40h normalized salary comparison

Teacher Salary in Phoenix

Average Teacher salary in Phoenix on a 40h basis 55,645 $ 4,637 $ gross/month · 26.75 $ gross/hour
Full-time salary range/year 34,595 $ – 83,810 $
Full-time salary range/month 2,883 $ – 6,984 $
Based on 30 salary reports

The average salary for a Teacher in Phoenix is 55,645 $ per year on a 40-hour full-time equivalent, or 4,637 $ gross per month and 26.75 $ gross per hour. The reported full-time salary range is 34,595 $ to 83,810 $. The analysis is based on 30 salary reports from workers and employers in Phoenix. Part-time salaries are proportionally converted to 40 weekly hours so the values are comparable.

Reports 30
Minimum 40h 34,595 $
Avg. gross/year 40h 55,645 $
Avg. Gross/month 40h 4,637 $
Avg. gross/hour 40h 26.75 $
Maximum 40h 83,810 $

Minimum, average and maximum values on a 40h basis

Trend over time on a 40h basis

Individual reported salaries

Date Job title Weekly hours Reported gross/year Normalized to 40h/year Gross/month 40h Gross/hour 40h Note
06/11/2026 Master Teacher / Instructional Coordinator 42.0 h 88,000 $ 83,810 $ 6,984 $ 40.29 $ I am a master teacher who coordinates curriculum district-wide while teaching a reduced load. I average about 42 hours per week and this is my annual gross salary.
03/28/2026 Elementary STEM Teacher 40.0 h 69,500 $ 69,500 $ 5,792 $ 33.41 $ I teach an elementary STEM magnet program and coordinate partnerships with local universities. I work full-time and this is my reported annual gross pay.
01/14/2026 Senior Special Education Teacher 40.0 h 74,000 $ 74,000 $ 6,167 $ 35.58 $ I am a senior special education teacher with over a decade of experience and lead district trainings. I work full-time and the salary reflects my seniority and leadership duties.
11/05/2025 High School Science Teacher 40.0 h 66,000 $ 66,000 $ 5,500 $ 31.73 $ I'm a high school science teacher with a master's degree and about 12 years teaching experience. This number is my current full-time annual gross salary.
07/15/2025 Early Childhood Center Director (Teacher background) 45.0 h 85,000 $ 75,556 $ 6,296 $ 36.32 $ I manage an early childhood center and still occasionally teach. My role is primarily leadership and I work roughly 45 hours per week; the salary reflects the director responsibilities combined with my teaching background.
03/02/2025 District Mentor Teacher 40.0 h 72,000 $ 72,000 $ 6,000 $ 34.62 $ I work as a district-level mentor supporting new teachers while keeping a small teaching load. I report 40 hours per week and this is my annual gross salary.
11/19/2024 Charter Lead Teacher 40.0 h 59,500 $ 59,500 $ 4,958 $ 28.61 $ I lead curriculum at a charter campus and also maintain a classroom. This is my full-time annual salary for a 40-hour week and includes a small site stipend.
06/04/2024 Special Education Resource Teacher 40.0 h 68,000 $ 68,000 $ 5,667 $ 32.69 $ I run the resource room for special education students district-wide and collaborate on IEPs. I work full-time and have ten years of experience; the salary listed is my yearly gross pay.
01/21/2024 Department Chair - High School 45.0 h 78,500 $ 69,778 $ 5,815 $ 33.55 $ I serve as high school department chair while still teaching classes. I routinely work around 45 hours per week coordinating curriculum and supporting staff; this is my annual salary.
09/29/2023 Online K–12 Instructor (Self-employed, Part-time) 25.0 h 36,000 $ 57,600 $ 4,800 $ 27.69 $ I work as a self-employed online instructor for K–12 courses and average about 25 hours per week; the entry reflects my annual gross earnings from that work.
05/08/2023 Veteran Elementary Teacher 40.0 h 63,000 $ 63,000 $ 5,250 $ 30.29 $ I've been teaching elementary school for 15 years. I lead grade-level planning and run an after-school club; this salary is my current full-time annual pay.
11/11/2022 Bilingual Elementary Teacher 40.0 h 57,000 $ 57,000 $ 4,750 $ 27.40 $ I teach bilingual classes at an urban elementary school and coordinate outreach. I work full-time and this is my annual gross salary after six years on the job.
07/22/2022 Urban District Teacher (Large district) 40.0 h 58,000 $ 58,000 $ 4,833 $ 27.88 $ I work in a large urban district and have eight years' experience. This is my full-time annual salary for the 40-hour week.
03/30/2022 Private School Teacher 38.0 h 47,000 $ 49,474 $ 4,123 $ 23.79 $ I teach at a private K-8 school and work roughly 38 hours per week with additional after-school events. I have been here four years and this is my reported salary.
07/14/2021 Senior Special Education Teacher 40.0 h 60,000 $ 60,000 $ 5,000 $ 28.85 $ I'm a senior special education teacher with over 10 years' experience. I manage caseloads and mentor newer SPED teachers; this is my annual gross pay for a 40-hour week.
