Average Teachers’ Salary by State: Where Teachers Earn More?

Evidence snapshot:

• The national average teacher pay in 2024-25 is $74,177, up from $72,030 the year before, but only $66,745 when adjusted for inflation.
• The average starting teacher salary in the U.S. remains modest at $44,530, highlighting the financial challenges new educators face early in their careers.
• Florida reports one of the lowest average teacher salaries at $51,009, despite being one of the largest and fastest-growing states in the country.
• Texas ranks in the middle range with an average teacher salary of $60,716, yet it draws significant attention due to its large teacher workforce and policy visibility.
• Although salaries have increased by 26.9% over the past decade, real teacher earnings have declined by 5.1%, indicating that raises have not kept up with inflation.
• Illinois leads in teacher salary adjusted for cost of living, offering an effective income of $82,342, one of the highest real values nationwide.
• 37% of educators work a second job, and 95% of PK-12 teachers report spending personal money on classroom needs, underscoring ongoing structural underfunding.
• Student-teacher ratios vary significantly from 10:1 in Vermont to 24:1 in Nevada, with direct implications for instructional quality and workload.

Understanding how much teachers earn is essential to grasping the broader challenges within the American education system. As debates around equity, retention, and quality of instruction continue, teaching wages remain a critical indicator of how society values its educators. This article examines teacher-estimated pay across the United States, highlighting differences by state, experience level, and cost of living. By analyzing trends in annual teacher salaries, we reveal the real purchasing power of educators over time and how it impacts their professional and personal lives.

Teacher salary overview

Teacher pay is one of the most scrutinized and debated aspects of public education funding. This section provides a detailed look at average teacher salaries across the U.S., including starting salaries, year-over-year increases, and cost-of-living adjustments. By understanding how teaching wages compare by state and over time, we gain insight into the realities behind teacher estimated pay and the sustainability of the teaching profession.

Average teacher salaries by state

Teacher salaries across the United States continue to rise, reflecting both inflationary pressures and growing attention to compensation in education. The average salary varies significantly by state, highlighting disparities in funding and cost of living. This chart provides a state-by-state comparison for the 2024-25 school year.

• California leads with the highest average teacher salary, reaching $103,379 in 2024-25.
• Mississippi ranks lowest in teacher pay, with an average salary of just $55,086.
• Nevada shows the largest year-over-year increase, rising by 11.8% from 2023-24 to 2024-25.

Average salaries of public school teachers by state

The data reveals a broad spectrum of average teacher salaries by year across the country, from under $60,000 in many southern states to over $100,000 in high-cost areas like California and New York. While nearly all states have seen increases in recent years, the gap between the top and bottom earners remains substantial. Understanding teacher pay disparities by state is crucial for policymakers and educators advocating for fair compensation and resource allocation. Additionally, tracking the growth of average teacher salaries over time offers valuable insights into how educational investment priorities are shifting nationwide.

However, looking at base salaries alone doesn’t tell the whole story. To truly understand teacher compensation, we must also consider how far those earnings go in each state, and that’s where cost-of-living adjustments come into play.

Average teacher salary by state, adjusted for cost of living

While nominal salaries show how much teachers earn on paper, cost-of-living adjustments reveal where their earnings truly stretch the furthest. By comparing average salaries to local living expenses, we gain insight into which states provide the most financial value for educators. This data helps identify the best states for teacher pay vs cost of living.

• Illinois ranks highest for teacher salary by state, adjusted for cost of living, with an effective income of $82,342.
• Hawaii has the lowest adjusted salary, dropping to just $40,589 due to its extremely high cost of living.
• Georgia, Michigan, and Minnesota all offer adjusted teacher salaries above $78,000, making them standout performers in balancing pay with affordability.

Average teacher salary adjusted for cost of living by state

This analysis highlights dramatic differences in teacher purchasing power across the U.S. While some high-salary states like California drop in rankings when adjusted for cost of living, others like Illinois and Georgia rise to the top. For educators considering relocation, evaluating the teacher salary by state, adjusted for cost of living, is essential. Ultimately, the best states for teacher pay vs cost of living are not always those with the highest raw salaries; they are those where teachers can live well on what they earn.

