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State profile · NCES F-33 FY2023

Teacher Salary in Missouri

Missouri sits in the lowest third of reporting jurisdictions at $52,299 (#43 of 49). According to the NCES Common Core of Data finance survey, estimated teacher pay and per-pupil spending are available for every public school district in Missouri.

$52,299
Est. state avg salary

Well below benchmark

-25.5%
vs national
#43
National rank
514
Districts

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$52,299/year (est.)

Missouri sits in the lowest third of reporting jurisdictions at $52,299 (#43 of 49). Estimated average teacher salary is $52,299, materially below the national average of $70,245, ranking #43 of 49, across 406 public school districts with reliable data (NCES CCD F-33, FY2023).

  • Lower-third estimated pay: Missouri sits in the lowest third of reporting jurisdictions at $52,299 (#43 of 49).
  • lower third nationally (#43 of 49)
  • Missouri ranks #43 of 49 on the salary estimate and #18 of 49 on enrollment in the same reliable-district pool.
  • $55,989 spread between its highest- and lowest-paying districts
  • -25.5% vs the national average
  • +14.3% estimated-basis panel FY2019→FY2023 (balanced cohort, not the FTE average above)
  • #39 of 49 purchasing-power-adjusted (BEA RPP 91.1)

Missouri sits in the lower third for estimated pay

Across 406 reliable-salary districts, the average estimate is $52,299: #43 of 49 jurisdictions with a reliable district estimate, and 25.5% below the national benchmark of $70,245.

The rank compares the same F-33-derived district measure nationwide. It does not include benefits, experience steps, taxes, or local living costs; use it as a relative state placement rather than an exact paycheck.

Missouri purchasing-power check on lower-third pay

Missouri's nominal average teacher salary ranks #43 of the 49 states and territories that report teacher salaries. Adjusted by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis's 2023 Regional Price Parity (91.1, US = 100, a relative state-level price-level index, not a district or metro cost-of-living figure), the estimate becomes $65,183, ranking #39 of 49 , 4 places higher than the nominal rank once relative price levels are factored in. This purchasing-power view is not published by NEA's teacher-pay rankings or the aggregator sites; it comes from combining our own F-33-derived salary estimate with BEA's public RPP series. See the full 51-state release for methodology and download. BEA Regional Price Parities · NCES CCD F-33

Missouri in the teacher-salary distribution

FY2023 estimated state averages from the same NCES-derived ranking

$52,299 12th percentile higher than 12% of 49 reporting states and territories

Show national distribution $0–$5,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Below this entry. $5,000–$10,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Below this entry. $10,000–$15,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Below this entry. $15,000–$20,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$25,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$30,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Below this entry. $30,000–$35,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Below this entry. $35,000–$40,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Below this entry. $40,000–$45,000: 1 reporting states and territories (2%). Below this entry. $45,000–$50,000: 2 reporting states and territories (4%). Below this entry. $50,000–$55,000: 6 reporting states and territories (12%). This entry sits in this band. $55,000–$60,000: 5 reporting states and territories (10%). Above this entry. $60,000–$65,000: 9 reporting states and territories (18%). Above this entry. $65,000–$70,000: 7 reporting states and territories (14%). Above this entry. $70,000–$75,000: 2 reporting states and territories (4%). Above this entry. $75,000–$80,000: 4 reporting states and territories (8%). Above this entry. $80,000–$85,000: 5 reporting states and territories (10%). Above this entry. $85,000–$90,000: 5 reporting states and territories (10%). Above this entry. $90,000–$95,000: 1 reporting states and territories (2%). Above this entry. $95,000–$100,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Above this entry. $100,000–$105,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Above this entry. $105,000–$110,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Above this entry. $110,000–$115,000: 1 reporting states and territories (2%). Above this entry. $115,000–$120,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Above this entry. $120,000–$125,000: 1 reporting states and territories (2%). Above this entry. Missouri $0 $125,000 reporting state salary estimates, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $5K-wide band; taller bars hold more reporting states and territories. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey; state estimates derived from reported instructional-salary expenditure and teacher FTE · FY2023

Missouri's comparable salary trend

Same reporting-district cohort, FY2019-FY2023

FY2023 estimated average
$66,220 14.341686712622673% vs FY2019
494 districts held in the panel
$55,000$60,000$65,000$70,000 FY2019FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023 Missouri est. avg teacher salary, FY2019: $57,914Missouri est. avg teacher salary, FY2020: $58,750Missouri est. avg teacher salary, FY2021: $62,359Missouri est. avg teacher salary, FY2022: $63,534Missouri est. avg teacher salary, FY2023: $66,220 $57,914 $66,220 ▲ +14.3%
Read the chart as text
Period Missouri est. avg teacher salary
FY2019 $57,914
FY2020 $58,750
FY2021 $62,359
FY2022 $63,534
FY2023 $66,220

Highest-paying districts in Missouri

Estimated average teacher salary, enrolling districts (200+ students)

Est. avg salary

What this shows Clayton leads Missouri on the F-33 instructional-salary estimate. Service entities (CTCs, county offices) are excluded, their enrollment-based ratios are not reliable salary figures.

