Starting Salary For Teachers In CT With Master’s

With a master’s degree in hand, teachers can expect to see their starting salary go up by 4 percent. This growth is on top of the 10 percent increase that teachers receive during their first five years as education professionals.

The state of Connecticut has attempted to address the teacher shortage by offering a $45,000 stipend for teachers who have a master’s degree, which is over $5,000 more than the median salary for public school teachers with a master’s degree in Connecticut (especially in math, science and special education).

The starting salary for teachers in Connecticut with masters is $47,556. Master’s degrees require a long time commitment and come with added costs like tuition and debt. However, they can also come with higher returns on investment and many career opportunities. What are the best paying jobs with graduate degrees?

Starting Salary For Teachers In Ct With Master’s Overview

If you’re looking to teach in Connecticut, then you want to know all about the pay scale, starting salary for teachers with a master’s degree, and more.

The state of Connecticut is one of the top states for teaching opportunities. With a population of almost 3.6 million people, there are plenty of jobs for teachers in CT. In 2018, there were over 10,000 job openings for teachers in Connecticut alone!

Teachers who have a bachelor’s degree can expect to earn an average salary of $57,900 per year in Connecticut. When you add your master’s degree on top of that, your salary can rise to $62,400 per year.

In CT, private schools pay their teachers an average salary of $60,500 per year—higher than public school salaries by about 4%. High school teachers in CT earn an average annual salary of $58,700 while elementary school teachers earn $53,000 annually on average.

How Much Can a Master’s Degree Increase a Teacher’s Salary?

If you’re looking for a way to increase your salary as a teacher in CT with or without an advanced degree (like a master’s), then check out our list of resources below:

Pursuing a career in education can yield lifelong benefits for teachers and students alike. From working in elementary school to working at a junior college, you can have an impact on the educational journeys of many students. Earning a master’s degree in education can set you apart as a teacher and expand your career opportunities and salary earnings.

The National Center for Education Statistics shows how, as of 2019, 56.6 million K-12 students attended public and private schools. Earning your master’s degree in education or teaching can provide you with opportunities to make a difference in the lives of countless students. Even though there are 3.7 million K-12 teachers across the U.S., the country faces a shortage of over 110,000 teachers. If you are considering entering the teaching profession, now is an ideal time, as teachers are in high demand. 

Teacher Salary with a Master’s Degree

About one-third of all state education boards  include the achievement of a master’s degree in their licensing hierarchy for teachers, either as a way to pursue optional advancement or a requirement for maintaining licensure. While currently just three states (Connecticut, Maryland, and New York) require a master’s degree to maintain a teacher’s license, another 15 encourage teachers to earn a master’s degree by making it a required step for any teacher ambitious enough to pursue an advanced license. And as it turns out, there are a lot of very ambitious teachers out there glad to take that step. In fact, of the 3.8 million teachers in the U.S., 47 percent hold master’s degrees.

Does a Master’s Degree End Up Paying for Itself with Salary Increases?

Another 2019 National Council on Teacher Quality study of 124 large school districts throughout the country found that 92% of all districts paid their teachers more for holding an advanced degree. While the majority of these districts (58%) used the “lane” and “step” type of salary schedule that’s built around higher levels of education and credits, about 33% paid out a flat stipend/bonus to teachers each year for their advanced degrees.

This means that in most school districts throughout the country, a master’s degree will give you a pay bump. That’s good news. But…

…with an average student debt load of $38,000 for teachers who have earned their master’s degree, will the increase in salary pay off in the long run?

That depends.

On average, the NCTQ reports that teachers with a master’s degree earn, on average, $5,285 more annually than teachers with a bachelor’s degree as their highest degree. This means that over the course of a teacher’s career, a master’s educator will make an average of nearly $160,000 more than a bachelor’s educator.

With an average student loan debt of $38,000 for teachers who have earned their master’s degree, this means it takes about eight years to “break even,” or pay off their debt and move into the black. In most educators’ eyes, that makes a master’s degree a good financial investment.

But averages tend to gloss over the fact that many school districts offer much lower and much higher financial incentives for teachers who pursue a master’s degree, either pre- or post-licensure.

On the low end of the scale, a master’s degree may result in little to no pay increase. For example, there is no salary difference between bachelor’s teachers and master’s teachers in the Dallas Independent School District, while in the Mesa Public School District, master’s educators earn just $1,000 more per year than their bachelor’s colleagues, regardless of their level of experience. Accumulate student loan debt of $38,000 in the Mesa Public School District and you’ll be lucky to pay it off before you retire.

The Answer to the Big Question “Is It Worth It?” May Come Down to Where You Teach

But on the opposite end of the scale, a master’s degree can mean a pay increase of as much as $10,000, $20,000 or more – annually! For example, teachers fresh out of college in the Billings Public Schools will earn $8,430 more annually than their bachelor’s colleagues if they have a master’s degree. Among the most experienced teachers in the Billings school district, a master’s degree equates to a salary that’s nearly $15,000 more annually than a bachelor’s degree.

