State profile · NCES F-33 FY2022
Teacher Salary in Washington
According to the NCES Common Core of Data finance survey, estimated teacher pay and per-pupil spending are available across 290 public school districts in Washington.
- $117,433
- Est. state avg salary
- +36.9%
- vs national
- #4
- National rank
- 290
- Districts
Washington's estimated average teacher salary is $117,433, meaningfully above the national average of $85,759, ranking #4 of 51 states and territories, across 290 public school districts (NCES CCD F-33, FY2022).
- top decile nationally (#4 of 51)
- $113,279 spread between its highest- and lowest-paying districts
- +36.9% vs the national average
- +14.3% since FY2019
- #4 of 51 purchasing-power-adjusted (BEA RPP 110.0)
What does the NCES F-33 data show for Washington?
Washington reports 290 public school districts in the NCES Common Core of Data FY2022 Local Education Agency Finance Survey, with an average teacher salary of $117,433. That places the state in the top decile of US teacher-pay rankings - #4 of 51, meaningfully above the national average of $85,759 (+36.9%). The state's public schools serve 1,073,316 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: Everett School District reports the highest estimated average salary at $144,748, while Mary M Knight School District sits at the lower end at $31,469 - a spread of $113,279 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 #4 national rank signals where Washington 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
Washington's nominal average teacher salary ranks #4 of 51 states and territories. Adjusted by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis's 2022 Regional Price Parity (110.0, US = 100, a relative state-level price-level index, not a district or metro cost-of-living figure), the estimate becomes $106,723, ranking #4 of 51 , unchanged from the nominal rank. 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.
Washington's estimated average teacher salary, FY2019-FY2022
Highest-paying districts in Washington
Estimated average teacher salary, enrolling districts (200+ students)
-
$144,748 Est. avg salary
-
$143,431 Est. avg salary
-
$141,519 Est. avg salary
-
$139,768 Est. avg salary
-
$138,172 Est. avg salary
-
$135,175 Est. avg salary
-
$135,002 Est. avg salary
-
$134,893 Est. avg salary
-
$134,003 Est. avg salary
-
$133,407 Est. avg salary
What this shows Everett School District leads Washington 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
Showing 1–100 of 231 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 Washington
| District | Est. Avg Salary | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|
| Mary M Knight School District | $31,469 | 1,576 |
| Quillayute Valley School District | $34,326 | 2,696 |
| Goldendale School District | $52,655 | 2,279 |
| Curlew School District | $73,935 | 261 |
| Valley School District | $80,090 | 1,330 |
| Oakville School District | $81,883 | 335 |
| Waterville School District | $81,896 | 239 |
| Morton School District | $83,810 | 398 |
| Reardan-Edwall School District | $83,943 | 684 |
| Colfax School District | $84,248 | 526 |
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.
Washington teacher salary FAQ
What is the average teacher salary in Washington?
Across Washington's 290 public school districts, the average teacher salary is $117,433 (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 Washington school district pays teachers the most?
Everett School District reports the highest average teacher salary in Washington at $144,748, while Mary M Knight School District sits at the lower end at $31,469.
How does Washington teacher pay compare to the national average?
Washington's average of $117,433 is meaningfully above the national average of $85,759 (+36.9%), ranking #4 of 51 US states and territories.
How many school districts are in Washington?
Washington has 290 public school districts in the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey, together serving 1,073,316 students.
Can teachers earn $100,000 in Washington?
156 of 231 Washington districts with reliable data report an estimated average teacher salary of $100,000 or more, led by Everett School District at $144,748. This is a district-wide average, not an individual salary, step, or years-of-experience figure.
How does Washington rank after adjusting for cost of living?
Adjusted by the BEA's 2022 Regional Price Parity (110.0, US=100), Washington's purchasing-power-adjusted estimated teacher salary is $106,723, ranking #4 of 51 states and territories, the same as its #4 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. Washington'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 |