Highest and lowest paying education jobs in Washington, D.C.
Highest and lowest paying education jobs in Washington, D.C.
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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 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.
#58. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Annual mean salary: $35,850
- #164 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 11,100
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)
#57. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $39,950
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 21,570
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)
#56. Tutors
- Annual mean salary: $42,630
- #78 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,810
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)
#55. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Annual mean salary: $43,750
- #24 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 10,490
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)
#54. Library technicians
- Annual mean salary: $50,820
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,600
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)
#53. Teaching assistants, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $51,220
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,050
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)
#52. Self-enrichment teachers
- Annual mean salary: $54,390
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,350
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)
#51. Career/technical education teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $60,580
- #137 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 810
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)
#50. Adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors
- Annual mean salary: $70,540
- #21 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 830
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)
#49. Education teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $71,350
- #85 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,110
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)
#48. Recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $72,990
- #31 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210
National
- Annual mean salary: $79,080
- Employment: 13,860
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($136,830)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($123,660)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($121,590)
#47. Museum technicians and conservators
- Annual mean salary: $73,740
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 890
National
- Annual mean salary: $52,030
- Employment: 10,960
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($79,670)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($73,740)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($68,180)
#46. Special education teachers, middle school
- Annual mean salary: $74,030
- #49 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,370
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)
#45. Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $77,030
- #38 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 830
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)
#44. Kindergarten teachers, except special education
- Annual mean salary: $78,540
- #31 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,710
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)
#43. Curators
- Annual mean salary: $79,200
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 290
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)
#42. Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $79,860
- #44 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,440
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)
#41. Special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school
- Annual mean salary: $81,860
- #24 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,860
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)
#40. Family and consumer sciences teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $83,210
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $93,230
- Employment: 2,730
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($157,890)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($140,800)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($139,060)
#39. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $83,330
- #29 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,320
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)
#38. Archivists
- Annual mean salary: $84,080
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 370
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,880
- Employment: 6,120
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($84,080)
--- Ann Arbor, MI ($79,270)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($75,800)
#37. Communications teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $85,350
- #26 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 730
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)
#36. Elementary school teachers, except special education
- Annual mean salary: $86,420
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 28,850
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)
#35. Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
- Annual mean salary: $86,780
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 18,240
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)
#34. Library science teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $86,820
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
National
- Annual mean salary: $80,850
- Employment: 4,330
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($154,890)
--- Tuscaloosa, AL ($104,810)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($102,320)
#33. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $87,020
- #45 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 900
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)
#32. Middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education
- Annual mean salary: $87,090
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 16,320
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)
#31. Librarians and media collections specialists
- Annual mean salary: $87,430
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,730
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)
#30. Social work teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $88,300
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210
National
- Annual mean salary: $77,650
- Employment: 12,280
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Ann Arbor, MI ($112,000)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($106,460)
--- Scranton--Wilkes-Barre--Hazleton, PA ($96,040)
#29. Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $89,810
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190
National
- Annual mean salary: $91,680
- Employment: 9,040
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($160,290)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($137,790)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($119,510)
#28. Criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $90,140
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190
National
- Annual mean salary: $81,730
- Employment: 13,790
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($161,540)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($152,830)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($132,020)
#27. Career/technical education teachers, secondary school
- Annual mean salary: $90,260
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,000
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)
#26. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $90,530
- #34 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,030
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)
#25. Sociology teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $90,820
- #19 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230
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)
#24. Farm and home management educators
- Annual mean salary: $91,410
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 340
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,040
- Employment: 10,620
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Roanoke, VA ($109,110)
--- Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC ($93,140)
--- Richmond, VA ($92,090)
#23. Special education teachers, secondary school
- Annual mean salary: $91,480
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,260
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)
#22. Career/technical education teachers, middle school
- Annual mean salary: $92,190
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 320
National
- Annual mean salary: $69,410
- Employment: 11,840
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fresno, CA ($139,720)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($97,750)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($93,790)
#21. Instructional coordinators
- Annual mean salary: $93,760
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,130
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)
#20. History teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $94,610
- #24 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 380
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)
#19. Psychology teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $97,620
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 480
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)
#18. Chemistry teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $98,160
- #23 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 370
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)
#17. Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $98,210
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 600
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)
#16. Architecture teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $100,050
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210
National
- Annual mean salary: $98,600
- Employment: 5,950
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($155,970)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($144,550)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($142,180)
#15. Special education teachers, preschool
- Annual mean salary: $101,190
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 820
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)
#14. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $102,750
- #26 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,100
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)
#13. Agricultural sciences teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $102,950
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210
National
- Annual mean salary: $97,520
- Employment: 8,570
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($131,040)
--- Fort Collins, CO ($114,930)
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($105,250)
#12. Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $103,400
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
National
- Annual mean salary: $102,840
- Employment: 10,250
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($152,120)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($149,790)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($147,770)
#11. Anthropology and archeology teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $104,320
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $102,110
- Employment: 5,010
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($137,640)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($130,530)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($128,760)
#10. Environmental science teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $107,040
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110
National
- Annual mean salary: $92,210
- Employment: 5,440
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Ann Arbor, MI ($133,560)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($126,820)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($120,840)
#9. Political science teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $111,280
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 930
National
- Annual mean salary: $98,980
- Employment: 14,060
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Ann Arbor, MI ($155,350)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($150,290)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($140,340)
#8. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $114,410
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,020
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)
#7. Geography teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $116,120
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $88,150
- Employment: 3,440
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($140,130)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($122,200)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($116,120)
#6. Physics teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $116,790
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 310
National
- Annual mean salary: $99,480
- Employment: 12,460
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($148,140)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($144,580)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($142,450)
#5. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $119,040
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,600
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)
#4. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $121,710
- #55 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,870
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)
#3. Engineering teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $122,230
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 740
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)
#2. Economics teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $143,710
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 310
National
- Annual mean salary: $124,090
- Employment: 11,790
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($180,550)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($180,490)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($172,600)
#1. Law teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $149,590
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 700
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)