Data / Rankings / Elementary school teacher mean annual wage / US states

US states by elementary school teacher mean annual wage

California had the highest elementary school teacher mean annual wage of 51 states in 2024, at $93,150. Mississippi had the lowest, at $49,400. The median was $63,610 and the figure for the United States was $69,790. Source: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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Highest93,150California
Lowest49,400Mississippi
Median63,61051 states
United States69,790History

Map of states, 2024

Alabama: 56,220 USDAlaska: 77,460 USDArizona: 58,660 USDArkansas: 54,400 USDCalifornia: 93,150 USDColorado: 65,410 USDConnecticut: 82,420 USDDelaware: 68,680 USDDistrict of Columbia: 90,700 USDFlorida: 58,870 USDGeorgia: 69,120 USDHawaii: 61,040 USDIdaho: 59,540 USDIllinois: 70,470 USDIndiana: 58,720 USDIowa: 55,580 USDKansas: 54,280 USDKentucky: 56,880 USDLouisiana: 55,940 USDMaine: 63,610 USDMaryland: 73,620 USDMassachusetts: 84,050 USDMichigan: 66,520 USDMinnesota: 70,160 USDMississippi: 49,400 USDMissouri: 54,470 USDMontana: 58,300 USDNebraska: 59,590 USDNevada: 63,230 USDNew Hampshire: 67,900 USDNew Jersey: 79,730 USDNew Mexico: 69,150 USDNew York: 91,990 USDNorth Carolina: 51,890 USDNorth Dakota: 57,610 USDOhio: 68,880 USDOklahoma: 52,310 USDOregon: 75,030 USDPennsylvania: 71,000 USDRhode Island: 78,720 USDSouth Carolina: 58,650 USDSouth Dakota: 50,360 USDTennessee: 55,800 USDTexas: 60,510 USDUtah: 65,240 USDVermont: 64,950 USDVirginia: 68,510 USDWashington: 93,080 USDWest Virginia: 52,970 USDWisconsin: 65,220 USDWyoming: 62,500 USD
  • Under 56K
  • 56K to 59K
  • 59K to 64K
  • 64K to 69K
  • 69K to 77K
  • 77K and over
USD, 2024. Source: BLS, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May estimates, state cross-industry file: annual mean wage, elementary school teachers except special education (25-2021). Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

