New Jersey continues to stand out for its competitive teacher salaries, with new data revealing that the median salary for educators across the state reached $82,780 during the 2024-25 school year. This reflects a 3.2% increase from the previous year, underscoring the state’s commitment to valuing its educators. Notably, the average teacher in New Jersey has over 12 years of experience, which contributes significantly to salary levels.
The latest figures indicate that the top 17 school districts in New Jersey all report median salaries exceeding $100,000. In these districts, where the average teaching experience is over 15 years, salaries are considerably higher than the statewide median. The data highlights a growing trend of educational investment in regions that prioritize teacher retention and experience.
Leading Districts and Their Salaries
At the forefront, the Northern Valley Regional district in Bergen County reported the highest median teacher salary of $121,839 for the 2024-25 school year, marking an increase of 2.14% from the prior year. This district has maintained its position as the highest-paying in the state for at least three consecutive years. Teachers in this area average 16.2 years of experience, a factor that plays a significant role in salary determination.
Following closely is the Pascack Valley Regional district, also in Bergen County, with a median salary of $118,744, reflecting a 2.15% increase. The average experience of teachers in this district is 17.5 years, further illustrating the correlation between experience and salary.
Other notable districts include Jersey City in Hudson County, which reported a median salary of $110,500, an impressive increase of 13.18%. The average experience of teachers here stands at 16 years, indicating a well-established teaching workforce. The Morris Hills Regional district followed closely with a median salary of $110,472, representing a 4.61% increase and an average experience of 16.3 years.
Additional districts that made the top tier include Hackensack City with a median salary of $109,845, and Lenape Regional in Burlington County with $106,469. These salaries reflect the districts’ commitment to attracting and retaining experienced educators.
Understanding the Data and Its Implications
The salary data is compiled annually in the Taxpayer’s Guide to Education Spending and represents self-reported figures from individual school districts. It is important to note that some districts did not report salary data for the last school year, which may impact overall trends.
The ranking of school districts in terms of salary often favors regional districts and those serving high school populations. Smaller districts or those focused solely on K-8 education typically report lower median salaries. This trend signifies the importance of experience and the scale of the district in determining educator pay.
With the ongoing emphasis on education funding, New Jersey’s commitment to competitive teacher salaries reflects a broader understanding of the importance of investing in educational quality. As the state continues to push for improved educational outcomes, these salary figures may play a critical role in attracting top talent to the profession.
The full list of median salaries for all school districts in New Jersey is available for those interested in specific district data. The ongoing investment in education not only benefits teachers but also has a lasting impact on student learning and success.
