{"id":6934,"date":"2026-06-03T08:18:01","date_gmt":"2026-06-03T08:18:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/prepsaret.com\/praxis\/?p=6934"},"modified":"2026-06-08T11:15:07","modified_gmt":"2026-06-08T11:15:07","slug":"kansas-teacher-salary-and-job-outlook","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/prepsaret.com\/praxis\/kansas-teacher-salary-and-job-outlook","title":{"rendered":"Kansas Teacher Salary and Job Outlook"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kansas teacher median salaries range from approximately $48,800 (preschool) to $58,800 (middle school) based on 2024 BLS data \u2014 roughly 1% to 19% below the national median depending on the role. The national average teacher salary reached $74,495 for 2024\u201325 (NEA). Kansas ranked 39th nationally in recent NEA data. Two major 2025 developments improve Kansas\u2019s total compensation picture: the KPERS Tier 3 to Tier 2 pension upgrade effective January 2025, which can add $9,000 to $19,000 per year in retirement income, and Kansas\u2019s continued participation in Social Security \u2014 unlike about 13 states that exclude teachers.<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Kansas Teacher Salary: At a Glance<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
$58,800<\/b><\/p>\n

Median Annual Wage<\/b><\/p>\n

Middle School (BLS 2024)<\/span><\/td>\n

$74,495<\/b><\/p>\n

National Average<\/b><\/p>\n

NEA 2024\u201325<\/span><\/td>\n

1,954<\/b><\/p>\n

Open Positions (KS)<\/b><\/p>\n

KSDE Fall 2024<\/span><\/td>\n

$46,900<\/b><\/p>\n

KS All-Occupation Median<\/b><\/p>\n

BLS 2024<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024; NEA Rankings and Estimates Report 2025; Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE), October 2024.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Why Kansas Teacher Salaries Matter<\/b><\/h2>\n

For anyone considering a career in education \u2014 or for a current teacher evaluating a move to the Sunflower State \u2014 understanding Kansas teacher salaries and the job outlook is essential for making informed career and financial decisions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Teacher compensation affects not only individual household finances but also the broader health of Kansas’s educational system: competitive pay attracts talented educators, while stagnant wages drive experienced teachers out of the classroom.<\/span><\/p>\n

This Prepsaret<\/a> guide synthesizes the most current available data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the National Education Association (NEA), the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE), the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS), and state legislative records to give prospective and current Kansas teachers an authoritative, fact-based picture of compensation and career prospects in 2025.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kansas is currently navigating a significant tension: a state with more than 1,900 unfilled teaching positions and a well-documented teacher shortage, yet median teacher salaries that lag behind the national average by several thousand dollars.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Understanding both sides of this equation \u2014 the challenges and the opportunities \u2014 is critical for anyone entering or already working in the Kansas education system.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kansas Teacher Salary Overview by Grade Level<\/b><\/h2>\n

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, released in May 2024, provides the most authoritative state-level salary data for teachers broken out by grade level. According to BLS data for Kansas:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Teacher Category<\/b><\/td>\nMedian Annual Wage (KS 2024)<\/b><\/td>\nNational Median (May 2024)<\/b><\/td>\nKS vs. National Gap<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Preschool Teachers (excl. SpEd)<\/span><\/td>\n$48,800<\/span><\/td>\n$35,630<\/span><\/td>\n+$13,170 (KS higher)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kindergarten Teachers (excl. SpEd)<\/span><\/td>\n$54,200*<\/span><\/td>\n$61,430<\/span><\/td>\n-$7,230<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Elementary School Teachers (excl. SpEd)<\/span><\/td>\n$54,900*<\/span><\/td>\n$62,340<\/span><\/td>\n-$7,440 (-12%)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Middle School Teachers (excl. SpEd)<\/span><\/td>\n$58,800<\/span><\/td>\n$62,970<\/span><\/td>\n-$4,170 (-7%)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
High School Teachers (excl. SpEd)<\/span><\/td>\n$57,500*<\/span><\/td>\n$64,390<\/span><\/td>\n-$6,900 (-11%)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Special Education Teachers (Preschool)<\/span><\/td>\n$57,300<\/span><\/td>\n$62,000*<\/span><\/td>\n-$4,700<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
All Occupations \u2014 Kansas<\/span><\/td>\n$46,900<\/span><\/td>\n$49,500<\/span><\/td>\n-$2,600<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2024 (national figures); USAFacts analysis of BLS state-level OEWS data for Kansas, published April 2026; BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook 2024\u201334. *Figures marked with an asterisk are derived from USAFacts’ BLS-sourced analysis and percentage differentials stated therein; exact BLS Kansas state figures for these subcategories may vary slightly.<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Several important observations emerge from this data:<\/span><\/p>\n