phd teacher salary

What Do Teachers With Doctorates Earn?

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What Kind of Degree Do I Need to Become a Biology Teacher?

Salary difference for elementary teachers vs. secondary teachers, the annual salary of a first-year teacher.

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If you're teaching elementary, middle or high school, the answer to "What will I earn" is "Where are you teaching?" States set their own rules and salary schedules, so a teacher salary with a doctorate degree in California won't be the same as in Vermont. Wherever you work, though, a Ph.D. or even a master's degree will serve you better than a bachelor's degree.

Salaries for K-12 teachers with doctorates vary across the country as each state sets its own pay scales. You will earn more than a teacher with a lower degree who has the same amount of experience you do, but the difference, again, depends on where you work.

College vs. K-12

K-12 teachers with doctorates aren't what you'd call thick on the ground. As of 2016, according to the National Center for Educational Statistics , only 3 percent of teachers in primary and secondary schools had a Ph.D. That compares to 40 percent with a bachelor's degree and 47 percent with a master's.

College graduates with doctorates are more likely to look at college teaching, Inside Higher Ed says . Teaching at college or university has more prestige, and a tenure-track position pays well. Nevertheless, there are advantages to teaching K-12 that make it worth considering.

A big advantage, Eos says , is that it's much easier to land a job in primary and secondary schools. Universities are saving money by shifting more and more teaching from tenure track to lower-paid adjunct professors with less job security. The chance of new hires achieving tenure dwindles every year. The number of students with post-grad education is far, far more than the teaching opportunities available at the college level.

Landing a job in high school is a lot easier for a qualified candidate. Schools are increasingly keen on tapping, for example, history or biology teachers with in-depth professional knowledge of their field. You may not get to bring all that you've learned to bear, Beyond Professoriate says, but you'll use a lot of your knowledge. It's also a chance to have a positive impact on people's lives.

Teacher Salary With Doctorate Degree

Like the starting salary for teachers with a bachelor's degree, the effect of a doctorate on high school teacher salary varies across the country. There's a ​ $40,000 ​ gap between average teacher pay in New York state and low-paying Mississippi, Education Week says . Time factors in, too, as union negotiations and state budget pressures move states up and down in the rankings. You should also consider the cost of living: It's way higher in New York, for instance, which eats up the bigger paycheck.

Even within a given state, teacher salary with a doctorate degree is affected by other factors such as experience and training. For example, the New Mexico Public Education Department says it has multiple salary schedules for K-12 teachers. Advancing from one schedule to the next is based on factors including time spent teaching, school district approval and becoming certified in their area of teaching expertise. Other states will have their own requirements.

For another example, consider North Carolina. The state says a teacher with a Bachelor of Arts and three years experience receives ​ $3,166.67 ​ a month. With a master's degree and equivalent experience the pay is ​ $3,483.33 ​; with a doctorate, ​ $3,694.17 ​.

• National Center for Education Statistics: Digest of Education Statistics
• Inside Higher Ed: My Postacademic Life in an Independent School
• Eos: High School Teaching Is the New Tenure-Track Job
• Education Week: Which States Have the Highest and Lowest Teacher Salaries?
• New Mexico Public Education Department: Teacher License Advancement
• North Carolina Department of Public Instruction: Fiscal Year 2020 – 2021 North Carolina Public School Salary Schedules

Fraser Sherman has written about every aspect of working life: the importance of professional ethics, the challenges of business communication, workers' rights and how to cope with bullying bosses. He lives in Durham NC with his awesome wife and two wonderful dogs. You can find him online at frasersherman.com

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PhD Salaries and Lifetime Earnings

PhDs employed across job sectors show impressive earning potential:

“…[T]here is strong evidence that advanced education levels continue to be associated with higher salaries. A study by the Georgetown Center on Education and the Workforce showed that across the fields examined, individuals with a graduate degree earned an average of 38.3% more than those with a bachelor’s degree in the same field. The expected lifetime earnings for someone without a high school degree is $973,000; with a high school diploma, $1.3 million; with a bachelor’s degree, $2.3 million; with a master’s degree, $2.7 million; and with a doctoral degree (excluding professional degrees), $3.3 million. Other data indicate that the overall unemployment rate for individuals who hold graduate degrees is far lower than for those who hold just an undergraduate degree.” - Pathways Through Graduate School and Into Careers , Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) and Educational Testing Service (ETS), pg. 3.