To better understand where teachers truly benefit most, it’s important to examine both the average teacher salary and how that salary changes when adjusted for local living costs. The following state-by-state profiles combine these two figures to provide a more complete picture. Each entry highlights the 2024-25 average salary and its cost-of-living-adjusted equivalent, helping identify the most and least favorable states for teachers from a financial perspective. This detailed view supports smarter decisions for educators considering relocation or policy advocates comparing compensation equity across the country.

Average teacher salary in Alabama

• In 2024-25, the average teacher salary in Alabama is $63,176. When adjusted for the cost of living, the salary increases to $71,791.

Average teacher salary in Alaska

• In 2024-25, the average teacher salary in Alaska is $79,842. Adjusted for the cost of living, the equivalent salary is $64,493.

Average teacher salary in Arizona

• In 2024-25, teachers in Arizona earn an average of $64,420. After adjusting for the cost of living, this amounts to $57,776.

Average teacher salary in Arkansas

• For 2024-25, the average teacher salary in Arkansas is $61,430. When adjusted for cost of living, it equals $69,256.

Average teacher salary in California

• In 2024-25, California teachers earn an average salary of $103,379. With a cost-of-living adjustment, this becomes $71,394.

Average teacher salary in Colorado

• In 2024-25, the average teacher salary in Colorado is $70,492. Adjusted for the cost of living, this is $69,110.

Average teacher salary in Connecticut

• Connecticut teachers earn an average of $89,593 in 2024-25. Adjusted for living costs, the salary is $79,780.

Average teacher salary in Delaware

• In 2024-25, the average salary for teachers in Delaware is $76,570. When adjusted for the cost of living, it is $75,962.

Average teacher salary in the District of Columbia

• Teachers in D.C. earn $95,077 on average in 2024-25. Adjusted for cost of living, the salary is $67,003.

Average teacher salary in Florida

• In 2024-25, the average teacher salary in Florida is $56,440 with a cost-of-living adjustment, which equals $54,903.

Average teacher salary in Georgia

• Georgia teachers earn $71,524 in 2024-25. Adjusted for living costs, the figure rises to $78,340.

Average teacher salary in Hawaii

• In 2024-25, Hawaii's average teacher salary is $75,860. However, after adjusting for high living costs, it drops to $40,589.

Average teacher salary in Idaho

• Teachers in Idaho earn an average of $62,786 in 2024-25. When adjusted for cost of living, the salary is $61,555.

Average teacher salary in Illinois

• In 2024-25, Illinois teachers earn $77,731. Adjusted for the cost of living, this equals $82,342.

Average teacher salary in Indiana

• Indiana teachers earn $60,387 in 2024-25. After adjusting for cost of living, this amounts to $66,726.

Average teacher salary in Iowa

• In 2024-25, Iowa’s average teacher salary is $63,648. Adjusted for living costs, it becomes $70,957.

Average teacher salary in Kansas

• Teachers in Kansas earn $60,849 in 2024-25. With a cost-of-living adjustment, that is equivalent to $69,941.

Average teacher salary in Kentucky

• Kentucky’s average teacher salary is $60,594 in 2024-25. Adjusted for cost of living, this amounts to $65,155.

Average teacher salary in Louisiana

• In 2024-25, Louisiana teachers earn $56,779. With a cost-of-living adjustment, it becomes $61,582.

Average teacher salary in Maine

• Maine teachers earn an average of $66,408 in 2024-25. Adjusted for living costs, the salary is $59,240.

Average teacher salary in Maryland

• In 2024-25, the average teacher salary in Maryland is $87,409. When adjusted for the cost of living, it equals $75,810.

Average teacher salary in Massachusetts

• Teachers in Massachusetts earn $94,645 on average in 2024-25. Adjusted for the cost of living, the salary becomes $64,870.

Average teacher salary in Michigan

• In 2024-25, Michigan teachers earn $71,188. When adjusted for cost of living, this rises to $78,748.

Average teacher salary in Minnesota

• Minnesota’s average teacher salary is $74,651 in 2024-25. Adjusted for cost of living, this becomes $78,497.

