State profile · NCES F-33 FY2022
Teacher Salary in Texas
According to the NCES Common Core of Data finance survey, estimated teacher pay and per-pupil spending are available across 1027 public school districts in Texas.
- $74,920
- Est. state avg salary
- -12.6%
- vs national
- #32
- National rank
- 1,027
- Districts
Texas's estimated average teacher salary is $74,920, materially below the national average of $85,759, ranking #32 of 51 states and territories, across 1027 public school districts (NCES CCD F-33, FY2022).
- middle third nationally (#32 of 51)
- $90,635 spread between its highest- and lowest-paying districts
- -12.6% vs the national average
- +21.8% since FY2019
- #36 of 51 purchasing-power-adjusted (BEA RPP 97.4)
What does the NCES F-33 data show for Texas?
Texas reports 1027 public school districts in the NCES Common Core of Data FY2022 Local Education Agency Finance Survey, with an average teacher salary of $74,920. That places the state in the middle third of US teacher-pay rankings - #32 of 51, materially below the national average of $85,759 (-12.6%). The state's public schools serve 5,052,848 students across these districts. Most district figures divide total instructional spending by the district's REPORTED teacher headcount (NCES CCD Staff Universe Survey); a small number of large consolidated districts that report staffing only at a sub-district level fall back to an estimated ratio instead, since total instructional spending also includes aides and assistants, both figures run somewhat above survey-reported classroom-teacher-only salaries, treat this as a relative cross-district comparison, not an exact paycheck, and see our methodology for the formula, its data source per district, and its limits.
Among enrolling districts, pay varies widely: Pawnee ISD reports the highest estimated average salary at $141,272, while Malta ISD sits at the lower end at $50,636 - a spread of $90,635 between top and bottom reporting districts. Licensing rules, state aid formulas, collective bargaining density, and local tax bases all drive this intra-state variation. Urban and suburban districts with larger tax bases typically lead, while rural districts often lag despite lower cost of living.
Teacher compensation here reflects both state policy choices, the statutory minimum salary schedule, pension funding levels, licensure reciprocity, and the funding formula that determines how much state aid each district receives per pupil. A #32 national rank signals where Texas sits in the competition for teachers against neighboring states; teacher shortage areas typically correlate with lower pay rank. Figures below are per-district averages derived from the F-33 instructional salary expenditure field (Z33) divided by each district's reported teacher FTE (or an estimated FTE for the small minority with no reported figure), a district-level aggregate, not individual salary records.
Purchasing-power-adjusted rank
Texas's nominal average teacher salary ranks #32 of 51 states and territories. Adjusted by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis's 2022 Regional Price Parity (97.4, US = 100, a relative state-level price-level index, not a district or metro cost-of-living figure), the estimate becomes $76,911, ranking #36 of 51 , 4 places lower 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.
Texas's estimated average teacher salary, FY2019-FY2022
Highest-paying districts in Texas
Estimated average teacher salary, enrolling districts (200+ students)
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$141,272 Est. avg salary
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$125,654 Est. avg salary
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$97,633 Est. avg salary
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$94,935 Est. avg salary
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$94,739 Est. avg salary
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$93,818 Est. avg salary
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$92,874 Est. avg salary
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$89,656 Est. avg salary
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$89,580 Est. avg salary
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$89,460 Est. avg salary
What this shows Pawnee ISD leads Texas on the F-33 instructional-salary estimate. Service entities (CTCs, county offices) are excluded, their enrollment-based ratios are not reliable salary figures.
