Highest and lowest paying education jobs in Seattle
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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 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.
#51. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Annual mean salary: $38,420
- #108 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,510
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)
#50. Teaching assistants, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $40,780
- #54 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,010
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)
#49. Tutors
- Annual mean salary: $41,610
- #95 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,490
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)
#48. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $46,390
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 15,460
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)
#47. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Annual mean salary: $48,100
- #23 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,420
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)
#46. Self-enrichment teachers
- Annual mean salary: $51,000
- #57 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,140
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)
#45. Library technicians
- Annual mean salary: $56,670
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 890
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)
#44. Museum technicians and conservators
- Annual mean salary: $58,740
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
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)
#43. Adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors
- Annual mean salary: $64,210
- #43 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 880
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)
#42. Curators
- Annual mean salary: $67,660
- #24 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
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)
#41. Archivists
- Annual mean salary: $72,340
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160
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)
#40. Recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $74,420
- #27 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180
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)
#39. Special education teachers, preschool
- Annual mean salary: $74,470
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 490
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)
#38. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $74,520
- #72 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 750
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)
#37. Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $76,010
- #57 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 950
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)
#36. Education teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $76,940
- #46 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,180
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)
#35. Career/technical education teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $77,720
- #29 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,090
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)
#34. Psychology teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $78,280
- #92 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,000
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)
#33. Family and consumer sciences teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $78,680
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
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)
#32. Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $79,300
- #50 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220
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)
#31. Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $80,540
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
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)
#30. History teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $80,790
- #46 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 240
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)
#29. Kindergarten teachers, except special education
- Annual mean salary: $80,990
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,350
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)
#28. Communications teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $81,000
- #39 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 370
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)
#27. Criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $82,280
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110
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)
#26. Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $82,550
- #31 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230
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)
#25. Sociology teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $84,720
- #35 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170
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. Special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school
- Annual mean salary: $84,780
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,610
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)
#23. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $84,910
- #47 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 810
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)
#22. Instructional coordinators
- Annual mean salary: $85,010
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,180
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)
#21. Middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education
- Annual mean salary: $86,200
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,330
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)
#20. Elementary school teachers, except special education
- Annual mean salary: $86,470
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 14,550
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)
#19. Special education teachers, middle school
- Annual mean salary: $86,510
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 670
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)
#18. Political science teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $87,210
- #36 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
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)
#17. Special education teachers, secondary school
- Annual mean salary: $87,990
- #23 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,050
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)
#16. Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
- Annual mean salary: $88,150
- #24 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,890
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)
#15. Career/technical education teachers, secondary school
- Annual mean salary: $90,050
- #21 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,260
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)
#14. Anthropology and archeology teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $90,150
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
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)
#13. Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $93,550
- #29 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
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)
#12. Career/technical education teachers, middle school
- Annual mean salary: $93,790
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 260
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)
#11. Librarians and media collections specialists
- Annual mean salary: $94,230
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,250
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)
#10. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $96,630
- #25 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 550
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)
#9. Physics teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $97,150
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180
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)
#8. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $97,730
- #39 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 510
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)
#7. Environmental science teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $101,810
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160
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)
#6. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $105,230
- #25 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 430
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)
#5. Chemistry teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $106,050
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 330
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)
#4. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $118,050
- #32 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 880
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)
#3. Economics teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $130,020
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160
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)
#2. Engineering teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $139,300
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 410
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)
#1. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $176,220
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,290
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)