US teachers now earn just 81% of the pay received by other college graduates. Their starting salaries of $46,603 are also significantly lower than the typical graduate's first wage. This article details the widening pay gap across different states and school types.
Key Takeaways
- 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 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
- 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
- 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: June 2026, 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
US teacher pay still lags other professionals, leaving starting and overall wages notably below peers in 2022.
Related reading
01 · Category
Comparative Analysis19 stats
01
US teachers earn 81% of other bachelor's holders' pay in 2022 vs 90% in 1990s
02
Teachers' salaries 18-24% below similar professionals 2022 EPI analysis
03
Average teacher pay $69k vs national average wage $59k in 2022
04
Starting teacher salary $46k vs college grad average $58k in 2023
05
Public teachers earn 10% more than private school peers nationally
06
Nurses median $81,220vs teachers $62k in 2023 BLS
07
Engineers $95k median far exceeds teacher $61k
08
Lawyers $135k vs teachers gap of $70k average 2023
09
Accountants $78k median surpasses teachers by 25%
10
US teachers paid 76% of OECD average for similar education level 2022
11
Charter vs district: $13k less for charters 2021 NCES
12
Male teachers earn 10% more than females controlling for experience
13
Urban teachers $5k more than rural averages 2022
14
Secondary vs elementary: $3k higher for high school 2023 BLS
15
Master's degree teachers earn 20% more than bachelor's only
16
Benefits add 25% to total compensation vs 15% private sector
17
Special ed teachers $2k more than general ed median 2023
18
Part-time adjuncts $3k/course vs full-time $70k salary equivalent low
19
STEM teachers premium 5-10% over humanities
Interpretation
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.
02 · Category
Historical Trends20 stats
01
US teacher salaries rose 18.7% nominally from 2012-13 to 2022-23, but only 5% real after inflation
02
Average US teacher salary increased from $57,000in 2010 to $69,500 in 2022 nominally
03
From 2002-03 to 2021-22, national average teacher pay grew 32% nominally
04
Starting salaries up 14% from 2013 to 2023 nationally
05
Inflation-adjusted teacher salaries fell 4.5% between 2008-09 and 2018-19
06
NEA data shows average salary from $44,000in 1990-91 to $69,544 in 2022-23
07
BLS median for elementary teachers: $57,860in 2019 to $61,690 in 2023
08
Teacher pay gap widened: 20% less than peers in 2010, 24% in 2022
09
From 2011-12 to 2021-22, salaries grew 7.5% real terms per NCES
10
Maximum scheduled salaries rose 25% nominally 2012-2022
11
Starting pay stagnant: $36,000in 2008 to $40,500 in 2018 inflation-adjusted
12
Post-COVID, 2021-22 saw 3.9% nominal increase nationally
13
1990s to 2020s: average salary doubled nominally from $35k to $70k
14
Real wages for teachers declined 2% annually 2000-2010
15
From 2019-20 to 2022-23, nominal growth 10.2% amid 20% inflation
16
Charter school salaries grew slower: 10% vs 20% public 2010-2020
17
Regional trends: Northeast salaries up 40% since 2000
18
BLS data: secondary teacher median up 15% 2018-2023
19
Pandemic recovery: 5% raise average 2022-23
20
Long-term: 1960 average $5,500to 2020 $65k nominal
Interpretation
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.
03 · Category
International Statistics19 stats
01
In OECD countries, US lower secondary teachers earn $53,185PPP-adjusted starting salary in 2022
02
Germany public school teachers average salary $68,500USD equivalent in 2021
03
South Korea teachers earn highest OECD starting salary at $38,000USD PPP for primary in 2022
04
Luxembourg secondary teachers average $112,000USD PPP in 2022, top globally
05
Australia primary teachers starting salary $45,200USD PPP 2022
06
Canada average teacher salary $50,800USD in 2021 per OECD
07
Finland experienced primary teachers earn $58,900USD PPP max in 2022
08
UK secondary teachers average £42,000 or $53,000USD in 2022
09
Japan teachers starting salary $30,500USD PPP for primary 2022 OECD data
10
Netherlands average secondary teacher pay $72,100USD 2022
11
Sweden teachers earn $48,200USD starting primary in 2022
12
Estonia lower secondary max salary $52,800USD PPP 2022
13
Israel primary teachers average $44,500USD in 2021
14
Chile teachers starting salary $28,900USD PPP lowest OECD 2022
15
Spain secondary teachers $60,200USD average 2022
16
New Zealand primary starting $42,100USD PPP 2022
17
Mexico teachers average $18,200USD PPP very low in OECD 2022
18
Ireland upper secondary max $92,000USD PPP 2022
19
Norway teachers $55,600USD starting secondary 2022 OECD
Interpretation
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.