Average salaries by educational level and degree (data from the US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2009-2011, courtesy of the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce):

The Bureau of Labor and Statistics reports higher earnings and lower unemployment rates for doctoral degree holders in comparison to those with master’s and bachelor’s degrees:

According to national studies, more education translates not only to higher earnings, but also higher levels of job success and job satisfaction:

“Educational attainment – the number of years a person spends in school – strongly predicts adult earnings, and also predicts health and civic engagement. Moreover, individuals with higher levels of education appear to gain more knowledge and skills on the job than do those with lower levels of education and they are able, to some extent, to transfer what they learn across occupations.” - Education for Life and Work (2012), National Research Council of the National Academies, pg. 66.

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2023 Average Teaching Salaries: What Are the Top-Paying States?

Where does your state rank?

At the end of the day—a day spent wrangling students, grading papers, coaching sports, and managing parents—teacher salaries are too low. That’s the conclusion of the National Council on Teacher Quality (and many others). The average teacher salary also varies—a lot.

Since the pandemic started (from 2021 until now), average teacher pay is up slightly, but it has not kept up with inflation overall. The National Education Association found that for 2022–2023, average teacher pay was up 2.6% from the previous year, but teachers are still making $3,644 less than they did 10 years ago.

The average teacher salary in the United States in 2022–2023 was $68,469, but this ranges from $48,530 (Mississippi) to $92,307 (Massachusetts). On the whole, from 2021–2022, salaries had increased, except in Kansas, where the average salary decreased from $54,988 to $54,810. The average salary increased the most in New Mexico ($54,272 to $63,580).

Read the full NEA report and the Education Week analysis .

Highest-Paying States (and D.C.) in 2022–2023

1. massachusetts.

Massachusetts average teacher salary: $92,307

2. New York

New York average teacher salary: $92,097

3. California

California average teacher salary: $90,151

4. District of Columbia

District of Columbia average teacher salary: $84,882

5. Washington

Washington average teacher salary: $83,845

6. Connecticut

Connecticut average teacher salary: $83,400

7. New Jersey

New Jersey average teacher salary: $82,126

8. Maryland

Maryland average teacher salary: $79,421

9. Rhode Island

Rhode Island average teacher salary: $79,289

Alaska average teacher salary: $75,259

11. Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania average teacher salary: $74,116

12. Illinois

Illinois average teacher salary: $73,933

Oregon average teacher salary: $71,842

Hawaii average teacher salary: $70,947

15. Minnesota

Minnesota average teacher salary: $66,795

How do the rest of the states stack up?

16. delaware.