Top 3 districts
Districts by Estimated Teacher Salary
| District | Est. Avg Salary | Enrollment | Per-Pupil Exp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palacios ISD | $75,095 | 1,322 | $24,035 |
| Crosby ISD | $75,092 | 6,480 | $10,720 |
| Colorado ISD | $75,070 | 896 | $17,307 |
| Harlingen CISD | $75,065 | 17,037 | $13,994 |
| Medina Valley ISD | $75,056 | 6,785 | $12,646 |
| Amarillo ISD | $75,049 | 30,866 | $12,807 |
| Spring ISD | $75,037 | 33,425 | $12,850 |
| Lone Oak ISD | $74,963 | 1,027 | $16,578 |
| Detroit ISD | $74,950 | 530 | $18,589 |
| Zapata County ISD | $74,890 | 3,287 | $15,496 |
| Valley View ISD | $74,851 | 943 | $17,467 |
| Crane ISD | $74,849 | 1,151 | $17,877 |
| Hunt ISD | $74,821 | 209 | $26,134 |
| Uvalde CISD | $74,748 | 4,116 | $15,265 |
| Midlothian ISD | $74,725 | 10,431 | $18,755 |
| Knippa ISD | $74,695 | 412 | $12,985 |
| Hearne ISD | $74,655 | 741 | $21,399 |
| Friendswood ISD | $74,639 | 6,180 | $14,667 |
| Freer ISD | $74,627 | 760 | $17,475 |
| Presidio ISD | $74,619 | 1,047 | $16,833 |
| Westbrook ISD | $74,607 | 258 | $15,930 |
| El Campo ISD | $74,514 | 3,426 | $13,482 |
| Floresville ISD | $74,504 | 4,016 | $11,316 |
| Rockwall ISD | $74,424 | 17,926 | $12,162 |
| Santa Maria ISD | $74,405 | 544 | $29,193 |
| Odem-edroy ISD | $74,381 | 839 | $19,865 |
| Grand Prairie ISD | $74,359 | 27,420 | $12,948 |
| Dawson ISD | $74,315 | 526 | $17,800 |
| North East ISD | $74,289 | 59,830 | $12,524 |
| Crockett ISD | $74,237 | 1,190 | $17,430 |
| Sweeny ISD | $74,230 | 1,853 | $16,625 |
| Kennedale ISD | $74,229 | 2,840 | $12,582 |
| San Felipe-del Rio CISD | $74,180 | 9,870 | $13,510 |
| Driscoll ISD | $74,176 | 277 | $17,621 |
| Frisco ISD | $74,168 | 65,825 | $13,893 |
| East Central ISD | $74,164 | 10,006 | $11,561 |
| Keller ISD | $74,092 | 34,813 | $15,074 |
| Cedar Hill ISD | $74,086 | 7,120 | $13,021 |
| Judson ISD | $74,039 | 24,536 | $12,560 |
| Grand Saline ISD | $74,017 | 1,175 | $12,825 |
| Vidor ISD | $73,996 | 4,265 | $17,729 |
| Tenaha ISD | $73,955 | 473 | $15,867 |
| Honey Grove ISD | $73,955 | 640 | $14,036 |
| Wink-loving ISD | $73,928 | 407 | N/A |
| Lake Travis ISD | $73,926 | 11,345 | $16,997 |
| Andrews ISD | $73,894 | 4,147 | $16,974 |
| South San Antonio ISD | $73,877 | 7,922 | $14,591 |
| Kaufman ISD | $73,866 | 4,103 | $12,333 |
| Crandall ISD | $73,866 | 5,451 | $13,237 |
| Westlake Academy Charter School | $73,855 | 877 | $12,578 |
| Goliad ISD | $73,761 | 1,315 | $13,955 |
| Joaquin ISD | $73,757 | 682 | $15,826 |
| Runge ISD | $73,736 | 217 | $18,512 |
| Waco ISD | $73,725 | 14,086 | $15,641 |
| Sherman ISD | $73,665 | 7,719 | $15,003 |
| Commerce ISD | $73,644 | 1,442 | $21,349 |
| Birdville ISD | $73,618 | 22,505 | $13,525 |
| Pearland ISD | $73,603 | 21,007 | $11,140 |
| Coldspring-oakhurst CISD | $73,590 | 1,591 | $15,157 |
| Stamford ISD | $73,582 | 620 | $19,505 |
| Mineola ISD | $73,575 | 1,632 | $16,026 |
| Bonham ISD | $73,491 | 1,887 | $14,201 |
| Galveston ISD | $73,469 | 6,661 | $19,342 |
| Port Aransas ISD | $73,468 | 524 | $61,032 |
| Jarrell ISD | $73,437 | 2,885 | $20,833 |
| Mansfield ISD | $73,418 | 35,559 | $11,557 |
| Port Neches-groves ISD | $73,416 | 5,196 | $22,310 |
| Louise ISD | $73,402 | 518 | $15,280 |
| Temple ISD | $73,376 | 8,445 | $13,543 |
| Madisonville CISD | $73,370 | 2,319 | $13,858 |
| Montgomery ISD | $73,362 | 9,343 | $12,034 |
| Terrell ISD | $73,356 | 4,973 | $13,487 |
| Royal ISD | $73,314 | 2,575 | $14,744 |
| Somerset ISD | $73,303 | 3,958 | $16,808 |
| Columbia-brazoria ISD | $73,251 | 2,919 | $11,621 |
| Jim Ned CISD | $73,172 | 1,578 | $21,027 |
| University of Texas University Charter School | $73,170 | 532 | $23,635 |
| Northwest ISD | $73,145 | 27,583 | $15,518 |
| Wimberley ISD | $73,115 | 2,613 | $15,215 |
| Sunray Collegiate ISD | $73,102 | 619 | $31,885 |
