Montana Teacher Pay Ranks Surprisingly Low Across Most Grades

Back to school is happening across Montana, and those first few weeks can be a little hectic. 

The Teacher's Juggle: Routines and Responsibilities

Everybody is getting back into a routine. Kids are getting used to their schedules, parents are trying to get everyone where they need to be, and teachers are getting their classrooms organized and trying to get an entire school year off to a good start. 

I've had a lot of teachers in my life. I'm related to quite a few people who went into the teaching profession, and, in my humble opinion, teachers don't get nearly enough credit for what they do. 

That got me thinking about something else: How much do teachers in Montana actually make compared with teachers in other states? 

Montana's Position in Teacher Salary Rankings

According to data compiled by USAFacts.org, Montana isn't exactly leading the country when it comes to teacher salaries. 

READ MORE: Why Montana Is One of the Hardest States to Be a Teacher

The data looks at median salaries for teachers at different grade levels across all 50 states and Washington, D.C. The figures exclude special education teachers and career and technical education teachers. The figures cover kindergarten, elementary school, middle school, and high school teachers.

When you look at where Montana falls in those rankings, we're pretty close to the bottom. 

Let's start with kindergarten teachers. 

Montana ranks 49th in the country, with an average salary of about $47,700 a year. 

That's 49th out of 51 jurisdictions, including Washington, D.C. 

Elementary and Middle School Teacher Salaries

When it comes to elementary school teachers, Montana does a little better, but we're still nowhere near the top. 

Montana ranks 41st, with a median salary of about $57,500 a year. 

For middle school teachers, Montana moves up again. 

READ MORE: Want to Make More in Montana? These Jobs Pay the Most

Montana ranks 32nd in the country, with a median salary of about $61,600 a year. 

For high school teachers, Montana comes in at 39th, with a median salary of about $61,000 a year. 

So, depending on what grade level we're talking about, Montana teachers rank somewhere between 32nd and 49th in the country when it comes to median salary. 

Obviously, there's a lot more to being a teacher than a salary. Teachers aren't just showing up, teaching their classes, and going home. There are lesson plans, grading, meetings, extracurricular activities, dealing with parents, and all the other things that come with being responsible for a classroom full of kids. 

Thanking Our Teachers: The Heart of Education

As we're getting back into the school year, maybe it's worth remembering just how much our teachers do and taking a moment to say thank you. 

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Whether they're teaching kindergarten, elementary school, middle school or high school, they're helping shape the next generation of Montanans. 

They deserve a lot of credit for that.