Public School Teacher Salaries In MN: See How Your District Ranks

MINNESOTA — Public school teacher pay has become a hot-button issue in Minnesota as Twin Cities educators prepare to strike over salaries, class sizes, mental health support and other issues.

Average teacher pay in Minnesota ranges widely by district and region, and starting salaries can be dramatically lower than what a tenured staff member earns.

Four of the five highest average teacher salaries in Minnesota in 2021 were at public charter schools, according to the data from the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board.

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That data showed the highest average teacher salary — at Trio Wolf Creek, an online charter high school based in Chisago City — was almost twice as high as what the average teacher earns in the Minneapolis Public School District.

Wolf Creek’s average salary in 2021 was $140,574, while MPS’ average salary was $71,535 — the 47th highest in Minnesota, the licensing board’s data show.

The average teacher salary in the St. Paul Public School District was $85,457, the sixth highest in the state.

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The average teacher at the Phoenix Academy of Art and Science earns $109,090, according to the board’s data. It is the only other charter school or district in Minnesota with an average salary of more than $90,000.

Many school districts in the Twin Cities metro appear toward the top end of the list, with educators in more rural parts of Minnesota often earning significantly less.

The average teacher salary was above $60,000 in about 40 percent of the 538 districts and charter schools for which data was provided.

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The state's lowest average teacher salary in 2021 was $18,194 at the Infinity: Minnesota Digital Academy, according to the board's data.

Check out how your local districts and charter schools stack up against the rest of Minnesota: