Revealed: Secrets of Competitive Teacher Salaries
by All Star Staff
No one believes teacher salaries are the path to great wealth. However, most people don’t realize that the average teacher salary is significantly higher than many other professional occupations requiring a 4-year degree. That’s why it’s important for you to learn some teacher salary secrets.
Because depending on what and where you teach, you’ll find a teacher salary can be quite competitive.
Your Teacher Salary
Take a look at different teaching positions by education level so you can understand how much a teacher can earn.
| TEACHER JOB | MEDIAN ANNUAL SALARY |
|---|---|
| Kindergarten Teachers | $62,690 |
| Elementary School Teachers | $63,680 |
| High School Teachers | $65,220 |
| Middle School Teachers | $63,680 |
| Preschool Teachers | $37,130 |
| Postsecondary Teachers | $73,240 |
| Special Education Teachers | $67,190 |
| Elementary, Middle and High School Principals | $103,460 |
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics, 2023
Additional Teacher Salary Benefits
The BLS also estimates that full-time public teachers work an average of 36.5 hours a week during the school year. With the average school year across much of the United States at usually less than 200 days, teaching salaries start to look even more attractive.
In addition, these numbers don’t take into account the benefits that most school districts offer their educators: comprehensive health and life insurance, as well as solid retirement and pension plans. Many school districts also offer to pay for or contribute to a teacher’s continuing education.
Most districts pay more based on the amount of college education a teacher has. A master’s degree, doctorate or other types of certification, such as special education or vocational certificates, can add thousands of dollars to a base teacher salary each year. For more information on these programs, read our article, How to Become a Teacher.
Because a teaching education is expensive, we know you may have relied upon loans to help get you through school. To help you understand your obligation to repaying your student loans, and what your future options are, we’ve compiled the complete handbook to debt relief and student loan forgiveness so you can find answers to all your questions in one place. Here’s our guide to Student Loan Forgiveness for Teachers.
There are also many other opportunities to increase your teacher salary:
- coaching after-school athletics
- advising after-school clubs
- becoming a department head
- becoming a mentor for new teachers
- helping with after-school tutoring programs
- administering and grading placement exams
- teaching summer school programs
By supplementing your teacher salary with these extra teaching opportunities, you can make an even better living in many areas. Depending on your teaching degree, experience and job placement research, you can have a very rewarding and good-paying career in the teaching profession.