Below is a sample of some of the nation’s large school districts that offer large pay increases for master’s-prepared educators:

(Min-max difference in annual pay between a teacher with a BA and a teacher with an MA)

  • Billings Public Schools (Billings, MT): $8,430 – $14,784
  • Bismarck Public Schools (Bismarck, ND): $5,144 – $26,762
  • Cherry Creek School District (Aurora, Littleton, Englewood, CO): $4,729 – $13,030
  • Dekalb County School District (Decatur, GA): $2,859 – $11,064
  • District of Columbia Public Schools: $3,680 – $20,476
  • Elk Grove Unified School District (Sacramento, CA): $1,390 – $19,864
  • Fairfax County Public School (Reston, Herndon VA): $5,628 – $21,725
  • Granite School District (Salt Lake City, UT): $4,301 – $10,623
  • Howard County Public School System (MD): $3,414 – $34,677
  • Montgomery County Public Schools (Columbia, MD): $4,984 – $36,716
  • Omaha Public Schools (Omaha, NE): $4,100 -$10,660
  • Portland Public Schools (Portland, OR): $7,847 – $11,727
  • Prince George County Public Schools (Bowie, MD): $4,898 – $25,471
  • Red Clay Consolidated School District (Wilmington, DE): $4,662 – $14,629
  • Santa Ana Unified School District (Santa Ana, CA): $1,565 – $48,854
  • Seattle Public Schools (Seattle, WA): $8,945 – $20,712
  • Springfield Public School District (Springfield, MO): $3,830 – $17,178
  • Washoe County Public Schools (Reno, NV): $4,880 – $12,536
  • Alpine School District (Provo, Lehi, Orem UT): $1,662 – $17,172
  • Anchorage School District (Anchorage, AK): $5,458 – $12,101
  • Anne Arundel County Public Schools (Annapolis, MD): $3,754 – $24,719
  • Anoka-Hennepin School District (Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN): $5,998 – $13,779
  • Baltimore County Public Schools (Baltimore, MD): $1,108 – $36,364
  • Burlington School District (Burlington, VT): $7,114 – $18,743

Master’s Prepared Teachers: What They’re Earning and Where

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) provides the most current, accurate look at what U.S. teachers are earning at all points on the salary scale, by state and by grade level.

Although the BLS doesn’t break down salaries by degree level, it does provide a salary range for teachers at the top of the pay scale: those in the upper quadrant (75th – 90th percentile).

Because the majority of school districts use a prescriptive salary schedule that includes “step” and “level” increments as educators earn higher levels of education and experience, this salary range is representative of those with considerable experience and advanced degrees (master’s degrees and higher).

The 75th percentile offers a glimpse into what you can expect to earn as an educator with a master’s degree, while the 90th percentile provides a good idea of your earning power as you gain more experience.

A broad overview looking at national salary ranges reveals that teachers in the 75th percentile earn more than $75,780, while those in the 90th percentile earn more than $96,330.

By grade level, ranges for master’s-educated teachers look like this:

  • Elementary school teachers: $77,400 – $97,900
  • Middle school teachers: $76,430 – $96,280
  • High school teachers: $79,820 – $99,660

Compare that to the 25th percentile – median salary ranges that bachelor’s-educated teachers can expect:

  • Elementary school teachers: $47,300 – $59,670
  • Middle school teachers: $47,850 – $59,660
  • High school teachers: $49,060 – $61,660

Explore the best programs for earning an online master’s degree in education

State-by-State Guide to Salaries for Master’s-Prepared Elementary School Teachers

With a master’s degree, elementary school teachers can expect to earn somewhere in the range of $77,400 – $97,900 on a national basis, versus the $47,300 to $59,670 they might earn with a bachelor’s. On a state-by-state basis, here’s what you can expect to earn as an elementary school teacher with a master’s degree (75th-90thpercentile salary range):

  • Alabama: $58,220 – $62,440
  • Alaska: $90,410 – $104,300
  • Arizona: $50,970 – $60,970
  • Arkansas: $56,460 – $63,140
  • California: $99,160 – $117,650
  • Colorado: $64,890 – $78,580
  • Connecticut: $94,190 – $103,480
  • Delaware: $77,090 – $89,840
  • District of Columbia: $98,080 – $117,780
  • Florida: $69,500 – $79,640
  • Georgia: $69,440 – $79,340
  • Hawaii: $73,870 – $81,700
  • Idaho: $58,730 – $72,400
  • Illinois: $79,530 – $97,680
  • Indiana: $61,910 – $75,830
  • Iowa: $63,430 – $75,430
  • Kansas: $58,230 – $66,690
  • Kentucky: $60,570 – $66,710
  • Louisiana: $54,560 – $61,210
  • Maine: $64,470 – $75,560
  • Maryland: $90,660 – $109,610
  • Massachusetts: $99,880 – $122,660
  • Michigan: $84,800 – $101,330
  • Minnesota: $76,530 – $92,280
  • Mississippi: $50,440 – $59,950
  • Missouri: $59,340 – $78,780
  • Montana: $64,050 – $76,990
  • Nebraska: $71,260 – $84,810
  • Nevada: $66,910 – $77,820
  • New Hampshire: $71,780 – $80,160
  • New Jersey: $85,110 – $99,020
  • New Mexico: $66,660 – $84,730
  • New York: $106,100 – $127,660
  • North Carolina: $56,640 – $63,050
  • North Dakota: $63,380 – $77,630
  • Ohio: $77,770 – $91,470
  • Oklahoma: $51,590 – $68,600
  • Oregon: $86,470 – $107,850
  • Pennsylvania: $82,800 – $100,870
  • Rhode Island: $90,310 – $98,980
  • South Carolina: $63,010 – $78,960
  • South Dakota: $50,220 – $58,520
  • Tennessee: $61,900 – $73,610
  • Texas: $62,250 – $71,940
  • Utah: $73,460 – $94,390
  • Vermont: $76,030 – $95,770
  • Virginia: $85,270 – $106,430
  • Washington: $81,850 – $96,820
  • West Virginia: $51,210 – $59,760
  • Wisconsin: $69,270 – $79,270
  • Wyoming: $66,790 – $76,130

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