Education · United States

Teacher Salary in United States

The United States median is $77,000 per year, with observed city pay up to Los Angeles at $102,000.

Showing amounts in USD (USD default). FX as of Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:02:31 +0000. Convert currencies

Teacher pay in United States: Los Angeles leads, San Antonio trails

The United States national median for a teacher is $77,000 a year. Among 9 metros with observed data, pay runs from about $54,600 in San Antonio to $102,000 in Los Angeles (1.9×).

Teachers plan lessons, instruct students, and assess learning across subjects and grades. Common screening skills include Instruction, Planning, Assessment, and Classroom management.

A modeled national band runs about $56,200–$102,400 around that midpoint. Many top cash roles in the United States still run through employer sponsorship and specialty licensing. Employment outlook for the occupation is sketched at +1% over a decade — a national demand guess, not a hiring guarantee in every American city.

Los Angeles sits +32% vs the national median; San Antonio sits -29%. Relocating inside United States for this title can move cash more than a small raise at the same desk. Open a city page for take-home and rent context — this national page is the map, not the offer.

United States shows about 2.9% CPI in 2024. A teacher raise that trails inflation is a real-pay cut even if it still beats last year’s peers. This occupation is also covered in 39 other countries — useful for remote or relocation shortlists, after FX and local tax. Nearby education titles on this site include Professor and School Principal.

How to use Teacher pay data in United States

Start with the national median ($77,000), then pick the metro where you would actually work. Observed city rows below are stronger than a pay-index guess. If your city is missing, stay on this page for the country figure and check the United States hub for other careers.

Convert gross through the salary calculator before comparing two cities — tax and rent often reorder a cash ranking. Figures are estimates for research, not employer bands.

National band vs top metro

National sketch: $56,200 (10th) → $77,000 (median) → $102,400 (90th). Los Angeles’s observed median is $102,000, with a local band about $62,300–$129,000. If an offer is “at the United States median” but the job is in Los Angeles, you may still be under local market.

National median
$77,000
per year
Monthly (national)
$6,400
per month, before tax
Highest-paying city
$102,000
Los Angeles, CA
Hourly (national)
$37.02
varies by city

Teacher salary by city in United States

Cities below have observed metro percentiles for this role. Prefer these over national-only estimates when you are relocating to a specific market.

CityPer year
Los Angeles, CA$102,000
Washington DC, DC$87,900
San Diego, CA$80,500
Philadelphia, PA$78,600
Chicago, IL$78,400
Dallas, TX$65,100
Houston, TX$64,500
Phoenix, AZ$59,200
San Antonio, TX$54,600

Teacher salary in other countries

Related Education salaries in United States

Frequently asked questions

How much does a teacher make in United States?
The national median is about $77,000 per year. Across 9 observed cities, pay ranges from about $54,600 to $102,000.
Which United States city pays teachers the most?
Los Angeles, CA leads observed metros at about $102,000 per year (+32% vs national).
Which United States city pays teachers the least?
Among observed cities, San Antonio, TX is on the lower end at about $54,600 per year.
How many United States cities have teacher salary data?
9 metros list observed teacher percentiles in USD on this site.
Is teacher in demand in United States?
Occupation-level employment is projected at about +1% over ten years. Local hiring still follows American industry mix.