Teacher Salary, Skills & Requirements (2026)
Advertised pay, starting pay, skills and experience from 44,040 US job postings by 7,241 employers. Data as of October 2026.
What US employers post for teachers: advertised pay, the skills and experience they ask for, and the job titles they use, from 44,040 open job postings (October 2026).
- The median advertised pay for teachers in US job postings is $58,000 a year (5,728 postings from 1,461 employers, October 2026).
- The middle half of those postings offer $45,000 to $74,000.
- Postings that ask for up to 1 year of experience advertise a median of $52,000 a year (561 postings).
- The skills that most set teacher postings apart are classroom management, instruct students, manage their behavior.
- Postings that state a minimum ask for a median of 2 years of experience.
Teacher job postings in the US, October 2026
- $58,000
- Median advertised pay (5,728 postings)
- $45,000–$74,000
- Middle 50% of postings
- $52,000
- Starting pay (postings asking up to 1 year)
- 44,040
- US job postings from 7,241 employers
How much does a teacher make?
The median advertised pay is $58,000 a year, from 5,728 US job postings by 1,461 employers that state pay. One in ten postings offers $92,000 or more.
Advertised pay in 5,728 US teacher job postings: median $58,000 a year, middle half $45,000 to $74,000.
- Median: $58,000
- 25th percentile: $45,000
- 75th percentile: $74,000
The figures as a table
| Annual pay | Share of postings |
|---|---|
| $10K–$20K | 0.2% |
| $20K–$30K | 3.1% |
| $30K–$40K | 12.9% |
| $40K–$50K | 18.6% |
| $50K–$60K | 17.5% |
| $60K–$70K | 15.1% |
| $70K–$80K | 12.8% |
| $80K–$90K | 8.2% |
| $90K–$100K | 4.2% |
| $100K–$110K | 2.7% |
| $110K–$120K | 1.0% |
| $120K–$130K | 0.1% |
| $130K–$140K | 0.2% |
| $140K–$150K | 0.3% |
| $150K–$160K | 0.2% |
| $160K–$170K | 0.1% |
| $170K–$180K | 0.1% |
| $180K–$190K | 0.1% |
| $190K–$200K | 0.1% |
| $200K–$210K | 0.0% |
| $210K–$220K | 0.0% |
| $220K–$230K | 0.0% |
| $230K–$240K | 0.2% |
| $240K–$250K | 0.1% |
| $250K–$260K | 0.0% |
| $260K–$270K | 0.1% |
| $270K–$280K | 0.1% |
| $280K–$290K | 0.2% |
| $290K–$300K | 0.1% |
| $300K–$310K | 0.1% |
| $310K–$320K | 0.1% |
| $320K–$330K | 0.1% |
| $330K–$340K | 0.2% |
| $340K–$350K | 0.1% |
| $350K–$360K | 0.1% |
Midpoint of each posting's pay range, hourly pay × 2,080 hours; at most 20 postings per employer; US, October 2026.
| Median | Middle 50% | Postings | Most common titles | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Postings that state an hourly rate | $23.00 | $18.50–$33.50 | 2,009 | Substitute Teacher, Preschool Teacher, Substitute Teachers |
| Postings that state an annual salary | $65,000 | $52K–$76K | 2,053 | Special Education Teacher, Elementary Teacher, Science Teacher |
| All pay postings, annualised | $58,000 | $45K–$74K | 5,728 | – |
What is the starting salary for a teacher?
