How far apart districts are on teacher salary spending, within each state

In New York, the district at the 90th percentile spent $136,562 on teacher salaries per full-time teacher in fiscal year 2022-23 and the one at the 10th percentile $63,075, a $73,486 gap, the widest of the 48 states measured. Oklahoma's gap was the narrowest, $7,849; the middle state's was $20,103. It is salary spending per teacher, not what a teacher is paid.

NCES F-33 fiscal year 2022-23 teacher salaries (Z35-Z38) over NCES CCD 2022-23 teachers · districts with 500 or more students · this page first published · data checked · method

The middle state$20,10347 states measured
Widest gaps$73,486New York
Narrowest gaps$7,849Oklahoma
Gap, 90th to 10th percentile district by stateAL $10k; AR $19k; AZ $17k; CA $47k; CO $27k; CT $30k; DC $42k; DE $39k; FL $20k; GA $15k; IA $14k; ID $18k; IN $16k; KS $17k; KY $12k; LA $27k; MA $32k; MD $16k; ME $23k; MI $20k; MN $28k; MO $20k; MS $8k; MT $30k; NC $9k; ND $35k; NE $15k; NH $37k; NJ $24k; NM $16k; NV $23k; NY $73k; OH $32k; OK $8k; OR $23k; PA $34k; RI $21k; SC $14k; SD $10k; TN $16k; TX $18k; UT $30k; VA $20k; VT $38k; WA $31k; WI $19k; WV $11k; WY $19kAKME: $23kME$23kWI: $19kWI$19kVT: $38kVT$38kNH: $37kNH$37kWA: $31kWA$31kID: $18kID$18kMT: $30kMT$30kND: $35kND$35kMN: $28kMN$28kILMI: $20kMI$20kNY: $73kNY$73kMA: $32kMA$32kOR: $23kOR$23kNV: $23kNV$23kWY: $19kWY$19kSD: $10kSD$10kIA: $14kIA$14kIN: $16kIN$16kOH: $32kOH$32kPA: $34kPA$34kNJ: $24kNJ$24kCT: $30kCT$30kRI: $21kRI$21kCA: $47kCA$47kUT: $30kUT$30kCO: $27kCO$27kNE: $15kNE$15kMO: $20kMO$20kKY: $12kKY$12kWV: $11kWV$11kVA: $20kVA$20kMD: $16kMD$16kDE: $39kDE$39kAZ: $17kAZ$17kNM: $16kNM$16kKS: $17kKS$17kAR: $19kAR$19kTN: $16kTN$16kNC: $9kNC$9kSC: $14kSC$14kDC: $42kDC$42kOK: $8kOK$8kLA: $27kLA$27kMS: $8kMS$8kAL: $10kAL$10kGA: $15kGA$15kHITX: $18kTX$18kFL: $20kFL$20k
Gap, 90th to 10th percentile district by stateAL $10k; AR $19k; AZ $17k; CA $47k; CO $27k; CT $30k; DC $42k; DE $39k; FL $20k; GA $15k; IA $14k; ID $18k; IN $16k; KS $17k; KY $12k; LA $27k; MA $32k; MD $16k; ME $23k; MI $20k; MN $28k; MO $20k; MS $8k; MT $30k; NC $9k; ND $35k; NE $15k; NH $37k; NJ $24k; NM $16k; NV $23k; NY $73k; OH $32k; OK $8k; OR $23k; PA $34k; RI $21k; SC $14k; SD $10k; TN $16k; TX $18k; UT $30k; VA $20k; VT $38k; WA $31k; WI $19k; WV $11k; WY $19kAKME: $23kME$23kWI: $19kWI$19kVT: $38kVT$38kNH: $37kNH$37kWA: $31kWA$31kID: $18kID$18kMT: $30kMT$30kND: $35kND$35kMN: $28kMN$28kILMI: $20kMI$20kNY: $73kNY$73kMA: $32kMA$32kOR: $23kOR$23kNV: $23kNV$23kWY: $19kWY$19kSD: $10kSD$10kIA: $14kIA$14kIN: $16kIN$16kOH: $32kOH$32kPA: $34kPA$34kNJ: $24kNJ$24kCT: $30kCT$30kRI: $21kRI$21kCA: $47kCA$47kUT: $30kUT$30kCO: $27kCO$27kNE: $15kNE$15kMO: $20kMO$20kKY: $12kKY$12kWV: $11kWV$11kVA: $20kVA$20kMD: $16kMD$16kDE: $39kDE$39kAZ: $17kAZ$17kNM: $16kNM$16kKS: $17kKS$17kAR: $19kAR$19kTN: $16kTN$16kNC: $9kNC$9kSC: $14kSC$14kDC: $42kDC$42kOK: $8kOK$8kLA: $27kLA$27kMS: $8kMS$8kAL: $10kAL$10kGA: $15kGA$15kHITX: $18kTX$18kFL: $20kFL$20k
Gap, 90th to 10th percentile district by stateAL $10k; AR $19k; AZ $17k; CA $47k; CO $27k; CT $30k; DC $42k; DE $39k; FL $20k; GA $15k; IA $14k; ID $18k; IN $16k; KS $17k; KY $12k; LA $27k; MA $32k; MD $16k; ME $23k; MI $20k; MN $28k; MO $20k; MS $8k; MT $30k; NC $9k; ND $35k; NE $15k; NH $37k; NJ $24k; NM $16k; NV $23k; NY $73k; OH $32k; OK $8k; OR $23k; PA $34k; RI $21k; SC $14k; SD $10k; TN $16k; TX $18k; UT $30k; VA $20k; VT $38k; WA $31k; WI $19k; WV $11k; WY $19kAKME: $23kMEWI: $19kWIVT: $38kVTNH: $37kNHWA: $31kWAID: $18kIDMT: $30kMTND: $35kNDMN: $28kMNILMI: $20kMINY: $73kNYMA: $32kMAOR: $23kORNV: $23kNVWY: $19kWYSD: $10kSDIA: $14kIAIN: $16kINOH: $32kOHPA: $34kPANJ: $24kNJCT: $30kCTRI: $21kRICA: $47kCAUT: $30kUTCO: $27kCONE: $15kNEMO: $20kMOKY: $12kKYWV: $11kWVVA: $20kVAMD: $16kMDDE: $39kDEAZ: $17kAZNM: $16kNMKS: $17kKSAR: $19kARTN: $16kTNNC: $9kNCSC: $14kSCDC: $42kDCOK: $8kOKLA: $27kLAMS: $8kMSAL: $10kALGA: $15kGAHITX: $18kTXFL: $20kFL
Gap, 90th to 10th percentile district by stateAL $10k; AR $19k; AZ $17k; CA $47k; CO $27k; CT $30k; DC $42k; DE $39k; FL $20k; GA $15k; IA $14k; ID $18k; IN $16k; KS $17k; KY $12k; LA $27k; MA $32k; MD $16k; ME $23k; MI $20k; MN $28k; MO $20k; MS $8k; MT $30k; NC $9k; ND $35k; NE $15k; NH $37k; NJ $24k; NM $16k; NV $23k; NY $73k; OH $32k; OK $8k; OR $23k; PA $34k; RI $21k; SC $14k; SD $10k; TN $16k; TX $18k; UT $30k; VA $20k; VT $38k; WA $31k; WI $19k; WV $11k; WY $19kAKME: $23kMEWI: $19kWIVT: $38kVTNH: $37kNHWA: $31kWAID: $18kIDMT: $30kMTND: $35kNDMN: $28kMNILMI: $20kMINY: $73kNYMA: $32kMAOR: $23kORNV: $23kNVWY: $19kWYSD: $10kSDIA: $14kIAIN: $16kINOH: $32kOHPA: $34kPANJ: $24kNJCT: $30kCTRI: $21kRICA: $47kCAUT: $30kUTCO: $27kCONE: $15kNEMO: $20kMOKY: $12kKYWV: $11kWVVA: $20kVAMD: $16kMDDE: $39kDEAZ: $17kAZNM: $16kNMKS: $17kKSAR: $19kARTN: $16kTNNC: $9kNCSC: $14kSCDC: $42kDCOK: $8kOKLA: $27kLAMS: $8kMSAL: $10kALGA: $15kGAHITX: $18kTXFL: $20kFL