| Huffman ISD | $73,086 | 3,569 | $13,440 |
| Cleburne ISD | $73,073 | 7,068 | $15,622 |
| Hays CISD | $72,989 | 21,405 | $15,976 |
| San Antonio ISD | $72,954 | 44,710 | $17,992 |
| Pettus ISD | $72,922 | 379 | $23,314 |
| Robstown ISD | $72,866 | 2,480 | $14,461 |
| Splendora ISD | $72,784 | 4,384 | $12,565 |
| Hillsboro ISD | $72,768 | 1,933 | $14,466 |
| Lake Dallas ISD | $72,759 | 4,004 | $15,473 |
| Orange Grove ISD | $72,719 | 1,773 | $11,733 |
| Devine ISD | $72,703 | 1,965 | $12,430 |
| Santa Rosa ISD | $72,678 | 849 | $21,091 |
| Magnolia ISD | $72,659 | 13,658 | $11,422 |
| Franklin ISD | $72,615 | 1,349 | $20,048 |
| Rio Hondo ISD | $72,591 | 1,603 | $19,285 |
| Palmer ISD | $72,559 | 1,256 | $15,854 |
| Stanton ISD | $72,456 | 1,103 | $33,420 |
| Klein ISD | $72,431 | 53,294 | $12,038 |
| Burnet CISD | $72,386 | 3,277 | $21,355 |
| Schulenburg ISD | $72,378 | 700 | $15,200 |
Showing 201–300 of 904 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 Texas
| District | Est. Avg Salary | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|
| Malta ISD | $50,636 | 208 |
| New Home ISD | $52,467 | 588 |
| Texline ISD | $53,085 | 217 |
| Stephen F Austin State University Charter School | $53,428 | 256 |
| Christoval ISD | $53,951 | 566 |
| Wildorado ISD | $54,108 | 230 |
| Bangs ISD | $54,278 | 871 |
| Marfa ISD | $54,325 | 270 |
| Claude ISD | $54,570 | 307 |
| Lingleville ISD | $54,713 | 284 |
Among enrolling districts (200+ students) with a reliable estimate; service entities excluded, see methodology.
Compare Nearby-Ranked States
Data: NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey + Staff Universe Survey, FY2022. 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.
Texas teacher salary FAQ
What is the average teacher salary in Texas?
Across Texas's 1027 public school districts, the average teacher salary is $74,920 (NCES CCD F-33 finance data divided by CCD Staff Universe Survey teacher headcounts, FY2022). This figure is derived from total instructional spending and runs above survey-reported classroom-teacher-only salaries, read it as a relative comparison.
Which Texas school district pays teachers the most?
Pawnee ISD reports the highest average teacher salary in Texas at $141,272, while Malta ISD sits at the lower end at $50,636.
How does Texas teacher pay compare to the national average?
Texas's average of $74,920 is materially below the national average of $85,759 (-12.6%), ranking #32 of 51 US states and territories.
How many school districts are in Texas?
Texas has 1027 public school districts in the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey, together serving 5,052,848 students.
Can teachers earn $100,000 in Texas?
2 of 904 Texas districts with reliable data report an estimated average teacher salary of $100,000 or more, led by Pawnee ISD at $141,272. This is a district-wide average, not an individual salary, step, or years-of-experience figure.
How does Texas rank after adjusting for cost of living?
Adjusted by the BEA's 2022 Regional Price Parity (97.4, US=100), Texas's purchasing-power-adjusted estimated teacher salary is $76,911, ranking #36 of 51 states and territories, lower than its #32 nominal-salary rank. This is a relative state-level price-level comparison, not take-home pay, taxes, or district/metro cost of living.
Related
According to the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) F-33 Local Education Agency Finance Survey, PlainTeacher's figures are computed directly, no number is typed in by an editor. Texas's district figures are aggregated directly from each district's FY2022 F-33 submission, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error on this page. Data current as of FY2022.
| Publisher | PlainTeacher |
| Sources | Public official public datasets |