All states, 2024

California: 93,150 USDCalifornia93,150Washington: 93,080 USDWashington93,080New York: 91,990 USDNew York91,990District of Columbia: 90,700 USDDistrict of Columbia90,700Massachusetts: 84,050 USDMassachusetts84,050Connecticut: 82,420 USDConnecticut82,420New Jersey: 79,730 USDNew Jersey79,730Rhode Island: 78,720 USDRhode Island78,720Alaska: 77,460 USDAlaska77,460Oregon: 75,030 USDOregon75,030Maryland: 73,620 USDMaryland73,620Pennsylvania: 71,000 USDPennsylvania71,000Illinois: 70,470 USDIllinois70,470Minnesota: 70,160 USDMinnesota70,160New Mexico: 69,150 USDNew Mexico69,150Georgia: 69,120 USDGeorgia69,120Ohio: 68,880 USDOhio68,880Delaware: 68,680 USDDelaware68,680Virginia: 68,510 USDVirginia68,510New Hampshire: 67,900 USDNew Hampshire67,900Michigan: 66,520 USDMichigan66,520Colorado: 65,410 USDColorado65,410Utah: 65,240 USDUtah65,240Wisconsin: 65,220 USDWisconsin65,220Vermont: 64,950 USDVermont64,950Maine: 63,610 USDMaine63,610Nevada: 63,230 USDNevada63,230Wyoming: 62,500 USDWyoming62,500Hawaii: 61,040 USDHawaii61,040Texas: 60,510 USDTexas60,510Nebraska: 59,590 USDNebraska59,590Idaho: 59,540 USDIdaho59,540Florida: 58,870 USDFlorida58,870Indiana: 58,720 USDIndiana58,720Arizona: 58,660 USDArizona58,660South Carolina: 58,650 USDSouth Carolina58,650Montana: 58,300 USDMontana58,300North Dakota: 57,610 USDNorth Dakota57,610Kentucky: 56,880 USDKentucky56,880Alabama: 56,220 USDAlabama56,220Louisiana: 55,940 USDLouisiana55,940Tennessee: 55,800 USDTennessee55,800Iowa: 55,580 USDIowa55,580Missouri: 54,470 USDMissouri54,470Arkansas: 54,400 USDArkansas54,400Kansas: 54,280 USDKansas54,280West Virginia: 52,970 USDWest Virginia52,970Oklahoma: 52,310 USDOklahoma52,310North Carolina: 51,890 USDNorth Carolina51,890South Dakota: 50,360 USDSouth Dakota50,360Mississippi: 49,400 USDMississippi49,400California: 93,150 USDCalifornia93,150Washington: 93,080 USDWashington93,080New York: 91,990 USDNew York91,990District of Columbia: 90,700 USDDistrict of Columbia90,700Massachusetts: 84,050 USDMassachusetts84,050Connecticut: 82,420 USDConnecticut82,420New Jersey: 79,730 USDNew Jersey79,730Rhode Island: 78,720 USDRhode Island78,720Alaska: 77,460 USDAlaska77,460Oregon: 75,030 USDOregon75,030Maryland: 73,620 USDMaryland73,620Pennsylvania: 71,000 USDPennsylvania71,000Illinois: 70,470 USDIllinois70,470Minnesota: 70,160 USDMinnesota70,160New Mexico: 69,150 USDNew Mexico69,150Georgia: 69,120 USDGeorgia69,120Ohio: 68,880 USDOhio68,880Delaware: 68,680 USDDelaware68,680Virginia: 68,510 USDVirginia68,510New Hampshire: 67,900 USDNew Hampshire67,900Michigan: 66,520 USDMichigan66,520Colorado: 65,410 USDColorado65,410Utah: 65,240 USDUtah65,240Wisconsin: 65,220 USDWisconsin65,220Vermont: 64,950 USDVermont64,950Maine: 63,610 USDMaine63,610Nevada: 63,230 USDNevada63,230Wyoming: 62,500 USDWyoming62,500Hawaii: 61,040 USDHawaii61,040Texas: 60,510 USDTexas60,510Nebraska: 59,590 USDNebraska59,590Idaho: 59,540 USDIdaho59,540Florida: 58,870 USDFlorida58,870Indiana: 58,720 USDIndiana58,720Arizona: 58,660 USDArizona58,660South Carolina: 58,650 USDSouth Carolina58,650Montana: 58,300 USDMontana58,300North Dakota: 57,610 USDNorth Dakota57,610Kentucky: 56,880 USDKentucky56,880Alabama: 56,220 USDAlabama56,220Louisiana: 55,940 USDLouisiana55,940Tennessee: 55,800 USDTennessee55,800Iowa: 55,580 USDIowa55,580Missouri: 54,470 USDMissouri54,470Arkansas: 54,400 USDArkansas54,400Kansas: 54,280 USDKansas54,280West Virginia: 52,970 USDWest Virginia52,970Oklahoma: 52,310 USDOklahoma52,310North Carolina: 51,890 USDNorth Carolina51,890South Dakota: 50,360 USDSouth Dakota50,360Mississippi: 49,400 USDMississippi49,400
USD. Source: BLS, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May estimates, state cross-industry file: annual mean wage, elementary school teachers except special education (25-2021). Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankStates2024
USD		Change on 2023
1California93,150-0.8%
2Washington93,080+1.8%
3New York91,990-2.8%
4District of Columbia90,700+2.3%
5Massachusetts84,050-1.9%
6Connecticut82,420-6.9%
7New Jersey79,730+0.9%
8Rhode Island78,720-1.3%
9Alaska77,460+4.9%
10Oregon75,030-8.8%
11Maryland73,620+0.2%
12Pennsylvania71,000-2.9%
13Illinois70,470-0.6%
14Minnesota70,160+4.3%
15New Mexico69,150+5.3%
16Georgia69,120-2.2%
17Ohio68,880-4.3%
18Delaware68,680-0.1%
19Virginia68,510+0.2%
20New Hampshire67,900+3.1%
21Michigan66,520+0.6%
22Colorado65,410+3.4%
23Utah65,240-2.1%
24Wisconsin65,220+2.9%
25Vermont64,950-1.8%
26Maine63,610+0.8%
27Nevada63,230+0.8%
28Wyoming62,500-1.2%
29Hawaii61,040-3%
30Texas60,510-2.6%
31Nebraska59,590-0.6%
32Idaho59,540-3.5%
33Florida58,870-2.5%
34Indiana58,720+2.9%
35Arizona58,660+3.2%
36South Carolina58,650+2.1%
37Montana58,300-6.5%
38North Dakota57,610-1.4%
39Kentucky56,880-0.9%
40Alabama56,220-0.1%
41Louisiana55,940+1.3%
42Tennessee55,800+1%
43Iowa55,580-3.9%
44Missouri54,470-1.9%
45Arkansas54,400+0.5%
46Kansas54,280+0.2%
47West Virginia52,970+2.5%
48Oklahoma52,310+1.9%
49North Carolina51,890-1.3%
50South Dakota50,360+0.1%
51Mississippi49,400+1.1%

