How a Teacher Salary Schedule Actually Works

The average public-school teacher in the United States makes $74,495 a year. You might be looking at your paycheck and thinking, “Hey, I’m making a lot less than that!” Or maybe you’re sighing with relief, saying, “Wow, I’m making a lot more!”

Teacher salaries vary widely from state to state and district to district in the U.S. But while specifics fluctuate (that $74,495 is an average), there is a basic structure for teacher pay. If you’re a newer or aspiring teacher and wondering what you might earn, this post is for you. If you have your eye on a particular job or a particular school or district but don’t understand the salary schedule, this post is for you, too. We’ll cover:

• How a teacher salary schedule works, and how to read it.
• Where stipends and extra pay fit in.
• How to find and read your district’s schedule.

Steps & Lanes: How a Salary Schedule Works

A salary schedule is a grid. You find the column that matches you (your lane), then the row that matches you (your step), and the cell where they meet is your base pay.

Lanes are education: a bachelor’s degree, a bachelor’s plus 30 postgraduate credits, a master’s degree, etc. Different districts may have different lanes, but the general idea is that as you advance to the next educational milestone, you move one lane or column to the right.

Steps are years of experience. Step 0 is your starting point, your first year teaching. Step 1 is your second year, when you have one year in the bag. Again, some districts might calculate steps differently (starting at a different step number, for example), but in general, you’ll move down the rows and up in salary as you continue your teaching career.

Here’s a simplified version:

	Bachelor’s	Bachelor’s +15	Master’s
Step 0	$48,000	$50,200	$52,500
Step 1	$49,100	$51,400	$53,800
Step 2	$50,200	$52,600	$55,100

Using this example, a teacher in her second year, with a bachelor’s degree, would make a base salary of $49,100. Let’s say she completes an online master’s degree, finishing her program over the summer. Next year, she would earn $55,100 (step 2, master’s lane).

For a new teacher in the U.S., the average starting salary is $48,112, according to the National Education Association. For a new teacher with a master’s degree, the average starting salary is $51,775, a $3,663 difference.

And that gap continues to grow. For a later-career teacher at the top of the salary scale, the difference between a bachelor’s and master’s degree can be more than $11,000 a year.

These are averages, and it’s important to check your specific salary schedule to see how much more you would make with a master’s or even a Ph.D. But here’s the takeaway: Earning an advanced degree is generally not a one-time pay bump for teachers. It can mean a higher salary every single year, for the rest of your career.

Stipends & Extra Pay for Teachers

The salary schedule gives you your base pay, but it doesn’t necessarily show your entire paycheck. A few common ways to increase your earnings:

• Earn your teaching certification. If you’re not already licensed, this is a great way to improve your teaching skills and salary.
• Coach a club or team. Typically, the greater the commitment, the larger the stipend.
• Become a lead or mentor teacher.
• Become a National Board Certified Teacher. In many districts, this certification leads to a bonus (make sure you check with your school first).
• Earn a master’s degree.
• Choose a shortage area. If your subject area is hard to staff, your position may come with a bonus.
• Teach in a high-need school. Districts often pay a stipend to teachers who work in schools serving high-poverty or high-need communities.

Takeaway: Teachers automatically earn more as they gain years of experience, but there are other ways to move up the salary scale. And it doesn’t necessarily mean leaving your classroom job. You can earn more as a teacher without going into administration.

How to Find & Read Your Salary Schedule

Salary schedules are public documents, which means, as long as you’re teaching at a public school, you can typically find yours in just a few minutes.

Start with your district website, since many post salary schedules online. You can also check the union contract, if there is one. If you’re having trouble finding it, just ask! Call or email your school’s HR department, and they’ll be able to point you in the right direction.

Once you have the salary schedule, find your lane and step, and you’ll see your likely salary (not factoring in any supplements). A few items to check:

1. If you have previous teaching experience, how does your new school credit that toward salary schedule steps?
2. If you’re moving up a lane, when is that paperwork due? You don’t want to miss a pay increase because of an administrative error.
3. What, specifically, does your school pay for a master’s degree or national board certification? This can help you make a career growth plan and decide what additional qualifications or certifications to pursue.

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Grow Your Teaching Career with Moreland University

Understanding your salary schedule is step 1. What’s next for your career growth plan?

Moreland University offers a 9-month certification program and 12-month master’s degrees, all 100% online.

Ready to learn more? Join an upcoming information session. These are small-group sessions that cover admissions requirements, program outcomes, and more. There’s always plenty of time for Q&A.