Public Information on a Teacher's Salary

Teachers' salaries vary according to the age group they teach. Those who specialize in special and vocational education often earn more than those who do not.

By Specialty

• According to the BLS, special education teachers at the secondary level had the highest average annual salary in May 2009, at $56,420. Mainstream secondary school teachers made an average of $55,150, followed by middle school special education teachers, who earned $54,420. At the bottom of the scale were preschool teachers, who made an average of $27,450 per year. Other teachers earned between $50,000 and $54,000 per year.

By Experience

• PayScale.com shows that those with less than four years of teaching experience typically earn a median salary below $40,000 annually, while teachers with 20 years or more of experience earn an average of nearly $60,000 annually.

By Area

• According to a PayScale.com, survey updated in October 2010, California tops the list of states with the highest average salary for teachers, at $50,531 per year, followed by New York at $49,136, and New Jersey at $48,384. Iowa, Montana and South Dakota were the lowest-paying states for secondary special education teachers in May 2009, according to the BLS, with average annual salaries of $42,050, $40,950 and $38,100, respectively.