English Teachers Salary

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From teaching first words, reading, and vocabulary at the elementary level to exploring classical literature, contemporary novels, American prose, and Greek mythology at the secondary level, an English teacher’s job is rich in creativity, exploration, and discovery.

Whether your class lessons involve Dr. Suess or Chaucer, working in K-12 English education demands a bachelor’s degree, at a minimum, within a state-approved teacher preparatory program that qualifies you for state licensure/certification.

Because most K-12 teacher salaries are pre-determined by a school or state-approved salary schedule, your earning potential as an English teacher will largely depend on the school district and/or state in which you teach.


How a Master’s Degree Can Boost an English Teacher’s Salary
Salary Premiums are Possible in Teacher Shortage Areas
English Teacher Salaries in Top-Paying Districts
English Teacher Salaries by State


But you can get a good idea of your earning potential by looking at current stats provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

As of May 2020, the BLS reported the following average salaries for middle and high school teachers who hold content area endorsements in English:

  • Middle school: $64,990
  • High school: $67,340

Teachers new to the profession earn salaries that typically fall in the 10th – 25th percentile:

  • Middle school: $40,930 – $48,870
  • High school: $41,330 – $49,990

On the opposite end of the pay scale, middle and high school teachers with considerable experience (and often master’s degrees in education) earn salaries that closely align with the 75th – 90th percentile:

  • Middle school: $77,880 – $98,840
  • High school: $81,410 – $102,130

How a Master’s Degree Can Boost an English Teacher’s Salary

Unlike other professions where salary negotiations are standard, the vast majority of teachers in the K-12 public school system are paid using fixed salary schedules. While experience is the major indicator of what you’ll be paid as an English teacher, the degree you hold, along with any other secondary endorsements, can add a nice premium to your base salary.

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A Master’s Degree is Well Worth the Investment for Most English Teachers

Most teacher salary schedules are based solely on experience, while others also take into account whether or not you hold a master’s degree and/or an advanced license.

While the minimum educational requirement to become a teacher is always a bachelor’s degree, some school districts and state education boards recognize educators who have achieved a higher level of education (master’s, educational specialist, doctorate) and reward them with a higher salary.

A 2019 National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) study of 124 large school districts found that 92% of all districts paid their teachers more for holding a master’s degree or higher, either as a salary increase or as an annual stipend or bonus.

Also, about one-third of all states have advanced licenses for educators who earn a graduate degree. Attaining an advanced teacher’s license in these states nearly always results in a bump in pay. As of 2021, just three states – Connecticut, Maryland, and New York – require a master’s degree to maintain a teaching license. In all other states, earning a master’s degree is not necessary but can result in a salary increase and/or more professional opportunities.

Salary Premiums are Possible in Teacher Shortage Areas

The subject in which you hold your teaching license does not usually influence your earning potential as a K-12 educator. In other words, an English teacher is paid on the same salary schedule as a math teacher, a physical education teacher, or any other type of K-12 educator.

The only exception to this rule occurs in school districts that suffer from a lack of qualified teachers in certain subjects. In many of these cases, states and school districts will provide incentives for educators who fill spots in subject areas identified and reported to the U.S. Department of Education as teacher shortage areas.

Because the vast majority of school districts follow strict salary schedules that are based only on experience and education, monetary incentives to educators filling teacher shortage areas are often paid in annual stipends or signing bonuses.

English Teacher Salaries in Top-Paying Districts

One of the biggest factors influencing your pay as a K-12 English teacher is undoubtedly where you teach. As of May 2020, the top-paying states for educators according to average salary included:

Middle School Teachers

  • New York: $89,150
  • Massachusetts: $82,610
  • California: $81,940
  • Connecticut: $81,140
  • Alaska: $80,260

High School Teachers

  • New York: $88,890
  • California: $86,900
  • Massachusetts: $84,130
  • New Jersey: $78,900
  • Connecticut: $78,510

The BLS also highlights the top-paying metropolitan areas for K-12 teachers according to average salary as of May 2020:

Middle School Teachers

  • Bakersfield, CA: $101,970
  • New York (also includes Newark and Jersey City, NJ), NY: $89,200
  • Los Angeles (also includes Long Beach and Anaheim), CA: $88,220
  • Bridgeport (also includes Stamford and Norwalk), CT: $88,110
  • Riverside (also includes San Bernardino and Ontario), CA: $87,110
  • Washington D.C. (also includes Arlington and Alexandria, VA): $86,910
  • Kingston, NY: $86,450
  • Worcester, MA-CT: $85,850
  • Watertown-Fort Drum, NY: $85,320
  • Barnstable Town, MA: $84,310