02/27/2021 High School Math Teacher (Tenured) 40.0 h 55,000 $ 55,000 $ 4,583 $ 26.44 $ I've been a tenured high school math teacher for nine years in the district. This is my full-time annual salary for my standard 40-hour week.
10/18/2020 Instructional Coach (Teacher-Leadership) 42.0 h 62,500 $ 59,524 $ 4,960 $ 28.62 $ I transitioned from classroom teaching to an instructional coach role supporting several schools. I work longer weeks (~42 hours) and the salary reflects that leadership role.
05/05/2020 Substitute Teacher (Part-time) 16.0 h 14,000 $ 35,000 $ 2,917 $ 16.83 $ I work irregular days as a substitute and average about 16 hours per week across the school year; the figure is my annual gross earnings from those assignments.
12/15/2019 Montessori Teacher (Private School, Part-time) 30.0 h 36,000 $ 48,000 $ 4,000 $ 23.08 $ I teach in a Montessori private program on a 30-hour weekly schedule. I've been in this role five years and this is my annual gross pay.
09/25/2019 Lead Kindergarten Teacher 40.0 h 52,000 $ 52,000 $ 4,333 $ 25.00 $ I'm the lead kindergarten teacher at my site with some curriculum responsibilities. I work full-time (40 hours) and mentor two newer teachers; this is my annual gross salary.
03/12/2019 ESL Teacher 38.0 h 46,500 $ 48,947 $ 4,079 $ 23.53 $ I teach ESL in a district bilingual program, work about 38 hours weekly, and have seven years in the classroom. This is my reported yearly salary.
10/02/2018 Long-term Substitute (Full-time temporary) 37.0 h 32,000 $ 34,595 $ 2,883 $ 16.63 $ I covered a teacher's maternity leave for a full school year and worked about 37 hours weekly; the salary shown is what I earned that year in the long-term sub role.
06/30/2018 Charter School Teacher (Part-time) 20.0 h 21,000 $ 42,000 $ 3,500 $ 20.19 $ I teach two half-days and run after-school enrichment at a charter program; I'm part-time and this is my annual gross pay for a 20-hour week.
01/10/2018 Middle School Math Teacher 40.0 h 44,500 $ 44,500 $ 3,708 $ 21.39 $ I've been teaching middle school math for six years in Phoenix. This is my full-time annual salary based on a 40-hour teaching week with extra coaching duties occasionally.
09/15/2017 Special Education Teacher 40.0 h 46,000 $ 46,000 $ 3,833 $ 22.12 $ I work full-time in special education at a public middle school. I have five years of experience and provide IEP services; the salary listed is what I actually take home annually before taxes.
06/07/2017 Private Tutor (Self-employed, Part-time) 15.0 h 22,500 $ 60,000 $ 5,000 $ 28.85 $ I do private tutoring as a self-employed educator, averaging roughly 15 hours per week. This is my total annual gross income from tutoring.
04/22/2017 High School English Teacher 39.0 h 42,000 $ 43,077 $ 3,590 $ 20.71 $ I'm a high school English teacher with about four years' experience. My schedule averages 39 hours per week including grading and planning time.
12/20/2016 Adult Education Instructor (Part-time) 20.0 h 19,500 $ 39,000 $ 3,250 $ 18.75 $ I teach night adult education classes and average about 20 hours per week across the season; the figure is my annual gross income from those classes.
11/03/2016 Elementary School Teacher 40.0 h 38,500 $ 38,500 $ 3,208 $ 18.51 $ I'm in my first full-time classroom position at a public elementary school. I've been here three years and this is my reported annual gross salary for a 40-hour week.
07/20/2016 Preschool Teacher (Part-time) 25.0 h 25,000 $ 40,000 $ 3,333 $ 19.23 $ I work part-time in a community preschool program and have been here two years. I teach a mixed-age classroom and the pay reflects my 25-hour week.

Job Outlook for Teachers in Phoenix, Arizona

Phoenix is part of one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the United States, and that growth typically supports steady demand for K–12 teachers. The region’s education landscape is diverse: large unified and elementary districts operate alongside an expansive charter school sector and a mix of independent schools. Educators who understand the needs of multilingual learners, can teach STEM or special education, and are open to collaborative, student-centered instruction often find strong opportunities across the Valley.

Statewide reports from professional associations in Arizona regularly highlight ongoing teacher shortages, and many Phoenix-area districts and charters recruit year-round to stabilize staffing. Population growth in suburban corridors, retirements, and program expansions—particularly in career and technical education (CTE) and dual-language offerings—also contribute to hiring needs.

