Prior to deciding whether you want to pursue a career as a math teacher, you first need to appreciate your earning capabilities. As you are probably aware, however, there isn’t a set amount. Instead, the salary that you can earn may vary quite a bit.
If you want to make a fully informed decision, however, here is all that you need to know about high school math teacher salaries across the country:
The Mean Salary
First, let’s take a look at the average salary for a Math teacher in the United States. The average base earnings amount to around $47,705 per year. However, the base salary can range from $42,116 to $66,293 based on a variety of factors.
Salary By State
To gain a better idea of how much math teachers can earn, it is important to look at state statistics. As you are probably aware, salaries can vary quite a bit from one state to another. However, there can also be a great deal of discrepancy within the state as well.
This is because salaries are often dependent on the school district that you operate within. Therefore, some offer better salaries and others offer less. To get a clearer picture, here is a breakdown of the average earnings for each state:
| State | Average |
| Alabama | $30,610 – $74,590 |
| Alaska | $78,600 |
| Arizona | $63,155 – $78,069 |
| Arkansas | $45,137 – $50,659 |
| California | $72,540 – $99,830 |
| Colorado | $35,263 – $67,093 |
| Connecticut | $78,629 – $95,930 |
| Delaware | $70,900 – $ $72,140 |
| District of Columbia | $88,700 – $89,750 |
| Florida | $63,430 – $87,350 |
| Georgia | $40,190 – $71,750 |
| Hawaii | $70,000 |
| Idaho | $49,229 |
| Illinois | $49,230 – $80,610 |
| Indiana | $69,520 – $85,080 |
| Iowa | $55,060 – $ 76,680 |
| Kansas | $46,850 – $74,770 |
| Kentucky | $54,970 – $78,390 |
| Louisiana | $63,700 – $76,210 |
| Maine | $48,210 – $64,540 |
| Maryland | $46,260 – $89,750 |
| Massachusetts | $82,500 – $103,040 |
| Michigan | $57,530 – $122,810 |
| Minnesota | $55,930 – $84,220 |
| Mississippi | $47,290 – $58,510 |
| Missouri | $59,140 – $83,720 |
| Montana | $57,420 – $59,610 |
| Nebraska | $54,160 – $79,050 |
| Nevada | $61,500 |
| New Hampshire | $69,316 – $83,800 |
| New Jersey | $76,250 – $104,340 |
| New Mexico | $46,180 – $58,630 |
| New York | $59,760 – $109,570 |
| North Carolina | $53,930 – $107,400 |
| North Dakota | $38,330 – $84,220 |
| Ohio | $61,380 – $88,110 |
| Oklahoma | $36,370 – $56,870 |
| Oregon | $73,520 – $76,980 |
| Pennsylvania | $66,220 – $92,250 |
| Rhode Island | $87,380 – $89,210 |
| South Carolina | $53,110 – $96,120 |
| South Dakota | $54,837 – $62,640 |
| Tennessee | $45,390 – $59,750 |
| Texas | $49,640 – $80,100 |
| Utah | $51,420 – $69,110 |
| Vermont | $87,230 – $90,010 |
| Virginia | $59,750 – $89,750 |
| Washington | $62,950 – $84,240 |
| West Virginia | $33,549 – $89,750 |
| Wisconsin | $55,930 – $89,680 |
| Wyoming | $68,782 |
Factors Impacting Salary
It is only natural to wonder why salaries vary so much. After all, they don’t just differ from one state to another, they are also quite varying within the same state. So, why is this?
One of the main reasons is that teachers’ salaries are dependent on local policy, not just state policy. Regional economics can also come into play here. Therefore, teachers in rural areas are paid differently than those who teach in urban ones.
And, the pay can also depend on whether the school district that you are working in falls under rich, middle, or working class. Not to mention, how the community spends the money can be a factor as well. For instance, some districts will send most of their resources towards text books, school facilities, and other educational elements. In situations such as these, there will be less money for teachers’ salaries.
Many communities will also decide teacher salaries depending on the general cost of living. In areas where the cost of living is high, teachers will be paid more. However, if the cost of living is relatively low, then earnings will reflect this way of life.
There is also the fact that teachers are paid according to how much experience they have. New teachers or ones that have just graduated are paid as an entry level position. Therefore, the cost is far lower than what they will earn after a few years of experience.
Teachers that have been working for several years and who have made an effort to get a Master’s degree or national accreditation may be given higher salaries along with other benefits. It should be noted that this isn’t something that will happen across all states, however.
Do Salaries Tell the Whole Story?
Naturally, you want a job that pays fairly for the work that you are doing. However, can you judge a teaching position solely based on the average salary or is there more at play here?
No, a high school math teacher’s salary doesn’t always give you the whole story. This is because states will often offer salaries according to how amenable it is to live in their state. For instance, states with good weather all year round tend to offer lower base salaries. This is because there is already an automatic draw to living in such pleasant places.
There is also the fact that you shouldn’t take a low salary at face value. Some states may have lower base salaries, but they make up for this with other perks. These can make up for or even surpass having a higher salary for many teachers.
Furthermore, it should be noted that higher salaries aren’t always a good sign. In many cases, a higher base salary is linked to a higher student-teacher ratio. This means that teachers have to contend with overcrowding and the issues related to teaching larger classrooms.
Many districts will offer higher salaries in order to lure more qualified or experienced teachers. While this certainly seems like a good thing, it does mean that there is a greater amount of competition for jobs. As such, it isn’t always easy to find employment in such districts.
How to Increase Your Earnings
The good news is that there are a few ways that you can increase your earnings as a high school math teacher. This can help to supplement your income if you have little choice but to work in a district with lower base salaries.
The best way to get a pay bump is to offer to do summer school. Signing up for summer school could potentially earn you around $25.53 an hour. Of course, you should be aware that the exact earnings can vary just as with the base salaries. For instance, Alaska, California, Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey offer the highest rates in the country.
Another option would be to find a way to improve your current knowledge or capabilities. For instance, if you only have an undergraduate degree, you may want to try and get a Master’s degree. This often comes with a higher salary attached to it.
Sticking with your career can also help quite a bit. The longer that you remain a teacher, the better that you are paid. However, it is important to calculate whether it makes more sense to remain in your current school district or state or if you should move elsewhere to maximize your earning potential.
This is what you need to know about high school math teacher salaries across the country. As you can see, there is quite a bit to research and understand here. The more data that you have, the better that you can plan your career. In turn, you can ensure that you get fair pay for the work that you do.
