Salary data · BLS OEWS 2025
Teacher Salary in the US
A Teacher earns a national median of $63,970 per year. Here is how pay breaks down across US metro areas.
In Brief
Teacher (BLS occupation 25-2021) earns a national median of $63,970 and a mean of $72,650 per year as of 2025. The highest-paying metro is Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue at $102,920. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS.
National pay
Top-paying US metro areas
Ranked by median annual wage · BLS OEWS 2025
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About this data
All wages come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, 2025 release, mapped to occupation code 25-2021 (Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education). Figures are gross annual wages before tax and reflect employees only — self-employed and freelance earnings are not included.
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How much does a Teacher earn in the US?▼
The national median wage for a Teacher is $63,970 per year (mean $72,650), per the BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics for 2025.
Which US cities pay Teachers the most?▼
The top-paying metro areas are Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue ($102,920), San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara ($102,860), Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim ($101,860).
Where does this Teacher salary data come from?▼
All figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, 2025 release, occupation code 25-2021. Wages are gross annual, before tax.
Is Teacher a well-paid career?▼
At a median of $63,970/year, Teacher pay sits above the US median for all occupations. Pay varies widely by metro — see the city table above.