Delaware average teacher salary: $66,243

17. Michigan

Michigan average teacher salary: $66,148

Ohio average teacher salary: $65,825

19. Georgia

Georgia average teacher salary: $64,461

20. New Hampshire

New Hampshire average teacher salary: $64,169

21. New Mexico

New Mexico average teacher salary: $63,580

22. Vermont

Vermont average teacher salary: $63,291

Utah average teacher salary: $63,257

24. Virginia

Virginia average teacher salary: $62,367

25. Wisconsin

Wisconsin average teacher salary: $61,393

26. Colorado

Colorado average teacher salary: $61,907

Nevada average teacher salary: $61,719

28. Wyoming

Wyoming average teacher salary: $61,437

Texas average teacher salary: $60,716

Maine average teacher salary: $60,391

31. Arizona

Arizona average teacher salary: $60,275

Iowa average teacher salary: $60,150

33. Nebraska

Nebraska average teacher salary: $58,763

34. North Carolina

North Carolina average teacher salary: $56,559

Idaho average teacher salary: $56,365

36. Kentucky

Kentucky average teacher salary: $56,296

37. Alabama

Alabama average teacher salary: $56,109

38. Indiana

Indiana average teacher salary: $55,981

39. Montana

Montana average teacher salary: $55,909

40. South Carolina

South Carolina average teacher salary: $55,778

41. North Dakota

North Dakota average teacher salary: $55,767

42. Oklahoma

Oklahoma average teacher salary: $55,541

43. Louisiana

Louisiana average teacher salary: $55,362

Kansas average teacher salary: $54,810

45. Tennessee

Tennessee average teacher salary: $54,378

46. Missouri

Missouri average teacher salary: $54,029

47. Arkansas

Arkansas average teacher salary: $53,317

48. West Virginia

West Virginia average teacher salary: $53,006

49. Florida

Florida average teacher salary: $52,362

50. South Dakota

South Dakota average teacher salary: $51,363

51. Mississippi

Mississippi average teacher salary: $48,530

Find out how these states compare with the highest-paying states for special education teachers.

How much does your salary factor in to where you teach share on our weareteachers helpline group  on facebook..

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Salaries for Public School Teacher with a JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent

According to our 100% employer reported salary sources the median salary for a Public School Teacher with a JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent is $55,214 - $61,317 . Please try our salary wizard to explore how other factors like location, Years of experience and number of direct reports can impact your base pay and bonus.

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Salary & Benefits

Financial incentives.

Make a living doing what you love. All New York City Public Schools teachers receive a professional salary and competitive benefits package, earning more for additional experience, coursework, and for taking on new responsibilities. 

We offer extremely competitive salaries to newly hired teachers, along with extensive opportunities for salary increases. Review the teacher salary schedule , along with the guidance below, to estimate your salary.  

NYC Public Schools Teacher Salary Schedule Guidance:  

• Be sure to review the salary schedule page with the most recent date. 
• The left column lists the salary steps ( e.g., 1A, 1B, 2A, etc.), which is an incremental increase in salary based on previous years of teaching experience as well as longevity at NYC Public Schools. Note that your salary step placement is finalized after you are hired. See here for additional context about qualifying for and applying for salary step increases.  
• The top row lists the salary differentials ( e.g., BAC1, C1+PD, etc.), which are salary increases based on credits earned after your bachelor’s degree. Note that you will need to apply for salary differentials as you begin teaching. See here for additional context about qualifying for and applying for salary differentials.  

Below are some sample scenarios to help you understand how the salary schedule works: 

The United Federation of Teachers (UFT) provides additional resources to support teachers in understanding the salary process, including a salary calculator to help you estimate your salary. Be sure to select the most recent contract date to see the most accurate estimate. 

To learn more about teacher salaries, visit th e UFT website and the Online Support Center .  

Teachers can select from a variety of health insurance plans, several of which require no employee contributions. Coverage for teachers and their families (including registered domestic partners) begins on the first day of employment. Teachers also receive dental, vision, and prescription drug benefits through the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) Welfare Fund. To learn more, please visit the New York City Office of Labor Relation's website .  

In addition to a competitive wage, there are additional financial incentives for NYC Public Schools teachers for taking on new roles and responsibilities and working in historically underserved school communities. Learn more by visiting our Financial Incentives webpage .  

The Teachers’ Retirement System of the City of New York (TRS)—one of the largest pension systems in the country—provides N YC Public School s teachers with retirement, disability and death benefit services. Teachers can also opt into our Tax-Deferred Annuity Program, a supplemental retirement plan that allows members to defer taxes on their contributions and any investment earnings from those contributions until they withdraw the money as income. 

As of January 2024, starting salaries range from $64,789 (bachelor’s degree, no prior teaching experience) to $89,085 (master’s degree, 8 years teaching experience, potentially additional coursework). 

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Average Teacher Pay Passes $70K. How Much Is It in Your State?

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For the first time ever, the average teacher salary in America has topped $70,000 this school year.