Other periods

About this ranking

Average (mean) annual wage of elementary school teachers, except special education (Standard Occupational Classification 25-2021), in US dollars, from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Public and private schools. Estimates refer to May of each year.

Teachers report an annual salary for the school year, so BLS publishes no hourly rate for them. Excludes special education, kindergarten and middle school teachers. Pay is straight-time gross pay: base rate, cost-of-living allowances, commissions, production bonuses and tips. Overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and employer-paid benefits are excluded.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the states are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May estimates, state cross-industry file: annual mean wage, elementary school teachers except special education (25-2021). https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24st.zip. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2026). Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May estimates, state cross-industry file: annual mean wage, elementary school teachers except special education (25-2021) (US states by elementary school teacher mean annual wage, 2024) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24st.zip

MLA 9

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May estimates, state cross-industry file: annual mean wage, elementary school teachers except special education (25-2021), US states by elementary school teacher mean annual wage, 2024. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 15 May 2026, https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24st.zip. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/elementary-teacher-salary/us-states?period=2024. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2026. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May estimates, state cross-industry file: annual mean wage, elementary school teachers except special education (25-2021). US states by elementary school teacher mean annual wage, 2024. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24st.zip. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/elementary-teacher-salary/us-states?period=2024.

Harvard

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May estimates, state cross-industry file: annual mean wage, elementary school teachers except special education (25-2021), US states by elementary school teacher mean annual wage, 2024 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24st.zip, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/elementary-teacher-salary/us-states?period=2024 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{bureau_us_states_by_elementary_2024,
  author = {{U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics}},
  title = {{Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May estimates, state cross-industry file: annual mean wage, elementary school teachers except special education (25-2021): US states by elementary school teacher mean annual wage, 2024}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24st.zip},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/elementary-teacher-salary/us-states?period=2024. Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May estimates, state cross-industry file: annual mean wage, elementary school teachers except special education (25-2021). https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24st.zip. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
TI  - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May estimates, state cross-industry file: annual mean wage, elementary school teachers except special education (25-2021): US states by elementary school teacher mean annual wage, 2024
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/05/15
PB  - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24st.zip
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/elementary-teacher-salary/us-states?period=2024
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/elementary-teacher-salary/us-states?period=2024.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May estimates, state cross-industry file: annual mean wage, elementary school teachers except special education (25-2021). https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24st.zip. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

Which state has the highest elementary school teacher mean annual wage?

California, with $93,150 in 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Which state has the lowest elementary school teacher mean annual wage?

Mississippi, with $49,400 in 2024.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May estimates, state cross-industry file: annual mean wage, elementary school teachers except special education (25-2021). Retrieved 2026-10-12.

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