Source NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey, FY2023 As of FY2023

Top 3 districts

1 $94,417

Clayton

Est. avg teacher salary
2 $83,373

Kirkwood R-vii

Est. avg teacher salary
3 $79,768

Pattonville R-iii

Est. avg teacher salary

Districts by Estimated Teacher Salary

District Est. Avg Salary Enrollment Per-Pupil Exp
Maysville R-i $47,345 539 $12,883
Stanberry R-ii $47,315 366 $14,721
Fair Play R-ii $47,278 347 $14,896
Southern Reynolds Co. R-ii $47,249 452 $18,053
Crocker R-ii $47,239 564 $13,094
Salisbury R-iv $47,205 462 $17,268
Maries Co. R-ii $47,204 730 $11,540
Smithton R-vi $47,160 544 $12,053
Worth Co. R-iii $47,152 275 $14,916
North Pemiscot Co. R-i $47,133 214 $20,411
Silex R-i $47,118 463 $12,529
New Franklin R-i $47,067 422 $11,825
Butler R-v $47,029 997 $12,406
Exeter R-vi $46,994 310 $11,748
Kingsville R-i $46,979 254 $14,020
Pleasant Hope R-vi $46,958 752 $13,895
Thayer R-ii $46,941 762 $9,996
Richland R-iv $46,919 461 $16,820
Van-far R-i $46,843 582 $15,162
Salem R-80 $46,780 1,464 $12,031
Purdy R-ii $46,624 631 $18,117
Galena R-ii $46,608 418 $14,780
Winfield R-iv $46,605 1,587 $13,512
East Prairie R-ii $46,601 1,036 $11,224
Walnut Grove R-v $46,575 279 $22,552
Fair Grove R-x $46,469 1,261 $11,110
Crawford Co. R-ii $46,398 1,282 $12,098
Bernie R-xiii $46,368 508 $14,734
Macon Co. R-i $46,328 1,210 $13,730
Southland C-9 $46,232 249 $20,032
Liberal R-ii $46,141 301 $17,890
Osage Co. R-ii $46,125 636 $11,843
Bloomfield R-xiv $46,069 616 $11,466
Chaffee R-ii $45,967 636 $12,752
Spokane R-vii $45,840 700 $15,697
Senath-hornersville C-8 $45,835 676 $12,956
Marion Co. R-ii $45,835 211 $14,175
Caruthersville 18 $45,787 942 $15,166
Midway R-i $45,761 449 $14,394
Weaubleau R-iii $45,663 348 $13,261
Mountain View-birch Tree R-iii $45,652 1,217 $14,015
Community R-vi $45,611 316 $14,908
Lamar R-i $45,594 1,227 $14,237
Stoutland R-ii $45,589 408 $17,694
Plato R-v $45,541 537 $12,534
Delta R-v $45,511 224 $22,179
Hayti R-ii $45,421 603 $14,685
Chadwick R-i $45,388 254 $13,539
Buchanan Co. R-iv $45,336 290 $14,607
Dixon R-i $45,324 898 $13,192
Niangua R-v $45,309 295 $14,349
Bunker R-iii $45,161 232 $15,147
Northeast Randolph Co. R-iv $45,139 341 $14,469
Cole Co. R-v $45,138 621 $12,841
Steelville R-iii $45,103 925 $13,169
La Monte R-iv $44,904 306 $13,889
Cole Co. R-i $44,903 626 $13,342
Junction Hill C-12 $44,861 209 $18,359
Green Ridge R-viii $44,848 368 $18,193
Sturgeon R-v $44,821 1,445 $8,756
South Harrison Co. R-ii $44,743 808 $15,907
Oregon-howell R-iii $44,675 226 $15,053
Eminence R-i $44,565 273 $16,066
Avenue City R-ix $44,563 227 $11,137
Slater $44,554 342 $14,728
Fayette R-iii $44,544 663 $11,647
Verona R-vii $44,377 365 $15,011
Bevier C-4 $44,366 214 $12,598
Clarkton C-4 $44,291 290 $16,741
Kirbyville R-vi $44,282 220 $23,164
Dora R-iii $44,154 284 $16,049
Laclede Co. R-i $44,126 817 $10,066
La Plata R-ii $44,117 311 $20,543
Lockwood R-i $44,028 297 $13,700
Wellsville Middletown R-i $44,014 311 $15,659
Dadeville R-ii $43,979 212 $12,868
Higbee R-viii $43,759 211 $14,284
Jasper Co. R-v $43,501 472 $13,680
North Nodaway Co. R-vi $43,440 210 $24,224
Houston R-i $43,421 1,053 $14,409
Oak Ridge R-vi $43,333 360 $12,350
Maries Co. R-i $43,278 446 $13,283
North Harrison R-iii $43,259 229 $14,607
Pilot Grove C-4 $43,222 235 $18,255
Glasgow $43,035 314 $14,831
Northeast Nodaway Co. R-v $42,963 220 $15,127
Jamestown C-1 $42,674 204 $14,775
South Iron Co. R-i $42,301 294 $18,167
Scott Co. Central $42,230 274 $17,095
Sparta R-iii $42,220 747 $11,581
Leeton R-x $42,174 336 $11,935
Tipton R-vi $42,149 602 $13,957
Neelyville R-iv $41,871 637 $11,469
Wheatland R-ii $41,673 316 $14,896
Puxico R-viii $41,638 747 $12,452
Adair Co. R-i $41,000 232 $14,681
Doniphan R-i $40,856 1,558 $13,128
Grandview R-ii $40,849 2,387 $9,377
Atlanta C-3 $40,727 203 $14,325
Laquey R-v $40,397 788 $11,772