Teacher salaries are growing faster than at any previous point since the Great Recession—but with inflation factored in, teachers still take home less on average than they did a decade ago, according to the nation’s largest teachers’ union.

The nationwide average teacher salary during the 2023-24 school year is $71,699, the National Education Association estimates in its annual report that ranks and analyzes teacher pay by state .

That figures marks a 3.1 percent increase from last school year’s average teacher salary of $69,544.

That number was the largest year-over-year increase in pay for the nation’s 3 million teachers since the NEA began its annual reports in 2008.

That amount doesn’t pay for as much as it once did, though. After adjusting for inflation, teachers make 5 percent less on average than they did 10 years ago, according to the NEA, which includes more than 2 million teachers, instructional aides, and other educators.

This week is Teacher Appreciation Week , as designated by the National Parent Teacher Association. But “much work remains to close the teacher pay penalty and address inadequate pay for all educators,” the NEA report says.

The average pay for a starting teacher in 2022-23 was $44,530, up 3.9 percent from the previous year—the largest increase since the NEA began tracking salaries 14 years ago.

Pay-related challenges are particularly acute among younger teachers, the NEA reports. More than three-quarters of districts pay brand new teachers less than $50,000 a year. More than one-quarter pay brand new teachers less than $40,000 a year.

Even later in their careers, most teachers’ salaries will hit a ceiling. Only 16 percent of districts employ at least one teacher who makes more than $100,000 a year. In general, teachers earn 76.5 cents on the dollar compared with what college graduates in other professions make .

Political momentum to raise teacher pay has ramped up in recent years . President Joe Biden has mentioned it during several prominent speeches, including in his March State of the Union address.

States like Georgia and Iowa have approved teacher pay increases during the current legislative session. South Dakota in March raised its minimum teacher salary to $45,000 starting in 2026.

But salary increases aren’t universal—Florida, for instance, in March failed to pass a bill that would have raised the base salary for teachers to $65,000.

Teachers earn, on average, 21 percent more in states that permit collective bargaining for teachers than in states that don’t, according to the NEA report. More than 30 states explicitly allow teachers to collectively bargain, six explicitly prohibit it, and the rest allow it in some circumstances, according to the NEA .

Pay for classroom aides isn’t keeping pace with inflation either

The NEA also tracks compensation for “education support professionals,” including paraprofessionals and instructional aides who provide assistance to teachers in the classroom.

Four in 5 of them work full-time. But full-time education support professionals make an average of just $33,000 a year. More than 12 percent of those working full-time earn less than $15,000 a year.

Salaries for ESPs, like those for teachers, are falling with inflation, even as the amount of money in their paychecks nominally grows year over year.

Similar to teachers, roughly 3 in 5 states explicitly permit ESPs to collectively bargain. In those states, people in those positions earn 14 percent more than in states where aides don’t have those legal rights, according to the NEA.

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Teacher Salary Map Reveals States That Pay Educators the Best

A map shows where teachers are paid the best—and worst—in the U.S.

The National Education Association's (NEA) 2024 report on educator pay in 50 states and the District of Columbia says the national average teacher salary for the 2022-23 school year increased to $69,544.

California ranked as the best state for teacher pay, with teachers receiving an average salary of $95,150 in the 2022-23 year. New York dropped from first to second place from the year before, paying teachers an average salary of $92,696.

Massachusetts came in third, with an average teacher salary of $92,307, followed by Washington, where teachers were paid an average salary of $86,804, while those in the District of Columbia earned $84,882 on average.

West Virginia ranked at the bottom of the list as the average teacher salary there was $52,870. Florida was second from last , with an average teacher salary of $53,098.

The NEA's report said average teacher pay has failed to keep up with inflation, with teachers on average making 5 percent less than they did 10 years ago.

The national average starting teacher salary was $44,530 in the 2022-23 year. It was the largest increase in the average teacher starting salary in the 14 years that the NEA has been tracking the numbers, but salaries are still more than $4,000 below 2008-09 levels when adjusted for inflation, according to the report.

