The U.S. Constitution does not guarantee the right to an education. Though the federal government has set some academic standards, education policy is set largely at the state and local levels. State governments have authority over public school curriculums, teaching methods, instructional materials, and, in conjunction with local districts, teacher pay.
Without national compensation standards, average salaries for teachers across the country vary considerably. Depending on the state, the average teacher salary ranges from as little as $45,300 to more than $85,000. The disparity in average teacher salary is less stark after adjusting for cost of living, yet it is still substantial, with a nearly $25,000 difference between the state with the highest average and the state with the lowest.
Using data on elementary, middle, and high school pay from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 24/7 Wall St. identified the states paying teachers the most and the least. States are ranked based on weighted average annual compensation for all teachers, adjusted for cost of living. The states paying teachers the most tend to be concentrated in the Northeast, while those that pay the least tend to be in the Southern and Western United States. Nationwide, the average annual salary for teachers stands at $65,977.
Teacher compensation accounts for a large portion of annual education spending, and partially as a result, the states paying their teachers the least also tend to be those spending less overall on education, on a per student basis. Depending on the state, total per pupil education spending ranges from about $7,600 to over $24,000. Here is a look at the school district where students are least likely to succeed in every state.
While the relationship between education spending and student performance is complicated, some research suggests that greater spending leads to better outcomes. There are notable exceptions, but in general, states that pay teachers higher salaries tend to have high school graduation rates higher than the 85.3% national average. Here is a look at the best public high school in each state.
Click here to see the states paying teachers most and least.
Click here to read our detailed methodology.
1. Connecticut
> Avg. teacher salary: $75,493 cost of living adj. ($79,466 not adj. — 4th highest)
> Avg. salary; all workers: $62,178 cost of living adj. — 2nd highest ($65,450 not adj. — 5th highest)
> Annual school spending: $20,635 per pupil (2nd highest)
> High school graduation rate: 80.8% (8th lowest)
> Cost of living: 5.0% greater than nat’l avg. (10th highest)
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2. Massachusetts
> Avg. teacher salary: $75,357 cost of living adj. ($84,104 not adj. — 3rd highest)
> Avg. salary; all workers: $62,729 cost of living adj. — the highest ($70,010 not adj. — the highest)
> Annual school spending: $17,058 per pupil (6th highest)
> High school graduation rate: 87.1% (19th highest)
> Cost of living: 10.4% greater than nat’l avg. (5th highest)
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3. Rhode Island
> Avg. teacher salary: $73,410 cost of living adj. ($74,377 not adj. — 9th highest)
> Avg. salary; all workers: $59,457 cost of living adj. — 7th highest ($60,240 not adj. — 10th highest)
> Annual school spending: $16,121 per pupil (10th highest)
> High school graduation rate: 85.9% (24th lowest)
> Cost of living: 1.3% greater than nat’l avg. (14th highest)
4. Ohio
> Avg. teacher salary: $72,742 cost of living adj. ($65,181 not adj. — 17th highest)
> Avg. salary; all workers: $57,485 cost of living adj. — 13th highest ($51,510 not adj. — 25th highest)
> Annual school spending: $13,027 per pupil (17th highest)
> High school graduation rate: 88.1% (14th highest)
> Cost of living: 11.6% less than nat’l avg. (9th lowest)
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5. New York
