Pay vs cost of living
How far does a High School Teacher's pay go, state by state?
A High School Teacher's pay leaves the most room in Washington — about $6,531/mo take-home against $1,641/mo typical rent — and the least in Hawaii.
| State | Est. take-home | Typical rent | Rent share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $6,531/mo | $1,641/mo | 25% |
| California | $6,600/mo | $1,969/mo | 30% |
| New York | $6,155/mo | $1,621/mo | 26% |
| Rhode Island | $5,403/mo | $1,289/mo | 24% |
| Ohio | $5,071/mo | $986/mo | 19% |
| Oregon | $5,420/mo | $1,431/mo | 26% |
| Alaska | $5,261/mo | $1,361/mo | 26% |
| Connecticut | $5,316/mo | $1,483/mo | 28% |
| Pennsylvania | $4,999/mo | $1,176/mo | 24% |
| Illinois | $5,013/mo | $1,246/mo | 25% |
| Delaware | $5,058/mo | $1,321/mo | 26% |
| Massachusetts | $5,417/mo | $1,716/mo | 32% |
| New Jersey | $5,244/mo | $1,656/mo | 32% |
| District of Columbia | $5,338/mo | $1,900/mo | 36% |
| Maryland | $5,115/mo | $1,683/mo | 33% |
| Wyoming | $4,244/mo | $979/mo | 23% |
| New Mexico | $4,239/mo | $1,034/mo | 24% |
| Michigan | $4,191/mo | $1,072/mo | 26% |
| Kentucky | $4,033/mo | $918/mo | 23% |
| Wisconsin | $4,090/mo | $1,033/mo | 25% |
| Nebraska | $4,064/mo | $1,017/mo | 25% |
| Maine | $4,143/mo | $1,104/mo | 27% |
| Minnesota | $4,267/mo | $1,230/mo | 29% |
| North Dakota | $3,944/mo | $911/mo | 23% |
| Alabama | $3,957/mo | $967/mo | 24% |
| Iowa | $3,901/mo | $932/mo | 24% |
| Vermont | $4,170/mo | $1,207/mo | 29% |
| Missouri | $3,938/mo | $997/mo | 25% |
| Indiana | $3,953/mo | $1,022/mo | 26% |
| Georgia | $4,248/mo | $1,320/mo | 31% |
| West Virginia | $3,755/mo | $848/mo | 23% |
| Utah | $4,282/mo | $1,396/mo | 33% |
| Tennessee | $3,957/mo | $1,111/mo | 28% |
| South Carolina | $3,975/mo | $1,131/mo | 28% |
| Kansas | $3,860/mo | $1,025/mo | 27% |
| Texas | $4,161/mo | $1,328/mo | 32% |
| Idaho | $3,994/mo | $1,163/mo | 29% |
| New Hampshire | $4,235/mo | $1,424/mo | 34% |
| Louisiana | $3,687/mo | $1,028/mo | 28% |
| Nevada | $4,093/mo | $1,478/mo | 36% |
| Virginia | $4,136/mo | $1,547/mo | 37% |
| Arizona | $3,984/mo | $1,419/mo | 36% |
| Florida | $4,066/mo | $1,542/mo | 38% |
| Arkansas | $3,420/mo | $903/mo | 26% |
| Colorado | $4,144/mo | $1,659/mo | 40% |
| Montana | $3,427/mo | $1,031/mo | 30% |
| South Dakota | $3,255/mo | $910/mo | 28% |
| Oklahoma | $3,289/mo | $970/mo | 29% |
| Mississippi | $3,242/mo | $933/mo | 29% |
| North Carolina | $3,319/mo | $1,147/mo | 35% |
| Hawaii | $4,037/mo | $1,927/mo | 48% |
Take-home is that state's BLS OEWS 2023 median wage after a rough ~22% tax estimate — a ballpark, not a real paycheck. Rent is population-weighted Census gross rent (utilities included). Neither includes state taxes, insurance, or the cost of moving.