Recently, USAFacts released a comprehensive analysis detailing which states pay teachers the most and least. The data they used was from the National Center for Education Statistics and showed that the average salary for a K-12 teacher was $66,397.
However, after they adjusted for differences in the cost of living in each state, which shows a more accurate picture, patterns emerged about where teachers are more highly compensated.
Here are the rankings, including the District of Columbia, starting with the lowest-paid and working up to the highest-paid state, and the difference between them is a lot of money!
51) Florida
In Florida the average annual salary for a K-12 teacher is $51,230 and when adjusted for cost of living differences the salary changes to $50,508. This is a difference of -$15,889 from the national average of $66,397.
50) Mississippi
In Mississippi the average annual salary for a K-12 teacher is $47,162 and when adjusted for cost of living differences the salary changes to $54,459. This is a difference of -$11,938 from the national average of $66,397.
49) South Dakota
In South Dakota the average annual salary for a K-12 teacher is $49,761 and when adjusted for cost of living differences the salary changes to $55,200. This is a difference of -$11,197 from the national average of $66,397.
48) West Virginia
In West Virginia the average annual salary for a K-12 teacher is $50,315 and when adjusted for cost of living differences the salary changes to $55,436. This is a difference of -$10,961 from the national average of $66,397.
47) Arizona
In Arizona the average annual salary for a K-12 teacher is $54,580 and when adjusted for cost of living differences the salary changes to $56,430. This is a difference of -$9,967 from the national average of $66,397.
46) Colorado
In Colorado the average annual salary for a K-12 teacher is $58,481 and when adjusted for cost of living differences the salary changes to $56,773. This is a difference of -$9,624 from the national average of $66,397.
45) South Carolina
In South Carolina the average annual salary for a K-12 teacher is $53,393 and when adjusted for cost of living differences the salary changes to $56,987. This is a difference of -$9,410 from the national average of $66,397.
44) Missouri
In Missouri the average annual salary for a K-12 teacher is $52,481 and when adjusted for cost of living differences the salary changes to $57,031. This is a difference of -$9,366 from the national average of $66,397.
43) North Carolina
In North Carolina the average annual salary for a K-12 teacher is $53,644 and when adjusted for cost of living differences the salary changes to $57,187. This is a difference of -$9,210 from the national average of $66,397.
42) Louisiana
In Louisiana the average annual salary for a K-12 teacher is $52,376 and when adjusted for cost of living differences the salary changes to $57,382. This is a difference of -$9,015 from the national average of $66,397.
41) Indiana
In Indiana the average annual salary for a K-12 teacher is $54,126 and when adjusted for cost of living differences the salary changes to $58,366. This is a difference of -$8,031 from the national average of $66,397.
40) Montana
In Montana the average annual salary for a K-12 teacher is $53,628 and when adjusted for cost of living differences the salary changes to $58,567. This is a difference of -$7,830 from the national average of $66,397.
39) Virginia
In Virginia the average annual salary for a K-12 teacher is $59,965 and when adjusted for cost of living differences the salary changes to $58,629. This is a difference of -$7,768 from the national average of $66,397.
38) Arkansas
In Arkansas the average annual salary for a K-12 teacher is $52,486 and when adjusted for cost of living differences the salary changes to $58,680. This is a difference of -$7,717 from the national average of $66,397.
37) Tennessee
In Tennessee the average annual salary for a K-12 teacher is $53,619 and when adjusted for cost of living differences the salary changes to $59,017. This is a difference of -$7,380 from the national average of $66,397.
36) Idaho
In Idaho the average annual salary for a K-12 teacher is $54,232 and when adjusted for cost of living differences the salary changes to $59,092. This is a difference of -$7,305 from the national average of $66,397.
35) Hawaii
In Hawaii the average annual salary for a K-12 teacher is $67,000 and when adjusted for cost of living differences the salary changes to $59,173. This is a difference of -$7,224 from the national average of $66,397.
34) Texas
In Texas the average annual salary for a K-12 teacher is $58,887 and when adjusted for cost of living differences the salary changes to $59,783. This is a difference of -$6,614 from the national average of $66,397.
33) Kansas
In Kansas the average annual salary for a K-12 teacher is $54,815 and when adjusted for cost of living differences the salary changes to $60,133. This is a difference of -$6,264 from the national average of $66,397.
32) New Mexico
In New Mexico the average annual salary for a K-12 teacher is $54,272 and when adjusted for cost of living differences the salary changes to $60,365. This is a difference of -$6,032 from the national average of $66,397.
31) Maine
In Maine the average annual salary for a K-12 teacher is $58,757 and when adjusted for cost of living differences the salary changes to $60,446. This is a difference of -$5,951 from the national average of $66,397.
30) Nevada
In Nevada the average annual salary for a K-12 teacher is $57,804 and when adjusted for cost of living differences the salary changes to $60,501. This is a difference of -$5,896 from the national average of $66,397.