> Avg. teacher salary: $72,722 cost of living adj. ($86,884 not adj. — the highest)
> Avg. salary; all workers: $56,790 cost of living adj. — 15th highest ($67,850 not adj. — 2nd highest)
> Annual school spending: $24,040 per pupil (the highest)
> High school graduation rate: 73.9% (2nd lowest)
> Cost of living: 16.3% greater than nat’l avg. (3rd highest)
6. Virginia
> Avg. teacher salary: $72,076 cost of living adj. ($73,026 not adj. — 10th highest)
> Avg. salary; all workers: $59,378 cost of living adj. — 8th highest ($60,160 not adj. — 11th highest)
> Annual school spending: $12,216 per pupil (24th highest)
> High school graduation rate: 85.1% (22nd lowest)
> Cost of living: 1.3% greater than nat’l avg. (14th highest)
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7. Alaska
> Avg. teacher salary: $72,019 cost of living adj. ($75,889 not adj. — 6th highest)
> Avg. salary; all workers: $58,610 cost of living adj. — 10th highest ($61,760 not adj. — 8th highest)
> Annual school spending: $17,726 per pupil (5th highest)
> High school graduation rate: 90.0% (5th highest)
> Cost of living: 5.1% greater than nat’l avg. (9th highest)
8. Maryland
> Avg. teacher salary: $71,838 cost of living adj. ($77,831 not adj. — 5th highest)
> Avg. salary; all workers: $58,712 cost of living adj. — 9th highest ($63,610 not adj. — 7th highest)
> Annual school spending: $14,762 per pupil (14th highest)
> High school graduation rate: 86.7% (21st highest)
> Cost of living: 7.7% greater than nat’l avg. (7th highest)
9. Pennsylvania
> Avg. teacher salary: $71,590 cost of living adj. ($69,505 not adj. — 12th highest)
> Avg. salary; all workers: $55,569 cost of living adj. — 18th highest ($53,950 not adj. — 18th highest)
> Annual school spending: $16,395 per pupil (8th highest)
> High school graduation rate: 78.7% (5th lowest)
> Cost of living: 3.0% less than nat’l avg. (22nd highest)
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10. California
> Avg. teacher salary: $71,347 cost of living adj. ($85,343 not adj. — 2nd highest)
> Avg. salary; all workers: $54,959 cost of living adj. — 24th highest ($65,740 not adj. — 4th highest)
> Annual school spending: $12,498 per pupil (20th highest)
> High school graduation rate: 89.2% (9th highest)
> Cost of living: 16.4% greater than nat’l avg. (2nd highest)
11. Illinois
> Avg. teacher salary: $71,242 cost of living adj. ($69,436 not adj. — 13th highest)
> Avg. salary; all workers: $59,580 cost of living adj. — 6th highest ($58,070 not adj. — 14th highest)
> Annual school spending: $15,741 per pupil (11th highest)
> High school graduation rate: 80.7% (7th lowest)
> Cost of living: 2.6% less than nat’l avg. (20th highest)
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12. Michigan
> Avg. teacher salary: $70,941 cost of living adj. ($65,869 not adj. — 15th highest)
> Avg. salary; all workers: $57,501 cost of living adj. — 12th highest ($53,390 not adj. — 21st highest)
> Annual school spending: $12,345 per pupil (22nd highest)
> High school graduation rate: 87.8% (16th highest)
> Cost of living: 7.7% less than nat’l avg. (22nd lowest)
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13. Oregon
> Avg. teacher salary: $69,748 cost of living adj. ($71,317 not adj. — 11th highest)
> Avg. salary; all workers: $55,629 cost of living adj. — 17th highest ($56,880 not adj. — 15th highest)
> Annual school spending: $11,920 per pupil (25th highest)
> High school graduation rate: 81.8% (12th lowest)
> Cost of living: 2.2% greater than nat’l avg. (12th highest)
14. Washington
> Avg. teacher salary: $69,180 cost of living adj. ($75,524 not adj. — 8th highest)
> Avg. salary; all workers: $61,253 cost of living adj. — 3rd highest ($66,870 not adj. — 3rd highest)
> Annual school spending: $12,995 per pupil (18th highest)
> High school graduation rate: 87.5% (17th highest)
> Cost of living: 8.4% greater than nat’l avg. (6th highest)
