The average teacher salary in Ohio is near the average national salary for teachers in the United States, but it isn’t the lowest. When trying to find out what the average teacher salary in Ohio is, many variables are considered.
The teacher salary in Ohio depends on the job level, institution type, and amount of experience. The requirements to become a teacher in Ohio differ for kindergarten, elementary, middle school, and high school teachers. Preschool, career and technical education, adult basic education, and substitute teachers all have different average salaries and requirements.
What Is the Average Teacher Salary in Ohio?
According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the average teacher salary for Ohio’s public elementary and secondary schools was $61,687 per year in 2021. Unfortunately, the average public school teacher salary in Ohio decreased by 9.2 percent between 2009 and 2021. Keep in mind that different school boards also pay differently from one another.
According to the National Education Association (NEA), the average salary for an entry-level Ohio teacher with a bachelor’s degree was $35,569 in 2020 while $75,941 was the highest salary for a teacher with a master’s. This shows us that higher-paying opportunities open up for those with more advanced degrees and that getting your master’s degree would be solid career advice.
What Is the Average Salary of a Teacher in the United States?
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average teacher salary was $60,900 for kindergarten teachers and $61,400 for elementary school teachers. NCES estimates that the average salary for primary and secondary school teachers in the United States is $65,090.
Average Teacher Salary in Ohio: K—12
| Level | Number Employed in Ohio | Average Salary in Ohio | Average Salary in the United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten Teachers | 3,530 | $60,670 | $60,900 |
| Elementary School Teachers | 50,400 | $64,410 | $61,400 |
| Middle School Teachers | 24,890 | $63,670 | $61,320 |
| High School Teachers | 58,040 | $75,330 | $61,820 |
Basic Requirements to Become a Teacher in Ohio: K—12
- Educator Preparation Program. One of the main job requirements for you to become a teacher in Ohio is to complete a state-approved teacher education program from an accredited university in Ohio. You cannot become a teacher with only a high school diploma.
- Ohio Teaching License. After you learn the critical skills required to become a teacher in an educator preparation program, you receive an Ohio teaching license from the Ohio Department of Education. This license is valid for four years and can be renewed without any more advanced degrees. The average cost of a teaching license in Ohio is $200.
- Alternative pathway to licensure. Another way to obtain a teaching license without attending an educator preparation program is if you already have a bachelor’s degree. You can then apply for an Alternative Resident Educator (RE) license after passing an evaluation from the Ohio Department of Education Licensure Office.
- State exams. Part of the job requirements to become a teacher in Ohio include passing the state’s content area and professional knowledge exams. The type of exam you take will depend on the kind of teaching license you apply for. These exams have an average price of $105.
How to Become a Kindergarten Teacher in Ohio
To become a kindergarten teacher in Ohio and get your five-year teaching license, you have to complete a state-approved bachelor’s degree or teacher preparation program in early childhood education. You then must pass a content knowledge test in early childhood education, the Assessment of Professional Knowledge in this area, and the Foundations of Reading test (RESA).
How to Become an Elementary School Teacher in Ohio
Elementary teachers are one of the most popular career options for teachers in Ohio. To become an elementary school teacher in Ohio, you’ll need a Primary (PK-5) license, which lets you teach students up to the fifth grade. To get this license, you have to attend a teacher preparation program from an accredited Ohio university after getting your education degree.
How to Become a Middle School Teacher in Ohio
To become a middle school teacher in Ohio, you need an accredited Bachelor’s Degree in Middle School Education. You also need to clear the 002, 003, or 004 Assessment of Professional Knowledge exams for middle childhood, young adult, and multi-age children as well as the Foundations of Reading in Middle Childhood exam to get your resident educator license.
How to Become a High School Teacher in Ohio
To become a high school teacher in Ohio, you’ll need to specialize in a specific content area during your bachelor’s or teacher preparation program. You’ll also need to pass either the relevant Ohio Assessments for Educators (OAE) tests or clear the relevant Praxis test, which checks your subject-specific knowledge.
Average Teacher Salary in Ohio: Other Types of Teachers
| Type | Number Employed in Ohio | Average Salary in Ohio | Average Salary in the United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preschool Teachers | 13,880 | $28,890 | $30,210 |
| Career and Technical Education Teachers | 4,390 | $76,880 | $61,160 |
| Adult Basic Education Teachers | 660 | $50,130 | $59,720 |
| Substitute Teachers | 5,030 | $28,940 | $38,410 |
Requirements to Become a Teacher in Ohio: Preschool
- Bachelor’s degree. To become a teacher at any level in Ohio, you need a bachelor’s degree. A bachelor’s degree qualifies you to apply for a teaching license.
- Ohio Assessments for Educators Exam. Once you have earned a bachelor’s degree, you need to pass the Ohio Assessments for Educators (OAE) exam for early childhood education and earn at least 220 points to pass.