Chronic low pay is plaguing the teaching profession, according to the report. Seventy-seven percent of school districts pay teachers a starting salary below $50,000 and more than a third of full time K-12 education support professionals earning less than $25,000 a year, the report said.

Unions have helped drive up teacher pay, according to the report. It said that teachers earn 26 percent more, on average, in states with collective bargaining, while education support professional make 16 percent more.

"Every student, regardless of race or place, deserves caring, qualified, committed educators," NEA President Becky Pringle said in a statement.

"And every educator needs our fierce support in helping them inspire imagination, curiosity, and a love of learning and to provide the skills students need to thrive in their brilliance."

Pringle said the "good news is that through their unions, educators have demanded respect and a seat at the table and have used the power of their collective voice to demand more. More for their students, more professional respect, and more pay.

"By holding elected officials accountable, educators will earn the respect, competitive wages, and support they deserve to provide their students with the skills needed to fulfill their dreams in safe, just, and welcoming learning environments."

The report comes as states across the country are grappling with teacher shortages . Newsweek reported last year that low pay was a main factor driving a growing number of teachers to leave the profession.

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Phys Ed Teacher Salary

Sponsored school(s).

PE teachers provide learning experiences designed to meet the developmental needs of students through standards-based physical and health education programs that help kids develop positive attitudes about physical fitness, while at the same time giving them a chance to practice teamwork and positive social skills.

Whether they’re teaching at the elementary level, middle grades, or in high schools, or leading adaptive phys ed programs for children with disabilities, PE teachers serve as part educator part coach, teaching and promoting everything from physical fitness, and interpersonal skills, to hygiene and nutrition.

It’s an exciting and personally fulfilling career that comes with plenty of professional opportunities and respectable salaries to match.

Salaries for Physical Education Teachers

Factors affecting physical education teacher salaries.

A Push to Increase Enrollment in Physical Education Teacher Preparation Programs

PE Teacher Salaries By State

• Connecticut
• District of Columbia
• Massachusetts
• Mississippi
• New Hampshire
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• West Virginia

Similar to their general education peers, physical education teachers are paid using a fixed salary schedule implemented by their school district or state educational agency.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported the following salary range (50 th -90 th percentile) for teachers, according to grade level:

• Elementary school teachers: $59,670 – $97,900
• Middle school teachers: $59,660 – $96,280
• High school teachers: $61,660 – $99,660

The BLS also highlighted the top-paying states in the nation (according to annual, mean salary) for teachers, as of May 2019:

• New York: $82,830
• California: $82,560
• Massachusetts: $82,450
• Washington D.C.: $79,390
• Connecticut: $78,070
• New York: $87,050
• Alaska: $80,730
• Massachusetts: $80,520
• California: $80,160
• Connecticut: $79,510
• New York: $87,240
• California: $85,080
• Massachusetts: $81,070
• Connecticut: $78,540
• New Jersey: $78,090

A number of factors influence salaries for physical education teachers:

Graduate Degree

While a bachelor’s degree within an approved teacher preparatory program is the minimum educational requirement to become a physical education teacher, earning an advanced level of education is a great way to earn a bigger paycheck.

For example, education teachers with a bachelor’s degree and five years’ experience in the Dodge City Public Schools in Dodge City, Kansas earn a salary of $45,766. However, teachers with higher levels of education earn significantly more:

• BS+15: $47,800
• BS+30: $49,833
• MS: $53,442
• MS+15: $54,993
• MS+30: $56,543
• EdSpec: $58,093
• PhD/EdD: $59,618

Physical education teachers in the North Carolina Public schools are also rewarded for achieving higher levels of education. For example, a teacher with a bachelor’s teacher and three years of experience earns an annual salary of $38,000, while a teacher with a master’s degree and the same number of years of experience earns $41,800.

As expected, experience plays a large role in how much you’ll earn as a physical education teacher. Most school districts have salary schedules that include yearly pay increments to reward teachers for their hard work.