Gap, 90th to 10th percentile district

  • $7,849 to under $14,612
  • $14,612 to under $18,697
  • $18,697 to under $23,021
  • $23,021 to under $32,262
  • $32,262 and up

D.C. is one city system, so it is in the table but not ranked among the 50 states. Not ranked (fewer than 10 districts of 500 or more students with a figure): Hawaii.

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, fiscal year 2022-23 (Z35-Z38); NCES Common Core of Data LEA staff file 2022-23.

Where districts differ most on teacher salary spending: the top ten

Gap, 90th to 10th percentile district, highest ten statesNew York $73,486; California $46,861; Delaware $38,829; Vermont $38,488; New Hampshire $37,499; North Dakota $35,229; Pennsylvania $34,437; Massachusetts $32,309; Ohio $32,262; Washington $31,347; The middle state $20,103.020k40k60k80kNew York$73,486California$46,861Delaware$38,829Vermont$38,488New Hampshire$37,499North Dakota$35,229Pennsylvania$34,437Massachusetts$32,309Ohio$32,262Washington$31,347The middle state $20,103
Gap, 90th to 10th percentile district, highest ten statesNew York $73,486; California $46,861; Delaware $38,829; Vermont $38,488; New Hampshire $37,499; North Dakota $35,229; Pennsylvania $34,437; Massachusetts $32,309; Ohio $32,262; Washington $31,347; The middle state $20,103.020k40k60k80kNew York$73,486California$46,861Delaware$38,829Vermont$38,488New Hampshire$37,499North Dakota$35,229Pennsylvania$34,437Massachusetts$32,309Ohio$32,262Washington$31,347The middle state $20,103
Gap, 90th to 10th percentile district, highest ten statesNew York $73,486; California $46,861; Delaware $38,829; Vermont $38,488; New Hampshire $37,499; North Dakota $35,229; Pennsylvania $34,437; Massachusetts $32,309; Ohio $32,262; Washington $31,347; The middle state $20,103.040k80kNew York$73,486California$46,861Delaware$38,829Vermont$38,488New Hampshire$37,499North Dakota$35,229Pennsylvania$34,437Massachusetts$32,309Ohio$32,262Washington$31,347The middle state $20,103
Gap, 90th to 10th percentile district, highest ten statesNew York $73,486; California $46,861; Delaware $38,829; Vermont $38,488; New Hampshire $37,499; North Dakota $35,229; Pennsylvania $34,437; Massachusetts $32,309; Ohio $32,262; Washington $31,347; The middle state $20,103.040k80kNew York$73,486California$46,861Delaware$38,829Vermont$38,488New Hampshire$37,499North Dakota$35,229Pennsylvania$34,437Massachusetts$32,309Ohio$32,262Washington$31,347The middle state $20,103