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15. Nebraska
> Avg. teacher salary: $68,816 cost of living adj. ($62,277 not adj. — 21st highest)
> Avg. salary; all workers: $55,537 cost of living adj. — 19th highest ($50,260 not adj. — 19th lowest)
> Annual school spending: $12,491 per pupil (21st highest)
> High school graduation rate: 86.4% (24th highest)
> Cost of living: 10.5% less than nat’l avg. (15th lowest)
16. Delaware
> Avg. teacher salary: $66,879 cost of living adj. ($66,480 not adj. — 14th highest)
> Avg. salary; all workers: $57,040 cost of living adj. — 14th highest ($56,700 not adj. — 17th highest)
> Annual school spending: $15,639 per pupil (12th highest)
> High school graduation rate: 88.4% (13th highest)
> Cost of living: 0.6% less than nat’l avg. (17th highest)
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17. Utah
> Avg. teacher salary: $65,702 cost of living adj. ($63,481 not adj. — 20th highest)
> Avg. salary; all workers: $53,230 cost of living adj. — 17th lowest ($51,430 not adj. — 25th lowest)
> Annual school spending: $7,628 per pupil (the lowest)
> High school graduation rate: 90.0% (5th highest)
> Cost of living: 3.5% less than nat’l avg. (23rd highest)
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18. Georgia
> Avg. teacher salary: $65,586 cost of living adj. ($61,410 not adj. — 22nd highest)
> Avg. salary; all workers: $55,472 cost of living adj. — 20th highest ($51,940 not adj. — 24th highest)
> Annual school spending: $10,810 per pupil (17th lowest)
> High school graduation rate: 86.3% (25th highest)
> Cost of living: 6.8% less than nat’l avg. (24th lowest)
19. Wyoming
> Avg. teacher salary: $65,016 cost of living adj. ($60,650 not adj. — 24th highest)
> Avg. salary; all workers: $54,865 cost of living adj. — 25th highest ($51,180 not adj. — 22nd lowest)
> Annual school spending: $16,224 per pupil (9th highest)
> High school graduation rate: 89.7% (8th highest)
> Cost of living: 7.2% less than nat’l avg. (23rd lowest)
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20. Minnesota
> Avg. teacher salary: $64,767 cost of living adj. ($63,497 not adj. — 19th highest)
> Avg. salary; all workers: $59,894 cost of living adj. — 4th highest ($58,720 not adj. — 12th highest)
> Annual school spending: $12,975 per pupil (19th highest)
> High school graduation rate: 80.6% (6th lowest)
> Cost of living: 2.0% less than nat’l avg. (19th highest)
21. Wisconsin
> Avg. teacher salary: $63,873 cost of living adj. ($59,087 not adj. — 25th lowest)
> Avg. salary; all workers: $55,401 cost of living adj. — 21st highest ($51,250 not adj. — 24th lowest)
> Annual school spending: $12,285 per pupil (23rd highest)
> High school graduation rate: 90.2% (4th highest)
> Cost of living: 8.1% less than nat’l avg. (20th lowest)
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22. New Jersey
> Avg. teacher salary: $63,467 cost of living adj. ($75,556 not adj. — 7th highest)
> Avg. salary; all workers: $53,500 cost of living adj. — 20th lowest ($63,690 not adj. — 6th highest)
> Annual school spending: $20,021 per pupil (3rd highest)
> High school graduation rate: 88.8% (11th highest)
> Cost of living: 16.0% greater than nat’l avg. (4th highest)
23. North Dakota
> Avg. teacher salary: $63,041 cost of living adj. ($56,947 not adj. — 21st lowest)
> Avg. salary; all workers: $58,062 cost of living adj. — 11th highest ($52,450 not adj. — 22nd highest)
> Annual school spending: $13,758 per pupil (16th highest)
> High school graduation rate: 86.3% (25th highest)
> Cost of living: 10.7% less than nat’l avg. (14th lowest)
24. New Mexico
> Avg. teacher salary: $62,941 cost of living adj. ($57,797 not adj. — 23rd lowest)
> Avg. salary; all workers: $54,069 cost of living adj. — 22nd lowest ($49,650 not adj. — 16th lowest)
> Annual school spending: $9,582 per pupil (10th lowest)
> High school graduation rate: 90.9% (2nd highest)
