The Ranking

The best states for teacher pay.

Pay alone doesn't tell the story. Our composite score weighs average salary, cost-of-living adjusted purchasing power, pension strength, and union protections.

1. 01
   New York

   Score 90.0 · Cost of Living 125
   $92,222

   Avg salary
   $73,778

   cost-of-living adjusted
2. 02
   California

   Score 89.2 · Cost of Living 138
   $95,160

   Avg salary
   $68,957

   cost-of-living adjusted
3. 03
   Massachusetts

   Score 87.5 · Cost of Living 127
   $90,320

   Avg salary
   $71,118

   cost-of-living adjusted
4. 04
   Washington

   Score 85.2 · Cost of Living 117
   $86,804

   Avg salary
   $74,191

   cost-of-living adjusted
5. 05
   New Jersey

   Score 82.1 · Cost of Living 116
   $80,517

   Avg salary
   $69,411

   cost-of-living adjusted
6. 06
   Connecticut

   Score 81.2 · Cost of Living 121
   $81,185

   Avg salary
   $67,095

   cost-of-living adjusted
7. 07
   Pennsylvania

   Score 79.6 · Cost of Living 95
   $73,117

   Avg salary
   $76,965

   cost-of-living adjusted
8. 08
   Illinois

   Score 79.2 · Cost of Living 94
   $72,345

   Avg salary
   $76,963

   cost-of-living adjusted
9. 09
   Rhode Island

   Score 79.0 · Cost of Living 117
   $78,323

   Avg salary
   $66,943

   cost-of-living adjusted
10. 10
    Maryland

    Score 76.8 · Cost of Living 116
    $76,032

    Avg salary
    $65,545

    cost-of-living adjusted
11. 11
    Minnesota

    Score 74.4 · Cost of Living 96
    $67,902

    Avg salary
    $70,731

    cost-of-living adjusted
12. 12
    Oregon

    Score 73.9 · Cost of Living 117
    $73,071

    Avg salary
    $62,454

    cost-of-living adjusted
13. 13
    Ohio

    Score 73.2 · Cost of Living 92
    $65,396

    Avg salary
    $71,083

    cost-of-living adjusted
14. 14
    Michigan

    Score 72.2 · Cost of Living 92
    $64,754

    Avg salary
    $70,385

    cost-of-living adjusted
15. 15
    Alaska

    Score 71.6 · Cost of Living 127
    $73,722

    Avg salary
    $58,049

    cost-of-living adjusted