Texas Teaching Salaries

In recent years, Texas has boasted a competitive employment market that attracts workers from across the United States, including teachers and school administrators. One of the factors that makes the Texas job market so strong is salary. Texas teacher salaries. have been on the rise over the past year—up 3.2 percent over the 2008-09 year*—and savvy job seekers also know that Texas is one of only a handful of states that do not impose state income taxes. This means that more of a teacher's pay ends up in her pockets.

According to the National Education Association, the average pay for Texas teachers was $47,157 during the 2009-2010 school year. Of course, earnings vary depending on a number of factors, such as years of experience and type of teacher certification. At the secondary school level, for instance, Texas teacher salaries were $52,270, a bit higher than the overall average teacher salary.

Teachers with additional certifications, master's degrees or doctoral degrees may find themselves in a higher wage percentile. The top 10 percent of secondary school teachers in Texas earned $68,820, reports the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), which collects data on Texas teacher salaries at all educational levels.

In addition, pay varies depending on location. Here is Texas teacher salary information for secondary school educators in selected cities**:

• Austin/Round Rock: $50,760
• Dallas/Plano/Irving: $56,160
• Fort Worth/Arlington: $52,530
• Houston/Sugar Land/Baytown: $54,700
• San Antonio: $55,510

Teaching is challenging work, but teachers are rewarded with numerous benefits in addition to their salary: health and dental insurance; enviable vacation time, especially in the summer; pension plans; and the satisfaction of helping our nation's children learn and grow.

If you'd like more information about becoming a teacher in Texas, contact the Texas Education Agency, or research teacher training at the bachelor's or master's level at Teacher World. A rewarding teaching career is waiting for you in the Lone Star State.

Sources:
*"Texas Teacher Pay Up, but Concerns Remain." Lubbock Online
**U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Back to Texas Teacher Certification/Credentialing
or, Steps to become a teacher in Texas