Where they differ least: the bottom ten

Gap, 90th to 10th percentile district, lowest ten statesOklahoma $7,849; Mississippi $8,401; North Carolina $8,526; South Dakota $10,372; Alabama $10,422; West Virginia $10,937; Kentucky $12,197; Iowa $14,047; South Carolina $14,456; Georgia $14,612; The middle state $20,103.010k20k30kOklahoma$7,849Mississippi$8,401North Carolina$8,526South Dakota$10,372Alabama$10,422West Virginia$10,937Kentucky$12,197Iowa$14,047South Carolina$14,456Georgia$14,612The middle state $20,103
Gap, 90th to 10th percentile district, lowest ten statesOklahoma $7,849; Mississippi $8,401; North Carolina $8,526; South Dakota $10,372; Alabama $10,422; West Virginia $10,937; Kentucky $12,197; Iowa $14,047; South Carolina $14,456; Georgia $14,612; The middle state $20,103.010k20k30kOklahoma$7,849Mississippi$8,401North Carolina$8,526South Dakota$10,372Alabama$10,422West Virginia$10,937Kentucky$12,197Iowa$14,047South Carolina$14,456Georgia$14,612The middle state $20,103
Gap, 90th to 10th percentile district, lowest ten statesOklahoma $7,849; Mississippi $8,401; North Carolina $8,526; South Dakota $10,372; Alabama $10,422; West Virginia $10,937; Kentucky $12,197; Iowa $14,047; South Carolina $14,456; Georgia $14,612; The middle state $20,103.010k20k30kOklahoma$7,849Mississippi$8,401North Carolina$8,526South Dakota$10,372Alabama$10,422West Virginia$10,937Kentucky$12,197Iowa$14,047South Carolina$14,456Georgia$14,612The middle state $20,103
Gap, 90th to 10th percentile district, lowest ten statesOklahoma $7,849; Mississippi $8,401; North Carolina $8,526; South Dakota $10,372; Alabama $10,422; West Virginia $10,937; Kentucky $12,197; Iowa $14,047; South Carolina $14,456; Georgia $14,612; The middle state $20,103.010k20k30kOklahoma$7,849Mississippi$8,401North Carolina$8,526South Dakota$10,372Alabama$10,422West Virginia$10,937Kentucky$12,197Iowa$14,047South Carolina$14,456Georgia$14,612The middle state $20,103

The question and the method

Within each state, how far apart are school districts on what they spend on teacher salaries per full-time teacher?

For every district with 500 or more students, teacher salaries in its fiscal year 2022-23 F-33 finance report (regular, special, vocational and other programs, lines Z35 to Z38) divided by its full-time teachers in the NCES Common Core of Data district staff file for 2022-23; district figures that point to a mismatch between the two files are left out. The gap is the 90th percentile district minus the 10th percentile district, which keeps a single outlier from setting it. A state is ranked when it has at least 10 districts measured.

Limits. This is salary spending per teacher, not the salary a teacher is paid: the salary lines and the teacher count come from different files, benefits are left out, and a district with many part-time or long-serving teachers spends more per full-time teacher. States book salaries differently, so the gap compares districts within a state, and the states' gaps compare the width of each state's spread, not its pay. Living costs also differ across a state.

Every state

All 48 as a table
StateRankGap, 90th to 10th percentile districtDistricts measured
New York1$73,486548
California2$46,861678
District of Columbianot ranked$42,40421
Delaware3$38,82930
Vermont4$38,48848
New Hampshire5$37,49979
North Dakota6$35,22935
Pennsylvania7$34,437575
Massachusetts8$32,309245
Ohio9$32,262548
Washington10$31,347190
Utah11$30,49287
Connecticut12$30,377133
Montana13$30,11564
Minnesota14$28,231288
Colorado15$27,02893
Louisiana16$26,854131
New Jersey17$23,561432
Nevada18$23,07012
Oregon19$23,021116
Maine20$22,98290
Rhode Island21$21,14039
Florida22$20,40166
Virginia23$20,263127
Michigan24$19,943428
Missouri25$19,734293
Wyoming26$19,34934
Wisconsin27$18,787304
Arkansas28$18,697187
Texas29$18,188754
Idaho30$18,09282
Kansas31$17,288150
Arizona32$16,784117
New Mexico33$16,19960
Maryland34$16,13223
Indiana35$16,048305
Tennessee36$15,792137
Nebraska37$15,08689
Georgia38$14,612188
South Carolina39$14,45673
Iowa40$14,047235
Kentucky41$12,197161
West Virginia42$10,93755
Alabama43$10,422137
South Dakota44$10,37249
North Carolina45$8,526215
Mississippi46$8,401141
Oklahoma47$7,849230

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, fiscal year 2022-23 (Z35-Z38); NCES Common Core of Data LEA staff file 2022-23.

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Sources

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District teacher salaries (Z35-Z38) · FY 2022-23

Compiled from official source data by .