Did you know the average public school teacher in the U.S. now earns $69,544, yet that seemingly solid number masks a complex story of starting pay struggles, wide geographic disparities, and a persistent wage gap compared to other professions.
Key Takeaways
- In the 2022-2023 school year, the average starting salary for public school teachers in the United States was $46,603
- The median annual wage for kindergarten and elementary school teachers in the US was $61,690 as of May 2023, excluding summer months
- Average public school teacher salary in the US for 2022-23 was $69,544, a 3.4% increase from prior year adjusted for inflation
- In California for 2022-23, average public school teacher salary was $90,529
- New York public teachers averaged $91,435 in 2022-23 per state data
- Massachusetts teachers earned average $82,362 in 2021-22
- In OECD countries, US lower secondary teachers earn $53,185 PPP-adjusted starting salary in 2022
- Germany public school teachers average salary $68,500 USD equivalent in 2021
- South Korea teachers earn highest OECD starting salary at $38,000 USD PPP for primary in 2022
- US teacher salaries rose 18.7% nominally from 2012-13 to 2022-23, but only 5% real after inflation
- Average US teacher salary increased from $57,000 in 2010 to $69,500 in 2022 nominally
- From 2002-03 to 2021-22, national average teacher pay grew 32% nominally
- US teachers earn 81% of other bachelor's holders' pay in 2022 vs 90% in 1990s
- Teachers' salaries 18-24% below similar professionals 2022 EPI analysis
- Average teacher pay $69k vs national average wage $59k in 2022
US teacher salaries are rising but still lag behind other professions with similar education.
Comparative Analysis
- US teachers earn 81% of other bachelor's holders' pay in 2022 vs 90% in 1990s
- Teachers' salaries 18-24% below similar professionals 2022 EPI analysis
- Average teacher pay $69k vs national average wage $59k in 2022
- Starting teacher salary $46k vs college grad average $58k in 2023
- Public teachers earn 10% more than private school peers nationally
- Nurses median $81,220 vs teachers $62k in 2023 BLS
- Engineers $95k median far exceeds teacher $61k
- Lawyers $135k vs teachers gap of $70k average 2023
- Accountants $78k median surpasses teachers by 25%
- US teachers paid 76% of OECD average for similar education level 2022
- Charter vs district: $13k less for charters 2021 NCES
- Male teachers earn 10% more than females controlling for experience
- Urban teachers $5k more than rural averages 2022
- Secondary vs elementary: $3k higher for high school 2023 BLS
- Master's degree teachers earn 20% more than bachelor's only
- Benefits add 25% to total compensation vs 15% private sector
- Special ed teachers $2k more than general ed median 2023
- Part-time adjuncts $3k/course vs full-time $70k salary equivalent low
- STEM teachers premium 5-10% over humanities
Comparative Analysis Interpretation
The picture painted by these numbers is that while teaching is a relatively secure middle-class profession, it has transformed from a competitive career into a financially sacrificial one, rewarding dedication with a widening pay gap compared to equally educated peers and perpetuating internal inequities along the way.
Historical Trends
- US teacher salaries rose 18.7% nominally from 2012-13 to 2022-23, but only 5% real after inflation
- Average US teacher salary increased from $57,000 in 2010 to $69,500 in 2022 nominally
- From 2002-03 to 2021-22, national average teacher pay grew 32% nominally
- Starting salaries up 14% from 2013 to 2023 nationally
- Inflation-adjusted teacher salaries fell 4.5% between 2008-09 and 2018-19
- NEA data shows average salary from $44,000 in 1990-91 to $69,544 in 2022-23
- BLS median for elementary teachers: $57,860 in 2019 to $61,690 in 2023
- Teacher pay gap widened: 20% less than peers in 2010, 24% in 2022
- From 2011-12 to 2021-22, salaries grew 7.5% real terms per NCES
- Maximum scheduled salaries rose 25% nominally 2012-2022
- Starting pay stagnant: $36,000 in 2008 to $40,500 in 2018 inflation-adjusted
- Post-COVID, 2021-22 saw 3.9% nominal increase nationally
- 1990s to 2020s: average salary doubled nominally from $35k to $70k
- Real wages for teachers declined 2% annually 2000-2010
- From 2019-20 to 2022-23, nominal growth 10.2% amid 20% inflation
- Charter school salaries grew slower: 10% vs 20% public 2010-2020
- Regional trends: Northeast salaries up 40% since 2000
- BLS data: secondary teacher median up 15% 2018-2023
- Pandemic recovery: 5% raise average 2022-23
- Long-term: 1960 average $5,500 to 2020 $65k nominal
Historical Trends Interpretation
The statistics paint a grim picture of teacher pay: despite the seemingly generous headlines about rising salaries, the reality is a three-decade masterclass in how inflation can quietly but ruthlessly outpace nominal raises, leaving educators financially demoralized and widening the pay gap with their college-educated peers.