> Cost of living: 8.9% less than nat’l avg. (17th lowest)
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25. Iowa
> Avg. teacher salary: $62,487 cost of living adj. ($56,295 not adj. — 19th lowest)
> Avg. salary; all workers: $54,701 cost of living adj. — 25th lowest ($49,280 not adj. — 15th lowest)
> Annual school spending: $11,732 per pupil (25th lowest)
> High school graduation rate: 88.1% (14th highest)
> Cost of living: 11.0% less than nat’l avg. (12th lowest)
26. Vermont
> Avg. teacher salary: $62,110 cost of living adj. ($64,097 not adj. — 18th highest)
> Avg. salary; all workers: $51,764 cost of living adj. — 12th lowest ($53,420 not adj. — 19th highest)
> Annual school spending: $19,340 per pupil (4th highest)
> High school graduation rate: 87.0% (20th highest)
> Cost of living: 3.1% greater than nat’l avg. (11th highest)
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27. Kansas
> Avg. teacher salary: $61,365 cost of living adj. ($55,384 not adj. — 17th lowest)
> Avg. salary; all workers: $53,860 cost of living adj. — 21st lowest ($48,610 not adj. — 13th lowest)
> Annual school spending: $11,653 per pupil (23rd lowest)
> High school graduation rate: 91.4% (the highest)
> Cost of living: 10.8% less than nat’l avg. (13th lowest)
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28. Kentucky
> Avg. teacher salary: $60,818 cost of living adj. ($54,013 not adj. — 15th lowest)
> Avg. salary; all workers: $51,796 cost of living adj. — 13th lowest ($46,000 not adj. — 5th lowest)
> Annual school spending: $11,110 per pupil (20th lowest)
> High school graduation rate: 87.2% (18th highest)
> Cost of living: 12.6% less than nat’l avg. (6th lowest)
29. Indiana
> Avg. teacher salary: $60,184 cost of living adj. ($54,074 not adj. — 16th lowest)
> Avg. salary; all workers: $54,147 cost of living adj. — 23rd lowest ($48,650 not adj. — 14th lowest)
> Annual school spending: $10,262 per pupil (16th lowest)
> High school graduation rate: 86.5% (23rd highest)
> Cost of living: 11.3% less than nat’l avg. (11th lowest)
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30. Alabama
> Avg. teacher salary: $59,579 cost of living adj. ($52,170 not adj. — 12th lowest)
> Avg. salary; all workers: $53,491 cost of living adj. — 19th lowest ($46,840 not adj. — 9th lowest)
> Annual school spending: $9,696 per pupil (12th lowest)
> High school graduation rate: 85.3% (23rd lowest)
> Cost of living: 14.2% less than nat’l avg. (3rd lowest)
31. Tennessee
> Avg. teacher salary: $59,467 cost of living adj. ($53,914 not adj. — 14th lowest)
> Avg. salary; all workers: $52,426 cost of living adj. — 15th lowest ($47,530 not adj. — 12th lowest)
> Annual school spending: $9,544 per pupil (9th lowest)
> High school graduation rate: 84.1% (20th lowest)
> Cost of living: 10.3% less than nat’l avg. (16th lowest)
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32. Nevada
> Avg. teacher salary: $59,336 cost of living adj. ($57,832 not adj. — 24th lowest)
> Avg. salary; all workers: $51,669 cost of living adj. — 11th lowest ($50,360 not adj. — 20th lowest)
> Annual school spending: $9,417 per pupil (8th lowest)
> High school graduation rate: 88.7% (12th highest)
> Cost of living: 2.6% less than nat’l avg. (20th highest)
33. Texas
> Avg. teacher salary: $59,242 cost of living adj. ($57,238 not adj. — 22nd lowest)
> Avg. salary; all workers: $54,234 cost of living adj. — 24th lowest ($52,400 not adj. — 23rd highest)
> Annual school spending: $9,606 per pupil (11th lowest)
> High school graduation rate: 90.0% (5th highest)
> Cost of living: 3.5% less than nat’l avg. (23rd highest)
34. Arkansas
> Avg. teacher salary: $58,801 cost of living adj. ($50,998 not adj. — 9th lowest)
> Avg. salary; all workers: $51,631 cost of living adj. — 10th lowest ($44,780 not adj. — 2nd lowest)
> Annual school spending: $10,139 per pupil (14th lowest)
> High school graduation rate: 78.7% (5th lowest)
