Highest and lowest paying education jobs in Memphis

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August 29, 2022
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Highest and lowest paying education jobs in Memphis

Whether you picture hard-working teachers buying school supplies for their students or genius professors shaping future leaders, it's fair to say education encompasses a wide variety of jobs. So much so that there's room to specialize and pursue your passion.

Historically, teachers' pay is a rather contentious topic. The average teacher salary is about $2,000 less than a decade ago after adjusting for inflation. Despite this, many of these jobs are rewarding in more ways than one. In other words, education can be very lucrative—particularly within specialty fields.

Stacker compiled a list of the highest and lowest paying education jobs in Memphis, TN-MS-AR using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2021 annual mean wage. Keep reading to discover the highest and lowest paying education jobs in your city.

#39. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $27,480
- #292 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,090

National
- Annual mean salary: $31,760
- Employment: 1,187,270
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($46,390)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($45,080)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($42,820)

#38. Library technicians

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $29,010
- #313 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120

National
- Annual mean salary: $39,070
- Employment: 73,000
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Olympia-Tumwater, WA ($61,740)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($59,950)
--- Napa, CA ($57,890)

#37. Substitute teachers, short-term

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $30,100
- #266 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,270

National
- Annual mean salary: $38,410
- Employment: 374,620
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Prescott, AZ ($64,310)
--- Appleton, WI ($63,310)
--- Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL ($58,770)

#36. Teaching assistants, postsecondary

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $30,440
- #118 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30

National
- Annual mean salary: $41,170
- Employment: 121,290
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Arecibo, PR ($62,080)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($59,560)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($59,380)

#35. Preschool teachers, except special education

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $32,570
- #286 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,490

National
- Annual mean salary: $36,460
- Employment: 391,670
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($49,990)
--- Ocean City, NJ ($49,720)
--- Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ ($49,560)

#34. Self-enrichment teachers

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $33,730
- #398 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 550

National
- Annual mean salary: $49,230
- Employment: 216,910
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($70,350)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($66,650)
--- Utica-Rome, NY ($63,470)

#33. Tutors

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $37,350
- #168 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 440

National
- Annual mean salary: $41,780
- Employment: 147,100
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Pittsfield, MA ($82,910)
--- Santa Fe, NM ($68,440)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($60,110)

#32. Special education teachers, preschool

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $42,180
- #87 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,970
- Employment: 21,130
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($101,190)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($100,010)
--- Worcester, MA-CT ($97,900)

#31. Kindergarten teachers, except special education

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $50,590
- #306 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 400

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,490
- Employment: 120,730
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($95,420)
--- Kingston, NY ($92,160)
--- Salinas, CA ($90,490)

#30. Adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $52,890
- #107 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,650
- Employment: 38,260
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($96,640)
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($92,290)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($89,740)

#29. Middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $52,950
- #359 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,850

National
- Annual mean salary: $66,880
- Employment: 592,000
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bakersfield, CA ($109,060)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($107,280)
--- Yuba City, CA ($94,480)

#28. Career/technical education teachers, postsecondary

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $54,690
- #223 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 400

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,130
- Employment: 105,440
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($116,850)
--- Champaign-Urbana, IL ($97,110)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($95,200)

#27. Special education teachers, middle school

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $55,390
- #209 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 330

National
- Annual mean salary: $68,860
- Employment: 79,070
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($117,940)
--- Worcester, MA-CT ($94,630)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($94,140)

#26. Elementary school teachers, except special education

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $56,640
- #283 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,490

National
- Annual mean salary: $67,080
- Employment: 1,329,280
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($92,860)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($91,430)
--- Salinas, CA ($91,280)

#25. Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $57,270
- #301 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,880

National
- Annual mean salary: $69,530
- Employment: 1,020,240
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($104,010)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($101,980)
--- Bakersfield, CA ($97,490)

#24. Special education teachers, secondary school

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $58,060
- #232 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 860

National
- Annual mean salary: $70,100
- Employment: 145,690
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($110,320)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($106,590)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($103,540)

#23. Librarians and media collections specialists

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $59,570
- #168 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 440

