Dive Into Statistics on Teacher Wages in Tucson, Arizona MSA
How are we doing?
Median Annual Wage for Secondary School Teachers (2024)
The median annual wage for secondary school teachers in the Tucson Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) was $49,050 in 2024. That ranked Tucson last out of peer western MSAs. The San Diego MSA reported the highest median annual wage for secondary school teachers at $99,740, approximately $51,000 higher than Tucson. Wages decreased slightly for secondary school teachers in 2024, dropping by just under $500 from the previous year. Secondary school teachers in Tucson earned an average of 5.6% more than the median wage for all occupations ($46,450). Among Tucson’s educators, elementary school teachers were the lowest paid, while wages for middle and secondary school teachers were slightly higher. All three were significantly below national levels in 2024.
Note: Data for Colorado was not included in the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) release of May 2024 OEWS data due to data quality concerns. Colorado data will be added at a later date, once quality concerns have been addressed.
Why is it important?
Research has shown that providing competitive wages for teachers has a significant effect on the decision to choose teaching as an occupation and remain in the field. Others have noted that insufficient compensation for teachers affects turnover and student success. Providing teachers with opportunities for advancement means that they are more likely to remain at the schools they were trained in, resulting in better learning outcomes for students, and return on investment for districts. Low wages, among other factors, lead the most qualified teachers to seek better opportunities, often located in wealthy suburbs. This wage-driven teacher sorting results in low-income urban districts having fewer experienced and highly qualified educators, which directly impacts student success. Children of families who lack geographic mobility are consequently affected the most.
How do we compare?
In 2024, the median wage for teaching occupations in the Tucson MSA was $47,480. This occupation, which includes all teaching and related professionals, was higher than the median wage for all occupations in Tucson ($46,450). Middle and secondary school teachers earned the highest, followed by elementary school teachers. In Tucson, teacher wages are relatively low compared to other professions that require at least a bachelor’s degree.
Wages for elementary, middle, and secondary school teachers were slightly lower in the Tucson MSA than in Arizona. However, they were substantially below the U.S. in 2024. The median annual wages in Tucson for elementary, middle, and secondary teachers were $46,170, $50,660, and $49,050, respectively. Teachers were paid slightly higher wages statewide at $50,980, $59,060, and $59,900, although still considerably lower than the U.S. levels. Nationally, the median wages for elementary, middle, and secondary school teachers were $62,340, $62,970, and $64,580, respectively.
Wages for secondary school teachers vary significantly across the 12 metropolitan areas, influenced in part by differences in the relative cost of living. Therefore, adjusting for the cost of living may give us a different picture.
The graph below shows secondary school teacher wages adjusted for differences in the cost of living. Note that San Diego still ranked high among peer MSAs, and Tucson was last. The latest data available for cost of living adjustment is from 2023.
In 2024, the wage for secondary school teachers in the Tucson MSA was 5.6% more than the median wage for all occupations. It is important to keep in mind that the median wage for all occupations reflects both low and high-skilled workers, with a large number of occupations requiring little education. In contrast, nearly all secondary school teachers have at least a bachelor’s degree and many have a graduate degree. Thus, we expect teachers to earn wages above the median for all occupations.
Note from the fuel gauge below that secondary school teachers in Tucson ranked last among the 12 metropolitan areas on this metric.
Secondary School Teacher Wages Relative to the Median for All Occupations (2024)
How is it measured?
Teacher wage data are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). OEWS data are derived from a semiannual survey of establishments in the U.S., which examines full and part-time workers in all nonfarm industries. Wage estimates are based on a series of six panels of survey data collected over a three-year cycle. Wages include base pay, allowances, incentive pay, commissions, bonuses, and tips; it excludes back pay, overtime, severance, employer costs for benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