> Cost of living: 15.3% less than nat’l avg. (2nd lowest)
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35. Florida
> Avg. teacher salary: $58,675 cost of living adj. ($59,267 not adj. — 25th highest)
> Avg. salary; all workers: $49,520 cost of living adj. — 3rd lowest ($50,020 not adj. — 17th lowest)
> Annual school spending: $9,346 per pupil (6th lowest)
> High school graduation rate: 68.5% (the lowest)
> Cost of living: 1.0% greater than nat’l avg. (16th highest)
36. South Carolina
> Avg. teacher salary: $58,024 cost of living adj. ($53,479 not adj. — 13th lowest)
> Avg. salary; all workers: $50,160 cost of living adj. — 4th lowest ($46,230 not adj. — 6th lowest)
> Annual school spending: $10,856 per pupil (19th lowest)
> High school graduation rate: 84.0% (19th lowest)
> Cost of living: 8.5% less than nat’l avg. (18th lowest)
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37. New Hampshire
> Avg. teacher salary: $57,311 cost of living adj. ($61,296 not adj. — 23rd highest)
> Avg. salary; all workers: $53,043 cost of living adj. — 16th lowest ($56,730 not adj. — 16th highest)
> Annual school spending: $16,893 per pupil (7th highest)
> High school graduation rate: 83.2% (17th lowest)
> Cost of living: 6.5% greater than nat’l avg. (8th highest)
38. Louisiana
> Avg. teacher salary: $56,780 cost of living adj. ($50,651 not adj. — 6th lowest)
> Avg. salary; all workers: $52,082 cost of living adj. — 14th lowest ($46,460 not adj. — 7th lowest)
> Annual school spending: $11,452 per pupil (22nd lowest)
> High school graduation rate: 90.3% (3rd highest)
> Cost of living: 12.1% less than nat’l avg. (8th lowest)
39. Missouri
> Avg. teacher salary: $56,494 cost of living adj. ($50,758 not adj. — 7th lowest)
> Avg. salary; all workers: $55,806 cost of living adj. — 16th highest ($50,140 not adj. — 18th lowest)
> Annual school spending: $10,810 per pupil (18th lowest)
> High school graduation rate: 84.0% (19th lowest)
> Cost of living: 11.3% less than nat’l avg. (11th lowest)
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40. Maine
> Avg. teacher salary: $56,325 cost of living adj. ($55,934 not adj. — 18th lowest)
> Avg. salary; all workers: $51,579 cost of living adj. — 9th lowest ($51,220 not adj. — 23rd lowest)
> Annual school spending: $14,145 per pupil (15th highest)
> High school graduation rate: 81.4% (10th lowest)
> Cost of living: 0.7% less than nat’l avg. (18th highest)
41. Colorado
> Avg. teacher salary: $55,595 cost of living adj. ($56,672 not adj. — 20th lowest)
> Avg. salary; all workers: $59,684 cost of living adj. — 5th highest ($60,840 not adj. — 9th highest)
> Annual school spending: $10,202 per pupil (15th lowest)
> High school graduation rate: 83.0% (15th lowest)
> Cost of living: 1.9% greater than nat’l avg. (13th highest)
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42. Oklahoma
> Avg. teacher salary: $55,469 cost of living adj. ($49,175 not adj. — 4th lowest)
> Avg. salary; all workers: $53,400 cost of living adj. — 18th lowest ($47,340 not adj. — 11th lowest)
> Annual school spending: $8,239 per pupil (4th lowest)
> High school graduation rate: 82.1% (13th lowest)
> Cost of living: 12.8% less than nat’l avg. (5th lowest)
43. Idaho
> Avg. teacher salary: $55,442 cost of living adj. ($51,430 not adj. — 10th lowest)
> Avg. salary; all workers: $50,450 cost of living adj. — 7th lowest ($46,800 not adj. — 8th lowest)
> Annual school spending: $7,771 per pupil (2nd lowest)
> High school graduation rate: 84.5% (21st lowest)
> Cost of living: 7.8% less than nat’l avg. (21st lowest)
44. Montana
> Avg. teacher salary: $55,293 cost of living adj. ($51,919 not adj. — 11th lowest)
> Avg. salary; all workers: $50,343 cost of living adj. — 5th lowest ($47,270 not adj. — 10th lowest)
> Annual school spending: $11,680 per pupil (24th lowest)
> High school graduation rate: 89.2% (9th highest)
> Cost of living: 6.5% less than nat’l avg. (25th lowest)
