The Average Salary of Biology Teachers

Several factors combine to determine the average salary of a biology teacher, including qualifications, experience, position and location. For instance, salary compared to living costs in a given location can give some insight into how these factors play out.

Location

• The single most significant factor affecting salary variability is location. In Iowa, for example, the average salary is around $50,000 -- accounting for all grade levels, including college -- as compared with Texas, where the average is around $112,000. The five best-paying states from highest to lowest are Texas, Massachusetts, Hawaii, California and Alaska, whose average salaries range from $112,000 to $87,000. The five best-paying metropolitan areas from highest to lowest are Mobile, Alabama; San Antonio, Texas; El Paso, Texas; Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, Massachusetts; and San Francisco, California, ranging from $141,000 to $108,000.

Secondary Variables

• The starting salary for biology teachers with a bachelor's degree is around $35,000. A master's degree can add about $5,000 to $10,000. Each year of experience can add a few thousand dollars such that the average at 10 years of experience is around $60,000. A teaching position with a research component can add several thousand dollars yearly, but there are fewer job opportunities that include research. Also, a shorter workday and summer vacation leaves time for earning supplemental income from tutoring or summer jobs.

Analysis

• An important consideration regarding biology teacher salaries is how pay compares to the cost of living in a state. For example, Hawaii's teaching salary may not look much different than the average compared with other states, but it is rated as the lowest on a salary-comfort index because of the high cost of living in Hawaii. It is likely best, therefore, to teach in a state that pays its biology teachers enough relative to living costs. Overall, most biology teachers say their job satisfaction outweighs their lower average salaries as compared with other jobs.

Security

• Jobs for biology teachers are likely to continue to be available since most people with a science degree can find better-paying jobs in the private or government sectors. Population growth and a need to replace retiring biology teachers should also contribute to steady demand, which is highest in rural areas and low-income communities.