For example, teachers with the Independence School District in Independence, Missouri, earn $40,434 with three years of experience and a bachelor’s degree. Their salary then increases as follows:

• 4 years’ experience: $40,901
• 5 years’ experience: $41,543
• 6 years’ experience: $42,960
• 7 years’ experience: $44,377
• 8 years’ experience: $45,794
• 9 years’ experience: $47,212
• 10 years’ experience: $48,629

Athletic Supplements

Many physical education teachers also enjoy serving as coaches in the district in which they teach. A coaching position is a great way to earn supplemental income, as most school districts pay a stipend to PE teachers who serve as coaches.

For example, coaches with the Hillsborough County Public Schools (Tampa, FL) earn an income supplement that ranges from $868 as an assistant flag football coach to $3,736 for a head football coach. Even coaches of intramural sports within the school district earn a supplement of $400 for their work.

Similarly, physical education teachers with the Des Moines Public Schools also earn extra duty pay for serving as a coach in any number of sports. For example, a wrestling coach earns a salary supplement of $7,418, an assistant track coach earns a salary supplement of $4,048, and a cross country head coach earns an additional $5,036.

Where Are the Nation’s Physical Education Teachers? A Push to Increase Enrollment in Physical Education Teacher Preparation Programs

If there’s one area of education that most people wouldn’t imagine a shortage of qualified teachers, it would be physical education. But they’d be wrong.

The demand for physical education teachers continues to trump supply. For both aspiring and practicing physical education teachers, this translates into exceptional professional opportunities, both now and well into the future.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, 22 states and Washington D.C. all reported shortages of health and physical fitness teachers as of the 2020-21 school year:

While some states reported shortages in specific counties or grade levels, many states, such as Maine, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina reported shortages statewide and in all grade levels.

You can learn more about your state’s physical education teacher needs by using the U.S. Department of Education’s searchable database of teacher shortage areas .

These shortages are a result of simply not enough physical education teachers coming through the teacher pipeline.

According to a 2018 joint Position Statement between SHAPE America and the National Association for Kinesiology in Higher Education, there are a number of recruitment and admission challenges for physical education and health education teacher education (PETE/HETE) programs throughout the U.S.

They report that many programs are struggling to recruit students, which then has a ripple effect when it comes to ensuring adequate numbers of physical educations in K-12 learning. While the demand for physical education and health teachers is strong and plenty of jobs are available, the position statement reveals that there are simply not enough physical education teachers to meet the demand.

According to the SHAPE America and NAKHE Joint Task Force, 42% of all states have experienced a decrease in PETE/HETE programs over the past decade, and 50% predict a continued decline over the next five years.

The West and Midwest regions of the U.S. are expected to experience the largest drop in programs, largely due to program reductions and fewer applicants. Across the U.S., there has been a 36% decline in enrollment in physical education teacher preparation programs between 2008 and 2014.

The position statement revealed that the nation’s three largest states: New York, Florida, and California all reported a growing number of courses in physical education are being taught by teachers not certified in physical education – violating many states’ requirements for physical education. A 2016 survey of 200 California schools reported that 12% of the districts reported shortages of physical education teachers.

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National ranking of teacher pay spells bad news for Florida educators. Here's what to know

The report ranked average teacher pay and starting teacher pay across the country, and compared both to what's considered a livable wage in each state..

Florida has officially dropped to 50th in a ranking of average teacher pay across the country, according to a report published in April by the National Education Association.

Only West Virginia ranks below Florida's average educator salary of $53,098. The report included all states and Washington, D.C., and ranked both average starting teacher salary and average teacher salary using data reported directly by school districts.

Despite recent pushes by Gov. Ron DeSantis to allocate more money for better teacher pay, Florida remains low on the list compared with other states.

Florida was ranked slightly higher in teacher pay last year at 48th in the nation.

The report comes as the Florida legislature has approved modest increases in the amount of money it gives schools based on the number of students who attend. At $12,488 per student, Florida's per-student allocation ranks 42nd in the country, according to the report from NEA.

New York, which ranks first in funding per student, spends $30,867, more than double Florida's amount. Neighboring Georgia spends $14,083 per student, the report found.

