Which Metro Areas Offer the Best Real Income for Educators?

Updated: December 13, 2023

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Teacher salaries are a hot-button issue, with the field experiencing well-documented wage gaps. According to an Economic Policy Institute report, teachers made 26.4% less than other similarly educated professions in 2022 — the lowest level since 1960. With taxes and basic living costs to consider, teacher salaries can go a long way or do the opposite, depending on where an educator lives.

MoneyGeek analyzed educator salaries in 178 metro areas to find the places where teachers make the most after taxes and living expenses. We also examined salaries for K-12 and postsecondary teachers to find the best metros for these educators. MoneyGeek learned that Southern metro areas offer the most significant stretch on earnings, especially for postsecondary educators. Additionally, after considering taxes and living costs, we found that postsecondary teachers make roughly $11,000 more annually than K-12 educators across the metros considered.

KEY FINDINGS
  • McAllen, Texas, boasts the highest teacher salary purchasing power at $68,271, after accounting for 24% in taxes and living expenses 18% lower than the national average. Honolulu has the lowest educator salary at $22,677 after accounting for 29% in taxes and living costs 82% above the national average.

  • Southern metros shine for teachers, with 21 ranking in the top third for salary competitiveness. Yet, Burlington, North Carolina, and Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort, South Carolina, lag behind other metros in the South, ranking in the bottom 10 with earnings below $38,000 after adjustments.

  • Although K-12 teachers earn 27% less than their postsecondary counterparts (under $60,000 compared to $82,134), that gap narrows to $11,000 after factoring in taxes and living costs.

  • K-12 teachers seeking high returns should consider Kennewick-Richland, Washington, for $60,822 in adjusted take-home pay. Las Cruces, New Mexico, tops for postsecondary educators at $84,429 annually after taxes and living expenses.

  • Despite a significant tax burden of 32% and living costs 20% above the national average, New York City secures the No. 13 highest adjusted take-home teacher salary at $57,781.

Teacher Salaries Stretch Furthest in These Southern Metros

In McAllen, Texas, teachers' salaries go the furthest, with the average educator taking home $68,271 annually — a mere $5,000 less than pre-tax earnings. This metro is followed by Auburn, Alabama ($66,080), and El Paso, Texas ($65,260). Texas' lower cost of living and taxes propel half its metros into the top 10 with adjusted teacher earnings of $62,000 and higher.

In the Northeast, Hartford, Connecticut, just misses the top 10, landing at No. 11. There, teachers earn $57,976 after taxes and living expenses. Surprisingly, the New York-Newark-Jersey City metro, known for its high taxes and living costs, ranks No. 13. Despite these expenses, teachers in the Big Apple and surrounding areas keep $57,781 of their $101,068 pre-tax salary.

Infographic displaying discrepancies in teacher gross and take-home salaries (best metros)

K-12 Teacher Salaries Stretch Most in Washington State Metros

MoneyGeek also analyzed the metros for K-12 educators where teachers see the highest take-home pay. We found that less than one-third of the 178 U.S. metros studied surpass the average K-12 teacher gross pay of $59,817. Generally, K-12 teachers face a 23% reduction in income after accounting for taxes and living costs, but in certain areas, such as San Jose, California, the decrease can be as steep as 60%.

Western metropolitan areas — notably in Washington and New Mexico — offer K-12 teachers better financial prospects, reducing the toll of taxes and living expenses. Washington's Kennewick-Richland metro stands out as the only metro where K-12 teachers see an adjusted salary over $60,000. Yakima, Washington, is a close second, with an adjusted salary of $59,946.

A notable feature of metros at the top of the list is a lower-than-average cost of living. However, five metros with living costs above the national average still rank well (Mount Vernon, Bremerton and Olympia, Washington; Hartford, Connecticut; and the Providence-Warwick, Rhode Island-Massachusetts metro area).

Top 15 Metros With the Highest Adjusted Take-Home Salary for K-12 Teachers
Metro Area
Take-Home Pay
Pre-Tax Average Salary

1.

Kennewick-Richland, WA

$60,822

$77,286

2.

Yakima, WA

$59,946

$76,510

3.

McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX

$56,311

$59,245

4.

Cleveland-Elyria, OH

$56,123

$70,717

5.

Morristown, TN

$54,568

$60,090

6.

Brownsville-Harlingen, TX

$54,288

$55,196

7.

Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA

$54,103

$83,134

8.

Columbus, OH

$53,873

$68,031

Top Metros for Postsecondary Teachers: Northeast Flounders, Southwest Dominates

On average, postsecondary teachers earn over $22,000 more annually than their K-12 counterparts, with an average gross salary of $82,134. The metros with the highest gross wages for postsecondary educators, San Francisco and New York-Newark-Jersey City, offer $115,314 and $109,897, respectively, but high living expenses and taxes reduce these by over $47,000 annually.

