Teacher Salary 2026 — Take-Home Pay by State
Teachers educate students from kindergarten through high school, developing curriculum, assessing student progress, and creating engaging learning environments across all subject areas.
US Average
$72,650
BLS, May 2025
Best State (Net)
$77,752
Washington
Take-Home TX
$55,746
on $61,890 · No state tax or Social Security
Job Growth
2%
Source: BLS, May 2025 · Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education (SOC 25-2021)
Key Facts — Teacher 2026
National median ~$62,000/year, but varies widely by state and district
New York, California, and Massachusetts pay teachers the most
Most teachers receive pension benefits worth 10–20% of salary
STEM teachers often earn $3,000–$8,000 stipends above base
Public Service Loan Forgiveness available after 10 years of teaching
US Pay Range
Pay percentiles for Teachers across the US (BLS, May 2025), with the estimated take-home in Texas.
Bottom 10%
$47,960
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$43,689
25th percentile
$57,710
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$52,128
Median
$63,970
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$57,546
75th percentile
$81,450
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$71,180
Top 10%
$104,340
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$88,702
Specialties & Salary Premiums
| Specialty | Est. Salary | Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Special Education | $68,200 | +10% |
| STEM (Math/Science) | $66,960 | +8% |
| Bilingual / ESL | $66,340 | +7% |
| High School | $65,100 | +5% |
| Elementary | $62,000 | 0% |
| Substitute | $37,200 | -40% |
Best States for Teachers — Real Take-Home Pay
Ranked by estimated take-home pay (single filer, no additional deductions). The highest gross salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.
Take-home here is before pension contributions. In the 13 states where teachers pay no Social Security, the pension contribution replaces it and is usually larger than the 6.2% saved: 8.25% of pay in Texas (TRS) and 14% in Ohio (STRS). Keep that in mind when those states rank high.
▲Top 5 — Highest Take-Home
Teacher Salary by State — All 50 States
BLS average pay in each state (BLS, May 2025) and the estimated take-home for a single filer with no additional deductions. Click any state for the full breakdown.
Take-home here is before pension contributions. In the 13 states where teachers pay no Social Security, the pension contribution replaces it and is usually larger than the 6.2% saved: 8.25% of pay in Texas (TRS) and 14% in Ohio (STRS). Keep that in mind when those states rank high.
| State | Average Pay (BLS) | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|
| $97,970 | $77,752 | |
| $95,670 | $76,169 | |
| $88,720 | $72,529 | |
| $93,400 | $69,632 | |
| $78,580 | $68,983 | |
| $83,380 | $68,671 | |
| $82,120 | $63,215 | |
8Ohio | $72,740 | $62,954 |
| $74,630 | $62,410 | |
| $79,660 | $61,624 | |
11Colorado | $70,110 | $60,123 |
12Maryland | $80,090 | $60,078 |
| $75,780 | $59,815 | |
| $65,840 | $59,165 | |
| $69,930 | $58,026 | |
| $74,790 | $57,882 | |
17Utah | $73,630 | $57,598 |
| $72,170 | $57,375 | |
19Delaware | $73,230 | $56,855 |
20Maine | $65,930 | $56,470 |
21Oregon | $74,370 | $56,134 |
22Virginia | $71,540 | $55,859 |
23Georgia | $70,720 | $55,801 |
| $61,890 | $55,746 | |
25Vermont | $68,410 | $54,965 |
26Michigan | $69,000 | $54,690 |
27Hawaii | $70,670 | $54,626 |
| $63,630 | $53,307 | |
| $65,960 | $52,772 | |
30Kentucky | $59,870 | $52,020 |
31Nebraska | $63,730 | $51,367 |
| $58,170 | $51,156 | |
| $62,210 | $50,357 | |
| $59,850 | $50,269 | |
| $59,530 | $50,012 | |
| $59,140 | $49,699 | |
37Missouri | $56,730 | $49,583 |
38Indiana | $60,850 | $49,307 |
39Idaho | $60,940 | $49,024 |
40Arizona | $58,920 | $48,452 |
41Iowa | $59,110 | $48,081 |
42Alabama | $59,590 | $47,570 |
43Montana | $58,150 | $46,927 |
44Arkansas | $56,210 | $45,753 |
45Kansas | $56,730 | $45,397 |
| $54,890 | $44,634 | |
| $52,680 | $44,508 | |
| $54,070 | $43,977 | |
| $52,300 | $42,843 | |
50Oklahoma | $52,320 | $42,410 |
Maximize Your Take-Home
401(k) — $24,500 max
Reduces taxable income dollar-for-dollar
HSA — $4,400 single
Triple tax advantage — deductible, grows tax-free, tax-free withdrawals
FSA — $3,300 max
Medical expenses with pre-tax dollars
State consideration
Moving to TX, FL, WA can save $5,000–$15,000/year in taxes
Calculate Your Exact Take-Home as a Teacher
Add 401(k), HSA, dependents, and more to see your personalized take-home in your state.
Open Calculator →Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about your taxes and our calculator.
Teacher Salary by State — Detailed Pages
Alabama
$47,570
net
AlaskaNo state tax
$68,983
net
Arizona
$48,452
net
Arkansas
$45,753
net
California
$76,169
net
Colorado
$60,123
net
Connecticut
$68,671
net
Delaware
$56,855
net
FloridaNo state tax
$50,012
net
Georgia
$55,801
net
Hawaii
$54,626
net
Idaho
$49,024
net
Illinois
$62,410
net
Indiana
$49,307
net
Iowa
$48,081
net
Kansas
$45,397
net
Kentucky
$52,020
net
Louisiana
$51,156
net
Maine
$56,470
net
Maryland
$60,078
net
Massachusetts
$72,529
net
Michigan
$54,690
net
Minnesota
$57,882
net
Mississippi
$42,843
net
Missouri
$49,583
net
Montana
$46,927
net
Nebraska
$51,367
net
NevadaNo state tax
$59,165
net
New HampshireNo state tax
$58,026
net
New Jersey
$63,215
net
New Mexico
$57,375
net
New York
$69,632
net
North Carolina
$43,977
net
North Dakota
$49,699
net
Ohio
$62,954
net
Oklahoma
$42,410
net
Oregon
$56,134
net
Pennsylvania
$59,815
net
Rhode Island
$61,624
net
South Carolina
$50,357
net
South DakotaNo state tax
$44,508
net
TennesseeNo state tax
$50,269
net
TexasNo state tax
$55,746
net
Utah
$57,598
net
Vermont
$54,965
net
Virginia
$55,859
net
WashingtonNo state tax
$77,752
net
West Virginia
$44,634
net
Wisconsin
$52,772
net
WyomingNo state tax
$53,307
net