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45. West Virginia
> Avg. teacher salary: $55,002 cost of living adj. ($48,718 not adj. — 3rd lowest)
> Avg. salary; all workers: $51,234 cost of living adj. — 8th lowest ($45,380 not adj. — 4th lowest)
> Annual school spending: $11,334 per pupil (21st lowest)
> High school graduation rate: 86.7% (21st highest)
> Cost of living: 12.9% less than nat’l avg. (4th lowest)
46. North Carolina
> Avg. teacher salary: $54,991 cost of living adj. ($50,777 not adj. — 8th lowest)
> Avg. salary; all workers: $55,244 cost of living adj. — 23rd highest ($51,010 not adj. — 21st lowest)
> Annual school spending: $9,377 per pupil (7th lowest)
> High school graduation rate: 82.3% (14th lowest)
> Cost of living: 8.3% less than nat’l avg. (19th lowest)
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47. Hawaii
> Avg. teacher salary: $52,876 cost of living adj. ($65,522 not adj. — 16th highest)
> Avg. salary; all workers: $46,959 cost of living adj. — the lowest ($58,190 not adj. — 13th highest)
> Annual school spending: $15,242 per pupil (13th highest)
> High school graduation rate: 81.6% (11th lowest)
> Cost of living: 19.3% greater than nat’l avg. (the highest)
48. Mississippi
> Avg. teacher salary: $52,342 cost of living adj. ($45,279 not adj. — the lowest)
> Avg. salary; all workers: $48,090 cost of living adj. — 2nd lowest ($41,600 not adj. — the lowest)
> Annual school spending: $8,935 per pupil (5th lowest)
> High school graduation rate: 83.2% (17th lowest)
> Cost of living: 15.6% less than nat’l avg. (the lowest)
49. Arizona
> Avg. teacher salary: $51,181 cost of living adj. ($49,355 not adj. — 5th lowest)
> Avg. salary; all workers: $55,376 cost of living adj. — 22nd highest ($53,400 not adj. — 20th highest)
> Annual school spending: $8,239 per pupil (3rd lowest)
> High school graduation rate: 78.5% (3rd lowest)
> Cost of living: 3.7% less than nat’l avg. (25th highest)
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50. South Dakota
> Avg. teacher salary: $50,840 cost of living adj. ($45,312 not adj. — 2nd lowest)
> Avg. salary; all workers: $50,445 cost of living adj. — 6th lowest ($44,960 not adj. — 3rd lowest)
> Annual school spending: $10,073 per pupil (13th lowest)
> High school graduation rate: 81.0% (9th lowest)
> Cost of living: 12.2% less than nat’l avg. (7th lowest)
Methodology
To determine the states paying teachers the most and least, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data on average annual salary for teachers from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2020 Occupational Employment Statistics program. States were ranked based on the weighted average annual salary among elementary school teachers (OCC code: 25-2021), middle school teachers (OCC code: 25-2022), and secondary school teachers (OCC code: 25-2031). We weighted the average salaries across the three teacher job types using data on total employment from the BLS May 2020 OES, and then adjusted the average annual salary for cost of living using 2019 regional price parity from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Special education and career or technical education teachers were excluded from the analysis.
Supplemental data on average per-pupil expenditures for public elementary and secondary schools in fiscal 2018 came from the Census Bureau’s 2018 Annual Survey of School System Finances.
Data on the public high school four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate came from the National Center for Education Statistics and is for the 2017-18 school year. The ACGR measures the percentage of public school students who attain a regular high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade. The cohort is adjusted by adding students who transfer in during those four years and by subtracting students who transfer out.
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