More related reading
04 · Category
National US Statistics29 stats
01
In the 2022-2023 school year, the average starting salary for public school teachers in the United States was $46,603
02
The median annual wage for kindergarten and elementary school teachers in the US was $61,690as of May 2023: June 2026, excluding summer months
03
Average public school teacher salary in the US for 2022-23 was $69,544,a 3.4% increase from prior year adjusted for inflation
04
US secondary school teachers earned an average of $62,360annually in May 2023 per BLS data
05
In 2021-22, the national average salary for public K-12 teachers was $66,397
06
Starting teacher salaries averaged $40,532in 2020-21 nationally, per NEA estimates
07
BLS reports median pay for special education teachers at $63,950in 2023
08
Average US teacher salary adjusted for inflation was $59,068in constant 2022-23 dollars from 2012-13
09
National average maximum teacher salary reached $101,510in 2022-23 for experienced educators
10
In 2023, preschool teachers median wage was $35,330annually per BLS
11
US public school teachers' average salary increased 4.5% nominally from 2021-22 to 2022-23
12
Median salary for high school teachers was $62,360in May 2023
13
National average teacher pay as percent of average wage was 74.3% in 2022
14
Starting salaries for teachers averaged $44,183in large US districts in 2022
15
BLS 2023 data shows postsecondary teachers median at $80,840
16
Average US teacher salary in 2019-20 was $65,090
17
National teacher salary growth was 2.1% from 2020-21 to 2021-22
18
Median wage for middle school teachers $61,810in 2023
19
US teachers earned 23% less than other college-educated professionals on average in 2022
20
Average salary for public school administrators was $98,420in 2022-23
21
National average experience-adjusted teacher salary was $67,200in 2021
22
BLS reports career/technical education teachers median $61,190in 2023
23
In 2022, US teacher salaries averaged $4,500below national average wage
24
Average starting salary rose to $42,500in 2023 national surveys
25
National median teacher salary excluding benefits was $58,000in 2020
26
Public school teacher average pay hit $71,000in high-experience brackets nationally
27
2023 BLS data: adult literacy teachers median $63,410
28
National teacher salary percentile: 50th at $60,500per 2022 NCES
29
Average US charter school teacher salary was $54,000in 2021, lower than public
Interpretation
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.
05 · Category
State US Statistics20 stats
01
In California for 2022-23, average public school teacher salary was $90,529
02
New York public teachers averaged $91,435in 2022-23 per state data
03
Massachusetts teachers earned average $82,362in 2021-22
04
Washington state average teacher pay $80,793for 2022-23
05
Illinois public school teachers averaged $68,957in 2022
06
Pennsylvania average teacher salary $73,487in 2021-22
07
New Jersey teachers averaged $76,243annually in 2022-23
08
Connecticut public teachers $79,692average in 2022
09
Oregon average teacher salary $72,469for 2022-23
10
Rhode Island teachers earned $74,126on average in 2021-22
11
Maryland average public teacher pay $76,112in 2022-23
12
Delaware teachers averaged $65,000in 2022
13
Michigan average salary $62,305for public teachers 2022-23
14
Ohio teachers averaged $64,128in 2021-22
15
Colorado public school average $60,273in 2022
16
Virginia average teacher salary $61,909for 2022-23
17
Minnesota teachers earned $66,106average in 2022
18
Wisconsin average $61,968in 2021-22
19
Iowa public teachers $56,131average 2022-23
20
Nebraska average teacher salary $55,328in 2022
Interpretation
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.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Timothy Grant. (2026, February 13). Teacher Salary Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/teacher-salary-statistics
MLA
Timothy Grant. "Teacher Salary Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/teacher-salary-statistics.
Chicago
Timothy Grant. 2026. "Teacher Salary Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/teacher-salary-statistics.
Sources & references
34 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level