29) Oklahoma
In Oklahoma the average annual salary for a K-12 teacher is $54,804 and when adjusted for cost of living differences the salary changes to $60,712. This is a difference of -$5,685 from the national average of $66,397.
28) North Dakota
In North Dakota the average annual salary for a K-12 teacher is $55,769 and when adjusted for cost of living differences the salary changes to $61,215. This is a difference of -$5,182 from the national average of $66,397.
27) Kentucky
In Kentucky the average annual salary for a K-12 teacher is $54,574 and when adjusted for cost of living differences the salary changes to $61,234. This is a difference of -$5,163 from the national average of $66,397.
21) Georgia
In Georgia the average annual salary for a K-12 teacher is $61,249 and when adjusted for cost of living differences the salary changes to $63,945. This is a difference of -$2,452 from the national average of $66,397.
20) Wisconsin
In Wisconsin the average annual salary for a K-12 teacher is $60,453 and when adjusted for cost of living differences the salary changes to $64,762. This is a difference of -$1,635 from the national average of $66,397.
19) Iowa
In Iowa the average annual salary for a K-12 teacher is $59,262 and when adjusted for cost of living differences the salary changes to $66,164. This is a difference of -$233 from the national average of $66,397.
18) Wyoming
In Wyoming the average annual salary for a K-12 teacher is $60,820 and when adjusted for cost of living differences the salary changes to $66,530. This is an increase of $133 from the national average of $66,397.
17) Delaware
In Delaware the average annual salary for a K-12 teacher is $65,647 and when adjusted for cost of living differences the salary changes to $67,208. This is an increase of $811 from the national average of $66,397.
16) Oregon
In Oregon the average annual salary for a K-12 teacher is $69,671 and when adjusted for cost of living differences the salary changes to $67,621. This is an increase of $1,224 from the national average of $66,397.
15) Ohio
In Ohio the average annual salary for a K-12 teacher is $63,153 and when adjusted for cost of living differences the salary changes to $68,304. This is an increase of $1,907 from the national average of $66,397.
14) Michigan
In Michigan the average annual salary for a K-12 teacher is $65,198 and when adjusted for cost of living differences the salary changes to $69,173. This is an increase of $2,776 from the national average of $66,397.
13) Minnesota
In Minnesota the average annual salary for a K-12 teacher is $68,491 and when adjusted for cost of living differences the salary changes to $69,588. This is an increase of $3,191 from the national average of $66,397.
12) Alaska
In Alaska the average annual salary for a K-12 teacher is $73,722 and when adjusted for cost of living differences the salary changes to $70,589. This is an increase of $4,192 from the national average of $66,397.
11) Illinois
In Illinois the average annual salary for a K-12 teacher is $72,301 and when adjusted for cost of living differences the salary changes to $71,294. This is an increase of $4,897 from the national average of $66,397.
10) Maryland
In Maryland the average annual salary for a K-12 teacher is $75,766 and when adjusted for cost of living differences the salary changes to $71,327. This is an increase of $4,930 from the national average of $66,397.
9) New Jersey
In New Jersey the average annual salary for a K-12 teacher is $79,045 and when adjusted for cost of living differences the salary changes to $72,453. This is an increase of $6,056 from the national average of $66,397.
8) District of Columbia
In the District of Columbia the average annual salary for a K-12 teacher is $82,523 and when adjusted for cost of living differences the salary changes to $74,164. This is an increase of $7,767 from the national average of $66,397.
7) Washington
In Washington the average annual salary for a K-12 teacher is $81,586 and when adjusted for cost of living differences the salary changes to $74,929. This is an increase of $8,532 from the national average of $66,397.
6) Pennsylvania
In Pennsylvania the average annual salary for a K-12 teacher is $72,248 and when adjusted for cost of living differences the salary changes to $74,969. This is an increase of $8,572 from the national average of $66,397.
5) Rhode Island
In Rhode Island the average annual salary for a K-12 teacher is $76,852 and when adjusted for cost of living differences the salary changes to $75,284. This is an increase of $8,887 from the national average of $66,397.
4) California
In California the average annual salary for a K-12 teacher is $87,275 and when adjusted for cost of living differences the salary changes to $78,066. This is an increase of $11,669 from the national average of $66,397.
3) Connecticut
In Connecticut the average annual salary for a K-12 teacher is $81,185 and when adjusted for cost of living differences the salary changes to $79,125. This is an increase of $12,728 from the national average of $66,397.
2) Massachusetts
In Massachusetts the average annual salary for a K-12 teacher is $88,903 and when adjusted for cost of living differences the salary changes to $83,434. This is an increase of $17,037 from the national average of $66,397.
1) New York
New York has the highest-paid teachers. The average annual salary for a K-12 teacher is $92,222, and when adjusted for cost-of-living differences, it changes to $84,218. This is an increase of $17,821 from the national average of $66,397.