International Statistics
- In OECD countries, US lower secondary teachers earn $53,185 PPP-adjusted starting salary in 2022
- Germany public school teachers average salary $68,500 USD equivalent in 2021
- South Korea teachers earn highest OECD starting salary at $38,000 USD PPP for primary in 2022
- Luxembourg secondary teachers average $112,000 USD PPP in 2022, top globally
- Australia primary teachers starting salary $45,200 USD PPP 2022
- Canada average teacher salary $50,800 USD in 2021 per OECD
- Finland experienced primary teachers earn $58,900 USD PPP max in 2022
- UK secondary teachers average £42,000 or $53,000 USD in 2022
- Japan teachers starting salary $30,500 USD PPP for primary 2022 OECD data
- Netherlands average secondary teacher pay $72,100 USD 2022
- Sweden teachers earn $48,200 USD starting primary in 2022
- Estonia lower secondary max salary $52,800 USD PPP 2022
- Israel primary teachers average $44,500 USD in 2021
- Chile teachers starting salary $28,900 USD PPP lowest OECD 2022
- Spain secondary teachers $60,200 USD average 2022
- New Zealand primary starting $42,100 USD PPP 2022
- Mexico teachers average $18,200 USD PPP very low in OECD 2022
- Ireland upper secondary max $92,000 USD PPP 2022
- Norway teachers $55,600 USD starting secondary 2022 OECD
International Statistics Interpretation
The global teaching salary spectrum reveals a stark lesson: you can either afford Luxembourg's luxuries or embody Chile's frugal resilience, but rarely both on a teacher's budget.
National US Statistics
- In the 2022-2023 school year, the average starting salary for public school teachers in the United States was $46,603
- The median annual wage for kindergarten and elementary school teachers in the US was $61,690 as of May 2023, excluding summer months
- Average public school teacher salary in the US for 2022-23 was $69,544, a 3.4% increase from prior year adjusted for inflation
- US secondary school teachers earned an average of $62,360 annually in May 2023 per BLS data
- In 2021-22, the national average salary for public K-12 teachers was $66,397
- Starting teacher salaries averaged $40,532 in 2020-21 nationally, per NEA estimates
- BLS reports median pay for special education teachers at $63,950 in 2023
- Average US teacher salary adjusted for inflation was $59,068 in constant 2022-23 dollars from 2012-13
- National average maximum teacher salary reached $101,510 in 2022-23 for experienced educators
- In 2023, preschool teachers median wage was $35,330 annually per BLS
- US public school teachers' average salary increased 4.5% nominally from 2021-22 to 2022-23
- Median salary for high school teachers was $62,360 in May 2023
- National average teacher pay as percent of average wage was 74.3% in 2022
- Starting salaries for teachers averaged $44,183 in large US districts in 2022
- BLS 2023 data shows postsecondary teachers median at $80,840
- Average US teacher salary in 2019-20 was $65,090
- National teacher salary growth was 2.1% from 2020-21 to 2021-22
- Median wage for middle school teachers $61,810 in 2023
- US teachers earned 23% less than other college-educated professionals on average in 2022
- Average salary for public school administrators was $98,420 in 2022-23
- National average experience-adjusted teacher salary was $67,200 in 2021
- BLS reports career/technical education teachers median $61,190 in 2023
- In 2022, US teacher salaries averaged $4,500 below national average wage
- Average starting salary rose to $42,500 in 2023 national surveys
- National median teacher salary excluding benefits was $58,000 in 2020
- Public school teacher average pay hit $71,000 in high-experience brackets nationally
- 2023 BLS data: adult literacy teachers median $63,410
- National teacher salary percentile: 50th at $60,500 per 2022 NCES
- Average US charter school teacher salary was $54,000 in 2021, lower than public
National US Statistics Interpretation
We must have mislabeled the "Inspire Future Generations" career path, as the data clearly shows we've priced it as a high-risk, low-reward internship with a vague promise of a modest pension far, far away.