Labor Market

The Phoenix labor market for teachers is shaped by a few consistent factors: enrollment shifts tied to housing development, the state’s high share of charter schools, and persistent vacancies in hard-to-staff roles. Special education, secondary math and science, and English learner support remain areas where schools frequently report openings. Arizona’s teacher workforce data and annual surveys by groups such as the Arizona School Personnel Administrators Association often note that some positions remain unfilled into the school year, underscoring the depth of demand.

Hiring commonly ramps up from spring through late summer, with mid-year postings as needs arise. Many employers participate in regional job fairs coordinated by school districts, the Maricopa County education community, and educator preparation programs. Candidates generally need an Arizona Department of Education teaching certificate and a valid fingerprint clearance card; out-of-state teachers can often pursue reciprocity. Districts and charters in Phoenix also make use of alternative pathways that allow career changers to begin teaching while completing approved preparation, and an SEI (Structured English Immersion) endorsement is often required or preferred given the area’s multilingual student population.

Phoenix’s size means educators can find a variety of school models—neighborhood schools, magnets, early-college high schools, and CTE campuses. Urban districts may emphasize wraparound services and community partnerships, while suburban districts frequently invest in specialized academies and STEM labs. Professional development is typically supported through district mentoring, instructional coaching, and collaborations with local universities.

Major Employers

Teachers in Phoenix and the broader metro can apply to a wide range of organizations, including some of Arizona’s largest districts and well-known charter networks:

  • Phoenix Union High School District (PUHSD): A large urban high school district with specialty campuses such as Bioscience High School, Franklin Police & Fire, and Metro Tech for CTE.
  • Deer Valley Unified School District: Serves North Phoenix and neighboring communities with multiple comprehensive high schools and STEM programs.
  • Paradise Valley Unified School District: Spans parts of Phoenix and Scottsdale with K–12 magnets and language programs.
  • Washington Elementary School District: One of the state’s largest elementary districts, covering much of North Phoenix.
  • Cartwright Elementary School District #83 and Phoenix Elementary School District #1: Urban elementary districts with diverse student populations and a range of support services.
  • Madison Elementary School District: Offers music, arts, and gifted programs in central Phoenix.
  • Mesa Public Schools, Scottsdale Unified, Chandler Unified, Peoria Unified, Dysart Unified, Tempe Union, Kyrene Elementary: Major metro-area districts that frequently post openings accessible to Phoenix candidates.
  • BASIS Charter Schools and Great Hearts Academies: Statewide charter networks with multiple Phoenix-area campuses emphasizing advanced academics and classical education.
  • Legacy Traditional Schools, Imagine Schools, and ASU Preparatory Academy: Charter operators with growing footprints and varied instructional models.
  • Independent schools: Examples include Phoenix Country Day School, Brophy College Preparatory, and Xavier College Preparatory, which periodically recruit teachers with deep subject expertise.

Career Opportunities

Teachers in Phoenix can pursue roles across grade levels, content areas, and school models. Opportunities often include:

  • Core K–12 instruction: Elementary classroom roles; middle and high school English, math, science, and social studies.
  • Special education and student services: High-demand positions for resource and self-contained settings, school psychologists (in districts that hire them), and related services teams supporting inclusive practices.
  • English learner and dual-language programs: Many schools seek educators with SEI, bilingual, or TESOL/ESL backgrounds.
  • CTE and specialty academies: PUHSD and other districts operate programs in health sciences, engineering, IT, and skilled trades, creating openings for industry-experienced teachers who meet certification requirements.
  • Magnet and advanced programs: Honors, AP, IB, and specialized STEM or arts pathways are present across the metro, offering roles for teachers with subject-matter depth and experience guiding rigorous coursework.

Professional growth is supported by district induction, leadership pathways such as department chairs or instructional coaches, and partnerships with higher education. Arizona State University’s educator programs and other preparation providers in the Valley often collaborate with local schools on residencies, practicum placements, and ongoing training. With continual regional growth, a large and varied school ecosystem, and ongoing needs in critical shortage areas, teachers who are flexible, collaborative, and student-focused generally find a wide range of options in Phoenix.

Frequently Asked Questions about Teacher in Phoenix

How much does a Teacher make in Phoenix?

The average salary for a Teacher in Phoenix is 55,645 $ per year on a 40-hour basis, or 4,637 $ gross per month.

Why are salaries converted to 40 hours?

Part-time and full-time reports are normalized to a 40-hour workweek so salary reports can be compared fairly.

Where can I find more salary comparisons for Teacher or Phoenix?

You can find more comparisons on the profession overview for Teacher and the city overview for Phoenix. They show reported cities or jobs with their difference from the average.