School district · Washington · LEAID 5308700

Tacoma School District

Estimated average teacher salary of $99,149, per-pupil spending, enrollment, and budget for Tacoma School District — from the NCES Common Core of Data F-33 finance survey (FY2022).

$99,149
Est. avg teacher salary
$23,190
Per-pupil spending
28,676
Students enrolled
69th
Pct. in WA

Avg Teacher Salary

$99,149

Estimated from instructional expenditure / FTE

Per-Pupil Spending

$23,190

Total expenditure / enrollment

Student Enrollment

28,676 students

Salary vs State Average 100.0%

1.8% above Washington average

What the Numbers Say About Tacoma School District

Tacoma School District is a mid-sized school district in Washington, serving 28,676 students at an estimated per-pupil spending of $23,190. Estimated average teacher salary — derived from instructional expenditure variable Z33 divided by teacher FTE — is $99,149, placing the district in the high-investment tier of NCES F-33 respondents. NCES LEAID 5308700 references the FY2022 Common Core of Data Local Education Agency Finance Survey.

Relative to the Washington statewide average of $97,375, teacher pay in Tacoma School District runs roughly in line with the state benchmark — a 1.8% gap, and above the national instructional-salary estimate of $82,292 (20.5% differential). Among enrolling districts in Washington, it pays more than 69% of them. Licensing reciprocity, collective bargaining strength, and state aid formulas all contribute to where a district lands in these tiers.

On the budget side, Tacoma School District reports $665.0M in total expenditure against $596.7M in revenue, with instructional salaries accounting for 29% of spending — a compensation-to-budget ratio that signals how much of each tax dollar reaches classroom educators. Regular-program teacher salary outlay is $122.9M, special-education teacher pay is $18.6M. These figures are district-level aggregates from F-33, not individual contracts — step-and-column schedules, stipends, and collectively-bargained differentials sit underneath these totals.

How does Tacoma School District compare?

Estimated average teacher salary versus a peer district, the Washington average, and the national average. Pick any in-state district to compare.

Tacoma School District $99,149
Seattle School District No. 1 $120,999
Washington avg $97,375
National avg $82,292

Tacoma School District pays -18.1% less than Seattle School District No. 1 · per-pupil $23,190 vs $25,927

Estimated from NCES F-33 instructional salary expenditure (FY2022). Service entities excluded; estimates assume a 15:1 ratio.

Revenue & Expenditure

$596.7M
Total Revenue
$665.0M
Total Expenditure
$189.5M
Instruction Salaries
29% of total spending

Instructional Salary by Program

$122.9M
Regular Program
$18.6M
Special Education
$8.9M
Vocational
$17.8M
Other Programs

About This Data

Source: NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) F-33 Local Education Agency Finance Survey, Fiscal Year 2022.

Methodology: Average salary figures are estimates derived from total instructional salary expenditure (variable Z33) divided by estimated teacher FTE. These are district-level aggregates — not individual salary records.

Coverage: Data covers public school districts in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Private schools are not included.

Limitations: Instructional salary data includes classroom teachers and some instructional aides depending on district reporting practices. Salary figures may differ from collectively-bargained salary schedules.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average teacher salary in Tacoma School District?

The estimated average teacher salary in Tacoma School District is $99,149 (NCES CCD FY2022). This is based on total instructional salary expenditure divided by estimated teacher FTE.

How does Tacoma School District teacher pay compare to the Washington average?

Tacoma School District pays 1.8% more than the Washington state average of $97,375. The district's estimated average is $99,149.

How does Tacoma School District teacher pay compare to the national average?

Tacoma School District pays 20.5% above the national F-33 estimate of $82,292. The district estimated average is $99,149.

What is the per-pupil spending in Tacoma School District?

Tacoma School District spends approximately $23,190 per student annually (NCES FY2022). This includes instructional salaries, support services, and administration.

How many students are enrolled in Tacoma School District?

Tacoma School District has 28,676 students enrolled according to NCES CCD FY2022 data.

What percentage of Tacoma School District's budget goes to teacher salaries?

Instructional salaries account for 29% of Tacoma School District's total expenditure of $665.0M (NCES FY2022).

Where does this teacher salary data come from?

This data is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) F-33 Local Education Agency Finance Survey, Fiscal Year 2022. Salary figures are estimates derived from instructional expenditure data (variable Z33) divided by estimated teacher FTE. These are district-level aggregates, not individual salary records.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.

Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainTeacher Editorial