Postings that ask for up to 1 year of experience advertise a median of $52,000 a year (561 postings).
| Experience asked | Median advertised pay | Postings |
|---|---|---|
| 0-1 years | $52,000 | 561 |
| 2-4 years | $62,000 | 911 |
| 5+ years | withheld | 74 |
Teacher levels and pay
Levels as they appear in job titles, ordered by the median experience asked.
| Level in title | Share of postings | Median experience asked | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| No level in title | 96.2% | 2 years | $59,000 |
| Lead | 3.5% | 2 years | $40,000 |
Highest-paying teacher jobs
Specializations with at least 250 postings that state pay.
| Specialization | Median pay | Postings with pay | Employers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Special Education Teacher | $73,000 | 596 | 244 |
| Music Teacher | $53,000 | 661 | 84 |
| Substitute Teacher | $49,000 | 424 | 242 |
| Teacher (general) | $49,000 | 534 | 189 |
| Preschool Teacher | $41,000 | 739 | 238 |
Teacher pay by state
Single-location US postings; states with at least 100 postings that state pay. States with pay-transparency laws (such as California, Colorado, New York and Washington) are over-represented among postings that state pay.
| State | Median pay | Middle 50% | Postings with pay | Share of postings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $70,000 | $47,000–$90,000 | 479 | 4.4% |
| Pennsylvania | $68,000 | $45,000–$79,000 | 204 | 3.0% |
| New Jersey | $62,000 | $41,000–$82,000 | 266 | 4.4% |
| Texas | $62,000 | $40,000–$71,000 | 421 | 9.1% |
| California | $58,000 | $47,000–$90,000 | 429 | 7.5% |
| Massachusetts | $57,000 | $46,000–$79,000 | 321 | 5.0% |
| Colorado | $53,000 | $43,000–$69,000 | 155 | 1.6% |
| Washington | $52,000 | $43,000–$73,000 | 147 | 1.2% |
| Illinois | $51,000 | $40,000–$62,000 | 306 | 4.2% |
| Minnesota | $50,000 | $41,000–$72,000 | 179 | 1.5% |
| Florida | $48,000 | $37,000–$57,000 | 118 | 4.5% |
| Virginia | $48,000 | $37,000–$67,000 | 161 | 2.8% |
| Ohio | $45,000 | $34,000–$52,000 | 245 | 6.0% |
| Maryland | $41,000 | $39,000–$52,000 | 359 | 2.2% |
Skills employers ask for in teacher job postings
| Skill | Share of postings |
|---|---|
| Communication | 30% |
| Interpersonal skills | 18% |
| Organizational skills | 16% |
| Problem-solving | 6% |
| Communicate effectively | 6% |
| Professionalism | 5% |
| Classroom management | 5% |
| Flexibility | 5% |
| Collaboration | 5% |
| Instruct students | 4% |
Skills named in the posting text; at most 20 postings per employer; US, October 2026. Methodology.
Skills that set teachers apart
- Classroom management51.1× as often as in all postings · 5%
- Flexibility3.1× as often as in all postings · 5%
Skills named in at least 5% of these postings and at least 3 times as often as in job postings overall.
Have a teacher job posting in front of you? See which of its skills your resume is missing.
What does a teacher do?
Employers post these jobs as Substitute Teacher, Special Education Teacher, Preschool Teacher, Elementary Teacher, Long Term Substitute and other titles. The largest specializations are Substitute Teacher (12%), Special Education Teacher (9%), Preschool Teacher (7%), Math Teacher (4%), Elementary Teacher (7%), Science Teacher (3%).
The closest official occupation is Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education (25-2021.00). Its most important tasks:
- Instruct students individually and in groups, using teaching methods such as lectures, discussions, and demonstrations.
- Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among the students.
- Guide and counsel students with adjustment or academic problems or with special academic interests.
- Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests.
- Plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate.
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
How much experience do you need to be a teacher?
Among 3,191 postings that state a minimum, the median is 2 years. Under 1% say 0 years and 37% ask for 1 year or less.
Minimum experience asked in 3,191 US teacher job postings: median 2 years, and 37% ask for 1 year or less.