- Resident Educator Teaching License. After passing the relevant state exams, you are eligible to apply for a resident educator teaching license, which is valid for four years. Meeting these requirements makes you eligible for most job openings and a higher average base pay than the national average.
- Supplemental Teaching License in Early Childhood Education. The next step is to get a supplement teaching license in early childhood education so that you can teach preschoolers in Ohio. This license allows you to teach from preschool up to the third grade.
Requirements to Become a Teacher in Ohio: Career and Technical Education
- Bachelor’s degree in a technical field. Career and technical educators in Ohio need a degree in a technical field such as health science, sales, finance, or agriculture. You also need to get a teaching license in Ohio before you can teach students.
- Licensure program certification. In order to become a career and technical educator in Ohio, you will need to enroll in a licensure program in either agriscience education, family and consumer sciences, and integrated business education.
- Previous work experience. Apart from a degree in a technical field and a career and technical education license, you will need real-life work experience in the field or career that you will be teaching.
Requirements to Become a Teacher in Ohio: Adult Basic Education
- Valid Ohio Teaching Certificate. In order for you to become an adult education teacher, you’ll first need to earn a valid teaching certificate for K-12 from the Ohio Department of Education (ODE).
- Adult permit. If you don’t have a teaching certificate from the ODE but have some years of experience under your belt as an informal teacher or other relevant work experience, you can apply for the adult education permit in Ohio and skip the teaching certificate for K-12 educators.
- Program area specialization. If you apply for the adult education permit in Ohio, you can choose a specialization in program areas like marketing, education, health technology, and business education. You can begin teaching adult basic education after you have successfully cleared the specialized program of your choice.
Requirements to Become a Substitute Teacher in Ohio
- Ohio Substitute Teaching License. To become a long-term substitute teacher in Ohio, you need to have a teaching certification in early childhood, middle childhood, adolescence to young adult, or multi-age teaching, depending on the grade you are hired to teach.
- Criminal history check. All teachers hired in Ohio, substitute or otherwise, need to have a clean criminal record and present a copy of their criminal history check to the state department granting them substitute teacher status or license.
- Bachelor’s degree. If you want to teach as a substitute teacher in Ohio for a short amount of time, then you are not required to get a teaching license, and a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field is enough.
Average Teacher Salary in Ohio: Special Education
| Special Education Level | Number Employed in Ohio | Average Salary in Ohio | Average Salary in the United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preschool | 1,250 | $62,420 | $62,420 |
| Kindergarten and Elementary | 8,490 | $70,900 | $61,640 |
| Middle School | 3,910 | $5,8220 | $61,820 |
| High School | 8,670 | $62,010 | $62,120 |
Requirements to Become a Teacher in Ohio: Special Education
- Bachelor’s degree. One of the basic job requirements to become a special education teacher in Ohio is to have a bachelor’s degree, preferably with a concentration in special education.
- Special education teaching program certification. Many schools in Ohio offer excellent special education teaching programs, in which prospective teachers can enroll after their bachelor’s degree. You can apply for an intervention specialist license after completing this.
- Pedagogy and content assessment exams and licensure. Once you have a bachelor’s degree and have attended a teacher preparation program for special education, you must pass the Ohio Assessments for Educators (OAE) exams. Once you do, you can apply for an alternative resident educator license for intervention specialists.
Is a Teacher’s Salary in Ohio Worth My Time and Money?
Yes, a teacher’s salary in Ohio is worth your time and money. The annual salary range for Ohio teachers is above the national average pay range for teachers in the United States. Teachers also get the advantage of having a wide range of benefits available to them.
Apart from a higher salary than the national average, the job allows for a great level of job satisfaction and job opportunities for career progression. Whether you decide to teach in a public or private school, the requirements to become a teacher in Ohio are the same but the annual wage of a public school teacher is less than a private school teacher’s base wages.
Teacher Salary in Ohio FAQ
The average base salary for Ohio teachers is $61,687, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). However, their annual salary or hourly wage is higher when they work at private schools, have more experience, or teach in higher grades. Some districts also pay more than others.
According to the National Education Association (NEA), the typical salary for a starting teacher in Ohio is $37,569. You will have more opportunities for advancement in Ohio the more education you have. The top salary for teachers in Ohio is $80,616.
The highest-paying school district in Ohio is the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, with its teachers making an average base salary of $56,073 according to Indeed. Other school districts which have a high starting pay include Indian Hill, Hudson, and Ottawa Hills.
According to Ohio law, an Ohio teacher with a bachelor’s degree and no experience cannot make less than $30,000 per year. The salary schedule further mandates that an Ohio teacher with a bachelor’s degree and five years of experience cannot be paid less than $35,700. With ten years of experience and a bachelor’s degree, an Ohio teacher must be paid at least $41,400.
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