The Florida Education Association, the statewide federation of teachers unions, has called on lawmakers to increase funding by $2.5 billion a year to address teacher pay, hire more mental health specialists and address students' post-pandemic academic needs.

More on teacher pay: Some Palm Beach County teachers get second jobs to pay bills. Now they're in for a 7% raise

"Once again, despite a thriving economy, Florida is failing to prioritize the needs of students by not fairly compensating teachers and staff," said Andrew Spar, president of the Florida Education Association.

Spar blamed a mentality in the Legislature "that teachers in Florida should just shut up and be quiet."

"They’re not going to do that," Spar said. "They’re walking away from the profession or they're saying, 'Our public schools matter too much for us not to stand up and speak out.' "

Here's what to know about teacher pay and the report.

What is starting teacher pay in Florida?

Florida fared far better in the ranking of average salaries for starting teachers.

At $47,178, Florida's average starting teacher pay ranks 16th in the country. The place with the top salary for starting teachers is Washington, D.C., with an average of $63,373.

Average salaries are far below minimum livable wage in Florida

The report shows that both starting teacher pay and average teacher pay come in far below what's considered a livable wage in Florida, which is $58,970 per year.

The report defined a livable wage as the "income needed for family of one adult and one child to have a modest but adequate standard of living in the most affordable metro area in 2023 dollars, as defined by the Economic Policy Institute."

How much do teachers in Palm Beach County make?

The starting salary for teachers in Palm Beach County is $51,500, according to 2023 figures from the school district.

Teachers can be paid up to $77,233 if they have 25 years of experience.

All teachers with more than one year of experience currently get a supplement to their salary worth up to $10,000 due to a referendum passed by voters in 2018 and again in 2022.

Top 5 states for teacher pay

Here are the top five states and districts for average teacher pay:

• California — $95,160
• New York — $92,696
• Massachusetts — $92,307
• Washington state — $86,804
• Washington D.C. — $84,882

Bottom 5 states for teacher pay

Here are the bottom five states for average teacher pay:

• 47. Missouri — $53,999
• 48. Mississippi — $53,354
• 49. South Dakota — $53,153
• 50. Florida — $53,098
• 51. West Virginia — $52,870

How did NEA get this teacher pay data?

All but four state and district departments of education provided NEA with estimated teacher pay data for the current school year in February.

Connecticut, District of Columbia, Montana and Rhode Island salary averages were estimated from data from the 2022-23 school year.

The national average salary was weighted by the number of teachers in each state.

How was this report funded?

The report compiled data from each state and was conducted by the National Education Association, the largest labor union in the U.S. that represents public school employees.

The NEA gets funding from its dues-paying members and investments. The association has about 3 million members, according to its website.

Although it is a nonpartisan organization, the NEA has endorsed or provided support for every Democratic presidential nominee from Jimmy Carter to Joe Biden.

Fast facts from NEA teacher pay study

• Even with record-level increases in some states, average teacher pay has failed to keep up with inflation over the past decade. Adjusted for inflation, on average, teachers are making 5% less than they did 10 years ago, according to the report.
• About 77% of U.S. school districts pay a starting salary below $50,000, while teacher salaries top out over $100,000 in 16.6% of districts. About 28% of school districts start teachers at less than $40,000 per year, the report says.
• Teachers earn 26% more, on average, in states with collective bargaining. Education support professionals covered by unions earn 16% more, the report found.

Katherine Kokal is a journalist covering education at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at [email protected]. Help support our work: Subscribe today!

PhD, Postdoc, and Professor Salaries in the Netherlands

Salaries at Dutch universities are set at the national level and listed in the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities (CAO-NU). An academic’s place on the salary scale   is determined by their position, qualifications, and experience. The salaries listed in this article are pre-tax. Dutch salaries are supplemented by an 8% holiday allowance (paid in May or June) and an 8.3% end-of-year allowance (paid in December). Income tax is high—either 36.5% or 52%—however foreign academics are often eligible for the 30% scheme which allows them to receive the first 30% of their salary tax-free.

