Highest and lowest paying education jobs in Madison
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 Madison, WI 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.
#40. Library technicians
- Annual mean salary: $31,900
- #255 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 530
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)
#39. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Annual mean salary: $32,170
- #297 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,470
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)
#38. Tutors
- Annual mean salary: $32,530
- #258 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210
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)
#37. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $33,660
- #105 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,750
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)
#36. Self-enrichment teachers
- Annual mean salary: $39,220
- #253 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 880
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)
#35. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Annual mean salary: $41,690
- #81 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,200
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)
#34. Teaching assistants, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $42,770
- #43 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,180
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)
#33. Archivists
- Annual mean salary: $53,300
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
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)
#32. Kindergarten teachers, except special education
- Annual mean salary: $56,630
- #192 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 430
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)
#31. Middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education
- Annual mean salary: $57,770
- #250 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,030
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)
#30. Special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school
- Annual mean salary: $58,400
- #201 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 390
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)
#29. Special education teachers, middle school
- Annual mean salary: $58,720
- #161 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
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)
#28. Elementary school teachers, except special education
- Annual mean salary: $59,420
- #226 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,490
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)
#27. Special education teachers, secondary school
- Annual mean salary: $61,420
- #166 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250
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)
#26. Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
- Annual mean salary: $62,540
- #196 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,670
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)
#25. Librarians and media collections specialists
- Annual mean salary: $64,280
- #95 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 400
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)
#24. Adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors
- Annual mean salary: $66,040
- #34 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
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)
#23. Curators
- Annual mean salary: $67,510
- #25 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
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)
#22. Career/technical education teachers, secondary school
- Annual mean salary: $67,760
- #95 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170
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. Instructional coordinators
- Annual mean salary: $69,290
- #164 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 390
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. Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $79,660
- #45 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160
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)
#19. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $82,450
- #143 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,040
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)
#18. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $83,810
- #53 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130
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)
#17. Career/technical education teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $86,630
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 320
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)
#16. Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $88,120
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130
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)
#15. Forestry and conservation science teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $88,160
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $93,510
- Employment: 1,180
- Metros with highest average pay: data not available
#14. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $88,190
- #19 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
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)
#13. Education teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $88,210
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 320
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)
#12. Sociology teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $90,120
- #22 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
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)
#11. Psychology teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $92,970
- #25 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230
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)
#10. Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $93,340
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
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)
#9. Communications teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $95,420
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
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)
#8. Agricultural sciences teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $101,300
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300
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)
#7. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $102,950
- #25 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 420
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)
#6. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $107,860
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190
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)
#5. History teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $112,180
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
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)
#4. Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $113,350
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
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)
#3. Chemistry teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $119,320
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150
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)
#2. Business teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $128,650
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 290
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)
#1. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $130,450
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150
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)