Teaching Jobs In Texas Salary Expectations

Before you begin searching for a teaching job, it’s wise to have healthy expectations of what you can expect for a salary in Texas.

Salaries can vary greatly from district to district, with major metropolitan areas like Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth offering some of the highest average salaries in the state. However, other factors such as grade level and subject area, also influence the amount you take home after a hard day’s work.

Whether you’ve completed a teaching credential program and are beginning the job hunting process, or are still weighing the pros and cons of a career change to teaching, here is some vital salary information to keep in mind about teaching jobs in Texas.

Minimum Requirements

In recent years, the state of Texas has made an effort to attract and retain more qualified teachers in the wake of a statewide teacher shortage by increasing the minimum annual salary. 

The law requires school districts to at minimum meet the base salary requirements (reflected by an individual’s years of experience) outlined in the chart below. For the 2024-2025 school year, the minimum annual salaries are:

In addition to classroom teachers, the new minimum salary requirements also apply to full-time librarians, counselors certified under Subchapter B, Chapter 21, and registered nurses working in a school district

Highest Paying Teaching Jobs

Now that you know what minimum you have to earn as a teacher in Texas, it’s good to keep in mind some factors that influence salary, including location and the subject area you teach. 

To dive deeper into these salary factors, you can access average teacher pay using the Staff FTE Counts and Salary Report that the Texas Education Agency maintains.

Age group

Looking at average salary numbers from the 2023-2024 school year (the most recent updated information), Texas teachers earned an average of $62,463. 

However, secondary school teachers (grades 7-12) had an average base pay of $63,550. Kindergarten teachers, on the other hand, had an average base pay of $61,465.

Region

As mentioned before, larger metropolitan areas tend to offer higher salaries overall. Looking at the most recent salary data provided by the Texas Education Agency (TEA), out of the 20 education regions in Texas, Region 19 (El Paso) offered one of the highest average base salaries at $67,378.

Other metropolitan areas like Houston and Fort Worth offered an average base salary of $66,418 and $64,777, respectively, while Dallas came in at $64,545.

Areas with less population like Midland offered a lower average base salary at $61,896.

Alternative Schools

For those who want to teach but are concerned about salary, alternative schools can offer higher salaries. For example, the open enrollment charter Academy for Academic Excellence in Dallas offers an average teacher base pay of $67,061. 

However, it’s important to note that there are fewer alternative schools compared to public schools, so finding employment may be more challenging.

Subject

Though salaries vary among districts, one area to keep in mind is the subject you teach. That’s because the state of Texas is experiencing a shortage in several subject areas, including:

• Bilingual and English as a second language
• Career Technical Education (CTE)
• Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)
• Special Education

Just like the laws of supply and demand, when there is a greater need for filling these in demand teaching jobs, districts may be able to offer more incentives, including higher pay.

Other Factors To Consider

Although salary is an important factor to consider when looking for any kind of job, one thing to keep in mind is that there are several secondary benefits to becoming a teacher when it comes to pay. 

Loan Forgiveness

For instance, depending on the subject area you choose to teach, you may qualify for loan forgiveness programs. Eliminating or reducing a monthly student loan bill right out of the gate could possibly provide you with a little bit more wiggle room regarding what salary you can afford to accept. 

Benefits Packages

Though you often don’t attach a number to a benefits package, it’s important to consider this factor when looking at potential pay. 

According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), per capita healthcare spending in the United States has increased significantly from 1960 to 2023. In 1960, the per capita spending was approximately $146, while in 2023, it reached about $14,570. This represents an increase of nearly 100 times.

Healthcare spending as a share of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) also has risen from 5% in 1960 to 17.6% in 2023.

Benefits packages will vary across the state by district. Before you accept a position, inquire into what benefits packages and pension contributions are available so you have a more accurate picture of your overall offer.

Summer Work

In most districts, you will also have the benefit of having breaks throughout the year, namely a summer break that could last as long as two months. Although a teacher’s contract pays you for the number of days you work per year (usually somewhere around 180 days), many school districts will allow you to spread your pay over 12 months so you don’t have a break in pay. 

Although you certainly deserve that time off, after all the after-school hours you likely put in during the school year, you could choose to work a part-time or temporary full-time job over the summer. This will allow you to pick up additional hours and pay. 

Help For The Next Step

Weighing all the factors that go into a teacher’s salary can be a lot to process. If you’re unsure of whether teaching is the path you want to take, our article, Why A Career Change To Teaching May Be Right For You, outlines not only the benefits of teaching, but ways you can dip your toes into teaching without taking that full plunge quite yet. 

If you decide your salary expectations for a teaching position align with the reality of what districts offer in the state of Texas and you don’t yet have your teaching license, it’s important to find the right alternative certification program that meets your needs so that you can fulfill your dream of educating today’s youth.