Average teacher salary in Mississippi

• In 2024-25, the average teacher salary in Mississippi is $55,086. Adjusted for living costs, it equals $62,669.

Average teacher salary in Missouri

• Teachers in Missouri earn $57,366 in 2024-25. With a cost-of-living adjustment, that becomes $64,674.

Average teacher salary in Montana

• Montana’s average teacher salary is $59,305 in 2024-25. Adjusted for cost of living, this equals $62,492.

Average teacher salary in Nebraska

• In 2024-25, Nebraska teachers earn $63,326. After adjusting for cost of living, the salary is $68,019.

Average teacher salary in Nevada

• Nevada teachers earn $74,812 on average in 2024-25 when adjusted for cost of living, which equals $73,852.

Average teacher salary in New Hampshire

• In 2024-25, New Hampshire teachers earn $69,432. Adjusted for the cost of living, this amounts to $61,663.

Average teacher salary in New Jersey

• New Jersey’s average teacher salary in 2024-25 is $84,256. Adjusted for living costs, this becomes $73,522.

Average teacher salary in New Mexico

• In 2024-25, teachers in New Mexico earn $69,736. With a cost-of-living adjustment, this equals $74,744.

Average teacher salary in New York

• New York teachers earn $98,123 in 2024-25. When adjusted for the cost of living, this becomes $79,581.

Average teacher salary in North Carolina

• In 2024-25, the average teacher salary in North Carolina is $60,323. Adjusted for cost of living, this equals $61,680.

Average teacher salary in North Dakota

• Teachers in North Dakota earn $60,704 in 2024-25. After adjustment for cost of living, the salary is $66,054.

Average teacher salary in Ohio

• In 2024-25, Ohio teachers earn $68,938. When adjusted for living costs, the salary is $73,183.

Average teacher salary in Oklahoma

• Oklahoma teachers earn $61,686 in 2024-25. Adjusted for cost of living, the salary increases to $71,979.

Average teacher salary in Oregon

• In 2024-25, Oregon’s average teacher salary is $79,560. Adjusted for the cost of living, it is $71,036.

Average teacher salary in Pennsylvania

• Teachers in Pennsylvania earn $79,032 in 2024-25. Adjusted for living costs, that equals $83,104.

Average teacher salary in Rhode Island

• In 2024-25, the average teacher salary in Rhode Island is $85,772. After adjusting for cost of living, this becomes $76,446.

Average teacher salary in South Carolina

• South Carolina teachers earn $63,109 in 2024-25. Adjusted for cost of living, the salary is $65,807.

Average teacher salary in South Dakota

• In 2024-25, teachers in South Dakota earn $58,879. When adjusted for the cost of living, it becomes $63,860.

Average teacher salary in Tennessee

• Tennessee’s average teacher salary is $62,196 in 2024-25. Adjusted for cost of living, this amounts to $68,725.

Average teacher salary in Texas

• Texas teachers earn an average of $63,749 in 2024-25. With a cost-of-living adjustment, the salary becomes $68,769.

Average teacher salary in Utah

• In 2024-25, Utah teachers earn $70,916. When adjusted for the cost of living, it is $67,603.

Average teacher salary in Vermont

• Vermont’s average teacher salary in 2024-25 is $71,778. Adjusted for cost of living, this equals $62,743.

Average teacher salary in Virginia

• Virginia teachers earn $68,292 in 2024-25. Adjusted for cost of living, this becomes $67,817.

Average teacher salary in Washington

• In 2024-25, Washington teachers earn $94,221. When adjusted for cost of living, this becomes $82,505.

Average teacher salary in West Virginia

• West Virginia’s average teacher salary in 2024-25 is $58,312. Adjusted for the cost of living, this increases to $69,337.

Average teacher salary in Wisconsin

• In 2024-25, the average teacher salary in Wisconsin is $67,370. After adjusting for cost of living, it equals $69,454.

Average teacher salary in Wyoming

• Wyoming teachers earn $65,265 in 2024-25. Adjusted for cost of living, the salary becomes $68,340.

Beyond the current salary levels and cost-of-living adjustments, examining the pace of salary growth over recent years provides insight into which states are actively investing in their educators’ compensation.