Showing 301–400 of 406 enrolling districts. Specialized non-enrolling agencies (career/technical centers, county offices, service co-ops) are excluded from the salary ranking, their enrollment-based estimates are not reliable.

Lowest-Paying Districts in Missouri

District Est. Avg Salary Enrollment
Lincoln R-ii $38,429 513
Climax Springs R-iv $38,980 222
Humansville R-iv $39,721 368
North Wood R-iv $39,763 215
Naylor R-ii $39,918 379
Twin Rivers R-x $40,269 827
Laquey R-v $40,397 788
Atlanta C-3 $40,727 203
Grandview R-ii $40,849 2,387
Doniphan R-i $40,856 1,558

Among enrolling districts (200+ students) with a reliable estimate; service entities excluded, see methodology.

Nationwide peers near Missouri's lower-third pay

Two nationwide peer sets for Missouri: closest on estimated average teacher salary ($52,299 here) and closest on total student enrollment (865,636 here). Link sets are deduped so each column is a distinct comparison path, not geographic containment.

Similar estimated salary

Nearest other states by unweighted district-mean teacher pay (F-33 derived, ≥5 districts with reliable estimates).

Similar enrollment

Nearest other states by NCES-reported K-12 enrollment. Salary peers above are excluded.

Compare Nearby-Ranked States

Kentucky
$56,482
Rank #40
West Virginia
$53,845
Rank #41
Indiana
$52,427
Rank #42
Texas
$51,478
Rank #44

Data: NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey + Staff Universe Survey, FY2023. Salary figures divide instructional expenditure (variable Z33) by each district's reported teacher FTE, or an estimated FTE for the small minority with no reported figure. Not individual salary data. Read our methodology.

Missouri teacher salary FAQ

What is the average teacher salary in Missouri?

Across 406 Missouri public school districts with reliable data, the average teacher salary is $52,299 (NCES CCD F-33 reported teacher salaries divided by CCD Staff Universe Survey teacher headcounts, FY2023). It is a district-level mean derived from finance filings, so it will not match a contract-salary survey exactly, read it as a relative comparison.

Which Missouri school district pays teachers the most?

Clayton reports the highest average teacher salary in Missouri at $94,417, while Lincoln R-ii sits at the lower end at $38,429.

How does Missouri teacher pay compare to the national average?

Missouri's average of $52,299 is materially below the national average of $70,245 (-25.5%), ranking #43 of the 49 jurisdictions with a reliable district estimate.

How many school districts are in Missouri?

Missouri has 514 public school districts in the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey, together serving 865,636 students.

How much do teachers make in Missouri?

District-average teacher pay in Missouri sits in a comparatively narrow band, from $38,429 in Lincoln R-ii to $94,417 in Clayton. With that little district-to-district spread the statewide figure is a reasonable guide to what most districts pay. These are district-wide averages from NCES CCD F-33 (FY2023), not individual salaries or pay-scale steps.

Can teachers earn $100,000 in Missouri?

No Missouri district with reliable data reports an estimated average teacher salary at or above $100,000; the state's highest is Clayton at $94,417. This is a district-wide average, not an individual salary, step, or years-of-experience figure.

How does Missouri rank after adjusting for cost of living?

Within the separate enrollment-weighted state comparison, BEA's 2023 Regional Price Parity (91.1, US=100) adjusts Missouri's nominal estimate of $59,384 from #40 to $65,183 and #39. The headline uses an unweighted district mean, so this does not replace it. Neither measure is take-home pay, taxes, or district/metro cost of living.

Explore Missouri

Disclaimer & data sources

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