High School Teachers

  • Napa, CA: $99,170
  • Fresno, CA: $96,200
  • Santa Cruz (also includes Watsonville), CA: $95,500
  • Stockton (also includes Lodi), CA: $94,410
  • San Jose (also includes Sunnyvale and Santa Clara), CA: $92,500
  • San Francisco (also includes Oakland and Hayward), CA: $92,380
  • Chico: $91,640
  • New York (includes Newark and Jersey City, NJ), NY: $91,390
  • Bakersfield, CA: $90,510
  • Santa Rosa, CA: $88,730

Top salaries for English teachers tend to fall in line with states and metro areas with higher costs of living, so it comes as no surprise that many of the nation’s top-paying states and metro areas are located in California and New York – where the cost of living soars above the national average.

English Teacher Salaries by State

The following table shows what middle school English teachers are earning around the country:

Area Name
Annual 25th percentile wage
Annual 75th percentile wage
Alabama
46130
60340
Alaska
65920
95480
Arizona
39030
51600
Arkansas
43280
59670
California
64160
98880
Colorado
44420
66300
Connecticut
64150
97580
Delaware
52150
77370
District of Columbia
62230
95720
Florida
46200
71540
Georgia
48960
72660
Guam
38660
57670
Hawaii
54610
77210
Idaho
43790
63280
Illinois
48830
79520
Indiana
43510
65150
Iowa
45210
68460
Kansas
46410
65710
Kentucky
45570
61850
Louisiana
44250
56830
Maine
48140
69910
Maryland
57750
96300
Massachusetts
64840
98450
Michigan
47410
78090
Minnesota
47250
76700
Mississippi
39670
54330
Missouri
39870
63740
Montana
39660
70210
Nebraska
50580
74090
Nevada
48970
71770
New Hampshire
48980
74180
New Jersey
60630
89690
New Mexico
43040
60210
New York
64250
114120
North Carolina
43120
59750
North Dakota
47840
69920
Ohio
48360
78770
Oklahoma
39140
56470
Oregon
51870
80810
Pennsylvania
53150
85230
Puerto Rico
27920
40690
Rhode Island
66090
90710
South Carolina
43820
62640
South Dakota
39070
51350
Tennessee
44840
61810
Texas
51710
63420
Utah
49300
80580
Vermont
48270
75700
Virginia
50360
93470
Washington
60730
92920
West Virginia
42440
56200
Wisconsin
48530
69870
Wyoming
53480
69690

This table provides a closer look at what high school English teachers are earning around the country as of May 2020.

Area Name
Annual 25th percentile wage
Annual 75th percentile wage
Alabama
45690
60520
Alaska
62960
90630
Arizona
43440
62740
Arkansas
43760
61190
California
70650
102090
Colorado
45480
69280
Connecticut
60550
95530
Delaware
56130
79520
District of Columbia
48020
81950
Florida
47790
73830
Georgia
50090
73990
Guam
40130
60070
Hawaii
55490
78270
Idaho
40970
61480
Illinois
53100
97360
Indiana
42600
64930
Iowa
45960
68140
Kansas
44570
63700
Kentucky
46810
63610
Louisiana
44910
59310
Maine
45730
68030
Maryland
59260
95940
Massachusetts
66050
100500
Michigan
48480
77310
Minnesota
49930
76960
Mississippi
37950
52900
Missouri
37920
54370
Montana
39800
64980
Nebraska
51450
73760
Nevada
47430
68860
New Hampshire
50130
74700
New Jersey
63420
94950
New Mexico
45870
63780
New York
65600
112610
North Carolina
42750
59910
North Dakota
45510
65530
Ohio
51250
79490
Oklahoma
41270
58390
Oregon
54870
92680
Pennsylvania
54590
82470
Puerto Rico
27940
41330
Rhode Island
63860
91870
South Carolina
42580
63850
South Dakota
38660
51700
Tennessee
45250
63400
Texas
52290
64260
Utah
49670
79250
Vermont
51810
79640
Virgin Islands
42790
57040
Virginia
-
-
Washington
61970
93480
West Virginia
42970
57210
Wisconsin
48280
70310
Wyoming
53920
71580

 

May 2020 Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and job market trends for elementary school teachers, middle school teachers, secondary school teachers. Figures represent national data, not school specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed May 2021.

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