States Where Teachers Are Paid the Most and Least

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1. New York
> Median salary, school teachers: $78,576
> Median salary, all workers: $43,690 (6th highest)
> Per pupil expenditure: $18,665 (3rd highest)
> High school graduation rate: 79.2% (13th lowest)
> Cost of living: 15.3% greater than nat’l avg. (2nd highest)

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2. Connecticut
> Median salary, school teachers: $78,330
> Median salary, all workers: $45,870 (3rd highest)
> Per pupil expenditure: $17,283 (5th highest)
> High school graduation rate: 87.2% (14th highest)
> Cost of living: 8.7% greater than nat’l avg. (6th highest)

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3. California
> Median salary, school teachers: $77,429
> Median salary, all workers: $40,980 (10th highest)
> Per pupil expenditure: $9,417 (8th lowest)
> High school graduation rate: 82.0% (20th lowest)
> Cost of living: 13.4% greater than nat’l avg. (3rd highest)

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4. Alaska
> Median salary, school teachers: $77,307
> Median salary, all workers: $47,560 (the highest)
> Per pupil expenditure: $20,640 (2nd highest)
> High school graduation rate: 75.6% (5th lowest)
> Cost of living: 5.6% greater than nat’l avg. (8th highest)

Source: Thinkstock

5. Massachusetts
> Median salary, school teachers: $74,468
> Median salary, all workers: $47,440 (2nd highest)
> Per pupil expenditure: $14,569 (11th highest)
> High school graduation rate: 87.3% (13th highest)
> Cost of living: 6.9% greater than nat’l avg. (7th highest)