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,180
- Employment: 127,790
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($94,230)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($89,990)
--- Kennewick-Richland, WA ($89,220)

#22. Career/technical education teachers, secondary school

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $60,590
- #165 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 380

National
- Annual mean salary: $68,960
- Employment: 84,360
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($122,160)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($121,490)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($115,060)

#21. Special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $61,250
- #160 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,200

National
- Annual mean salary: $67,090
- Employment: 187,070
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($102,210)
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($92,730)
--- Chico, CA ($88,430)

#20. Curators

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $61,400
- #38 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,880
- Employment: 11,030
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($96,990)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($94,020)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($86,680)

#19. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $62,110
- #148 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170

National
- Annual mean salary: $82,680
- Employment: 58,480
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($162,660)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($145,980)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($132,320)

#18. Instructional coordinators

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $63,330
- #284 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 970

National
- Annual mean salary: $70,560
- Employment: 184,740
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salem, OR ($93,890)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($93,760)
--- Kennewick-Richland, WA ($91,430)

#17. Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $66,130
- #67 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $82,990
- Employment: 19,640
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($149,170)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($130,560)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($129,250)

#16. Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $68,790
- #69 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $88,260
- Employment: 20,850
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($147,650)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($129,190)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($127,730)

#15. Sociology teachers, postsecondary

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $69,490
- #58 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30

National
- Annual mean salary: $87,850
- Employment: 12,550
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($143,100)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($139,630)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($119,830)

#14. Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $70,300
- #91 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,240
- Employment: 94,720
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($180,910)
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($160,360)
--- Bakersfield, CA ($151,060)

#13. Communications teachers, postsecondary

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $71,720
- #68 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30

National
- Annual mean salary: $84,580
- Employment: 27,330
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($149,400)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($127,260)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($124,320)

#12. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $73,340
- #102 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120

National
- Annual mean salary: $87,980
- Employment: 44,140
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($157,340)
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($149,220)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($138,090)

#11. Education teachers, postsecondary

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $73,980
- #56 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

National
- Annual mean salary: $76,990
- Employment: 58,780
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($119,140)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($112,130)
--- Salt Lake City, UT ($110,160)

#10. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $74,470
- #111 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180

National
- Annual mean salary: $82,040
- Employment: 68,060
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($146,700)
--- Charlottesville, VA ($109,450)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($109,310)

#9. Biological science teachers, postsecondary

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $75,100
- #114 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130

National
- Annual mean salary: $98,710
- Employment: 47,690
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR ($181,560)
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($166,470)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($152,140)

#8. History teachers, postsecondary

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $76,250
- #59 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,460
- Employment: 18,590
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($148,420)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($129,020)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($126,560)

#7. Psychology teachers, postsecondary

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $77,540
- #95 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110

National
- Annual mean salary: $88,390
- Employment: 36,060
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($141,130)
--- Iowa City, IA ($131,770)
--- Ann Arbor, MI ($117,020)

#6. Chemistry teachers, postsecondary

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $82,500
- #61 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $94,060
- Employment: 20,260
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($140,550)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($136,870)
--- Salt Lake City, UT ($135,160)

#5. Engineering teachers, postsecondary

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $92,230
- #63 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

National
- Annual mean salary: $115,590
- Employment: 35,440
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Ann Arbor, MI ($157,030)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($154,130)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($153,050)

#4. Computer science teachers, postsecondary

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $92,680
- #60 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $89,610
- Employment: 37,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($152,280)
--- Auburn-Opelika, AL ($145,360)
--- Tuscaloosa, AL ($144,170)

#3. Business teachers, postsecondary

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $99,730
- #93 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180

National
- Annual mean salary: $105,720
- Employment: 79,640
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Auburn-Opelika, AL ($175,640)
--- Ann Arbor, MI ($175,080)
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($154,600)

#2. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $113,250
- #65 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,530

National
- Annual mean salary: $133,310
- Employment: 191,830
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($226,440)
--- Jackson, MS ($202,690)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($183,250)

#1. Law teachers, postsecondary

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $117,350
- #21 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $130,820
- Employment: 14,110
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($165,990)
--- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($152,750)
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($152,190)

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