Loading
Assembling your view…
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
These aren't job-board estimates. This is BLS data across real metro areas. The national median salary for Teachers in 2026 is $67,865, with entry-level positions averaging $48,863 and senior roles reaching $96,368. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Santa Clara pays a median of $126,321, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
A career as a Teacher sits at the intersection of Education and Education. Most professionals enter with Bachelor's in education, and the field is characterized by growing. The work itself is school-based. Understanding that context matters: it explains why certain markets pay premiums and others lag.
$73,666 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Teacher in Santa Clara, California earns a median of $126,321 — $73,666 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($52,655). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
The three-tier salary picture for Teachers in 2026: $48,863 at entry (P10), $67,865 at midpoint, and $96,368 at the senior end (P90). Stack the top-paying states against the cheapest — the math is revealing. The $47,505 range from bottom to top isn't just experience — it's geography, specialization, and industry mixed together. The median itself lands $12,502 below the national median household income of $80,367.
Compare the extremes: the highest-paying trio of cities (Santa Clara, Irvine, San Francisco) averages $119,572, while the lowest-paying trio (Toledo, Jackson, Macon) averages $53,950. The $65,622 difference is the kind of number that reshapes career strategy — assuming the cost of living cooperates.
A Teacher in Santa Clara, California earns a median of $126,321 — $73,666 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($52,655). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Teacher is $48,863, while senior-level (P90) earners average $96,368. That $47,505 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
Hawaii pays the highest average median salary for Teachers at $86,209 across 1 tracked cities. The gap between #1 and #5 (New Hampshire at $70,801) is $15,408.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $48,863 | $67,865 | $96,368 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £25,961 | £36,057 | £51,201 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$47,509 | CA$65,984 | CA$93,698 |
| Australia | 13 | A$55,966 | A$77,730 | A$110,377 |
| Sweden | 24 | 309,109 kr | 429,318 kr | 609,631 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 1 | $62,070 | $86,209 | $122,417 |
| California | 61 | $55,768 | $77,456 | $109,987 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $53,762 | $74,669 | $106,030 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $52,352 | $72,711 | $103,250 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $50,977 | $70,801 | $100,537 |
| Washington | 8 | $49,957 | $69,384 | $98,526 |
| Oregon | 5 | $49,400 | $68,611 | $97,427 |
| Colorado | 11 | $49,139 | $68,249 | $96,913 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $49,112 | $68,212 | $96,860 |
| New York | 5 | $48,877 | $67,885 | $96,396 |
| Illinois | 5 | $48,767 | $67,732 | $96,179 |
| Nevada | 5 | $48,208 | $66,955 | $95,076 |
| Virginia | 7 | $48,180 | $66,917 | $95,022 |
| Idaho | 3 | $48,180 | $66,917 | $95,022 |
| Utah | 4 | $47,779 | $66,360 | $94,231 |
| Florida | 22 | $47,734 | $66,298 | $94,143 |
| Arizona | 12 | $47,687 | $66,233 | $94,050 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $47,630 | $66,153 | $93,937 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $47,080 | $65,389 | $92,852 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $46,759 | $64,944 | $92,220 |
| Michigan | 6 | $46,706 | $64,869 | $92,114 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $46,683 | $64,837 | $92,069 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $46,585 | $64,701 | $91,876 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $45,842 | $63,670 | $90,411 |
| Alaska | 1 | $45,842 | $63,670 | $90,411 |
| Iowa | 2 | $45,842 | $63,670 | $90,411 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $45,842 | $63,670 | $90,411 |
| Montana | 1 | $45,842 | $63,670 | $90,411 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $45,215 | $62,800 | $89,175 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $45,155 | $62,715 | $89,055 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $45,149 | $62,708 | $89,045 |
| Texas | 40 | $45,088 | $62,623 | $88,924 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $44,937 | $62,413 | $88,626 |
| Georgia | 6 | $44,811 | $62,238 | $88,377 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $44,753 | $62,158 | $88,264 |
| Indiana | 3 | $44,635 | $61,993 | $88,030 |
| Alabama | 5 | $44,137 | $61,302 | $87,048 |
| Ohio | 6 | $44,039 | $61,166 | $86,855 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $44,009 | $61,123 | $86,795 |
| Maryland | 1 | $43,963 | $61,060 | $86,705 |
| Missouri | 4 | $43,928 | $61,012 | $86,637 |
| Kansas | 4 | $43,825 | $60,869 | $86,433 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $43,642 | $60,614 | $86,072 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $43,413 | $60,296 | $85,620 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $40,617 | $56,412 | $80,105 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $38,737 | $53,801 | $76,397 |
The state salary map for Teachers: Hawaii at $86,209, California at $77,456, Massachusetts at $74,669 lead the pack. The bottom tier — Mississippi ($53,801), Arkansas ($56,412), Nebraska ($60,296) — shows how regional economics reshape compensation. Across all 46 states with data, the state-level spread alone is $32,408.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Santa Clara ($126,321 nominal, 198 cost index) delivers $63,798 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oceanside California | $93,277 | 146 | $63,888 | $58,162 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $126,321 | 198 | $63,798 | $76,497 |
| 3 | Boston Massachusetts | $96,333 | 151 | $63,797 | $64,047 |
| 4 | Huntington Beach California | $107,793 | 169 | $63,783 | $66,298 |
| 5 | Fremont California | $112,887 | 177 | $63,778 | $69,102 |
| 6 | Irvine California | $117,344 | 184 | $63,774 | $71,555 |
| 7 | Bellevue Washington | $107,730 | 169 | $63,746 | $80,591 |
| 8 | Thousand Oaks California | $102,445 | 161 | $63,630 | $63,353 |
| 9 | Los Angeles California | $93,531 | 147 | $63,627 | $58,306 |
| 10 | Anaheim California | $92,895 | 146 | $63,627 | $57,944 |
The $47,505 gap between P10 and P90 represents the earning trajectory of a Teacher career. Senior-level earners make 2.0× what entry-level professionals do — a solid progression that justifies the upfront investment. In the Education sector, growing, which shapes both starting salaries and long-term ceiling.
The weighted national median salary for Teachers is $67,865 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $48,863, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $96,368.
The highest-paying city for Teachers is Santa Clara, California with a median salary of $126,321. The top 3 cities are Santa Clara ($126,321), Irvine ($117,344), San Francisco ($115,052). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Teacher salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $52,655. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Teachers (10th percentile) average $48,863 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $90,951. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Teachers average $96,368 nationally — $47,505 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Teachers can earn up to $179,376.
The top-paying states for Teachers are Hawaii ($86,209 median), California ($77,456 median), Massachusetts ($74,669 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Teacher involves Bachelor's in education. The field is in the Education sector (Education), and the career outlook is growing. Work style is typically school-based.
With a national median of $67,865 and representation across 288 metro areas, Teacher offers a foundation that can be strengthened by strategic location choices. The $47,505 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: growing.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.