State US Statistics
- In California for 2022-23, average public school teacher salary was $90,529
- New York public teachers averaged $91,435 in 2022-23 per state data
- Massachusetts teachers earned average $82,362 in 2021-22
- Washington state average teacher pay $80,793 for 2022-23
- Illinois public school teachers averaged $68,957 in 2022
- Pennsylvania average teacher salary $73,487 in 2021-22
- New Jersey teachers averaged $76,243 annually in 2022-23
- Connecticut public teachers $79,692 average in 2022
- Oregon average teacher salary $72,469 for 2022-23
- Rhode Island teachers earned $74,126 on average in 2021-22
- Maryland average public teacher pay $76,112 in 2022-23
- Delaware teachers averaged $65,000 in 2022
- Michigan average salary $62,305 for public teachers 2022-23
- Ohio teachers averaged $64,128 in 2021-22
- Colorado public school average $60,273 in 2022
- Virginia average teacher salary $61,909 for 2022-23
- Minnesota teachers earned $66,106 average in 2022
- Wisconsin average $61,968 in 2021-22
- Iowa public teachers $56,131 average 2022-23
- Nebraska average teacher salary $55,328 in 2022
State US Statistics Interpretation
When adjusted for the cost of living, California teachers are essentially making New York money in Massachusetts conditions while Midwest educators are on a budget so tight it could double as a lesson plan in frugality.
Sources & References
- Reference 1NEAnea.orgVisit source
- Reference 2BLSbls.govVisit source
- Reference 3NCESnces.ed.govVisit source
- Reference 4EDWEEKedweek.orgVisit source
- Reference 5EPIepi.orgVisit source
- Reference 6RANDrand.orgVisit source
- Reference 7CDEcde.ca.govVisit source
- Reference 8DATAdata.nysed.govVisit source
- Reference 9DOEdoe.mass.eduVisit source
- Reference 10OSPIospi.k12.wa.usVisit source
- Reference 11ISBEisbe.netVisit source
- Reference 12EDUCATIONeducation.pa.govVisit source
- Reference 13NJnj.govVisit source
- Reference 14PORTALportal.ct.govVisit source
- Reference 15OREGONoregon.govVisit source
- Reference 16RIDEride.ri.govVisit source
- Reference 17MARYLANDPUBLICSCHOOLSmarylandpublicschools.orgVisit source
- Reference 18DOEdoe.k12.de.usVisit source
- Reference 19MICHIGANmichigan.govVisit source
- Reference 20EDUCATIONeducation.ohio.govVisit source
- Reference 21CDEcde.state.co.usVisit source
- Reference 22DOEdoe.virginia.govVisit source
- Reference 23EDUCATIONeducation.mn.govVisit source
- Reference 24DPIdpi.wi.govVisit source
- Reference 25EDUCATEeducate.iowa.govVisit source
- Reference 26EDUCATIONeducation.ne.govVisit source
- Reference 27OECDoecd.orgVisit source
- Reference 28STATSstats.oecd.orgVisit source
- Reference 29OECD-ILIBRARYoecd-ilibrary.orgVisit source
- Reference 30GPSEDUCATIONgpseducation.oecd.orgVisit source
- Reference 31GOVgov.ukVisit source
- Reference 32EDUCATIONCOUNTSeducationcounts.govt.nzVisit source
- Reference 33BROOKINGSbrookings.eduVisit source
- Reference 34AAUPaaup.orgVisit source