Las Cruces, New Mexico, with the third-highest postsecondary salary of $108,640, leads as the metro where postsecondary teacher salaries stretch the furthest, with the average educator taking home $84,429 annually after accounting for taxes and living costs. One other Southwestern metro, Las Vegas, joins the top of the list with the No. 6 highest take-home pay ($74,326). Select Southern and Midwestern metros also rank well, with postsecondary teachers retaining roughly $70,000 post taxes and living costs in these regions.

Top 15 Metros With Highest Adjusted Take-Home Salary for Postsecondary Teachers
Metro Area
Take-Home Pay
Pre-Tax Average Salary

1.

Las Cruces, NM

$84,429

$108,640

2.

McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX

$80,147

$86,961

3.

Auburn-Opelika, AL

$79,808

$105,251

4.

El Paso, TX

$79,167

$92,213

5.

Iowa City, IA

$76,840

$102,970

6.

Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV

$74,326

$95,266

7.

San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX

$73,872

$89,548

8.

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX

$73,735

$90,552

Metros Where Real Income for Teachers Lags by Thousands of Dollars

Income for educators in the bottom-ranking 15 metros averages $36,429 after taxes and living costs, lagging by about $25,000 compared to the top areas. Honolulu fares worst, leaving teachers with just $22,677 after 30% taxes and living costs 82% above the national average. Similarly, Hilton Head, South Carolina, and Prescott, Arizona, see teachers earning less than $35,000 after taxes and living costs.

Among the worst 15 metros, San Jose, California, is striking: its pre-tax salary of $95,775 — the fourth-highest of any metro — dwindles to $37,505 after adjustment. Additionally, almost half of these worst-ranking metros boast lower-than-average living costs and taxes (i.e., more affordability), yet they still fall short due to their comparatively low pre-tax educator salaries.

Infographic displaying discrepancies in teacher gross and take-home salaries (worst metros)

Tips to Stretch Money Further as an Educator

Teachers play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our youth, yet they often face financial challenges beyond their control. With these tips below, MoneyGeek aims to support educators in navigating these external financial hurdles and moving toward a more secure financial future.

    homeMortgage icon

    Explore Homeownership Assistance

    If you're considering buying a home, look into teacher-specific financial resources and programs that offer substantial savings on closing costs and down payments, like the Educator Mortgage Program or Good Neighbor Next Door program. You can also use MoneyGeek’s mortgage calculator to gain a better understanding of your options.

    creditCard2 icon

    Select Credit Cards Wisely

    Choose credit cards that offer benefits tailored for educators. Look for cards with low interest rates and get rewarded for your spending.

    tax icon

    Leverage Educator Tax Deductions

    Take advantage of educator tax deductions when filing taxes. Remember, you can claim up to $250 for classroom supplies and possibly more if you've been pursuing further education.

    startupBusiness icon

    Maximize Salary Opportunities

    Consider advancing your education or exploring extra earning opportunities, like summer school, coaching or tutoring. This enhances your skill set and can lead to step raises and additional income.

    carInsurance icon

    Educator Car Insurance Discounts

    Many car insurance providers offer discounts to teachers. Always inform your insurance agent of your profession and compare quotes to ensure you get the best and cheapest car insurance tailored for educators.

Methodology

To assess the impact of taxes and living expenses on teacher salaries nationwide, MoneyGeek analyzed Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) data for 178 U.S. metro areas. For our Overall ranking, MoneyGeek factored in a broad range of educator salaries, including K-12, postsecondary, preschool, substitute and self-enrichment teachers. For our breakdowns of the best metros for K-12 and Postsecondary educators, we only considered salaries for those specialties.

We calculated net salaries by applying federal, state and local taxes using SmartAsset’s paycheck calculator and then adjusted for local living costs using data from the Council for Community and Economic Research.

For example, in the New York City metro area, the post-tax salary for teachers averages $69,280. With living costs 20% above the national average, the actual purchasing power equates to $57,781 when adjusted for these expenses.

Full Data Set

Our data sheds light on the financial realities for teachers in different metropolitan areas, from lucrative opportunities to tighter budgets. See the data that shaped our story below.

About Anja Solum, CEPF


Anja Solum, CEPF headshot

Anja Solum is a certified educator in personal finance and the Data Journalism Manager at MoneyGeek. For over six years, she has produced data analyses and studies for agency and in-house teams across multiple verticals.

Solum holds a bachelor's degree in communication arts from Florida International University. She's passionate about using data to tell compelling, informed stories that empower readers.


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