Florida Teacher Salaries Depend on Many Factors

While the National Education Association has criticized Florida teacher salaries as being some of the lowest in the nation, it’s important to remember that many factors will impact the salary you can command as a Florida teacher. The average public school teacher in Florida earns about $47,000 annually, but individual teachers may make considerably more than that depending on the subject they teach and the school district in which they teach. Education, training, and experience also impact teachers’ salaries.

Just as in many states, Florida school districts often struggle to find enough teachers for subjects such as math and science. And schools usually will make it worth your while financially to help them alleviate these shortages. For example, both math teachers and teachers of English as a second language make about $8,000 more per year than the average teacher.

Secondary school teachers in Florida also make slightly more than elementary school teachers. Elementary school teachers average about $50,000 per year, while secondary school teachers average nearly $53,000.

Keep in mind, too, that Florida teacher salaries vary widely from one school district to another. The average teacher salary for lower paying school districts can be considerably below the state average; teacher salaries for districts, such as Union and Gadsden, are only about $35,000 per year, for example. In contrast, teacher salaries in higher paying school districts, such as Sarasota and Monroe, average around $55,000 annually.

Finally, your education level can significantly impact your salary. Most school districts are willing to pay more for better educated teachers, and you can earn between $3,000 and $10,000 more per year if you teach with a master’s degree.