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    Teacher Salary

  • 2

    Increasing Your Pay

  • 3

    Benefits

  • 4

    More Perks

How much will I earn?

A high school math teacher leads a lesson at the whiteboard. He smiles a student raising their hand.

In most sectors, it's uncommon to know exactly when you’ll get your next raise. It can be frustrating to negotiate with management or be in the dark about your performance.

Teaching is different. In most school districts, you’ll have access to a clear salary schedule, so you can see exactly how much you can expect to earn, year over year. Your pay could depend on factors like your:  

  • Degree (bachelor’s, master’s or higher)
  • Subject area (Shortage area teachers may earn extra bonuses or pay!)
  • Years of experience
  • Grade level
  • Performance

It’s best to check with specific school districts you’re considering teaching to learn more about how their salary schedules work. You can do an online search for the district name and the phrase “salary schedule” to get started.

Can I increase my pay?

A middle school choir teacher laughs with her students as she hands out sheet music.

Yes! Each school district has its own pathways to increase your salary — but here are some of the most common: 

  • Teach a shortage area subject. Many districts offer extra stipends for teachers in high-need subject areas, like math, science, bilingual and special education. 
  • Earn an advanced credential. Many districts offer higher pay to teachers with advanced degrees (like a master’s or doctorate), or those who earn their National Board Certification. 
  • Lead an extracurricular. You can earn stipends if you lead certain extracurriculars, such as yearbook, choir or athletics. Stipends vary depending on your activity and district, but pay often ranges from a few hundred to several thousand dollars.

What benefits can I expect?

As a teacher, you'll usually get comprehensive health insurance — plus a retirement plan, vacation time and more.

In most school districts, you’ll enroll in your school district’s health plan. This typically includes medical, dental, vision and other insurance costs for you and your family. 

Vacation days will depend on your district, but you can expect:

  • Spring break
  • December holiday break
  • National holidays off
  • Paid personal & sick days during the school year

You may also get time off during the summer. Teachers use this time to travel, explore professional development, relax or work elsewhere. Some districts offer summer positions for teachers, such as summer school or curriculum development jobs.

Each state handles teacher retirement differently, but in many areas, you’ll contribute a portion of your salary to your state’s retirement system. Your employer will often also make a contribution to the statewide fund. 

Your contributions, your employer’s contributions and the contributions of other employees earn interest over time. Those contributions add up, so you’ll be financially secure when it’s time to retire.  

States also set their own rules about when you can retire. Most require you to reach a certain age and have taught for a certain number of years. Check with your state education agency to learn about your state’s retirement rules for teachers. 

Stepping into a classroom could mean stepping out of debt. Loan forgiveness programs cancel your remaining student loans — meaning you don’t have to pay them back! — in exchange for a commitment to teach for several years.

Check to see if your state offers loan forgiveness options for teachers. Here are a few loan forgiveness programs offered through the federal government: 

Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program: The Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program helps public school teachers with federal student loans. Teachers in certain shortage areas, including math, science and special education can receive up to $17,500 in forgiven loans. If you teach a different subject, you can still get up to $5,000! Learn how to qualify. 

Perkins Loan Cancellation: You can get 100 percent of your Perkins loans canceled if you teach for five years! Learn more about Perkins Loan Cancellation.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness: If you work full-time in a public service field — like teaching! — for 10 years, you can get your remaining student loans forgiven through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Learn more.

More Perks

Check out these ideas to reduce your expenses even more!

Buying a house is expensive, but there are resources to find a home in the community where you teach. As a teacher, you’re eligible for assistance with a down payment or a reduced interest rate on your mortgage.

Your school district or state may have housing assistance programs for teachers. You can also explore these federal programs:

Good Neighbor Next Door: The federal government created Good Neighbor Next Door to contribute to community revitalization and to support people in service professions (like teaching).

Good Neighbor Next Door offers a discount of 50 percent from the list price of qualifying homes. The home inventory changes weekly — so if you don’t see something in your area right away, it’s worth checking back!

Teacher Next Door: Teacher Next Door helps classroom teachers become homeowners in the communities where they work. The program offers a wide range of support, including:

  • Housing grants
  • Down payment assistance
  • Home loans
  • Preferred interest rates

Homes for Heroes: Homes for Heroes helps make the home buying, selling or refinancing process easier for educators (and saves teachers money in the process)!

Want to continue your teacher education? Many school districts offer tuition reimbursement and professional development funds, for things like conferences or trainings.

Building your skills can increase your knowledge and your pay. It also helps districts retain top-notch educators — so it’s a win-win for everyone.

You can also apply for grants, scholarships and fellowships for teachers to help with tuition, living expenses, professional development, projects and innovations to enrich your classroom, school supplies or field trips. Check out our Financial Aid Explorer to explore opportunities. 

Many people are eager to support classrooms. Whether it's funding a field trip, helping you outfit your classroom with new technology, or providing supplies such as books, paper and other materials, there are ways to connect with donors willing to help.

One popular method is to set up an account on Donors Choose which offers a free account to teachers. On the site, you can specify your classroom needs and the site will match you with people looking to give.

The world’s best brands offer discounts to teachers. That means classroom materials are cheaper. Plane tickets take you farther. Cell phone bills and gym memberships are cheaper. And new technology to support your endeavors is closer in reach.

Discounts vary by district and state, but this national list is a good place to start.

A teacher wearing a green plaid shirt sits and talks with a student, smiling widely.

It Pays to Teach

Teaching is a career that requires a real commitment, but it comes with real rewards. Learn about the compensation package you can expect.

Did you know most people underestimate how much teachers take home? Plus, in most states, you’ll receive comprehensive benefits, to help care for you and your family.

In 2021, the average teacher salary was $66,745, up 2 percent from the year before. (1) Keep in mind, that's the *national* average — but teacher salaries vary widely from state to state, and region to region! Let's take a closer look.

References

1. Educator Pay Data, National Education Association. April 24, 2023. https://www.nea.org/resource-library/educator-pay-and-student-spending-how-does-your-state-rank