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Top 15 cities for teachers
Full ranking
| # | Metro area | Price-adjusted median | Median salary | Price parity | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | El Centro, CA | $105,480 | $100,390 | 95.2 | 860 |
| 2 | Walla Walla, WA | $104,528 | $102,980 | 98.5 | 220 |
| 3 | Yakima, WA | $102,915 | $98,330 | 95.5 | 1,360 |
| 4 | Barnstable, MA | $102,002 | $100,320 | 98.4 | 810 |
| 5 | Merced, CA | $101,877 | $100,120 | 98.3 | 1,560 |
| 6 | Olympia, WA | $100,945 | $104,650 | 103.7 | 950 |
| 7 | Kennewick, WA | $100,301 | $100,380 | 100.1 | 1,410 |
| 8 | Visalia, CA | $98,603 | $98,430 | 99.8 | 2,440 |
| 9 | Spokane, WA | $98,459 | $98,800 | 100.3 | 2,340 |
| 10 | Mount Vernon, WA | $98,328 | $100,730 | 102.4 | 500 |
| 11 | Bellingham, WA | $97,964 | $101,230 | 103.3 | 790 |
| 12 | Modesto, CA | $97,629 | $101,640 | 104.1 | 2,450 |
| 13 | Kingston, NY | $97,231 | $97,920 | 100.7 | 710 |
| 14 | Bremerton, WA | $97,200 | $102,650 | 105.6 | 900 |
| 15 | Sacramento, CA | $96,925 | $103,390 | 106.7 | 10,480 |
| 16 | Hanford, CA | $96,908 | $98,470 | 101.6 | 950 |
| 17 | Wenatchee, WA | $96,615 | $100,340 | 103.9 | 510 |
| 18 | Chico, CA | $93,876 | $95,000 | 101.2 | 1,120 |
| 19 | San Jose, CA | $93,151 | $102,860 | 110.4 | 7,810 |
| 20 | Yuba City, CA | $93,061 | $97,000 | 104.2 | 920 |
| 21 | Vallejo, CA | $92,912 | $100,790 | 108.5 | 1,680 |
| 22 | Santa Maria, CA | $92,860 | $101,030 | 108.8 | 2,170 |
| 23 | Stockton, CA | $92,683 | $97,400 | 105.1 | 3,380 |
| 24 | Seattle, WA | $92,610 | $102,920 | 111.1 | 14,560 |
| 25 | Riverside, CA | $92,557 | $98,520 | 106.4 | 18,850 |
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Highest raw pay for teachers, before cost of living
- Mount Vernon, WA$106,760 average
- El Centro, CA$105,390 average
- Merced, CA$103,340 average
- San Jose, CA$102,340 average
- Seattle, WA$102,290 average
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education salary in every city
More rankings
Sources and how to read this page
- Ranking: median annual wage of Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education (BLS OEWS May 2025; the average where BLS publishes no median) divided by the BEA price parity x 100. Only metros where BLS counts at least 100 of these jobs with a reliable estimate.
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
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