How much do entry level teachers make in Virginia?

Entry-level teachers in Virginia typically earn around $46,000 to $56,000 annually, with averages around $46,250 according to the NEA, but this varies significantly by district, with some areas like Arlington seeing higher averages (around $55,000+) and others lower, depending on factors like funding, location (e.g., Virginia Beach vs. Arlington), and credentials.

How much does a first year teacher make in Virginia?

How much does a First Year Teacher make in Virginia? As of Jan 15, 2026, the average annual pay for a First Year Teacher in Virginia is $46,190 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $22.21 an hour. This is the equivalent of $888/week or $3,849/month.

What does a first time teacher make?

Among the fifty states, California ($58,409) maintains the highest average starting teacher salary. The next two highest are Washington ($57,912) and New Jersey ($57,603).

What county in Virginia pays teachers the most?

While Northern Virginia counties like Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William generally offer the highest teacher salaries, Prince William County recently became the top payer for new teachers with bachelor's degrees, while Arlington County often boasts the highest overall average, reflecting high cost of living near D.C. Experienced teachers in wealthy districts like Fairfax can earn over $100k, but starting pay varies significantly across Virginia's many school divisions. 

Do teachers make good money in Virginia?

Average Teacher Salaries in Virginia

The average salary for teachers in Virginia is $63,103 per year, according to NEA data, although pay can differ based on district funding, years of experience, and additional credentials.

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Is there a teacher shortage in Virginia?

Virginia faces a persistent teacher shortage, with rising vacancies and increased reliance on under-licensed educators, particularly in elementary, special education, and core subjects, though recent state initiatives like apprenticeships and easier out-of-state transfers show slight improvement in some areas, highlighting ongoing challenges in retention, pay, and working conditions. The problem is uneven, with some rural and low-income divisions hit hardest, while factors like insufficient funding, pay, and resources contribute to teachers leaving the profession. 

What state has the lowest teacher salary?

• The national average public school teacher salary for 2023-24 was $72,030.
• State average teacher salaries ranged from those in California ($101,084), New York ($95,615), and Massachusetts ($92,076) at the high end to Mississippi ($53,704), Florida ($54,875), and Missouri ($55,132) at the low end.

How much does a teacher with a master's make in Virginia?

Master Teacher Salary in Virginia. $42.1K is the 25th percentile. Wages below this are outliers. The median wage is $54.2K / yr.

Do teachers make 40k a year?

California ($101,084), New York ($95,615) and Massachusetts ($92,076) have the highest average teacher salaries.

Is Virginia a good state for teachers?

Recently, Wallethub ranked Virginia the number one state in the nation to be a teacher. We have been working hard to increase teacher salaries over the years — we have increased teacher pay nearly twice as much as the previous administration!

Can you make $100,000 as a teacher?

Yes, teachers can make $100k, but it usually requires many years of experience, advanced degrees, working in high-paying districts (often in expensive states like California or New York), and taking on extra roles like coaching or leading extracurriculars; it's not typical for new teachers but achievable for veterans or those in specific high-demand areas or roles. 

What is the starting salary when you are a teacher?

For example, a teacher with REQV 143 (matric plus 4 years of university education) would enter on Notch 164. This translates to a basic salary of R284,238 in their first year of employment, or R23,686 monthly (based on the salary scales that came into effect in July 2021).

Do teachers get paid more with a master's?

According to a 2024 report on educator pay in America from the National Education Association (NEA), first-year teachers with master's degrees earn an average of $48,182 annually, roughly $3,652 (or 8.2%) more than a starting teacher with only a bachelor's degree.

How much do elementary teachers make in VA?

While ZipRecruiter is seeing salaries as high as $70,886 and as low as $22,803, the majority of Elementary School Teacher salaries currently range between $44,100 (25th percentile) to $59,500 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $64,938 annually in Virginia.

Are teachers starting to get paid more?

In California, the average salary for this school year is an estimated $103,379, while in Mississippi, it's $55,086. The NEA report also highlighted a 4.4% increase in average pay for starting teacher salaries, marking the largest growth in 15 years.

Do student teachers get paid in Virginia?

Average base salary

The average salary for a student teacher is $55,839 per year in Virginia. 16 salaries taken from job postings on Indeed in the past 36 months (updated December 9, 2025).

What grade teachers get paid the most?

High school teachers generally make the most money compared to elementary or middle school teachers, especially those teaching specialized subjects like sciences or in high-demand areas, with special education teachers also earning higher wages; however, factors like experience, advanced degrees (Master's/Doctorate), and location (high cost-of-living states like Washington) significantly impact salaries, with experienced teachers in desirable districts earning the most. 

Do elementary teachers get paid less?

Pay. The median annual wage for elementary school teachers, except special education was $62,340 in May 2024. The median annual wage for kindergarten teachers, except special education was $61,430 in May 2024.

Do teachers make a good living?

In more than half the states, the average teacher is not making a living wage, a new report says. In this report, researchers at the nonprofit Education Resource Strategies make the case for a redesign of education spending and teacher compensation.

Which school district in Virginia pays the most?

The highest paying school districts in Virginia are generally found in Northern Virginia, with Arlington, Fairfax County, and Loudoun County leading, often followed closely by Alexandria City, due to proximity to D.C. and higher cost of living, though Prince William County recently topped starting pay. While Arlington and Fairfax offer high average salaries for experienced teachers (potentially $90k-$100k+), Prince William made headlines for offering the highest starting salaries in the state for new teachers in 2025, with experienced teachers in districts like Falls Church also earning well. 

What state pays the lowest teacher salaries?

The highest average teacher salaries are found in California ($101,084), New York ($95,615), and Massachusetts ($92,076). The lowest salaries are in Mississippi ($53,704), Florida ($54,875), and Missouri ($55,132).

Are teachers in demand in Virginia?

Richmond, VA – The Virginia Department of Education today announced major progress in restoring strength and stability to the Commonwealth's educator workforce. Since 2023, teacher vacancies have declined by 35.9% percent, while teacher salaries have increased significantly across Virginia.

Can you make $100,000 as a teacher?

Yes, teachers can make $100k, but it usually requires many years of experience, advanced degrees, working in high-paying districts (often in expensive states like California or New York), and taking on extra roles like coaching or leading extracurriculars; it's not typical for new teachers but achievable for veterans or those in specific high-demand areas or roles. 

What is the hardest state to teach in?

The worst states for teachers in 2025 are South Dakota, New Hampshire, Maine, Montana and Hawaii. “Despite having one of the most crucial jobs in America – educating the next generation – teachers are often underpaid and underappreciated.

Is teaching a stressful job?

A new survey showed 91% of teachers are dealing with moderate to extreme levels of stress, while the majority reported at least moderate symptoms of depression and anxiety.