How Much Does a Elementary and Middle School Teacher Make in the United States in 2026? (Hourly & After-Tax Salary)
Median Annual & Hourly Wage in the United States
$66,140/yr ($31.80/hr · $54,915 After-Tax)
Entry-Level (25th Pct)$51,580 ($24.80/hr)
Experienced (90th Pct)$89,290 ($42.93/hr)
Bi-Weekly Net Paycheck$2,112.13
Overtime Rate (1.5x)$47.70/hr
Gross vs. Net After-Tax Pay by Experience Level (2026)
| Level | Hourly | Gross Annual | Federal + FICA + State Tax | Net Take-Home | Bi-Weekly Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | $24.80/hr | $51,580 | −$8,096.97 | $43,483.03 | $1,672.42 |
| Median (Mid-Career) | $31.80/hr | $66,140 | −$11,224.51 | $54,915.49 | $2,112.13 |
| Senior / Top 10% | $42.93/hr | $89,290 | −$18,088.49 | $71,201.51 | $2,738.52 |
Compare Wage Across All 50 U.S. States
Texas ($31.16/hr)California ($37.52/hr)Florida ($30.21/hr)New York ($36.89/hr)Illinois ($32.75/hr)Arizona ($30.85/hr)New Jersey ($35.62/hr)Georgia ($30.53/hr)North Carolina ($30.21/hr)Washington ($36.57/hr)Pennsylvania ($31.48/hr)Ohio ($29.89/hr)Nevada ($31.16/hr)Colorado ($33.71/hr)Virginia ($33.39/hr)Massachusetts ($37.21/hr)Michigan ($30.53/hr)Tennessee ($29.26/hr)Indiana ($29.57/hr)Maryland ($34.34/hr)Minnesota ($33.07/hr)Missouri ($29.26/hr)Wisconsin ($30.85/hr)Oregon ($33.39/hr)Connecticut ($35.30/hr)Utah ($30.85/hr)South Carolina ($28.94/hr)Alabama ($27.98/hr)Louisiana ($28.30/hr)Kentucky ($28.30/hr)Oklahoma ($28.30/hr)Kansas ($29.26/hr)Iowa ($29.57/hr)New Mexico ($29.26/hr)Arkansas ($27.67/hr)Mississippi ($27.03/hr)Nebraska ($29.89/hr)Idaho ($29.57/hr)Hawaii ($34.34/hr)New Hampshire ($32.75/hr)Maine ($30.21/hr)Rhode Island ($32.44/hr)Montana ($29.26/hr)Delaware ($32.12/hr)South Dakota ($28.94/hr)North Dakota ($30.21/hr)Alaska ($34.66/hr)Vermont ($31.16/hr)West Virginia ($27.35/hr)Wyoming ($30.21/hr)