Promovendus

A PhD student in the Netherlands is called a promovendus . A Dutch PhD usually takes four years to complete. As PhD candidates are seen as employees rather than students and usually hold the position of Assistant-in-Opleiding (AiO) or Onderzoeker-in-Opleiding (OiO).

A PhD student earns €2,448 to €3,128 per month.

After earning their PhD, many researchers go on to a postdoc often at another university or in another country. A postdoc is a continuation of the researcher’s training that allows them to further specialize in a particular field and learn new skills and techniques. A Dutch postdoc lasts two years.

The salary range for a postdoc is €3,821 to €5,230 per month ( scale 11 ).

Universitair docent

This position is equivalent to the rank of assistant professor and is the first permanent academic position. The initial contract is often for four years at which point the academic is evaluated and their position may become permanent. If the position becomes permanent, it is not uncommon to stay in this position until retirement.

Tenure-track universitair docent positions were initially introduced due to many Dutch academic jobs being temporary and job security being perceived very low. A more experienced candidate with the potential to become a universitair hoofddocent can become a tenure-track universitair docent . After four to six years their performance is evaluated and those who have published and received major grants are promoted to universitair hoofddocent .

The salary scales for a universitair docent ranges from €3,821 to €5,943 per month ( scale 11 and 12 ) depending on qualifications and experience level.

Universitair hoofddocent

A universitair hoofddocent is equivalent in rank to an associate professor. Traditionally to become a universitair hoofddocen t, a universitair docent had to apply for a vacant position. However it is now possible to be promoted to this position based on performance. This is a permanent position and it is not uncommon to remain a universitair hoofddocent until retirement.

The salary scales for a universitair hoofddocent ranges from €5,294 to €7,097 per month ( scale 13 and 14 ) depending on qualifications and experience level.

A hoogleraar is equivalent to a full professor and is at the top of the Dutch professorial hierarchy. They have substantial research accomplishments that have established them as an international or national leader in their field. The position is similar to that of a department chair in that a hoogleraar supervises all the other professors in their department or group. They are also the only ones who can supervise PhD dissertations. Unlike the American tenure system, there is no automatic promotion to hoogleraar . To become one, a universitair hoofddocent has to apply for a vacant position.

The salary scales for a hoogleraar ranges from €5,864 to €10,309 per month ( scale H2 and H1 ) depending on qualifications and experience level.  

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Teacher salaries in Illinois among best in the nation, new report finds

Illinois teachers are among the highest paid in the country, according to a new report .

The National Education Association's report gathers information from each state's department of education analyze trends across the country.

The report includes average teacher salary for each state as well as attendance, enrollment, employment and funding.

According to the new report, the average teacher salary for 2022-2023 was $69,544, which is a 4.1% increase from the 2021-2022 school year.

More News: Check your ticket: Winning $1M lottery ticket sold outside of Springfield

An increase in teacher salaries was also seen in Illinois, according to the new report. The average teacher salary in Illinois was $73,916 for 2022-2023, a 2.2% increase from 2021-2022 when salaries were $72,315.

Overall, Illinois ranked as the 12th best state across the country for teacher salaries.

California ranked the highest with a salary of $95,160 while West Virginia was the lowest at $52,870. The report found teachers working in states with collective bargaining on average make 26% more than states without collective bargaining.

The national average expenditure in 2022-2023 was $16,281 per-student, a 3.0% gain from the 2021-22 year which was $15,808 per-student. Shares of state and local funding for the 2022-2023 year remained at similar levels at 44.5% and 42.3%.

Federal funding continued to comprise a historically high share of school revenues due to the influx of federal COVID relief funds, accounting for 13.2 percent of total revenue receipts in 2022-2023. Shares of state and local funding in 2022-2023 remained at similar levels as the previous year, at 44.5 percent and 42.3 percent, respectively.

Contact Hope Gadson: [email protected]

Are Teacher Salaries Too High? (fwd)