Average teacher salary increase by state

This section highlights the average teacher salary increase % YOY by state (2022-2025), showing how teacher pay has evolved across the country. The varying growth rates reflect differing budget priorities and economic conditions influencing education funding at the state level.

• The average teacher salary increase per year is 3.40%.
• Nevada leads with the highest salary growth, increasing teacher pay by an average of 10.11% annually over the three years.
• Arkansas also shows strong growth, with an impressive 6.36% annual increase, reflecting significant recent investments.
• Mississippi has the slowest salary growth, at just 1.61% per year, indicating a comparatively stagnant wage environment for teachers.

Average teachers’ salary increase by state in 2022-2025

The data illustrate notable disparities in teacher salary growth across states, with some, like Nevada, Tennessee, and Delaware, accelerating pay increases, while others, such as Mississippi, Ohio, and New Jersey, see much slower progress. This uneven growth impacts recruitment and retention, especially in states lagging. Monitoring the average teacher salary increase % YOY by state helps stakeholders understand where compensation is improving and where further action may be necessary to support educators adequately.

Looking beyond individual states, it’s also important to consider the overall national trend in teacher salaries to understand the broader landscape.

National average teacher salary

The average teacher salary across the United States has steadily increased over the past three years, reflecting national efforts to improve compensation for educators.

Copy embed code for this image

• The national average teacher pay rose from $69,381 in 2022-23 to $74,177 in 2024-25, representing a 6.9% increase over this period.
• Between 2023-24 and 2024-25 alone, the average teacher salary in the US grew by 3.0%, indicating consistent progress.

Average national teachers’ salary by educational years

The increase in the average teacher salary in the US signals positive momentum toward better supporting educators financially. Despite this progress, the pace of growth suggests there is still work to be done to ensure that teacher pay keeps up with inflation and living costs nationwide. Understanding the national average teacher pay offers valuable context for analyzing how individual states compare and contribute to this overarching trend.

To complement insights on overall teacher pay, examining the average starting teacher salary by state provides a valuable perspective on entry-level compensation for educators.

Do teacher salaries increase every year?

The answer is more complex than it may seem. While teacher salaries do increase each year in nominal terms, they often fail to keep pace with inflation. For example, the national average teacher pay rose by 3.8% in 2023-24 compared to the previous year, and by 3.0% in 2024-25. However, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) grew by 4.1% in 2023 and 2.9% in 2024. This means that, in real terms, teacher salaries are effectively declining, as their purchasing power erodes despite annual raises.

Average starting teacher salary

The starting teacher salary by state varies significantly, reflecting different funding priorities and cost-of-living conditions. This overview highlights where new teachers can expect competitive wages in 2024-25.

• The District of Columbia offers the highest average starting teacher salary by state, with new educators earning $63,373 annually.
• Montana has the lowest teacher salary by state, for starters, with an entry-level pay of just $35,674.
• States like Massachusetts and Washington also rank highly, offering starting salaries above $52,000, which helps attract and retain talent.

Starting average salaries for teachers by state

Understanding the average starting teacher salary by state is crucial for new teachers evaluating career opportunities and locations. While some states offer attractive starting pay, others lag behind, potentially impacting recruitment. Additionally, for specialized roles, such as special education, salary variations may be even more pronounced, underscoring the importance of targeted compensation strategies. Policymakers should consider these disparities to improve equity and support teacher retention across all regions.

To better understand trends in teacher compensation, it’s essential to analyze both the average teacher salary by year and how those salaries have changed over time.

Inflation-adjusted earnings decline

The data on average teacher salary increase per year reveals important insights into whether teacher salaries increase every year, showing fluctuations in both nominal (current dollar) and inflation-adjusted (constant dollar) terms from 2017 to 2025.

• The average teacher salary by year in current dollars shows consistent increases, with a peak increase of 26.90% projected for 2025 compared to the base year.
• When adjusted for inflation (constant dollars), the salary increases are much more modest, and even negative in recent years, indicating real wage stagnation or decline.
• Despite nominal gains, the data suggests that teacher salary increases have not always kept pace with inflation, highlighting challenges in real purchasing power for educators.

