Average Teacher Salary in the United States 2026
Short answer: the average U.S. public school teacher salary is $74,495 in NEA Educator Pay Data 2026, based on the 2024-25 school year. The average starting teacher salary is $48,112.
Updated May 22, 2026 - NEA Educator Pay Data 2026, NEA Rankings & Estimates, and BLS teacher wage context.
Quick answer for Google searches
- Average U.S. teacher salary: $74,495 for public school teachers.
- Average starting teacher salary: $48,112.
- Highest state average: California at $103,552.
- Lowest state average: Mississippi at $54,975.
- Important distinction: NEA averages and BLS medians are not the same dataset.
Highest average teacher salaries
- 1. California$103,552
- 2. New York$98,655
- 3. Washington$96,589
- 4. District of Columbia$95,077
- 5. Massachusetts$93,554
Lowest average teacher salaries
- 1. Mississippi$54,975
- 2. Florida$56,663
- 3. Louisiana$56,785
- 4. Missouri$57,366
- 5. West Virginia$58,099
NEA average vs BLS median
If you see a lower figure in BLS data, it is usually because BLS reports occupation-specific median wages, such as elementary school teachers or high school teachers. NEA's $74,495 figure is a public school teacher average across states, so it is the better answer for searches like "average teacher salary United States 2026" and "average US teacher salary 2026."
For the full 50-state table, monthly equivalents, starting pay context, and links to NEA and BLS sources, use the updated guide below.
Open the full teacher salary by state guideFrequently asked questions
What is the average teacher salary in the United States in 2026?v
The average U.S. public school teacher salary is $74,495 in NEA Educator Pay Data 2026, using the 2024-25 school year. The average starting teacher salary is $48,112. BLS occupation medians can be lower because BLS measures specific teaching occupations and reports medians, while NEA reports public school average salary.
Which states pay teachers the most in 2026?v
The highest average public school teacher salaries in the NEA 2026 table are California at $103,552, New York at $98,655, Washington at $96,589, District of Columbia at $95,077, and Massachusetts at $93,554.
Which states pay teachers the least in 2026?v
The lowest average public school teacher salaries in the NEA 2026 table are Mississippi at $54,975, Florida at $56,663, Louisiana at $56,785, Missouri at $57,366, and West Virginia at $58,099.
Why do NEA and BLS teacher salary numbers differ?v
NEA reports average public school teacher salary by state and nationally. BLS OEWS reports wages for specific occupations such as elementary, middle school, and high school teachers, usually as medians. Both are useful, but they answer different questions.