Orlando, FL - $31,684
• Tampa, FL - $36,630
• Miami, FL - $34,501

Teacher salary also varies according to education level of the teacher. A teacher with a four year bachelor’s degree may make less than a teacher with a master’s degree. The ranges for teacher salary in Chicago, IL vary from $37,372 to $89,620. This wide range obviously incorporates education level and experience of a multitude of teachers. Teacher salary also depends on what school level or subject teachers specialize in. A secondary school teacher may make more than a primary school teacher. In Chicago, a primary school teacher makes approximately $44,480. A secondary school teacher makes about $4,000 more, or $48,180. The average mathematics teacher makes $38,211, while the average science teacher makes $62,391. These teachers may make up to $52,977 or $87,946, respectively. A history teacher at the secondary level makes $38,256. The highest reported income for a history teacher in Chicago is $53,106. These wide ranges include teachers in public and private institutions at a variety of experience levels.

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