Copy embed code for this image

Comparison of average teacher salary in the U.S. in current and constant dollars

While the average teacher salary by year appears to rise steadily in nominal terms, the inflation-adjusted figures tell a more nuanced story. Teachers have experienced periods where real income growth has stalled or declined, despite apparent salary increases. This distinction is crucial for understanding the true economic well-being of educators and evaluating the effectiveness of pay policies. Continuous monitoring of both nominal and real wage trends is essential to ensure meaningful improvements in teacher compensation over time.

After analyzing teacher salaries and compensation, it’s important to examine classroom conditions, including the student-to-teacher ratio, which significantly impacts education quality.

Student-to-teacher ratio by state

The average student-to-teacher ratio in public schools varies widely by state, reflecting differences in education funding, school size, and local policies. Understanding these ratios helps assess classroom environments and the potential for individualized attention.

• The national average student-to-teacher ratio is approximately 20:1, balancing class sizes across various states.
• States like the District of Columbia (11:1), Vermont (10:1), and New York (11:1) have some of the lowest ratios, indicating smaller class sizes and potentially more personalized instruction.
• On the other hand, states such as Nevada (24:1), Arizona (23:1), and Utah (22:1) experience higher ratios, which may pose challenges for effective classroom management and individual student support.

What is the average student-to-teacher ratio in America?

• The average student-to-teacher ratio in America is 15 students per 1 teacher.

What is the average student-to-teacher ratio in different states of America?

Knowing what the legal teacher-to-student ratio is and how it compares to the actual student-to-teacher ratio by state provides valuable insight for policymakers, educators, and parents aiming to improve education quality. Lower ratios are generally linked to better student outcomes, especially in early grades and special education contexts.

In addition to salary and classroom ratios, it’s crucial to consider how many teachers in the US contribute to the overall education system and how this number has changed over time.

Trends in the number of teachers in the US

The total number of classroom teachers in the US has shown a generally steady increase from 2016 through 2025, reflecting trends in education demand and workforce growth.

Copy embed code for this image

• The total teacher count increased from approximately 3,156,200 in 2016 to about 3,241,800 in 2025, indicating gradual growth in the educator workforce.
• Between 2022 and 2023, there was a notable increase of roughly 33,300 teachers, the largest year-over-year growth in this period.
• Despite a slight dip projected for 2024, the overall trend suggests stable or increasing staffing levels in US public schools.

How many teachers are there in the U.S.?

Understanding how many teachers in the US provides important context for workforce planning and policy decisions. The steady rise in teacher numbers aligns with growing student populations and the need for quality education. Maintaining or increasing this workforce is essential to managing class sizes and ensuring effective student support nationwide.

Beyond classroom teachers, it’s essential to assess compensation for all instructional staff, as they play a key role in delivering educational outcomes across schools.

Instructional staff salary overview

While classroom teachers are at the forefront of education, they are part of a broader network of professionals who support student learning. This section explores the annual teacher salary in the context of all instructional staff, including specialists, counselors, and support personnel. Tracking salary trends across roles and years allows for a more complete picture of how compensation impacts the entire educational workforce.

Instructional staff salaries in public schools

Instructional staff, such as specialists, academic support professionals, and curriculum facilitators, often support teachers directly in enhancing the learning process. Tracking their salaries helps assess how education systems value a broader set of school professionals.

• The national trend shows steady salary growth for instructional staff, with states like California ($103,379), New York ($98,820), and Washington ($99,445) offering the highest average salaries in 2024-25.
• States such as Mississippi ($58,531), South Dakota ($60,723), and West Virginia ($60,342) offer the lowest average salaries for instructional staff in 2024-25.
• Significant 3-year salary growth is seen in Nevada (+15.5%), Delaware (+11.3%), and Utah (+11%), reflecting strategic investment in educational support personnel.

Instructional staff salaries across U.S. states

Salaries for instructional staff have increased consistently from 2022 to 2025 in nearly all states, with growth rates varying based on local budgets and education policy priorities. While some states demonstrate strong upward trends in pay, others still lag in offering competitive compensation, which can affect recruitment and retention. Recognizing the full ecosystem of educational contributors, not just lead teachers, is key to building strong, equitable learning environments.

After reviewing absolute teacher salaries and staffing trends, it’s crucial to evaluate the average teacher salary increase per year, both in current and inflation-adjusted dollars.

Instructional staff salary growth: nominal vs. real change

When discussing the average Instructional staff salary by year, it’s not enough to look at rising dollar amounts. Inflation erodes purchasing power, so we must compare Instructional staff salary increases in both current and constant dollars to understand whether educators are truly earning more over time.

Copy embed code for this image

• In current dollars, Instructional staff salaries have increased by 26.2% from 2016 to 2025, reflecting a steady upward trend in nominal pay.
• However, in constant dollars, the real purchasing power of Instructional staff salaries dropped by 5.62% by 2025, despite annual raises.
• The last three years (2023, 2024, and 2025) showed the sharpest inflation-adjusted declines: -6.45%, -5.88%, and -5.62%, respectively.

Instructional staff salary growth: nominal vs. real change (2016-2025)

Although data suggests that Instructional staff salaries increase every year, the average Instructional staff salary increase per year has not kept pace with inflation since 2022. In nominal terms, Instructional staff are earning more than ever before. But when adjusted for inflation, their real income is lower than it was just a few years ago, highlighting growing economic pressure on the profession.

This underscores a major policy concern: boosting Instructional staff pay isn’t just about nominal raises, it’s about preserving real income. Without inflation-adjusted increases, even seemingly generous pay hikes may fail to retain and motivate high-quality educators.

While salaries and staffing trends offer one lens into the education system, a full picture also requires examining teacher working conditions and growing signs of teacher dissatisfaction.

Teacher dissatisfaction and working conditions: What’s driving educators away?

Recent survey data reveal that many teachers are experiencing a combination of emotional strain, behavioral challenges in classrooms, and a lack of institutional support. These pressures contribute significantly to teacher burnout, affecting not only individual well-being but also retention and performance system-wide.

Copy embed code for this image

• 67% of teachers report student behaviour issues as a major problem, making it the most commonly cited factor in workplace dissatisfaction.
• 63% of respondents said pay is too low, indicating that compensation concerns remain closely tied to broader morale issues.
• 54% of teachers feel burned out, and 53% experience frequent job-related stress, underlining the emotional toll of the profession.

The most popular concerns of teachers

These findings highlight that teacher dissatisfaction is shaped by more than just wages. Challenges such as classroom management, teacher stress, and burnout are widespread and persistent. The overlap between emotional exhaustion and structural issues, like work overload (49%) and large class sizes (47%), suggests that systemic reforms are necessary.

Improving teacher working conditions must include a mix of competitive compensation, administrative support, mental health resources, and classroom investment. Without addressing these core issues, the profession risks losing qualified educators and undermining long-term educational outcomes.

Beyond emotional strain and structural challenges, financial pressure remains a critical issue for many educators, evident in the high share of teachers working secondary jobs.

Educators working multiple jobs

An often-overlooked aspect of teacher well-being is the need for supplementary income. Data on what percentage of teachers work a second job sheds light on how many educators cannot rely solely on their school salaries to make ends meet.

Copy embed code for this image

• 37% of all educators in the U.S. work a second job to supplement their income.
• Among Black educators, the share rises to 46%, indicating even greater financial strain within this group.
• Hispanic educators are slightly below the national educator average, with 33% working an additional job.

Share of educators working multiple jobs

The fact that over one-third of all educators, and nearly half of Black educators, are working second jobs raises serious equity and sustainability concerns. It underscores that teacher salaries alone often fail to cover the cost of living, particularly for educators from underrepresented backgrounds.

This trend reflects not just economic hardship, but also potential impacts on teacher performance and retention. To retain qualified educators and reduce burnout, education policy must address compensation gaps that push teachers into secondary employment.

The high number of educators working second jobs reflects not just financial necessity, but also how and when these jobs are held throughout the academic year.

How do educators balance their jobs?

When examining what percentage of teachers work a second job, it’s essential to look beyond simple counts. The data reveals how many educators balance their main teaching role with extra employment, and when that extra work takes place.

