Are Oklahoma teacher salaries among the lowest?

Are Oklahoma teacher salaries among the lowest?
September 24, 2025

LATEST NEWS

Are Oklahoma teacher salaries among the lowest?

Yes.

Oklahoma’s average teacher starting salary and the average teacher salary rank No.45 and No.35 in the nation, respectively. 

The average teacher starting salary in Oklahoma is $41,152 and the average teacher salary is $61,330. Those figures are 12% and 15% below their respective national averages.

Oklahoma was recently ranked the fifth most affordable state in the nation, with the fourth lowest cost of living and the seventh most affordable housing.

The minimum adequate living wage required for a one adult one child household in Oklahoma is $73,652. The median household income in Oklahoma is $62,138. 

House Bill 1087, signed in June, extends the number of years for which teachers’ minimum salaries, based on years of experience and type of degree, increase annually from 25 to 35 years. The minimum salary for teachers with 35 years of experience and a doctoral degree is $65,319. 

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

Oklahoma Watch partners with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims.

Sources


Support our publication


Every day we strive to produce journalism that matters — stories that strengthen accountability and transparency, provide value and resonate with readers like you.


This work is essential to a better-informed community and a healthy democracy. But it isn’t possible without your support.

Republish This Story

Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.

Share this post:

POLL

Who Will Vote For?

Other

Republican

Democrat

RECENT NEWS

Chickasha Municipal Court announces 'Food for Fines' Nov 3 - 26

Chickasha Municipal Court announces 'Food for Fines' Nov 3 – 26

Broken Promises and Broken Ceilings: Renters Discover Oklahoma’s Weak Tenant Protections

Broken Promises and Broken Ceilings: Renters Discover Oklahoma’s Weak Tenant Protections

KFOR wins 2025 Walter Cronkite award for series on an OKC Ice raid

KFOR wins 2025 Walter Cronkite award for series on an OKC Ice raid

Dynamic Country URL Go to Country Info Page