Tucson is one of the worst-paying cities for high school teachers
- Updated
While cost of living plays a part in the pay of teachers, it is important to note that five Arizona cities are on the list of the 50 worst-paying cities and there are no Arizona cities on the list of 75 highest-paying cities.
- Alex Greer, CareerTrends.com
- Updated

It's no secret that teaching isn't the most lucrative profession in the U.S. In fact, a 2011 study from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development found that the U.S. ranked 22nd out of 27 countries when comparing the salaries of teachers to other college-educated workers.
Even within the country, teacher salaries can vary substantially. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the 2015 median salary for U.S. high school teachers was $57,200, but salaries range from over $80,000 a year in Anchorage, Alaska, to less than $40,000 in some Western cities.
Using 2016 data from the BLS, CareerTrends, a career research site by Graphiq, found the U.S. metro areas where high school teachers have the lowest average salary. Some metro areas are located in multiple states, but CareerTrends listed each area as part of the state where it is primarily based.
High school teachers in these metro areas all make at least 24 percent below the national average, although the teachers in the lowest-paying area make less than 50 percent the national average. Certain regions like the South and Mountain West are overrepresented in the ranking, while California and New England states like Massachusetts and Vermont are absent entirely. Keep in mind that teacher salaries can vary due to regional differences in the cost of living. For example, it's much cheaper to live in Logan, Utah, one of the lowest-paying places for teachers, than New York City, one of the highest.
Compiled by Alex Greer, CareerTrends.com
- Updated

Average Salary of High School Teachers: $46,560
Percent Below National Average: 27.33%
Number of High School Teachers: 440
- Updated

Average Salary of High School Teachers: $46,550
Percent Below National Average: 27.35%
Number of High School Teachers: 2,610
- Updated

Average Salary of High School Teachers: $46,460
Percent Below National Average: 27.54%
Number of High School Teachers: 6,530
- Updated

Average Salary of High School Teachers: $46,410
Percent Below National Average: 27.65%
Number of High School Teachers: 390
- Updated

Average Salary of High School Teachers: $46,370
Percent Below National Average: 27.73%
Number of High School Teachers: 390
- Updated

Average Salary of High School Teachers: $46,330
Percent Below National Average: 27.82%
Number of High School Teachers: 170
- Updated

Average Salary of High School Teachers: $46,310
Percent Below National Average: 27.86%
Number of High School Teachers: 1,670
- Updated

Average Salary of High School Teachers: $46,280
Percent Below National Average: 27.92%
Number of High School Teachers: 860
- Updated

Average Salary of High School Teachers: $46,250
Percent Below National Average: 27.99%
Number of High School Teachers: 910
- Updated

Average Salary of High School Teachers: $46,200
Percent Below National Average: 28.09%
Number of High School Teachers: 530
- Updated

Average Salary of High School Teachers: $46,030
Percent Below National Average: 28.45%
Number of High School Teachers: 490
- Updated

Average Salary of High School Teachers: $46,020
Percent Below National Average: 28.48%
Number of High School Teachers: 800
- Updated

Average Salary of High School Teachers: $45,980
Percent Below National Average: 28.56%
Number of High School Teachers: 240
- Updated

Average Salary of High School Teachers: $45,960
Percent Below National Average: 28.6%
Number of High School Teachers: 540
- Updated

Average Salary of High School Teachers: $45,870
Percent Below National Average: 28.8%
Number of High School Teachers: 320
- Updated

Average Salary of High School Teachers: $45,750
Percent Below National Average: 29.05%
Number of High School Teachers: 300
- Updated

Average Salary of High School Teachers: $45,730
Percent Below National Average: 29.09%
Number of High School Teachers: 610
- Updated

Average Salary of High School Teachers: $45,680
Percent Below National Average: 29.2%
Number of High School Teachers: 1,110
- Updated

Average Salary of High School Teachers: $45,570
Percent Below National Average: 29.44%
Number of High School Teachers: 330
- Updated

Average Salary of High School Teachers: $45,530
Percent Below National Average: 29.52%
Number of High School Teachers: Not Reported
- Updated

Average Salary of High School Teachers: $45,280
Percent Below National Average: 30.06%
Number of High School Teachers: 380
- Updated

Average Salary of High School Teachers: $44,970
Percent Below National Average: 30.73%
Number of High School Teachers: 1,570
- Updated

Average Salary of High School Teachers: $44,950
Percent Below National Average: 30.78%
Number of High School Teachers: 1,760
- Updated

Average Salary of High School Teachers: $44,730
Percent Below National Average: 31.26%
Number of High School Teachers: Not Reported
- Updated

Average Salary of High School Teachers: $44,410
Percent Below National Average: 31.96%
Number of High School Teachers: 400
- Updated

Average Salary of High School Teachers: $44,300
Percent Below National Average: 32.2%
Number of High School Teachers: 1,490
- Updated

Average Salary of High School Teachers: $44,220
Percent Below National Average: 32.37%
Number of High School Teachers: 490
- Updated

Average Salary of High School Teachers: $44,130
Percent Below National Average: 32.57%
Number of High School Teachers: 910
- Updated

Average Salary of High School Teachers: $44,080
Percent Below National Average: 32.68%
Number of High School Teachers: 750
- Updated

Average Salary of High School Teachers: $43,870
Percent Below National Average: 33.15%
Number of High School Teachers: 1,150
- Updated

Average Salary of High School Teachers: $43,830
Percent Below National Average: 33.24%
Number of High School Teachers: 1,560
- Updated

Average Salary of High School Teachers: $43,770
Percent Below National Average: 33.37%
Number of High School Teachers: 940
- Updated

Average Salary of High School Teachers: $43,660
Percent Below National Average: 33.61%
Number of High School Teachers: 450
- Updated

Average Salary of High School Teachers: $43,280
Percent Below National Average: 34.46%
Number of High School Teachers: 240
- Updated

Average Salary of High School Teachers: $43,040
Percent Below National Average: 35.%
Number of High School Teachers: 1,960
- Updated

Average Salary of High School Teachers: $42,980
Percent Below National Average: 35.14%
Number of High School Teachers: 740
- Updated

Average Salary of High School Teachers: $42,540
Percent Below National Average: 36.13%
Number of High School Teachers: Not Reported
- Updated

Average Salary of High School Teachers: $42,370
Percent Below National Average: 36.52%
Number of High School Teachers: 930
- Updated

Average Salary of High School Teachers: $42,100
Percent Below National Average: 37.14%
Number of High School Teachers: 340
- Updated

Average Salary of High School Teachers: $41,640
Percent Below National Average: 38.2%
Number of High School Teachers: 260
- Updated

Average Salary of High School Teachers: $41,530
Percent Below National Average: 38.45%
Number of High School Teachers: 640
- Updated

Average Salary of High School Teachers: $41,480
Percent Below National Average: 38.57%
Number of High School Teachers: 680
- Updated

Average Salary of High School Teachers: $41,270
Percent Below National Average: 39.06%
Number of High School Teachers: 420
- Updated

Average Salary of High School Teachers: $41,000
Percent Below National Average: 39.69%
Number of High School Teachers: 400
- Updated

Average Salary of High School Teachers: $40,810
Percent Below National Average: 40.13%
Number of High School Teachers: 3,390
- Updated

Average Salary of High School Teachers: $40,610
Percent Below National Average: 40.6%
Number of High School Teachers: 650
- Updated

Average Salary of High School Teachers: $39,950
Percent Below National Average: 42.17%
Number of High School Teachers: 310
- Updated

Average Salary of High School Teachers: $39,470
Percent Below National Average: 43.33%
Number of High School Teachers: 2,200
- Updated

Average Salary of High School Teachers: $39,240
Percent Below National Average: 43.88%
Number of High School Teachers: 60
- Updated

Average Salary of High School Teachers: $36,470
Percent Below National Average: 50.79%
Number of High School Teachers: Not Reported
- Alex Greer, CareerTrends.com

It's no secret that teaching isn't the most lucrative profession in the U.S. In fact, a 2011 study from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development found that the U.S. ranked 22nd out of 27 countries when comparing the salaries of teachers to other college-educated workers.
Even within the country, teacher salaries can vary substantially. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the 2015 median salary for U.S. high school teachers was $57,200, but salaries range from over $80,000 a year in Anchorage, Alaska, to less than $40,000 in some Western cities.
Using 2016 data from the BLS, CareerTrends, a career research site by Graphiq, found the U.S. metro areas where high school teachers have the lowest average salary. Some metro areas are located in multiple states, but CareerTrends listed each area as part of the state where it is primarily based.
High school teachers in these metro areas all make at least 24 percent below the national average, although the teachers in the lowest-paying area make less than 50 percent the national average. Certain regions like the South and Mountain West are overrepresented in the ranking, while California and New England states like Massachusetts and Vermont are absent entirely. Keep in mind that teacher salaries can vary due to regional differences in the cost of living. For example, it's much cheaper to live in Logan, Utah, one of the lowest-paying places for teachers, than New York City, one of the highest.
Compiled by Alex Greer, CareerTrends.com
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