Copy embed code for this image

• 37% of educators hold at least one other job besides their primary teaching position.
• Of those, 51% work in positions outside of education, such as retail, service, or freelance work.
• 34% continue these roles during the academic year, highlighting a potential conflict with classroom responsibilities.

Timing and type of the additional educator’s job

Educators juggling multiple roles is not just a summer phenomenon. A significant portion continues working second jobs during the school year, which may contribute to fatigue, lower job satisfaction, and reduced instructional effectiveness.

The fact that over half of educators with extra jobs work outside the education field suggests that these roles are not about professional growth, but financial survival. These insights reinforce the need to reevaluate teacher compensation structures and reduce reliance on secondary employment as a means to stay afloat.

In addition to working second jobs, many educators also personally cover costs that schools fail to provide, especially when it comes to student needs.

Personal spending on student needs: educators filling the gaps

A staggering number of educators across all levels are spending money from their own pockets to support students. This hidden burden highlights systemic underfunding and the personal sacrifices made by those in education.

Copy embed code for this image

• 77% of all educators report spending their own money on student supplies or classroom needs.
• This number jumps to 95% among PK-12 teachers and Student Instructional Support Personnel (SISPs), nearly all of them.
• Even higher education faculty (68%) and Education Support Professionals (ESPs) (60%) contribute personal funds to cover gaps.

Educators’ spending on student needs

The overwhelming majority of educators personally subsidize their classrooms, especially those working with younger students. This spending is often not reimbursed, putting additional strain on already modest teacher salaries.

The fact that nearly every PK-12 teacher spends out-of-pocket on student needs underscores the chronic underfunding in public education. It also reveals the extent to which educators are willing to go to ensure a quality learning environment, even when it comes at their own expense. This persistent pattern raises urgent questions about equity, teacher morale, and the sustainability of the profession.

Conclusions

• The teacher pay gap is more complex than it appears. While headline figures often point to six-figure salaries in states like California and New York, cost-of-living adjustments reveal a very different landscape. In many regions, teachers with “high” salaries are left with far less real purchasing power, challenging assumptions about fair compensation.
• Educators are absorbing the cost of systemic underinvestment. With over one-third of teachers working multiple jobs and nearly all PK-12 educators paying out of pocket for classroom resources, public education relies heavily on personal sacrifice. This model is unsustainable and risks long-term damage to teacher morale, retention, and recruitment.
• Inflation is silently eroding teacher value. Although average teacher salary increases per year seem positive on paper, constant-dollar data shows that teachers have effectively lost ground. This disconnect between salary growth and real earnings raises serious concerns about the financial viability of the profession.
• Teacher dissatisfaction is no longer just about pay. The leading concerns include student behavior, burnout, oversized classes, and mental health challenges in students. These issues point to a deeper crisis in teacher working conditions and require more than financial fixes; they demand systemic cultural and structural change.
• National averages mask local inequalities. The average teacher salary in the US offers limited insight without considering geographic, demographic, and policy variation. From starting pay gaps to classroom sizes and racial disparities in financial pressure, the teaching profession is fragmented, and solutions must reflect this complexity.

Sources

• “Cost of Living Index by State 2025.” Worldpopulationreview.com, https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/cost-of-living-index-by-state. Accessed 30 June 2025.
• “NEA Educator Finance Omnibus Survey 2024 Select Highlights”, https://www.nea.org/sites/default/files/2025-04/omnibus-survey-memo-april-2025-final.pdf. Accessed 30 June 2025.
• “Rankings of the States 2024 and Estimates of School Statistics 2025”, https://www.nea.org/sites/default/files/2025-04/2025_rankings_and_estimates_report.pdf. Accessed 30 June 2025
• “Consumer Price Index Data from 1913 to 2025.” US Inflation Calculator | Easily Calculate How the Buying Power of the U.S. Dollar Has Changed from 1913 to 2023. Get Inflation Rates and U.S. Inflation News., 19 July 2008, https://www.usinflationcalculator.com/inflation/consumer-price-index-and-annual-percent-changes-from-1913-to-2008/..