The figures as a table
| Minimum experience asked | Share of postings |
|---|---|
| 0 yr | 3% |
| 1 yr | 35% |
| 2 yrs | 31% |
| 3-4 yrs | 22% |
| 5-7 yrs | 7% |
| 8-9 yrs | under 1% |
| 10+ yrs | 2% |
Postings that state a minimum (required or preferred); at most 20 postings per employer; US, October 2026.
We do not show a degree figure: in our checks, degree requirements in posting text were found too rarely to publish one. Why.
Full-time 65%, Part-time 35% of the 3,366 postings that state working hours.
Other names for a teacher: job titles employers use
| Job title | Employers using it |
|---|---|
| Substitute Teacher | 1,554 (21.5%) |
| Special Education Teacher | 574 (7.9%) |
| Preschool Teacher | 549 (7.6%) |
| Elementary Teacher | 441 (6.1%) |
| Teacher | 418 (5.8%) |
| Long Term Substitute | 391 (5.4%) |
| Science Teacher | 385 (5.3%) |
| Math Teacher | 353 (4.9%) |
| Substitute Teachers | 304 (4.2%) |
| Music Teacher | 234 (3.2%) |
| Art Teacher | 226 (3.1%) |
| English Teacher | 218 (3.0%) |
| Spanish Teacher | 202 (2.8%) |
| Kindergarten Teacher | 186 (2.6%) |
| Social Studies Teacher | 183 (2.5%) |
| Long Term Substitute Teacher | 169 (2.3%) |
| Physical Education Teacher | 162 (2.2%) |
| Middle School Teacher | 138 (1.9%) |
| Middle School Science Teacher | 131 (1.8%) |
| Lead Teacher | 130 (1.8%) |
Titles read in our audit and used by at least 3 employers.
Teacher job titles compared
The titles people search for most, from the US job postings that use each exact title (October 2026).
| Job title | Open postings | Employers | Median pay | Median experience | Skills named most |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Special Education Teacher | 1,582 | 574 | $73K | – | communication, organizational skills, interpersonal skills |
| Substitute Teacher | 3,165 | 1,554 | $49K | – | communication, interpersonal skills, organizational skills |
Teacher compared with similar careers
| Career | Median pay | Median experience | Postings | Shares N of top 25 skills |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher | $58K | 2 years | 44,040 | – |
| School Counselor | – | – | 942 | 16 |
| Tutor | $21.88/hr | 2 years | 4,607 | 13 |
| Childcare Worker | $17.50/hr | 1 year | 11,091 | 14 |
| Paraprofessional | $18.50/hr | 2 years | 24,141 | 13 |
Similar careers
| Career | Shares N of the top 25 skills | Median pay |
|---|---|---|
| School Counselor | 16 | – |
| Tutor | 13 | $21.88/hr |
| Childcare Worker | 14 | $17.50/hr |
| Paraprofessional | 13 | $18.50/hr |
| School Principal | 12 | $73K |
| Library Assistant | 13 | – |
Applying for teacher jobs?
- Teacher resume examples: one-page examples for these roles
- Match your resume to a job: paste a posting and see the skills your resume is missing
- Check your resume: see how an applicant tracking system reads it
- Find teacher jobs: search open postings
Frequently asked questions
How much does a teacher make?
What is the starting salary for a teacher?
What are the highest-paying teacher jobs?
What are other names for a teacher?
How much does a Special Education Teacher make?
How much does a Substitute Teacher make?
Source and method
Open US job postings collected from employers' applicant tracking systems, de-duplicated, counted only when their job title was read in our audit. Shares count at most 20 postings per employer, and franchise locations of one brand count as one employer. Pay uses hourly and annual figures only; a figure is shown when leaving out the largest employer moves it by 10% or less. Every figure states its number of postings. Methodology and measured accuracy.
Accuracy check: we read 19 randomly chosen postings counted on this page in full; 18 of them were this career or a closely related one (October 2026).
Download the figures on this page (CSV): every number above with its count of postings. Aggregate figures are licensed CC BY 4.0; cite the page when you reuse them.