Teacher Salaries

American elementary school teachers remain, in general, lower

touching the lives of an

paid than their counterparts with equivalent educational levels in

other walks of life. Estimates vary, but some studies have found

enormous amount of

that teachers make 12-14% less on average than other college

graduates (though, thanks to summer vacations, they work 12-

14% fewer days). Teacher pay varies from region to region, and

children.

in proportion to experience. According to the Bureau of Labor

Statistics, the highest median salaries can be found in suburban

districts in New York state and California, where pay can range as

high as $75,000 a year, and the lowest in rural areas in Texas and

the upper Midwest, where it slips as low as $42,000. In 2008, the

median elementary school salary, nationwide, was $49,330 --

more than ministers but slightly less than your mail carrier gets

paid.